Welcome to the new home of Creepercast.com. Where we let the fear creep in with all things horror genre. News, Reviews, and more! STAFF:
J.P.: Editor (EIC - Editor in Cheif), Writer (CC - Content Contributor);
Joel Kenyon: Editor (AE - Assistant Editor), Writer (CC - Content Contributor); William S Mayfield: Writer (CC - Content Contributor)
Dragging the depths of my old horror reviews, I thought they might need to see the light of day again. So, I bring you some of Joel's 'Classic' horror reviews....
This of the Austrian version of 'I Know What You Did Last Summer', but with more artistic merit.... and it's in German. That's pretty much all I can say about this one. It was a 3 out of 5 star movie, primarily for the film making. However, it was way too close the afformentioned movie for comfort. I suppose you could add a dash of the original 'Friday the 13th' from 1980, but not that good. I wasn't at all impressed. The cinematography was the only worthwhile part.
(NEW thoughts: I have no recollection of this film at all, other than the poster. I guess it left a lasting impression?)
If you watch this, you might also want to watch: 'I Know What You Did Last Summer', 'Friday the 13th' (1980) and 'I Still Know What You Did Last Summer'
Dragging the depths of my old horror reviews, I thought they might need to see the light of day again. So, I bring you some of Joel's 'Classic' horror reviews....
I've long since overcome my dispute with remakes. Instead, I give them their day in court and try to keep an open mind. With the majority of the ones I've seen lately, they don't seem to be getting any better and with the recent news that Robert Zemeckis is looking to re-do 'The Wizard of Oz', I'm really wondering what they're going to be retooling next?
The original 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' was a film with heart. It was limited by the FX of the time, but Wes Craven had a vision and he carried it out as best he could. What he created gave birth to one of the most recognizable horror icons in the history of fright films. Not too mention, it spawned a ton of sequels, merchandise and even a TV show! Now, to the 2010 modernized retelling. Personally, I think Jackie Earle Haley is a talented guy. He's short and that kind of works against him in the title role of Freddy Krueger. However, he makes the best of it. The first thing that jumped out at me with this movie, was the makeup effects for Freddy. They went for a more realistic burn victim look. In the original, Freddy didn't look nearly as burned as he more looked like he had a pizza face.... but it worked. With the new makeup, it became distracting to look at Freddy. Also, his voice is much deeper and more menacing. It tended to give him a darker edge. A positive change was the way that Jackie used the glove, by rubbing the knives together in anticipation before he killed someone. It showed that he relished in what he was doing. That he enjoyed taking revenge on the children of Elm Street. He also kept the character from making jokes. Something that eventually destroyed the Elm Street franchise, in my opinion. My favorite scene in this movie was where Freddy had just killed the teen in the jail cell and then we cut to the dreamworld. In this space, Freddy had his victim hanging upside down and he comes right up to his face and says something like, “....the human mind lives on for 7 more minutes after dead. This means we have 6 more minutes to play.” If the whole movie was this sinister, it might have put the fear of Freddy back into us all. Sadly, this is the high point.
In regards to the new Nancy, played by Rooney Mara, I didn't care for her nearly as much as I did for Heather Langenkamp's portrayal. Needless to say, most of the characters just came off as flat and dull. Not too mention, something I covered earlier, this movie didn't have the same heart as the original version. It was a movie made for the sake of making a movie and for that, I started to lose interest after a while. I still enjoyed Jackie's portrayal. I only hoped for something more than what we got. There's talk of a sequel already and I kind of doubt that they could take it to a new place and a better place. But who knows? I'm sure I'll submit myself to watching it, as I'm always willing to give a movie a try. I give this 3 out of 5 stars. Mostly for Jackie Earle Haley's performance and not for the rest of the cast and crew. Sorry guys, but you didn't pull off a miracle. Finally, if you're a fan of the original, you may want to think twice before watching this one. Who knows? Maybe I'm wrong and you'll end up loving it? But I doubt it.
(NEW thoughts from 2018: I've watched this again a few more times since this original review. I can honestly say that I still don't like it. Not that I don't care for remakes, but rather.... it's just not a good film. While it has some moments of good things happening and can be very effective, it is just too much of a hodge podge of ideas that never seem cohesive or logical. A horror film by committee. I would actually drop this to 2 out of 5 stars upon repeated viewings.)
If you like this or want something similar, check out: 'Friday the 13' (2009), 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' (2003) and 'My Bloody Valentine' (2009)
As with all of my reviews of films for The Creepercast, I fully recommend that you check each and every one of them out. I am one man and this is my opinion. I've seen plenty of movies that received reviews that were the complete opposite of how I saw the film. These writers, directors, producers and actors all put a lot of time and love into these projects. They deserve to be seen and appreciated for what they are. Everyone has a dream and I fully support the people that take the time to make theirs a reality. With that being said....
This movie has been on my radar for a very long time. It kept popping up as a cult classic of independent horror of the 80's. Not the typical stuff that you would find on your generic horror sites lists, but the kind that only die hard fans would be aware of. On the surface, it reads like a Lloyd Kaufman Troma masterpiece, but this is a monster all it's own. It's grungy, dirty and feels like a lot of people viewed New York in the late 70's and early 80's. A bunch of people from all different parts of society, all kind of jumbled together into one potentially volatile space. Perhaps that was what Gregory Lamberson was intending when he made it? I'm not sure, but he captures the spirit of that time regardless. This is kind of the spiritual successor to Jim Muro's trashtastic epic 'Street Trash'. While it may not have the production values or the vibrant color palette, they feel like counterparts. Even the visuals and basic outline are very similar. Because of how impressed I was with 'Street Trash', I had high hopes for 'Slime City'. I truly believed it may be my next hidden gem that lined my library of film. What's funny though, is that because of my love for Herschell Gordon Lewis and what he brought to the table, I've been pegged as a gore hound. Believe it or not, I'm not the biggest fan of gore effects. They actually can be a bit of a detractor for me at times. This is kind of why 'Street Trash' spoke to me. It had all the elements of a gore film, but because of the decision to use neon colors for all of the blood, guts, gore and icky stuff, it almost made it fun and artsy. 'Slime City' made a similar stylistic choice, but it still came off as being pretty goopy. That's not a bad thing, just something that already kind of made it lose some points. What it did have going for it was the city and buildings the characters inhabited. One of my favorite things about revisiting a lot of these old unearthed titles (especially on Blu-ray) is that you can get a glimpse of what it was like to live in New York City, back in the day. It was a time when film makers seemed to be a bit more free with their decisions to experiment. They would play with the way a narrative was constructed and what might come off as believable. Some of them just didn't care and wanted to tell an insane story. (I'm looking at you Frank Henenlotter) This film is another addition to the time capsule that was the 80's in indie horror.
