my thoughts on.... 'The Lashman' (an original Creepercast site review)

As with all of my reviews of the independent films that we get sent here at 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 appreciate 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 don't remember the first horror movie I ever watched, but my earliest memories them are from the monster magazines that used to sit in a forgotten box in the family room closet. A full page ad for 'Motel Hell' or a special effects article on 'Friday the 13th', I grew up on slasher films. They were everywhere in the 80's, you couldn't escape them.... just like you couldn't escape Michael Myers. For me they've always been the workingman's horror style. Simple, clean and brutal. There was never any need for a huge exposition on why the killer was killing or an elaborate plot to massacre the teenagers. It was all about sex, drugs and mayhem. If you had a mask, a distinct weapon and possibly a holiday to trigger your killing spree, then you had all the makings of a decent slasher film. It wasn't rocket science.
Over the years though, the art form was lost. It seemed that writers and directors kept wanting to re-invent the wheel. The problem is, why would you try and improve upon something that was already proven and tested and practically perfect? I get the Wes Craven methodology of wanting to breathe life in the genre and doing it by making it self aware. However, you can't over think a slasher movie, otherwise it'll lose the one thing that makes it a slasher.... simplicity. There's always exceptions to every rule and I fully understand this. Anyway, I've spent far too much time explaining my feelings on this particular genre of horror, but I wanted you to understand that I have a particular love of these types of movies. I always have. The only other horror genre I love more, is the zombie movie. But I'll save that discussion for another review.

'The Lashman' is an independent slasher movie written, directed and produced by Cameron McCasland. It's a simple throwback to the time when you had a handful of “teenagers”, a masked killer and a weekend in the woods. I've started to see these types of nostalgia movies popping up left and right in the past few years. People are going back to the well to appeal to the long since repressed memories of the movies we grew up with. The ones that we used to watch on VHS and hope that our mom didn't catch us or that the tracking would hold out during the upcoming sex scene. Cameron has filled this movie with references to the movies that came before. Like the crazy man in the beginning of the movie that's warning the kids about The Lashman. Not unlike Crazy Ralph from the original 1980 classic 'Friday the 13th', as played brilliantly by the late Walt Gorney. Or the scene where Jan looks out at Billy and asks him, “See something you like?” just like PJ Soles did in 'Halloween' (1978). These are just a couple of example's, but they're littered throughout the movie and I can appreciate Cameron for all the time and effort and subtle nods to each and every one of them.
The plot of 'The Lashman' is pretty straight forward and about as basic as you can get. 5 young people head out into the woods to spend the weekend at a cabin, where they plan on drinking and having sex. Once they get there, Billy tells them all a story about a madman nicknamed 'The Lashman'. A deranged killer who had been stalking the woods ever since he was beaten to near death with a whip, but was saved by a gypsy who gave him powers to seek revenge against those who'd wrongly wanted to kill him. The campers all take it at face value and think of it as just another local urban legend. What they don't realize is that The Lashman is all too real. He's already killed and is ready to kill again.

The movie opens with a couple being killed, but leaves us with very little clue as to how or why. From that point forward, it's about an hour before any more killing occurs. Before you dismiss this movie outright for not delivering a steady body count, let's take into consideration that Cameron is using all of this time to establish his characters. Given them each a personality and a back story, so that when they're killed.... you might actually care about them. Sadly, the constant talk and massive amount of time spent building up to the climax, made me lose interest in the characters that I was supposed to be caring about. I honestly think the movie would have played better, if there would have been some random slayings leading up to the finale. Nice idea, poorly executed. I think it fails because of the poorly written script and because of the wooden acting. Everyone seems as though they're doing a table read in the woods. 'The Lashman' also suffers from some serious pacing issues. It stutters and makes it difficult to get into the characters and scenes. A big chunk of this is due to the almost non-stop sound issues. I understand that it's a low budget movie and you have limited resources to work with, but Cameron's been making movies since 2008.... I would expect him to know better by now? Also, I'm not sure if the use of shaky cam was the best idea. It makes a movie, that was already showing it's amateur pedigree, even more low budget.
Despite the problems with this movie, it also has some good things going for it too. Cameron has a firm grasp on what needs to be done behind the camera to make professional looking establishing shots. It's very well filmed and edited together. That's one of the few things that kept my attention the whole way through. He also has a fairly compelling background story for 'The Lashman'. Sadly, the character himself is massively underwhelming. He's basically a reject from the cast of 'Tombstone', with bloody bandages over his face.... in a duster. How could this ever be scary or menacing? I have no clue. Perhaps the thought process was based about his weapon of choice, the bullwhip. This was supposed to be the hook, the thing that set this one apart from all the others. Too bad this weapon doesn't lend itself well to the slasher genre. Maybe if the whole thing was treated more as a satire, then I would have gotten the joke. The idea of a slasher, with no weapon for actual slashing. Irony perhaps?

In the end, 'The Lashman' leaves more to be desired than to be praised. I give Cameron credit for bringing his vision to life and making the movie he set out to make, but I'm left feeling like I deserved a deformed killer in a mask. If this is truly going to be a throwback to a simpler time, then give us the killer we expect and deserve. Not just a man who looks like a cross between 'Darkman' and the Marlboro Man. I'd give this movie 2 out of 5 stars. Both of which are for his cinematography and effort, not for the end result. 'The Lashman' doesn't need or deserve a sequel, but it's set up in the end for one anyway. I'm hoping the gypsy curse will wear off long before then.
Oh, yes.... one final thing. If you've going to have your lead actress scream at the end, make sure she keeps screaming until you say, “Cut!” or edit the shot so it looks like she's screaming until the credits roll. That is all.

