Director: Panos Cosmatos
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1534085
Review: Delivers a lot of audio-visual flair and a few interesting ideas but not entirely sure what it wants to be.
Watch it if: You're ok with something that is very style heavy.
And if you liked: Stranger Things, Pi, THX 1138
Sunday, October 30
Saturday, October 29
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
Director: Scott Glosserman
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0437857
Review: Despite keeping it light and funny for most of its running time still manages to bring up the tension in its final act.
Watch it if: You like seeing deconstructions of the slasher genre.
And if you liked: Scream, The Cabin in the Woods, The Blair Witch Project
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0437857
Review: Despite keeping it light and funny for most of its running time still manages to bring up the tension in its final act.
Watch it if: You like seeing deconstructions of the slasher genre.
And if you liked: Scream, The Cabin in the Woods, The Blair Witch Project
Friday, October 28
The Battery
Director: Jeremy Gardner
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2272350
Review: Really gets to what these kinds of films should be doing with a genuine relationship at its centre and good use of music.
Watch it if: You want a zombie movie that brings it back to basics.
And if you liked: They Look Like People, The Walking Dead, Easy Rider
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2272350
Review: Really gets to what these kinds of films should be doing with a genuine relationship at its centre and good use of music.
Watch it if: You want a zombie movie that brings it back to basics.
And if you liked: They Look Like People, The Walking Dead, Easy Rider
Thursday, October 27
Cannibal Holocaust
Director: Ruggero Deodato
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078935
Review: Heavy and tough to watch with convincing special effects and some extremely effective scenes.
Watch it if: You can deal with a few sickening scenes of genuine animal abuse.
And if you liked: Zombie Flesh Eaters, Deliverance, The Blair Witch Project
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078935
Review: Heavy and tough to watch with convincing special effects and some extremely effective scenes.
Watch it if: You can deal with a few sickening scenes of genuine animal abuse.
And if you liked: Zombie Flesh Eaters, Deliverance, The Blair Witch Project
Timecrimes
Director: Nacho Vigalondo
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480669
Review: Unfolds a little slower than you do but still brings plenty of intrigue and tension to the table.
Watch it if: You're interested in a time travel story that doesn't break its own rules.
And if you liked: Primer, V/H/S Viral, La jetée
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480669
Review: Unfolds a little slower than you do but still brings plenty of intrigue and tension to the table.
Watch it if: You're interested in a time travel story that doesn't break its own rules.
And if you liked: Primer, V/H/S Viral, La jetée
Wednesday, October 26
Baskin
Director: Can Evrenol
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4935418
Review: A little confusing in its mythology but delivers some moody tension and a deeply unsettling villain.
Watch it if: You can handle some fairly gnarly violence.
And if you liked: Let the Right One In, Hellraiser
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4935418
Review: A little confusing in its mythology but delivers some moody tension and a deeply unsettling villain.
Watch it if: You can handle some fairly gnarly violence.
And if you liked: Let the Right One In, Hellraiser
Monday, October 24
Circle
Director: Mario Miscone and Aaron Hann
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3118452
Review: Manages to maintain interest with very little with an interesting premise and well defined characters, especially considering the amount.
Watch it if: You're ok with something with a fun journey even if it doesn't quote stick the landing.
And if you liked: Cube, The Mist, Saw V
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3118452
Review: Manages to maintain interest with very little with an interesting premise and well defined characters, especially considering the amount.
Watch it if: You're ok with something with a fun journey even if it doesn't quote stick the landing.
And if you liked: Cube, The Mist, Saw V
Sunday, October 23
The Snowtown Murders
Director: Justin Kurzel
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1680114
Review: Moody and tense throughout with some deep discomfort and a some chilling performances.
Watch it if: You can deal with some strong unpleasantness.
And if you liked: Winter's Bone, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Prevenge
Check this out: The Snowtown Murders
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1680114
Review: Moody and tense throughout with some deep discomfort and a some chilling performances.
Watch it if: You can deal with some strong unpleasantness.
And if you liked: Winter's Bone, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Prevenge
Check this out: The Snowtown Murders
Saturday, October 22
Prevenge
Director: Alice Lowe
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5154288
Review: Awkwardly and darkly funny with a strong central performance and a clear sense of atmosphere.
Watch it if: You're ok with some gore and violence.
And if you liked: Sightseers, Dead Man's Shoes
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5154288
Review: Awkwardly and darkly funny with a strong central performance and a clear sense of atmosphere.
Watch it if: You're ok with some gore and violence.
And if you liked: Sightseers, Dead Man's Shoes
Friday, October 21
Demons
Director: Lamberto Bava
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089013
Review: Meanders a little but delivers enough strong tone and schlocky fun that it remains enjoyable.
Watch it if: You're ok with a lot of over the top gore.