'Slime City' tells the story of a student, Alex, that moves into a run down apartment building. He's dating a girl that loves him and wants to marry him, but won't have sex with him. The other tenants in the building are all a little off. It's full of artists and punks and the elderly, but the rent is cheap. As he begins to establish himself in his new home, his neighbor has him over for “dinner”. What this actually consists of, he isn't sure, as it's simply described as 'Himalayan yogurt'. He also drinks some haunted Crème de Methe and before long, he's turned into a hideous, melting monster that has a desire to kill. After running into a bum in the alley and eventually killing him, Alex returns to normal. Realizing what's happening, he begins to investigate what he's ingested. We come to find out that a former tenant named Zachary, was an alchemist who's the one that is causing all of this, even from beyond the grave. Alex continues to kill, in order to keep himself as normal as possible. All the while, his relationship is falling apart, along with his life as he's soon face to face with his girlfriend for one final epic showdown.
(Note to the reader: I hate writing plot summaries. That is all.) This film is a cult classic, I can't deny that fact. After finally viewing this film though, I'm left feeling a little hollow inside. Not that it was bad, it just wasn't what I was expecting. Maybe the bar was set to high, from all of the time I spent waiting to watch it? I fully understand what Gregory Lamberson was going for with this film and ultimately, I think he succeeded despite the smaller budget. It very much feels like a student film, being made in the senior year of film school with people studying to be actors, but that will only end up in Eric Roberts films. The special effects are pretty solid. There are some questionable effects moments during the end battle between Alex and his girlfriend, but in the films defense, these were all practical effects. It was 1988, after all. With that being said, you have to give credit where credit is due. Considering all of the things it had going against it, this pulled off quite a bit. I'm curious to see the much delayed sequel 'Slime City Massacre' (2010) to see where the story takes us, so far into the future. At some point, I may end up picking it up on Blu-ray, just to be able to indulge in the special features and see if I can appreciate this one a little more after some distance and time. Also, since it's a double feature with both films, it's a win win situation. I'm keeping this review a little shorter, as it's been a couple of months since I've seen this one and I feel I've said about all I can say. It's a decent 3 out of 5 stars, just barely above a 2 star rating. If you're a lover of all things trashy and low budget, then I certainly recommend this one to you. If you like your horror movies more mainstream and high end, stay away at all costs. This one is for hardcore horror nerds only.
If you like this one, check out: 'Street Trash', 'The Toxic Avenger' and 'The Incredible Melting Man'
As with all of my reviews of films for The Creepercast, I fully recommend that you check each and every one of them out. I am one man and this is my opinion. I've seen plenty of movies that received reviews that were the complete opposite of how I saw the film. These writers, directors, producers and actors all put a lot of time and love into these projects. They deserve to be seen and appreciated for what they are. Everyone has a dream and I fully support the people that take the time to make theirs a reality. With that being said....
I had no idea what this film was about, before I started watching it. Sometimes that's a good thing, because you come into it as the film maker intended, as the way people used to watch films. It's so hard to do that anymore, with Facebook and all the other social media platforms and movie review sites. That's one of the many reasons I love writing for The Creepercast. I receive an assignment and a film to watch. Usually one that hasn't been released yet, so I'm getting in before anyone else has had the chance to formulate an opinion on it. Case in point, 'Gehenna: Where Death Lives'. The first full length film by director and co-writer, Hiroshi Katagiri. While the film boasts the star power of Lance Hendrickson and Doug Jones, to be quite honest, they barely make an appearance. Which was a little disappointing, but what you soon find out is that the real star of this film is Eva Swan. She carried the film on her shoulders and made it look pretty effortless. Quite a feat for a fairly new star on the rise. The supporting cast are all decent in their rolls, but I found myself less interested in their fates than hers. Although, Sean Sprawling does an excellent job as Pepe. He has a full character arc and goes from being a bit in the background to downright frightening. I should also mention that the first time we meet the thin man in the bunker, I genuinely was creeped out. Not only by the special effects being utilized for the character, but the way he moved and his actions. It ends up being a major plot point, but at this point in the film, it set the tone for what to expect. Having no preconceived notions from jump street, I was curious if the somewhat rehashed plot line was going to just end up making this a throwaway piece of film. What ended up happening was that at the end of the day, it left me with something to think about. I actually continued to dwell on the final act of the film and had several questions that it kept raising. It also made me feel unsettled about the thought of how our characters ended up. That tells me that there is something here to enjoy for other horror film fans, but I only wish the overall story had grabbed me a bit more. An ending punching you in the face is important, but the build up to that final swing, needs to be just as strong. Otherwise, your opponent just ends up dazed, instead of knocked out on the floor wondering what in the hell just happened.
The story line focuses on five people who are investigating some land for a sale. It's a beautiful and scenic location and while they're scouting it out, they come across what they thought was a machine gun nest from the war. What they come across, when they arrive, is a strange man praying. After chasing him off, we learn more about a kind of curse in the area and (as the viewer) begin to question if it's such a good idea to go through the door to the unknown.... but, of course, they do or we wouldn't have much of a movie. It would be called 'Gehenna: Where Death Almost Lived'. As they enter, they quickly realize that this isn't a machine gun nest, but more of an underground bunker used by the Japanese. They slowly make their way through the run down relic from another time and soon come across the creepy man I mentioned earlier. After a slight altercation with him, an earthquake or bombing, knocks them all out. They wake up to everything having been changed or is it the same place still? The five of them start to search their new surroundings, only to find that they've been sealed in and the bunker now looks like it did years ago. Have then been transported back in time or is this some kind of game that is being played by an unknown force? One by one they begin to be haunted by sins from their past, while the world around them seems to be unraveling. How will they survive and what's truly going on in the bunker? That's as much as this reviewer will give you, as you'll need to venture down into the bunker yourself, to find out.