If you want other original 80's slashers, check out: 'The Burning', 'Friday the 13th' (1980) or 'Madman' (1982) also if you want an amazing series of over the top 80's throwbacks? Watch the 'Hatchet' trilogy.

my thoughts on.... 'Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead' (an original Creepercast site review)

As with all of my reviews of the independent films I watch 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....
Obviously, from my last two 'Top' lists for zombie films, I'm a huge fan of the genre. Therefore, any time there's a new release that gets any kind of good notices, I'm eager to check it out. The whole genre is so over saturated with amateur outings and sub par fare, that it's rare to find anything new or worthwhile. Not that there aren't a few diamonds in the rough, but they are few and far between. Keeping that in mind and realizing the sheer scope of the overloaded market, when I first saw the poster for 'Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead', I was a bit excited. It came across more as another installment in the 'Mad Max' franchise, than a zombie film. But the more I read about it and after seeing the trailer, I went from a little excited to flat out geeked! Not only was it a zombie film, it was an action movie and Australian to boot! All of the elements of another 'Undead', but with some cool post apocalyptic twists thrown in for good measure. It felt like forever before I finally got around to seeing it, but it was more than worth the wait. From start to finish, this was something new and all of the things that are right with zombie film making.

Written and directed by Kiah Roche-Turner, 'Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead' tells the story of 4 unlikely men who end up joining forces to survive after a zombie outbreak has overtaken the world. Meanwhile, a woman is kidnapped and forced into some experiments that involve zombies and control tactics. Not truly realizing what she was about to discover about herself and the future of the human race. That's the basic breakdown of the story, without giving away too many of the plot points. This is one that you just need to watch, with minimal knowledge, so that you can enjoy all that it has too offer. Despite the low budget, this film puts some similar big budget competitors to the test and the payoff at the end more than outweighs the budget constraints. It's an incredibly simple plot, that plays to so many different things on so many different levels, it demands that you watch it more than once.
From the first 5 minutes of this film, you know you're in for something special. It's fast paced, intense and funny in all the right places. You also quickly realize that these aren't your Romero style undead. They are way more agile and seem to be hiding some kind of unknown power. This creates a different feel then I'm used to with most of the movies in this genre. It takes a little bit to get used to the thick Australian accents, but luckily there isn't that much dialogue to have to decipher. (Plus, subtitles are a wonderful thing!) It's also not the Australia that you're used to seeing. It's very lush and green and made me question if it was even in the outback originally. There's plenty of references to other zombie films from the past for the hardcore viewers and lots of new stuff for people who may not be familiar with this type of horror. It plays to the audience on every level. Every thing about this movie felt fresh, even if the territory is well worn. If I had any complaints at all, it's that the last 20 minutes of this film, slows down for just a beat or two.... but then has an amazingly cool and kick ass ending that will make you long for a sequel. (Which is currently in the works!)
There's so much more I want to say about this film, but I just feel like I would be being redundant at this point. Stop reading this review and just go and watch it. Check your brain at the door and keep your expectations low and you will be rewarded in a BIG, bad way! 4 out of 5 stars. This film has re-watchability and will long be remembered as a cult status. It is also going to spawn a franchise, mark my words. Hopefully some action figures too. I think I'm going to go and watch it again right now.

If you like this, check out: the 'Resident Evil' franchise, 'Undead' and 'Zombieland'

my thoughts on.... 'Knock Knock' (an original Creepercast site review)

“Why can't people in Hollywood come up with an original idea anymore?”
That's the question many people seem to be asking recently. Why, you ask? Because remakes are everywhere these days. No matter what your opinion on them, you can't ignore their existence or look at them as lesser films because they're a re-telling of someone's elses original story. Perhaps there are more of them now, than in the past, but remakes have always existed. What's ironic about them is that, when it's a film, it's not okay, but when it's a song or a cartoon, it's accepted and even applauded. Really, what's the difference? Take the music of Mozart, for example, how many times and how many orchestras have redone his various pieces of music? Why doesn't this logic apply to films too? Case in point, Eli Roth's 'Knock Knock', a modern take on Peter Traynor's 1977 film 'Death Game'. Times have changed pretty drastically, since the 70's. Now with the era of cell phones, social media and a new mentality for the modern youth culture, you take something that was dated and make it relevant again. Not unlike swapping out one conductor for another, to re-shape the music and make it something new again. Granted, it may be the same basic story as before, but it feels entirely different and becomes something you can fall in love with all over again. It doesn't happen all the time. There are some directors and studios who are in it for the cash grab. The ones who just want a quick and easy way to make a buck. Those are few and far between, as sequels are the better option for the ones who only worship the almighty dollar. I truly feel that most of the directors who take on the remake or re-imaging, have a genuine desire to pay homage to the original and want to put their own stamp on it. To give it something unique that maybe share something they felt that was missing or that would enhance the original story line. Rob Zombie, Alexandre Aja, and many other well respected directors, have taken something old and made it new again. Now, you can add Eli Roth to that ever growing list.