And if you liked: The Neon Demon, Berberian Sound Studio, The Evil Dead, Return of the Living Dead
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089013
Review: Meanders a little but delivers enough strong tone and schlocky fun that it remains enjoyable.
Watch it if: You're ok with a lot of over the top gore.
And if you liked: The Neon Demon, Berberian Sound Studio, The Evil Dead, Return of the Living Dead
Thursday, October 20
Creepshow 3
Director: Ana Clavell and James Dudelson
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478125
Review: Very cheap and shaky without any real sense of what it wants to say.
Watch it if: You're plumbing the depths of horror anthologies.
And if you liked: Creepshow 2, Goosebumps, Cosmic Slop
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478125
Review: Very cheap and shaky without any real sense of what it wants to say.
Watch it if: You're plumbing the depths of horror anthologies.
And if you liked: Creepshow 2, Goosebumps, Cosmic Slop
Wednesday, October 19
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie
Director: John Harrison
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100740
Review: Feels like three decent episodes of a TV show but it's a good TV show so there's plenty of fun to be had.
Watch it if: You enjoy slightly hokey but enjoyable horror anthology stories.
And if you liked: Tales from the Crypt, Creepshow, Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Check this out: Lot No. 249, The Cat from Hell
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100740
Review: Feels like three decent episodes of a TV show but it's a good TV show so there's plenty of fun to be had.
Watch it if: You enjoy slightly hokey but enjoyable horror anthology stories.
And if you liked: Tales from the Crypt, Creepshow, Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Check this out: Lot No. 249, The Cat from Hell
Sunday, October 16
The Autopsy of Jane Doe
Director: André Øvredal
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3289956
Review: Competently put together and structured but hits a point where you either go with it or don't and I could not go with it.
Watch it if: You're ok with something that has plenty of (admittedly well-delivered) cliché in its horror.
And if you liked: Pontypool, Don't Breathe, 30 Days of Night
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3289956
Review: Competently put together and structured but hits a point where you either go with it or don't and I could not go with it.
Watch it if: You're ok with something that has plenty of (admittedly well-delivered) cliché in its horror.
And if you liked: Pontypool, Don't Breathe, 30 Days of Night
Saturday, October 15
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
Director: John McNaughton
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099763
Review: Oddly and darkly comic for much of its runtime but confronting and brutal when it needs to be.
Watch it if: You can handle some fairly stark violence.
And if you liked: Halloween, Basket Case, The Devil's Rejects
Check this out: Henry Lee Lucas
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099763
Review: Oddly and darkly comic for much of its runtime but confronting and brutal when it needs to be.
Watch it if: You can handle some fairly stark violence.
And if you liked: Halloween, Basket Case, The Devil's Rejects
Check this out: Henry Lee Lucas
Friday, October 14
Maniac Cop 2
Director: William Lustig
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100107
Review: Not as clever or witty as the first but still brings enough to keep you watching as it goes.
Watch it if: You're cool with fairly standard cheap 80s fare.
And if you liked: Maniac Cop, Dirty Harry, Friday the 13th
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100107
Review: Not as clever or witty as the first but still brings enough to keep you watching as it goes.
Watch it if: You're cool with fairly standard cheap 80s fare.
And if you liked: Maniac Cop, Dirty Harry, Friday the 13th
Thursday, October 13
Maniac Cop
Director: William Lustig
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095583
Review: Well put together yet bonkers with some effective action and great casting.
Watch it if: You want to see something that is bizarrely topical nearly 30 years later.
And if you liked: Night of the Creeps, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, Child's Play
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095583
Review: Well put together yet bonkers with some effective action and great casting.
Watch it if: You want to see something that is bizarrely topical nearly 30 years later.
And if you liked: Night of the Creeps, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, Child's Play
The Nightmare
Director: Rodney Ascher
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3317522
Review: A little repetitive in its stories but effectively gets its tone across with some genuinely chilling imagery.
Watch it if: You're not easily triggered into sleep related issues.
And if you liked: The Arbor, Paperhouse, Insidious
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3317522
Review: A little repetitive in its stories but effectively gets its tone across with some genuinely chilling imagery.
Watch it if: You're not easily triggered into sleep related issues.
And if you liked: The Arbor, Paperhouse, Insidious
Wednesday, October 12
ABCs of Death 2
Director: E.L. Katz, Julian Barratt, Julian Gibney, Robert Morgan, Alejandro Brugués, Aharon Keshales, Navot Papushado, Jim Hosking, Bill Plympton, Erik Matti, Dennison Ramalho, Kristina, Buožytė, Bruno Samper, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, Robert Boocheck, Larry Fessenden, Hajime Ohata, Todd Rohal, Rodney Ascher, Marvin Kren, Juan Martinez Moreno, Jen Soska, Silvia Soska, Vincenzo Natali, Jerome Sable, Steven Kostanski, Julen Maury, Alexandre Bustillo, Soichi Umezawa and Chris Nash
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2926810
Review: More unified in tone than the first one with more successful segments but lower peaks.