I'm a little torn on this one, Creeps. While on one hand, Eva Swan was quite good and sold the story line and the ending was one that left me questioning everything that came before. On the other, the majority of the other actors seemed to be reciting their lines rather than reacting to what was being said and I felt like the film was a bit by the numbers. I know what Hiroshi was going for, in this film, I'm just not sure that it came off the way it was intended. It was a bit jumbled up and felt like there was too much trying to be jammed into the limited run time. There is also the fact that the majority of the time I was watching the film, I was dissecting each moment and realizing that it seemed to be a few different story elements that were being woven together. It was kind of distracting. I would have preferred that they opted to go with one or two aspects of the story and made those stronger, than to throw in the third or fourth, which made the foundation a bit shaky. I should also mention the sound was off. Because I was watching this on my laptop, I was forced to use my headphones to listen to the film. Usually this immerses me in the story and sound cues, but this seemed to have a mix that was uneven. I'm not sure if I'm being hypercritical or not, but it was all over the place quite often. Two of the things I really enjoyed about this film was the special effects. From the old man in the beginning, to the punishing of Pepe, I was impressed by the quality that was achieved. Not too mention, that if CGI was used, it was hidden quite well. The other thing that was refreshing, is something I'll have to remain vague about. While Paulina (Eva Swan) was not the only female in the film, she took the trope of the “final girl” and put it on its head. That's all I'm going to say about that.
'Gehenna: Where Death Lives' is going to be a movie that divides its audience. There will be some who love it, some who hate it and some who ended up where I did and just kind of felt like it was decent. Not something to run home and tell all your friends about, but something that certainly wasn't a waste of anyone's time to watch. All in all, this was a mixed bag. I can't deny that the ending left me feeling like I wished the rest of the film was stronger, but that happens quite a bit in this line of work. When you see as many films as I do in a year, it's hard to impress me. I'm hoping that Hiroshi takes what he learned from the making of this film and applies it to his next project. As a first time feature length film, he is way ahead of the curve. He understands how to tell a story and just needs to learn how to streamline things to have a more cohesive final product. In this reviewers humble opinion, I'll give this 3 out of 5 stars. It's probably leaning more towards the 2 end of the spectrum, rather than the 4, but that's okay. Not every movie can be a major masterpiece. To be quite honest, I'm sure I could never accomplish what everyone involved in this film was able to do. Create something out of nothing and be able to entertain an audience. It's a lot safer to sit on your couch and critique the works of others, than it is to do the work yourself and I respect them all for that. Besides, you made the hair on the back of my neck stand up, when the old man charged the main characters, early on in the film. That's something that not everyone can say. P.S. I know the dead guy in the tub wasn't supposed to come off this way, but I swear he was from the cast of 'The Farting Dead'.
If you like this, check out: 'The Descent', 'As Above, So Below' and 'Silent Hill'
As with all of my reviews of films for The Creepercast, I fully recommend that you check each and every one of them out. I am one man and this is my opinion. I've seen plenty of movies that received reviews that were the complete opposite of how I saw the film. These writers, directors, producers and actors all put a lot of time and love into these projects. They deserve to be seen and appreciated for what they are. Everyone has a dream and I fully support the people that take the time to make theirs a reality. With that being said....
I think Scout Taylor-Compton is an underrated actress. There, I said it. Ever since I saw her in Rob Zombie's 2007 'Halloween', I kind of fell in love. (not in the creepy way) After both installments in that series, I tracked her career and watched whatever she put out. Some were good, some were not so good, but I just enjoyed watching her work. She kind of fell off my radar for a while until I heard about an upcoming film called 'Ghost House'. It seemed to be a kind of Asian horror type film, but not a reboot or a true import. This was an American film that takes place in Thailand. When it finally dropped on Netflix, I was ready. This is a Scout vehicle, as she's in the drivers seat and the leading lady. That fact alone made it worth my time, but I was surprised at how good this ended up being. It isn't reinventing the wheel in any way and won't make anybody's 'Top 13' lists for this year, but it was above average and very well done. It certainly takes its cues from films like 'The Grudge' and 'The Ring', because it heavily relies on the curse angle for the main protagonist. As the story goes, if you disturb one of the ghost houses, you're in for some trouble. In this case, a spirit named Watabe is the one that's on the war path. Out to haunt the hell out of Scout, until she eventually takes over her soul within three days time. On that note, let's hop into the plot.
What's enjoyable about this film, is that it's not trying to say anything new or different. It knows what it is and plays to its strengths. Too many times, when a film maker is dabbling in a genre that has already been done to death, they try to hard to give it some kind of a twist that isn't necessary. In 'Ghost House', I didn't feel like I was seeing that movie. It was just giving a 100% of what the audience wanted and would expect from this kind of story. Directed by Rich Ragsdale, this is his first foray into the feature length film genre and I must say he jumped in both feet first. Having been known primarily as a short film director, it has to be hard to make that transition to an hour and a half piece from where he's most comfortable. It's a different kind of story telling. Almost like the difference between writing a comic strip vs writing a novel. There is no quick payoff in a punchline, but in the full length format you have to build characters and keep a consistent tone throughout. Adapted from a story written by Rich and his brother Kevin, they created two fairly sympathetic and realistic characters and gave us a decent antagonist. Watabe is more than just your average naughty ghost. She's been wronged and is out for revenge. Again, nothing new, but she feels a bit more.... gritty for some reason. I should also mention a fun minor character named Reno (played by the always delightful Mark Boone Junior). He's kind of the ultimate lynch pin in the story and a guy that's kind of unlikable in a likable way. He doesn't really move the story all the way to its eventual conclusion, but he's a fun little pit stop that hangs around until the bitter end.