It's been a big year, so far, for Mr. Roth. As a matter of fact, I already shared my thoughts on his cannibalistic tour de force, 'The Green Inferno'. It took two years for that one to hit the theaters and in the meantime, he hopped back into the director's chair to helm 2015's 'Knock Knock'. He'd taken quite a hiatus, prior to these films, and I was beginning to wonder if he'd ever come back to his roots. He's a man that helmed the next generation of horror masters and brought gore back to the mainstream, where it'd gone missing ever since the self aware 90's. He's someone that never stops moving and always seems to have something going on creatively. Whether it's hosting 'Shark Week' on the Discovery channel or acting in the underrated film 'Aftershock'. (Which he also co-wrote, with Nicholas Lopez.) Eli Roth is a man of many hats. He was born to entertain and never misses the opportunity to do just that. Say what you will about the quality of his work or the method in which he brings it to life, the man's films are never dull. I'm a fan, so I may be a little biased. However, he must be doing something right, as he's worked with some of the biggest and brightest in Hollywood and hasn't stopped working since 'Cabin Fever' was released in 2002. (That film garnered two sequels, both of which had a certain charm on their own, but without him in the director's chair.) 'Knock Knock' stands out among his body of work as a bit of an anomaly. It has all of the earmarks of an Eli Roth joint, but with some restraint in the gore category. You can feel the same tension and not so subtle allegory that he's working to show you, it's just told in a bit more slick and streamlined fashion. Nothing wrong with an artist showing growth in their work. The minute you stop growing and changing, is the moment you hang up your hat and move on to reality television.
The film begins with a tranquil scene of family life. A man, his wife, their 2 kids and Monkey, the French bulldog all waking up to quiet, suburban life. However, you can quickly see the cracks in the foundation, as we're introduced to the fact that things aren't quite what they seem. It's subtle, but still painfully obvious that Evan Webber (played by Keanu Reeves) and Karen Alvarado (played by Ignacia Allamand) are having issues in their marriage. It's even suggested that it wasn't the first time things have been a problem. Soon, his wife and kids are off and he's left alone for the weekend. Then comes the dark and stormy night, not unlike the beginning of oh so many horror stories, when 2 lost girls come knocking on the door. It starts out innocently enough. A man, doing the right thing and helping them to dry off and call them a car to come and pick them up. However, during the 45 minute wait for their ride, there's a shift in the conversation. From innocent to not so innocent to flat out dirty. Evan is flirty, at first, but in a way that most people would react when attention from the opposite sex is shown. Flattered and feeling vital for the first time in a while, he encourages the attention. When they push things past the point where he feels comfortable, he tries to calm things down. He does everything he can, but they refuse to take no for an answer. In a role reversal to most films in this genre, the girls become the predator and the man becomes the prey and once things have gone past the point of no return.... all bets are off. The next morning, Evan finds that they're not in bed anymore. He wanders into the kitchen where they've all but destroyed it while making breakfast. Things turn from bad to worse, as the girls won't leave. After doing everything he can to end this night of terror, they agree to leave. He drops them off and thinks it's over. He ends up being wrong and that's where the real horror begins. What happens from that point forward, has to be seen to be believed. I won't spoil it for you, as part of the fun is the ride itself. If you can call it fun? It's truly a terrifying thing, to know that no matter what you do and how you try and handle a situation, if it's out of your control.... there is nothing you can do. Nothing.

At it's core, 'Knock Knock' is a home invasion film. It also shares a lot of similarities to all of the other films of Eli Roth. From it's slow opening set up, complete with beautiful music playing and very pretty bits of scenery all around. Something to establish what beauty is, before the ugly sets in. Beautiful women and beautiful foreign women, Eli can't get enough of them. All of the tension that illuminates every one of his other films, is ratcheted up in this one, mainly because of the antagonists. You're not quite sure how far they'll go and you also don't know if they are underage or just young looking. It causes you to feel very conflicted and mentally ties your hands as to what you can do to get rid of them, if you were in his shoes? Where things start to separate themselves from his earlier work, is in the gore department. 'Knock Knock' is light on the blood, guts, gore and icky stuff. However, it still feels every bit like an Eli Roth creation. As the story progresses, the film ends up being less of a horror film and more of a psychological thriller, with some horror on the side. It's as if he saw this as an opportunity to turn exploitation films upside down. Make the women the villains and the man the victim. It's very effective, but could be taken as a negative by some. It leaves you wondering if the women are serial killers, girls on some kind of a mission or perhaps just flat out sicko's. It causes Keanu's character to have a weird fit of spastic rage, that is one of the few weak spots in the film. Keanu isn't designed for that kind of outburst, in my opinion. Also, the ending feels right for a film made in the 70's, but sticks out like a sore thumb in a modern film. Is it all a joke or just a game or will this continue to go on for as long as they don't get caught? At the end of a long day of kidnapping, 'Knock Knock' falls into the 3 out of 5 star range. There are far too many plot holes, missing motivations and a script that needed a modern punching up to make this a 4 star film. It doesn't make it a bad film, just less than I expect from a man who's built a solid reputation and is a reason I love horror like I do. Watch it and judge for yourself, just don't let any stranded girls in from the rain, unless your Dieter Laser.... but that's another film.

If you like this, check out some other, intense, home invasion films: 'The Strangers', 'Ils' aka 'Them' or 'Funny Games' (1997 or 2008)

my thoughts on.... 'The Gallows' (an original Creepercast site review)

Here we are again, another found footage horror movie and another review trying to determine if it's worth your time to watch.
It seems like these days, independent film makers and Hollywood would rather invest their time and money into a genre that's already bloated in the marketplace, then to work on creating a new long term franchise with a traditionally made film. It's not that there's a lack of new ideas or that reboots and remakes are killing the genre, it's simply that it's cheaper, easier and makes more money to create a movie like 'The Gallows'. You can use no name actors and nobody thinks twice. You can skimp on your production crew, because it's supposed to look amateurish. You can even short the audience on costuming and the fine details, because the camera is not as high quality and everything is so jumpy. Nobody will ever notice. By saying all that, I'm not concluding that the found footage genre is a bad thing. As a matter of fact, I'm a huge supporter. If you can take something that's so over blown and put something out there that's fun, clever and damn scary, then you've got my attention and my admiration. Not unlike the zombie films of the last decade, the 'self aware' horror of the 90's and the slasher films of the 80's, found footage is the “it” genre to work in right now. Therefore, you better come at me with both guns blazing and be prepared to put your heart and soul into the project.... because I'm not going to give you a pass just because you half assed it.