In a horror world full of ghost stories, I don't see too many that leave any kind of last impression with me. For my tastes, I'm more interested in a homicidal slasher or something more reality based in order to set my teeth on edge. So for this film to stand out among the others, there must be something more to it. Perhaps it's simply the Scout factor? But even if that's the case this still was well worth my time to invest in it. I'd give it a very solid 3 out of 5 stars. It isn't going to set the world on fire, but it was an enjoyable detour on a road that's very well traveled. I'm only hoping that it will strike a chord with other directors to see Scout as a viable commodity and a scream queen on the rise. She's capable of so much more than just horror, but this is certainly her wheelhouse and I always enjoy seeing her work. If you've got some spare time and want to see something that's fun to watch alone in the dark, then 'Ghost House' might just be the next thing you should watch in your queue. It may even save your life. I mean, the next time you're in Thailand and want to start messing around with one of the ghost houses, it may make you think twice about your life decisions.
If you like this, check out: 'The Grudge' (2004), 'The Ring' (2002) or 'Dark Water' (2005)
As with all of my reviews of films for The Creepercast, I fully recommend that you check each and every one of them out. I am one man and this is my opinion. I've seen plenty of movies that received reviews that were the complete opposite of how I saw the film. These writers, directors, producers and actors all put a lot of time and love into these projects. They deserve to be seen and appreciated for what they are. Everyone has a dream and I fully support the people that take the time to make theirs a reality. With that being said....
There's something refreshing about going into a film sight unseen. Watching the story unfold with no knowledge of the plot or anything about what's to come. These days there is so much information available at all times, that avoiding potential spoilers about anything is nearly impossible. That's what makes my task as a reviewer for The Creepercast one of subdued passion. I'm given an assignment of what to watch and I close my eyes and jump. Very rarely will I seek out information on the film ahead of time. I want to see it as it was intended. A journey into the film makers vision of what he or she saw the story to be. Granted, that journey doesn't always end up being a pleasant one, but in the case of 'The Lullaby' (2018) it turned out to be one that I never saw coming. This was clearly a film that director Darrell Roodt wanted to elevate above all of the other genre fare that's being made these days. With 46 credits already to his name, he's had quite the distinguished career already. One that I didn't even realize, until I began my research after the credits rolled. Dabbling in almost every type of film genre you can think of, this is just another feather in his cap of eclectic film making. Written by Tarryn-Tanille Prinsloo, a relative newcomer, the two created something that felt very fresh and unique. A simplistic story, that had a deep history behind it and that carried a heavy load, while making it all look very easy. Needless to say, I was hooked from the very beginning and had no idea what lay ahead, as I bought the ticket and took the ride. Before you read any further, I recommend that you consider what I've already said and perhaps seek out the film before learning too much about it. Not that I'm one for providing spoilers of any kind, but I don't want to taint your film going experience in any way. With all of that being said, we forge ahead.
The story begins in 1910, as we get a truncated history of the town called Eden Rock. A place where infants born out of violence and hatred, are murdered rather than be condemned. Fast forward to the present as Chloe (played by Reine Swart) is giving birth to her own child. One that has no father and Chloe's only support system is her broken mother, Ruby (played by Thandi Puren). It soon becomes crystal clear that Chloe is having issues coming to terms with being a single mother and there are some secrets that she's buried deep within herself. As the following days unfold, Chloe is doing her best to adjust to her new role as a mother. Meanwhile, her own mother is using a method of tough love to force her daughter into becoming a caretaker for her own child, Liam. Chloe begins to have visions of a woman in black, who whispers things in her ear and is terrorizing her every move. Along with those visions are those of her killing her own child. She feels like her sanity is beginning to unravel, as her mother seeks help in the local psychiatrist, Dr. Timothy Reed (played by Brandon Auret). A rather curious character himself, Dr. Reed seems as interested in the human condition as he does his butterfly collection. He soon takes Chloe on as a patient and attempts to help her overcome her personal demons and fear of motherhood, but are the visions she's witnessing truly all in her head or is the woman in black all too real?
The initial thing that you notice about 'The Lullaby', even within the first 15 minutes, is how beautifully done the cinematography is. The sweeping camera angles, the color palette and the use of the minimal spaces in which the actors have to live and breath. The sets become as much of a character as the actors themselves. They almost inhabit the world as an extension of the story line. This allows are actors the freedom to delve deeply into their characters and flesh out the intricacies that make them all too human. Darrell also takes full advantage of the use of a basic score to underline the lurking dread in the darkness. You almost feel as though you're a fly on the wall, witnessing the slow descent into madness that Chloe is feeling. You almost don't know who the real antagonist is. Could it be the woman in black? Is it Ruby or even Dr. Reed? For all, we the viewer know, it could be that this is all just something within Chloe's mind. A hyper realized version of post postpartum depression that has materialized in the form of a ghost like apparition. This is all something that ultimately is left up to the viewer to decide, as the ending is relatively ambiguous and almost a bit of a dissatisfier. In this day and age, so much of what we see on the big screen is spoon fed to us with lengthy diatribes and long winded exposition that we forget the simple joy of just not knowing. In a way, that's a welcome change to the status quo, but in another it felt a little unfinished. I almost wanted some kind of explanation or closure on the film. Perhaps so I could leave it knowing one way or the other if what I had just witnessed was reality or delusion. Sadly, this was not Darrell's desire. Instead, we're left with more questions than answers and despite my intense curiosity to know.... I have to respect the director's ultimate vision for his film.