'The Gallows' falls somewhere in the middle of all of that. I don't think the film makers phoned it in and I truly believe that they were putting their best foot forward. Especially since this was originally funded independently by people who'd never invested in a film before. They wanted to make the film their way and took the time and faith of others to do it. However, I think that Hollywood took advantage of the situation and stuck both their hands into the pot and stirred it up. Just like the old saying goes, “Too many cooks, spoil the broth.” The end result was a movie that started off strong, but ended with a giant collective groan and a whine.
The plot centers around Reese, a high school football player who's taken on a leading role in the theater department's upcoming production of a play called 'The Gallows'. It's the same show that the school put on over a decade ago, that resulted in the death of one of the students. His best friend Ryan and Cassidy continually question his motives, until they learn that he's got a crush on his leading lady, Pfeifer. During the course of the day, Reese, Ryan and Cassidy decide to sneak into the school, after hours, to investigate things and sabotage some of the production. Once inside, they quickly realize that they may get more than they planned on. They're also joined by Pfeifer, who saw Reese's car in the parking lot and came inside to find out why he was there. Over the course of the night, things go from bad to worse, as they begin to be terrorized by an unseen force. Locked inside the school and with no way to stop the entity within, the 4 of them must find a way to escape before they all end up dead.

Filmed inside one of the most haunted buildings in California, the cast was not aware of the scares that the directors had prepared for them. Therefore, all of the reactions are real. It was also always the intention of the film makers to create a new horror icon in their main character, Charlie Grimille. The film has already sparked a resurgance of the game 'Charlie Charlie' and created an interest in the Charlie Grimille Halloween costume. This was intended to be a franchise from day 1 and to be something more than a throw away horror film that no one would remember in 10 years from now. Sadly, I don't think it worked. Personally, as a film lover, horror buff and a guy who doesn't always follow the rest of the crowd.... I think that if this was done in a more traditional style, they could have had the icon they intended. Instead, I believe that this genre is too unforgiving to allow for this to happen. The 'Paranormal Activity' juggernaut is a rarity. It's the exception, not the rule. It's just too hard to build something long lasting, with a format that's so spur of the moment. You can only take it so far, before the audience loses interest in the gag and wants actual substance instead of a gimmick. Even 'Paranormal Activity' is starting to suffer from this syndrome and has slowly been on the decline since part 3. The other issues I have with this movie is the lack of logic. Yeah, I know, horror isn't about logic all the time. However, what school would have a door that's perpetually unlocked in this day and age? With all of the school shootings going on since 1999, school security is a #1 priority for any place of learning. Also, what school would allow the theater department to put on a new production of a play that killed one of the former students? How incredibly distasteful and cold hearted would you have to be to let it happen? I can only imagine that the parental uproar over the mere mention of it, would more than convince the school board to never allow it to happen. Finally, let's talk about the killer himself. Charlie is far from scary, intimidating or even interesting to watch. He's basically a Halloween costume with a puffy shirt on. (Meaning he looks kind of like a pirate.) And the noose? While the idea of choking to death is frightening, the idea of dying by the hands of a low rent pirate, with a hood on, is not. Perhaps if they'd cheated things a little more and not made him so front and center? Maybe it could have worked? And the ending? Don't get me started on that one. Not too mention, I don't want to spoil the surprise, twist ending.
All in all, I still think you should watch it for yourself and then decide what you think. Maybe you'll like it? I, personally, don't ever need to see it again and unless the reviews are beyond stellar for the next one, I won't be watching any more in this potential franchise. 'The Gallows' has moments of brilliance, but they're so few and far between that I can't give it a pass on those moments alone. I will be curious to see what the writer/directors Travis Cluff and Chris Lofing will do in the future. They obviously have skill, creativity and desire. I just think they need a better vehicle to show it off. All in all, 2 out of 5 stars. Not the worst of the genre, but certainly not the best.

If you like found footage, check out: 'As Above, So Below', 'Paranormal Entity' or 'Atrocious'

my thoughts on.... 'Cooties' (an original Creepercast site review)

The phrase, “There's nothing new under the sun.”, get's used a lot. The reality is, that there is a LOT more new under the sun. You just have to wait for someone's brain to give birth to that singular, new idea. 'Cooties' is one of those concepts that you never imagined would be real or that could be made into a film. However, as I sit here writing these words down, I've just witnessed the final product and I have to admit, I checked things I saw off of my bucket list.... that I didn't even know existed!
As a child growing up, there always seemed to be an ongoing epidemic of cooties. It would spread from person to person and ran rampant throughout the halls, yet no one really ever saw it. No one could really ever define what it was. Some thought it was head lice, others thought it was some kind of internal disease, some thought you got it from kissing. The community of child scientists was baffled by the entire pandemic and had very little known cures. As time passed and we grew older, we became less vulnerable to the cooties virus and eventually we all grew out of it. This was the reality that this film was based on.... if this film was based in reality. Luckily for the viewer, it's not and thank god for that.

'Cooties' takes that old kids game/phobia and turns it on it's head, creating an entirely new and mutated form of the invisible disease of children. Making it fun, gory, over the top and sometimes a little hard to watch. Yet, a midst all of the death and destruction, there's a heart beating. One that you can't deny, no matter how many times you continually bash little Patriot's head in with a fire extinguisher. This movie is the 'Little Engine That Could' of underage, viral zombie outbreak films, with ass kicking results. You can't watch this from start to finish without feeling a little dirty and a hell of a lot entertained.
The film takes place in a smaller town called Ft. Chicken, IL. It centers a round a new substitute teacher (played by Elijah Wood), who is about to start his first day teaching, at the school he went to as a child. We soon learn that he's a struggling author, working on his first book about a killer/possessed boat. Upon arriving at the school, he's met with a very strange cast of characters. Rainn Wilson's over the top PE teacher, Leigh Whannell's left of center and not very well liked science teacher, Jack McBrayer's covertly homosexual teacher trying to keep things under wraps and Allison Pill's incredibly socially awkward soon to be love interest? They all converge in the teachers lounge where we quickly learn the food chain at this school. Once the bell rings, things seem to be going fine, until one little girl, who's eaten a tainted chicken nugget, bites a classmate named Patriot. She runs off and he ends up in the nurse's office and soon we're starting to get that feeling that something just isn't right about the way this day is going. As the bell rings and recess begins, the teachers head to the lounge as the kids go outside to play. Surrounded on all sides by fencing, the little girl proceeds to bite or scratch every child on the playground, who all turn into murderous zombie like monsters and all hell breaks loose. The teacher's then hunker down as they try to make a plan of escape, which soon turns into a plan of survival as there is no way out and it seems that the outside world is just as infected. I won't give you anymore than that, as that would be doing this film a huge disservice. Some of the greatest moments contained in this masterpiece, rely on your ignorance as to what's yet to come?

Directed by Jonathan Miloutt and Cary Murnion and then written by Leigh Whannell (co-creator of the 'Saw' and 'Insidious' franchises) and Ian Brennan (co-creator of the wildly successful TV series 'Glee'), who both also have roles in this film. They also co wrote the original story with Josh C. Waller and I have to say: The combination of their skills, abilities and backgrounds, created something really fresh and fun. I can honestly say I haven't really seen anything quite like this before. From the opening sequence in the chicken slaughterhouse right up to the moment when the first child attacks, I was literally seeing something brand new. (at least that wasn't posted as a shock tactic on a PETA site) This film also features a stellar cast of actor's who are all there to commit to the project and are obviously have a hell of a good time with the material. Just the 'Hobbit' joke Rainn Wilson makes at Elijah Wood, was worth the price of admission. Speaking of which, Rainn steals this movie and never even once apologizes. I feel a little bad for the rest of the cast, but he was born to play this role. Leigh Whannell was also a stand out. His character was incredibly quirky and not someone I would want educating my children, but someone that might come in handy in an apocalypse. Just sayin'. Oh and one more character I have to mention, but you'll have to watch to find out why.... The Janitor. 'Nuff said.
The film itself takes several opportunities to make little social commentaries on our education system as well as the over medication of our children. On, at least, 2 different occasions the use of drugs to keep our children calm was shown. They also play up how the parents influence the behavior of the child and there's only 2 really innocent children in the whole school. It's kind a sad state of affairs, but an important point to make. As these kids are our future, but not in this film. In this film they are our worst nightmare. They're quick, resilient, intelligent and like to eat boogers. I will warn you, the viewer, that if you don't like to see films with violence towards children.... this may not be the movie for you. It's pretty much non-stop and there's a lot of variation on the theme. Granted, if you're open minded and can take a joke, there is a lot of gold to be mined out of this amazing little gem of a film.

All in all, 'Cooties' is a fantastic end of summertime film. It's got amazing music, that's used to it's advantage. It's got a wonderfully colorful cast of characters. The script is well thought out and intelligent. The one liners are worthy of any 80's action film you've ever seen and some of the things that happen, will always be in the back of my mind. I mean, just wait until you see how the final child from the original school is dispatched. Pretty brutal. So strap yourself into a comfortable seat somewhere, grab a 20 piece box of chicken nuggets (with sauces), fire up the DVD/Blu ray player and watch an already cult classic. This is one that I'll have to own, at some point, because it deserves repeat viewing and to be shared with the world. Just like the flaming kid running after the car at the end of the move, he knows what's up? A solid 4 ½ out of 5 stars. Highly recommended to all the Creeps out there.

If you like this one, pair it up with: 'Deathgasm', 'Wolfcop' and 'Zombeavers' ….and watch your head explode with delight!

my thoughts on.... '7th Day' (an original Creepercast site review)

As with all of my reviews of the independent films that we get sent here at 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 appreciate 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....
Serial killers have fascinated people, for as long as the term 'serial killer' has existed. Even more than the horrific acts they commit on other human beings, people have wanted to know the how and why of what drove them to do such monsterous things. Were they born that way? Was it a learned behavior? Nature vs nurture? Some killers have opened up and revealed their inner most secrets, others have been laid bare on the silver screen by writers willing to enter the mouth of maddness. However, no matter how many books are written or films produced, the public never loses it's bloodlust for serial killers. I, myself, even went through an extended serial killer phase. I read multiple books, online articles and watched a ton of documentaries and film adaptations. It was so incredibly fascinating to delve into such a twisted and dark side of the world. To enter into a place that I could never imagine going and that I wondered how anyone else could live there on a daily basis? Eventually, my curisoity passed and I turned my desire to study maddness, into a passing interest in the macbre reality of insanity. I still enjoy the occasional study of serial killers and watching a movie about real or imagined monsters that live next door. The ones hiding in plain sight, but I tend to mix it up a bit more than I used to.