'The Lullaby' was a literal breath of fresh air among all of the meat grinder horror that seems to be coming out these days. I don't mean that there aren't good things that are making their way into our living rooms and movie theaters, but it just feels that a lot of it is all just 'film by committee' and not film making for the pure joy of creating something all your own. With this particular film, it felt like everything was in alignment and all the parties involved wanted to make something different. Even if there were elements of things we've seem many times before, it certainly didn't feel that way. All of the actors brought their 'A' game and provided a meaty groundwork in which everyone else could shine. I have to specifically give a large heaping of praise to Brandon Auret for his portrayal of Dr. Reed. He embodied that role and commanded your attention, whenever he was on the screen. I didn't know whether to love him or to hate him. All I knew was that he was incredibly engaging and was a stand out among stand outs. If I have to pick apart anything about this film, it was the eventual reveal of Liam's father and the subsequent events that took place after involving Adam. I understood why it was necessary as a catalyst to drive the 3rd act into the finale, but something about it all fell flat to me. Also, as I mentioned earlier, the ending was somewhat oblique and confusing. Again, I'm picking apart what was ultimately a solid piece of film making, but this had the potential to be even more than it already was. If I was to rate this film based solely on the performances of the actors and the cinematography, it's a solid 4 out of 5 star film. However, because of some of the decisions made in the 3rd act, it began to fall apart at the seams a bit. In the end, it was a strong 3 out of 5 star film. Something I would certainly recommend. My hope is that if this is what South Africa has to offer us, in terms of film making, that they continue to export more films to the US. We need this type of shot in the arm to the horror world. Our genre has relished far too long on the fringes of what society deems as art. This is one of the many recent examples of what the rest of the world will hopefully see and take to heart. Horror isn't just a type of pornography based in violence, but can be a way to exorcise the demons that inhabit all of us and take us out of the horrors of the modern world. Maybe they can see that it even can serve as a mirror to show us who the real monsters are.... mankind.
"The Lullaby" in theaters and On Demand 3/2
If you like this, maybe consider seeing: 'Spring', 'Contracted' and 'Starry Eyes'
As with all of my reviews of films for The Creepercast, I fully recommend that you check each and every one of them out. I am one man and this is my opinion. I've seen plenty of movies that received reviews that were the complete opposite of how I saw the film. These writers, directors, producers and actors all put a lot of time and love into these projects. They deserve to be seen and appreciated for what they are. Everyone has a dream and I fully support the people that take the time to make theirs a reality. With that being said....
What is it about independent films that pairs so well with horror? While there are films being made all the time, with other themes, for some reason horror seems to be the staple. Perhaps it has something to do with the fans of the genre wanting to one up the last film they saw, because they think that can do better? Is it just a part of the horror lovers genetics? The desire to bring their fears to life? No matter what the reason, there is never a shortage of films coming out that continue to fuel our nightmares, more than horror. In this writers opinion, that's a good thing. That brings us to the most recent independent horror film I've had the pleasure to see, James Crow's 'Black Creek'. Starring the YouTube celebrity Chris O'Flying, this film plays on your fears of being in the woods and being hunted by an unstoppable supernatural force that will continually keep coming for you, until you're dead. We've seen these themes before in other films, but this puts them together in a way that feels fresh. Think 'Poltergeist' meets 'It Follows', but with young adults in the lead roles. Does everything that's being done here work? No. But when you consider some of what's out there that is passing for modern day horror, you can forgive any shortcomings, in favor of a well done story. I'm a jaded horror guy. At this point in my life, I've seen a little bit of everything and despite my enjoyment of remakes, it's still nice to see something I haven't really seen before. 'Black Creek' if nothing else, it's original.
This film tells the story of Mike (played by Chris O'Flying), a young man who's lost his father and is set to take his ashes out into the woods he loved. He brings several of his friends and his sister, as they head out to the cabin his father used to stay in. We learn early on of the legend of the Wisconsin Skin Walker. A native American demon, of sorts, that inhabits the body of the last person to die. Created when the white man came and took their land. After murdering 200 innocent people and burying them in a mass grave, a shaman put a curse that brought the demon to life. Since then, it's been killing on and off throughout history. Now, it's been many years since it was imprisoned in a grave, where they buried it while it was still in possession of its last host body. Now that it's back, it wants to continue where it left off. While Mike is on the way to the cabin with his friend, we find out that his father was tied to the demon. After arriving, everyone begins dying off one by one. I don't want to provide much more detail in that, as not to spoil anything. It's better for you just to see it for yourself.
Written and directed by James Crow, this is not his first foray into cinema. He's been making films in one form or another since 2010. The pacing and storytelling are a testimony to that. Despite, what I imagine to be, a small budget. He accomplishes a lot with what he has, using cut away shots and minimizing a lot of the action. The biggest issue I really had with the film, was the adult actors involved. A lot of them seemed to be new to being an actor or were just not really actors at all. Many of their scenes felt very stifled and stiff. It tended to bring a stop to a lot of the momentum the James was building towards his ultimate climax. Now, on the flip side of that same coin, Mike and his friends were (for the most part) way better that you might expect. None of it was going to win any Oscars, but that's not what this movie was being made for. It was being made to tell a great story and do it in the best way they could. That seemed to be the one thing that was always shining through, despite some overall issues. One example of this would be one of the bigger effects in the film, involving a scalping. Sadly, it looked very amateurish and took me out of a very intense scene, but all of that can be forgiven based on the end product. There were also some pretty large, open ended questions left unanswered. As an audience member, I don't need to be spoon fed every little detail, but with some the things that occurred throughout the film, there needed to be a bit more exposition. There is also the matter of the score. Not everyone realizes just how intregal to a film, the music can be. Just look at John Carpenter's 'Halloween'. The original film, with no score, everyone told him that the movie wasn't scary. It wasn't until he added his own music to it, that it became the watermark that it is today. This film's soundtrack almost ended up being distracting. It was somewhere between a video game score and an old TV movie. Perhaps I'm picking on this film too much, but there was more than enough outside of this, to keep my interest.