In the movie, '7th Day', it takes the mold of the modern day killer and gives a it slight twist. Just enough to make it feel fresh, but not quite far enough to make it a classic. There were many moments were I could see beyond it's smaller budget, by the use of interesting dialogue or well laid out shots. It was the kind of movie, where as I was watching it, I could have imagined myself creating the same movie. It made me long for the days of film school, where every one of my peers wanted to make the next big thing. Wanted to re-invent the wheel or to say something that people would latch on too. The reality is, that it's a one in a million opportunity that many of us will strive for in this life, but only a small handful will achieve. I do think that Jason M. Koch has some things about his film making style that show he has those skills. Perhaps his 'Citizen Kane' hasn't come along just yet, but he has an eye for setting up a shot and gets the best out of what he has available. When your audience can sit and watch what you've created and lose themselves in the story and completely over look the problem areas, then you've succeeded at what you've set out to do. I found myself doing that on several occasions. Wanting to learn more about Allen and what was motivating him to do what he does. That's a credit to Mark Leake, who wrote the script and Mark S. Sanders, who played the main character of Allen. They worked well together to bring a fully formed character to life.
The basic premise of '7th Day' is a simple one. Allen is a man who doesn't see himself as having a problem. He can stop any time he wants, but yet he has the compulsion to kill and do horrific things with his victims. He's a dishwasher by trade, but a "hunter" by birth. An avid watcher of the news, he generally stays to himself, but when he opens up to those around him, it's obvious that he's socially unstable. The only thing that seems to interest him, outside of killing, is his co-worker Denise. He feels that they have a connection that will someday bring them together. However, she barely knows he exists and would prefer to keep it that way. Allen lives next door to Bill, a suspected pedophile and all around waste of space. The two hang out on occasion and Allen refers to him as his friend, but it seems that he's more of an illusion of a friend. Someone to keep up appearances and to help keep his secret life safe. Allen murders at will and completely at random. Whatever he see's that he thinks will give him the feeling of being alive, is what he kidnaps, tortures and kills. There is no escape. Meanwhile, he's never truly alone as Allen has a phantom interviewer, who is allowing him to tell the story of his life. It's clear that only Allen can see the creature, but he's there with him at all times. To capture every waking moment of his twisted day, as we count down to the inevitable '7th Day'.

All in all, this is a huge step up from my first review for The Creepercast of'The Lashman'. Granted, the sound is a bit spotty, like in 'The Lashman', but much more consistent overall. There's some real moments of genius in this and there's other times where I feel like there was things that were there, just for shock value. One of my favorite parts of this movie was during the flashback's about Allen's family growing up. Particularly about his father's suicide. This was the best shot in the whole movie. It felt like it could have been taken straight out of Vincent Gallo's 'Buffalo '66'. It was a master stroke and executed flawlessly. In this movie, Allen's character has a constant monoluge going on. Several times, we see the phantom interviewer to make sure and establish what Allen is seeing in his mind. However, there are times where a little more interaction with others, could have proved more insightful. There were also some things that felt uncessary or unexplained. Like when Allen shoots the husband of a potential victim in the head and ran away. It had seemed like there was a plan there, but that it backfired and we never found out why? It was like, suddenly the monologue stopped. There were also several over the top gore sequences, which I think were meant to be there to spotlight how mundane his regular life is and to make the shocking parts stand out even more? But more often than not, they felt gratuitous and unecessessary. I wanted more of Allen falling further from reality and maybe a slower build to the over the top gross out could have proven more effective. Some of the more positive things about '7th Day' were in the victim that, although dead, lived on through his television. She spoke to him periodically and it was obvious that she was the voice of reason and his inner monolouge keeping him on the fringe of santiy. It was a nice touch that really felt quite original to me. I also liked that he didn't live in a clean world. Allen's world was disgusting, dirty and down right foul. No one would ever notice all the horrible things he was doing with the complete decay all around him. Everything was dirty and falling apart. I also appreciated his different ways of coping with being who he was. The way even he was intimidated by his drug dealer, showed that he was human at his core, but still a monster within.
The last thoughts I have on '7th Day' are this: 1) Did we really need the last kill to have the little bit of extra gross out? I won't give away what exactly happened, but it was one of those moments that felt ham fisted and forced. 2) What was with the ending? We get one giant question mark as to what was really going to happen on the '7th Day'? It was incredibly unsatisfying. I left the whole experience feeling a bit let down and hungry for more than I was given. 3) What actually happened to Bill? Did I miss the part where we find out his fate? At the end of the day, I enjoyed '7th Day'. It was a breath of fresh air, in a garbage dump of a place. The character of Allen was well thought out and played superbly and sublimely by Mark S. Sanders. The story was simple, but effective and I think with some minor adjustments, this could really be something special. I'm giving it 3 1/2 stars out of 5 and recommending that if you're looking for something a little different than you've seen before, then you should give this little independent nasty a try. Just take my word for this and don't eat a meal while it's on.... trust me on this one.

If you'd like to see a few other movies, that I think helped inspire '7th Day', check out: 'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer', the 'August Underground' trilogy or 'C'est arrivé près de chez vous' aka 'Man Bites Dog'

my thoughts on.... 'A Christmas Horror Story' (an original Creepercast site review)

As with all of my reviews of the independent films that we get sent here at 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....
The anthology film is a staple of the horror world. It doesn't seem to cross over into other genre's often, but with horror it seems to work and work well. From the early blueprints for what would later become feature length films, 'The Twilight Zone', 'Tales from the Crypt' and 'Tales From the Darkside' set the stage for individually wrapped fright fests. There's something to be said for the pure ingenuity it takes to write one of these types of films. The craft of creating an interwoven story line that crisscrosses each other until they all converge in the ending that then ties it all together or brings it back for a hook. Sometimes, the anthology can even turn into a franchise such as the 'V/H/S/' series of found footage films. Now, over the years, there has only ever been a small niche for these specialized stories. I can count on two hands the number of them that come to mind and none of them take place at Christmas time. Granted, there's probably more out there waiting to be created and discovered, but for now we're only focusing on the 2015 release of 'A Christmas Horror Story'. A virtual stocking stuffer of a film containing several tales of tinsel and terror.