What 'Black Creek' really has going for it more than anything else, is the main protagonist, the Wisconsin Skin Walker. Here you have a creature that will perpetually keep killing, unchecked, and it could be years before anyone found out. The only reason our group of kids were able to attempt to stop it, was because of those who came before them. The simple idea of something that will inhabit the body of the last person it kills, is terrifying. How can you stop something that just continually hops from one body to the next? At some point, you'll lose track of whose body it's in or you'll be it's next victim. I don't know why that concept fascinates me so, but it was handled well in this film and was frightening to think about. All in all, this is above average in the world of lower budget horror. It's also proof that you can still make something your own and don't have to rely on using someone else's idea. This is a solid 3 out of 5 star film that is telling the audience that James Crow still has a lot more to come. Maybe with a bigger budget, more time and a few more experienced actors, he'll be able to take what he already does and show that he's a force to be reckoned with.
BLACK CREEK arrives on VOD February 16th from Freestyle Digital Media.
If you like this, check out: 'It Follows', 'Poltergeist' and 'The Evil Dead' (1981)
As with all of my reviews of films for The Creepercast, I fully recommend that you check each and every one of them out. I am one man and this is my opinion. I've seen plenty of movies that received reviews that were the complete opposite of how I saw the film. These writers, directors, producers and actors all put a lot of time and love into these projects. They deserve to be seen and appreciated for what they are. Everyone has a dream and I fully support the people that take the time to make theirs a reality. With that being said....
Before 'Black Christmas', 'Porky's' or 'A Christmas Story', Bob Clark gave us a zombie film while the sub-genre was still in its infancy.... that film was: 'Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things'. This movie was made less than a decade after George A. Romero's 'Night of the Living Dead' (1968) and audiences were still just getting their feet wet with the undead. There had been a few films, here and there, but the horror landscape was primarily still filled with Gothic horror and supernatural films. The slasher movie was starting to peak over the horizon and the true zombie renaissance was about three decades away. To say this was a little before its time and a gamble, is not an understatement. Where as the film may not be nearly as good as any of Romero's movies, it still holds a place at the zombie table.
The story begins with a small theater group, converging on an island at the request of their leader. Upon arrival, things are fairly light and playful, but it quickly turns into something much more sinister. The head of the troupe, Alan, begins to slowly lose his grip on reality as he has them perform a Satanic ritual. Most of the other actors go along with things, but a few begin to doubt Alan and a divide is formed. Before anyone can leave the island, the dead begin to rise, trapping them in a small house where they've been hanging out. One by one they're taken by the oncoming horde, as Alan becomes more and more mad with each passing minute. Eventually they realize that they're soon going to be overrun, as lines are drawn and decisions will have to be made.
While my synopsis makes it sound better than it is, don't mistake this for a grand film. There is a lot wrong with 'Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things'. Primarily, its biggest downfall is the 70's pacing that causes the entire piece to sludge along at a slow shamble. Almost all of the characters are unlikable and you never really care whether they live or die. Alan is the most charismatic of the bunch, but his actions are so assholeish, that you wonder why any of them ever joined the group in the first place. He's constantly holding their salaries over their heads and uses that as leverage to get them to do what he wants. It goes so far, as allowing him to dig up a dead body and parade it around the house, like it's another member of the crew. Even the positive forces among the actors are bland. It's unfortunate, as this has so much going for it. Despite it's tiny budget, the make up effects are quite good. The sets are fairly believable and the costumes are like every bad Sears catalog threw up in the 70's and it all landed on this film. Even with all of that being said, this still is regarded as somewhat of a cult classic, by a lot of horror film enthusiasts.
I give Bob Clark a lot of credit for taking a risk on this one. It was a genre that was still finding it's voice and he took it upon himself, to be a pioneer and make it his own. There are some things to like about this movie, but they're few and far between and in the end, they can't overcome the parts that fail. I've seen this one a few times and actually own the Blu-ray. As a lover of zombie films, it is a must have. It has a great story behind it and in a lot of ways, I feel connected to it on a personal level. It reminds of the time when I was in film school and yearned to make my own zombie film. Sadly, it never came to pass, but this gives me hope that it could have been done and may have even been fairly decent. If you've never seen this one, it's worth your time to check it off of your list. It's a 3 out of 5 star film and one that is an interesting bookmark in the horror history archives. When it was made, it was a different time and you have to give credit where credit is due. If for nothing else, it allowed Bob Clark to continue to sharpen his skills, so his later films would be that much better. Not too mention that without 'Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things', our favorite reanimated corpses may have not had another stepping stone towards becoming the juggernaut that they are now. Rest in piece Bob and thank you for giving it the old college try.
If you like this one, check out: 'Night of the Living Dead' (1968), 'Carnival of Souls' (1962) and 'White Zombie' (1932)
As with all of my reviews of films for The Creepercast, I fully recommend that you check each and every one of them out. I am one man and this is my opinion. I've seen plenty of movies that received reviews that were the complete opposite of how I saw the film. These writers, directors, producers and actors all put a lot of time and love into these projects. They deserve to be seen and appreciated for what they are. Everyone has a dream and I fully support the people that take the time to make theirs a reality. With that being said....
I recently found a website called http://trashfilmguru.wordpress.com. On this site, I found a fellow 'found footage' film lover, like myself. After spending the past several days perusing his reviews, I've gathered a rather healthy list of Amazon Prime and Netflix gems, that The Guru has suggested as decent viewing choices. The first of the suggested titles was 'Hell House LLC'. I'm always a little apprehensive, when taking on an hour and a half long unknown venture. When I'm handed assignments for The Creepercast, that's one thing, but when I'm flying blind, that's another. So, needless to say, I was a bit skeptical. You never know how other peoples tastes will mesh with your own. However, after viewing this 2015 horror indie, I have to think that I've found a kindred spirit.
When it comes to shaky cam cinema, you have to the ability to suspend your disbelief. Not in the same way as you do, when it's narrative horror film, but in a way that you're almost watching something that really happened. I think that's one of the reasons I love this sub genre. Ever since 1999, when 'The Blair Witch Project' made its debut, I've been chasing the red dragon ever since. There have been a few examples of masterful use of this low budget style, but more often then not, they're a bit of a let down. Where as zombie films used to be the weapon of choice, for indie film makers and low budget auteurs, found footage has replaced the undead. It's less expensive, the profit margins are a lot higher and anyone with a cell phone can become a director. All you need is some friends and a script. Sadly, that's all they feel is necessary and more often then not, they forget the fact that you need a good story and some skill. But, like any film junkie, we keep coming back for more, with the hopes that the next one will be the one that puts our hairs on end and reminds us why we love the genre in the first place. Was 'Hell House LLC' one of those films? Keep reading, to find out.