As this is several stories strung together by a common thread, there is more than one writer and director involved. At the helm and providing direction is Grant Harvey, Steven Hoban and Brett Sullivan. Taking up the challenge of creating a fun holiday horror are the writers, Jason Filiatrault, James Kee, Sarah Larsen, Doug Taylor and Pasca Trottier. Now, despite all of the wonderful cast and crew involved, there's one that stands out and serves as a narrator and the common thread through it all.... none other than the man himself, William Shatner. He plays Dangerous Dan, the local DJ and our version of the horror host. I hate to say that it's perfect casting, but it really is. He steals each scene that he's in, mainly from himself and occasionally from the other stories that happen before and after his scenes. Speaking of the other stories, in this anthology we have 4 main stories and the one that's happening in the world of Dangerous Dan. In no particular order, we have a story involving a rather terrible family on their way to see a distant aunt so they can ask her for money. Before leaving, the oldest daughter passes the keys to the school over to a trio or after hours adventurers. Kids who are off to investigate part of their school where a couple of other kids had been ritualistically been murdered a few years earlier. While on the way to their aunts house, the terrible family pass a car going the other way, which contains a mother, father and son on their way to cut down a tree. However, this family is trespassing and during their search for the perfect Christmas tree, the little boy gets lost inside of an opening in a rather ominous looking tree. Last but not least, in the opening scene and bringing in some additional Christmas cheer, we have Santa himself! He's knee deep in infected elves who are out to murder him and Mrs. Claus. That's all I'm going to say about the stories contained within. I won't give you any more than those brief breakdowns of each of the main plots. Why, you ask? Because the real gift of this film, is not knowing what's about to happen. Right up until the end of this film, I never saw the actual ending that was yet to come. The most brilliant part of all of this is that it literally ties all 5 stories into one common narrative. It makes sense of every single story and builds a single universe in which they can all co-exist. Yes, you heard me right. It's all explained by the end and even goes on into the credits. Seriously, I was knocked back at the realization, when it happened. That should be more than enough for me to recommend this film. Heck, any film that can boast this, deserves your undivided attention.... but wait, there's more!
Ithink the biggest thing I want to get across with this review is that 'A Christmas Horror Story' is so much more than a holiday film or a movie with just a gimmick and nothing else. This is not only a, soon to be cult classic holiday horror, it's also a really solid, scary movie. There's so much love and care put into it from start to finish. It's like a living embodiment of the philosophy of Bruce Lee, there's no wasted movements here. All of the pacing, timing, jump scares, blood, guts and other stuff is balanced with such precision that you'd think it was all handled by one single mind. That's what makes it even more impressive. This is 3 people who had to collaborate to create one fluid piece. Even beyond that, it's loaded with genuinely frightening imagery and scares. Case in point, during the story about the little boy in the tree, there are several scenes with him just out of frame, in the darkness. In those little moments, you can barely make him out, but his eyes are glowing and very clearly visible. It reminds me of cat's eyes, only so much more creepy. It literally made my skin crawl, every time that device was used. Not only is it hard to create a child that you're afraid of, but to do it in such a simple and effective way. It's quite ingenious. Sure, you've seen it before, but that doesn't take any of it's power away. Not too mention.... I'll never turn my back in the kitchen, when there's a potential for someone crawling on the ceiling. Makes my hair stand on end just thinking about it all. There's also the age old tactic of the distance shots to establish the scene and to also distract you with other action in the foreground. It's used several times in this film and is something I don't see enough in modern horror. Not in the same way it's used here. It's as if the directors understand what true horror is. Not the blood and guts of random strangers pouring out all over the asphalt, it's about playing on your psychological fears and deep rooted primal instincts. What scares you the most? This film may just have the answer or might just create a new one.

In the end, 'A Christmas Horror Story' presents a reality where almost no one is good and everyone is naughty. A world where a happy ending, may only come after a night in hell. Each and every story is a morality tale on something we can all relate too. Maybe the method of delivery is paranormal or fantastic in nature, but we all want an escape from real life and don't want to be hit on the head by a message every time we go to see a movie. We want to have fun, get scared and celebrate the holiday season. I very much want to go into great detail about each and every story that I saw, but in doing so I would take away the power contained within. That's the hardest part of a review like this one. Because there were so many things happening and so many things I was excited to see, all I wanted to do was share them with someone else. However, too many people put too much time and effort into this one that I wouldn't cheat them out of their gift that kept on giving.
During this holiday season, we've been given several new and worthwhile additions to the holiday horror sub genre. With Hollywood's discovery of the Krampus legend, it's revitalized the genre in a way I haven't seen in awhile. Even if the market is overly saturated by Krampus themed films, I'm still all for it because it means the door is open for other stuff to claw it's way through. Sadly, there's some garbage among the greatness, but they can't all be winners. 'A Christmas Horror Story' is an example of Christmas carnage done right. A very solid 4 out of 5 stars and one that should be in everyone's stocking this year. If there was anything at all to find fault with, it would maybe be with the trio of teenagers in the school. At times, it was a little too generic and unoriginal in it's story line and presentation, but it still had enough shining moments to carry it through and not bog down the rest of the film. This is the perfect movie for Christmas morning, after all the presents are unwrapped. Get a luke warm piece of the remaining breakfast casserole, a fresh cup of hot coffee, a glass of cold orange juice, light a fire in the fireplace and pop in this movie. While the snow is gently coming down outside, you can sit in the safety of your nice, warm easy chair and enjoy the ride you're about to embark on. By the end of your journey, you're belly will be full and you'll feel the spirit of the season deep inside.... or is it something or someone else you're feeling? Only Dangerous Dan knows for sure.