The story, is clever, in and of itself. You have a group of friends that travel from place to place, putting together yearly haunts for fun and profit. Upon arriving in this little town, they've found this run down old hotel, that's been vacant for quite a while. They begin to slowly piece together their haunted house, but strange things start happening. As the days and weeks slip by and they get closer to opening night, the frequency of the occurrences increase. Before long, the cracks begin to show in their relationships, as they become divided as to whether or not to continue. However, they make it to opening night and that may just be the last night they ever have on this earth.
Presented in a documentary style of film, writer/director Stephen Cognetti, uses this as a way to tell his story. Intermingling mock interviews with various experts and involved parties, along with footage from the friends who were constructing the haunt and patrons who were there on opening night. It proves to be a very effective way of telling this story. It puts the viewer in a much better frame of mind, in which to lose themselves in the story and not question the reality of what they're seeing. He also uses the 'less is more' strategy of film making, by not showing what's really behind all of the horror that the group is being submitted too. The problem is that somewhere during the course of the film, this starts to change. Some of the reveals are quite effective, while others fall a bit flat. One example of an excellent use of showing and not just telling, is when Paul wakes up to find someone on the floor of his room. We've all experienced that moment of terror, when we think someone is there and we turn away or hide under the blankets, in the hope that it'll all just prove to be a trick of the mind. But in this film, it's all too real and quite frightening. If that would have been then extent of it, I would have been happy, but there are more instances of this. Sadly, they prove to become more of a detractor, than a positive. My other issue with this film, is the ending. I could see it coming a mile away and it was executed poorly. In my opinion, we could have ended the film about 10 minutes earlier and I would have been happy.
All in all, this film stands out as being one of the recommend viewings for those who are still fans of the genre. It may borrow a bit from it's predecessors, but imitation is the highest form of flattery, right? 'Hell House LLC' actually provides us three endings, during the course of its run time. I'm not sure that this was the best decision, as a horror fan. The less is more strategy should have continued and the piece, as a whole, would have been much stronger. Don't let that keep you from spending your time with this film. On the whole, it's a very worthwhile outing. It has genuinely frightening moments and some quality acting, from all the people involved. Mr. Cognetti clearly has a love of the craft and wants to make films that put people on edge. With more time and experience, I can see good things coming from him in the future. If you have Amazon Prime and an hour and a half to kill, this is a 3 out of 5 star film that's worthy of your time. Make sure you put on your suspension of disbelief hat, turn off all the lights and lose yourself in the story. I promise that you won't be sorry. This is one that proves the genre isn't dead and there are still good stories to tell.
If you like this kind of film, check out some of it's inspirations: 'The Blair Witch Project' (1999), 'Paranormal Activity' and 'V/H/S'
Dragging the depths of my old horror reviews, I thought they might need to see the light of day again. So, I bring you some of Joel's 'Classic' horror reviews....
I've stayed away from the ripoffs of popular films, ever since I saw some of 'Transmorphers'. This appeared to be yet another “mockbuster”, but I thought I'd give it a shot anyway. I mean, how bad could it be? Well, I stand corrected. This movie was actually pretty well done and although it felt a lot like 'Paranormal Activity', it was still it's own film. Not too mention, a pretty good one at that! The story is not the same as it's counterpart. It's a bit more violent and creepy and the acting was way above par for your average straight to video release. The effects were quite well done, what few there were and I honestly got chills at a few scenes. As a lover of horror films, I would recommend that you consider watching this one. It just proves that, despite all the garbage out there, there are some of these types of films that aren't that bad. Some of them are even quite good.
Here's the plot: Footage is found in the attic of a home, where multiple murders had occurred. At the end of the killing spree, only one man survived and he was accused of committing the crime. The videos were eventually put together and 'Paranormal Entity' was the result. Evidence of what had happened.
All in all, I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars. I think it was a nice bookend to the 'Paranormal Activity' franchise and something you might enjoy, if you like the found footage genre. I'm not sure if it's something that I would ever need to see again, but I certainly don't regret watching it. It was good enough, that you would almost believe that this and 'Paranormal Activity' were shot at the same time and just happened to have a similar plot. Give it a watch, you may end up being pleasantly surprised.
If you like this, check out: 'Paranormal Activity', Paranormal Activity 2' and 'The Blair Witch Project'
Dragging the depths of my old horror reviews, I thought they might need to see the light of day again. So, I bring you some of Joel's 'Classic' horror reviews....
Last night, I had the pleasure of watching a little low budget nasty called, 'Laid to Rest'. It isn't going to win any awards. It didn't re-invent the wheel, but it's an hour and a half of non-stop blood, guts, gore and icky stuff. Not too mention that the killer was fairly original and entertaining to watch and learn about. In a sea of stellar slasher flicks, it's nice to find one that is a tad above the bar. The basic premise is that a woman wakes up in a casket with no memory. Soon, she finds out that she's being chased by a serial killer called 'Chromeskull'. Shortly after that, we're off to the races! She tracks down some help, along the way, and each one is killed off one after another. More and more is revealed and soon we've reached the climax of the film. Meanwhile, you're wondering where the time went?
The stand out parts of this film, invlove the gore. The special effects are above average and tend to overshadow the story, which is very simple in scope. There are some violent kills, but nothing very new or inventive. Still, it's worth the price of admission. One thing that left me feeling a bit let down was the ending and the lack of closure. It seemed like we got a lot of build up to only end with a slighly abrut and unsatisfying finale. I'd say it pays off, however, not as well as I'd hoped. I mean, they build up this killer so much, that it would have left itself wide open for a franchise. Sadly, that probably won't happen, but I've said too much. (Editorial note: There was a sequel to this film called 'Chromeskull: Laid To Rest 2', that was released 2 years later. There is also a 3rd film in the franchise in the works now.)
All that being said, if you have Netflix, it's on demand right now or to rent. (Editor's note: This film is no longer available to stream online.) I would say it's worth a night of popcorn and brainless slaying. You won't find any great revelations and will probably feel slightly let down, but the rest of it is so strong, that it holds up to the test of above average slasher film. If this piece of bloody good fun is an indication of what the director and writer have in store for the future, then I'm eager to see what's next. All in all, 3 out of 5 stars. Worth your time, but perhaps not worth repeated viewings. Check it out for yourselves and let me know what you think. A killer for a new age. One of cell phones, fast cars and shoudler mounted video cameras. Keep in mind though, this one isn't for the faint of heart.
If you enjoy this movie, check out: 'Splinter', 'P2' and 'Scream'
As with all of my reviews of films for The Creepercast, I fully recommend that you check each and every one of them out. I am one man and this is my opinion. I've seen plenty of movies that received reviews that were the complete opposite of how I saw the film. These writers, directors, producers and actors all put a lot of time and love into these projects. They deserve to be seen and appreciated for what they are. Everyone has a dream and I fully support the people that take the time to make theirs a reality. With that being said....
I really enjoy foreign horror films. Something about them always feels different and it's not just the need for subtitles (on a lot of them), it's an undefinable shift in tone. They seem to be more willing to take risks and have less overall control from the studios. Either that or they're willing to let the writers and directors do what they feel is best. For that reason, these films tend to have a bit more fresh and unique spin on them, even if they're telling the same stories that we've seen a hundred times before. Case in point, 'Los Inocentes' aka 'Bloody April Fools'. A true to form, slasher film of the 80's variety. From the origin story to the main character, all the way down to the twist ending and silly, over the top kills. This movie oozes the 80's aesthetic. Now, going into this thing with no knowledge of what it was about or what to expect, may have been a misstep on my part. Why, you may ask? Because I didn't realize what the backstory was to it and this caused a bit of confusion and made me kind of look at it as a traditional style of horror film. As I was watching this, I did a quick bit of research, on http://www.IMDB.com, and saw the massive amount of writing and directing credits. It kind of threw me for a loop and in my review notes I was taking, I made a not to find out why? The reality was, that this is a movie that was made up of directors in their senior year of a directing workshop at ESCAC (Barcelona's film school.) Now, that is something I never saw coming! It also made me look at the entire project differently. Even the very short run time of one hour and 5 minutes, made more sense.
In Mexico and all over the Catholic world, December 28 commemorates the Santos Inocentes or Holy Innocents. It's basically the equivalent of America's April Fool's Day. A day where jokes are played on the innocent, hence the original Spanish title of the film, 'Los Inocentes'. However, for American audiences, it was changed to 'Bloody April Fools', which doesn't make sense, as the film takes place on December 28th. Regardless, it begins with a bunch of teenagers at a local hostel. They're all having a good time and playing pranks on each other, but one of the pranks goes too far. A rather nerdy teen, gets locked into an area where the hot water furnaces are and gets horrible burned and possibly even killed, in a very painful and cruel manner. Fast forward 15 years later, to the day. It's December 28th again and a group of teens are all loaded in a van, traveling together to an unknown destination. Upon realizing it's getting late and looking for a place to crash. They see the sign for the old hostel and stop at a local gas station to grab food and alcohol, before heading there for the night. The locals warn them that it's closed down, but they go anyway. All, but one of them. As the night slowly starts to wear on, they're each killed one by one. By the end of the evening, only two of them remain, as they fight for their lives against an unseen killer.
Sound familiar? It probably should. It's the basic outline for 75% of the slasher films ever made. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as you're getting what you pay for. Even since Sean S. Cunningham unleashed the original 'Friday the 13th' on the world, back in 1980, people having been copying it's outline for countless films ever since. Although, 'Los Inocentes' takes place in a hostel, it still follows the basic formula of teens + sex = death. Even the killer and the twist at ending, are carbon copies of things you've seen 100 times before. But, when you consider this was conceived in a classroom, by film students, it kind of makes more sense. Where this movie shines, is in the atmosphere and direction. It looks and feels beautiful. It's got very rich tones and is lush with amazing shots of the darkened hallways and abandoned rooms. The color palette is shockingly good. It also makes great use of a decent orchestral score and other found music, that fits well into the mood of the piece. Where it shows its inexperience is in the sound editing and poor cutting between scenes. It also suffers from trying to hard with the original kill concept. I can see what they were all going for, with the use of pranks and dark humor, to emphasize the 'Fools Day' aspect, it just falls short of hitting the mark. Even with all of that working for and against it, these young directors show an amazing amount of promise. With some time and experience, I can see the beginnings of some very cool things to come. I only wish the instructors had reigned them in just a bit, to make it all a bit less amateurish.
What has resonated with me, ever since finishing this last night, is the fact that it was all done as a group effort, by students cutting their teeth in the genre. There are many film makers, currently in the studio system in America, that aren't putting out the quality that I saw in 'Los Inocentes'. Even though I may never need to watch this one again, it's still something that I would recommend to up and coming film students, to show them that they can make art. Bloody, horrific art. Being a former film student myself and knowing my limitations and where I've ended up, I tip my hat to all of them. For working together and making something to be proud of. In my opinion, it's a 3 out of 5 star film, with moments of 4 stars and moments of 2 stars. It stands as a testament of what anyone can do, if they put their minds to it and have a little knowledge under their belt. Give this one a try and watch it with the eyes I didn't have. Perhaps you'll walk away from it with a renewed sense of faith in the foundation of the genre being strong for the future. I'm a slasher fan from way back and it's nice to see that there are other genre fans paving he way for a lot more bloody fun to come.
If you like this, check out some of it's bigger influences: 'Friday the 13th' (1980), 'The Burning' (1981) and 'Halloween 2' (1981)