If you like anthology horror, check out some other ones: 'Creepshow', 'Trick r' Treat' and the 'V/H/S' franchise

my thoughts on.... 'Body' (an original Creepercast site review)

As with all of my reviews of the independent films that we get sent here at 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....
Hey kid, want to see a dead body? Then keep reading....
In our continuing coverage of the upcoming Christmas carnage this year, tonight I curled up next to a roaring fire, with my two basset hounds and settled in with one of my early presents, Dan Berk and Robert Olsen's film, 'Body' (2015). Taking a few pages out of the Hitchcock playbook, these up and coming film makers have created a simple, slow burning and very satisfying piece of cinema to enjoy after wrapping all your gifts on Christmas eve. It's not heavy handed, it doesn't try to hard to be hip and it never gives you a moment to really catch your breath. Don't let the pacing fool you, I found myself on the edge of my seat for the entire ride. It just proves that you don't need non-stop murder and mayhem to make an incredibly effective film. This one boasts a very small body count and an equally small cast, but each and every one involved is committed to the story and the way it's being told. That makes me believe that we've got more great things to come from this writer/director duo.

'Body' (2015) opens with a frantic 911 call, as the credits slowly roll by one by one. Initially, you're a little thrown off, as you have no idea what's happening or why? However, before you can really understand what's happening, we cut to the outside of a suburban home decorated for the Christmas holiday season. Inside we meet Holly (Helen Rogers), Cali (Alexandra Turshen) and Mel (Lauren Molina), three teenage girls who are all lazily gathered around a heated game of Scrabble. It's a Friday night and due to the holidays, everything is closed. The girls have spent the night drinking and eventually getting a little high. In an effort to liven things up, Cali suggests going out and finding something to do. Mel and Holly are a little hesitant, but soon find themselves driving down a darkened road to an unknown destination. Before long, they come across a truck on the side of the road, surrounded by flares. In an attempt to help, Cali slows down, only to find a rather frightening looking, bearded man. They quickly keep moving, as none of them really want to let some strange man in the car. Soon, they've pulled into the driveway of a very large, very expensive home.. Cali tells them that it's her uncle's place and he's away, so it's okay for them to hang out inside and continue where they left off from before. More drinking and being teenagers continues, until they realize that someone else has shown up to ruin the party. Before they even have a chance to assess the situation, they opt for making a run for it. In all the chaos, they knock the man (played with subtle brilliance by Larry Fessenden) down a flight of stairs and are soon left with a conundrum no one ever wants to be in.... do you call the police and report that you've killed a man or do you try and cover it up and protect yourself from what the consequences that might soon follow?
Like a present, neatly wrapped under the tree, you're going to have to wait until you see the movie to find out what's inside. A large part of the reason this film works so well, is based on the premise that you don't know what's going to happen next. You can shake the package all you want, but when your main characters are 3 teenage girls with limited life experience outside of what they've seen on TV and in the theaters, you'll never known what you're going to get next. With that being said, I highly recommend that you avoid the trailer and any other early reviews, before watching this one. In my humble opinion, the decision to tell a story that we've seen before, but from a different perspective and in a modern world, lends itself to a rather unique outcome. One that creates a very fresh feeling and take on a classic morality tale. What would you do, in an impossible situation?

As a former film student and long time lover of the art form, it's not always easy to find something new or that I haven't seen before. 'Body' (2015) accomplishes this using elements from a lot of other source material and putting it so seamlessly together, that I was hard pressed to really pull it apart until long after it was over. I'm still puzzling out all the nods to other genre's and film makers that Dan Berk and Robert Olsen paid homage too. It's a virtual patch work quilt of all the things that make for an enjoyable movie going experience. I think a large part of it was the casting decisions that were made and the commitment of the actor's to the source material. It felt well thought out and didn't have any wasted moments. That's saying a lot, based on Hollywood's current expectations for what makes for a good movie. I really can't find too much at fault with this film. If I had any criticisims at all, it would be with the portrayal of Mr. and Mrs. Greenberg (played by Dan Brennan and Kimberly Flynn). They felt a little tacked on and bit ham fisted, but I understood why they were necessary to drive the plot forward. Josh (Ian Robinson) provided a bit of comic relief and Ben (Adam Cornelius) added some additional tension, but the main characters overpowered both of them in the small bit of screen time each of them had.
All in all, if you're looking for a Christmas movie that doesn't feature any killer Santa's or mythological demon creatures that are out to steal your children, then you really can't go wrong with 'Body' (2015). It may be set during the holiday season, but the story is timeless. It's one that we've all pondered over, during those quiet down times, but would never admit to thinking about. It's a cautionary tale to anyone who thinks that the perfect crime exists or that two wrongs make a right. I'm giving this film a solid 4 out of 5 stars, for creating something much bigger than the sum of it's parts. There's not a lot in terms of actors, sets or complicated storytelling. This one is a concentrated formula of all the right elements mixed together into a virtual plate of milk and cookies, but instead of them being left out for Santa.... they're all for you. So put on your favorite pair of footed pajamas, cuddle up under a nice fleece blanket and watch this one with the lights off. 'Body' (2015) is the gift that may not have been on your list of presents this year, but it might just be the best one you get all season.

If you like this film, also check out these slow burners: 'Stuck', 'The House of the Devil' and 'Shallow Grave'