Watch it if: You can handle some icky gore and dodgy special effects.
And if you liked: The ABCs of Death, V/H/S, Holidays
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2926810
Review: More unified in tone than the first one with more successful segments but lower peaks.
Watch it if: You can handle some icky gore and dodgy special effects.
And if you liked: The ABCs of Death, V/H/S, Holidays
The ABCs of Death
Director: Nacho Vigalondo, Adrian Garcia Bogliano, Ernesto Diaz Espinoza, Marcel Sarmiento, Angela Bettis, Noburu Iguchi, Andrew Traucki, Thomas Malling, Jorge Michel Grau, Yûdai Yamaguchi, Anders Morgenthaler, Timo Tjahjanto, Ti West, Banjong Pisanthanakun, Bruno Forzani, Héléne Cattet, Simon Rumley, Adam Wingard, Simon Barrett, Srđan Spasojević, Jake West, Lee Hardcastle, Ben Wheatley, Kaare Andrews, Jon Schnepp, Xavier Gens, Jason Eisener and Yoshihiro Nishimura
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1935896
Review: Some ups and some downs with a couple of decent laughs and a fair few strong ideas.
Watch it if: You can handle some uncomfortable gross-out moments.
And if you liked: V/H/S, Holidays, Creepshow
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1935896
Review: Some ups and some downs with a couple of decent laughs and a fair few strong ideas.
Watch it if: You can handle some uncomfortable gross-out moments.
And if you liked: V/H/S, Holidays, Creepshow
Monday, October 10
The Legend of Hell House
Director: John Hough
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070294
Review: Slow burning and smart with an interesting story and a nice tone that holds throughout.
Watch it if: You're interested in a classic example of a scientist surveying a haunted house.
And if you liked: The Devil Rides Out, The Sentinel, House on Haunted Hill
Check this out: Hell House
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070294
Review: Slow burning and smart with an interesting story and a nice tone that holds throughout.
Watch it if: You're interested in a classic example of a scientist surveying a haunted house.
And if you liked: The Devil Rides Out, The Sentinel, House on Haunted Hill
Check this out: Hell House
Westworld
Director: Michael Crichton
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070909
Review: A great idea, well executed with a fun honking score and a pace that never sags.
Watch it if: You enjoy a good simple science fiction movie.
And if you liked: Jurassic Park, The Cabin in the Woods, Terminator 2: Judgment Day
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070909
Review: A great idea, well executed with a fun honking score and a pace that never sags.
Watch it if: You enjoy a good simple science fiction movie.
And if you liked: Jurassic Park, The Cabin in the Woods, Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Friday, October 7
Holidays
Director: Kevin Kölsch, Denis Widmyer, Gary Shore, Nicholas McCarthy, Sarah Adina Smith, Anthony Scott Burns, Kevin Smith and Scott Stewart
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4419364
Review: A mixed bag with some fun spooky moments and acerbic humour but also some cliched aspects and some unpleasant nastiness.
Watch it if: You can sit through at least one utterly awful segment.
And if you liked: Tales from the Crypt, Krampus
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4419364
Review: A mixed bag with some fun spooky moments and acerbic humour but also some cliched aspects and some unpleasant nastiness.
Watch it if: You can sit through at least one utterly awful segment.
And if you liked: Tales from the Crypt, Krampus
Felt
Director: Jason Banker
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3854104
Review: Difficult to watch in parts with a clear message and some truly bizarre imagery.
Watch it if: You can handle some uncomfortable body contact scenes.
And if you liked: They Look Like People, The Skin I Live In
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3854104
Review: Difficult to watch in parts with a clear message and some truly bizarre imagery.
Watch it if: You can handle some uncomfortable body contact scenes.
And if you liked: They Look Like People, The Skin I Live In
Thursday, October 6
High-Rise
Director: Ben Wheatley
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0462335
Review: Strange and unnerving in its tone with a soundtrack that pulls you into its beautifully constructed shots.
Watch it if: You're interested in broad satire that explores the bizarre.
And if you liked: A Clockwork Orange, Under the Skin, Down Terrace
Check this out: High-Rise
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0462335
Review: Strange and unnerving in its tone with a soundtrack that pulls you into its beautifully constructed shots.
Watch it if: You're interested in broad satire that explores the bizarre.
And if you liked: A Clockwork Orange, Under the Skin, Down Terrace
Check this out: High-Rise
Wednesday, October 5
They Look Like People
Director: Perry Blackshear
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4105970
Review: Holds tension very well while still maintaining its questions with great use of jump-cuts.
Watch it if: You're ok with something a little more ambiguous.
And if you liked: Upstream Color, Martin, Bug
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4105970
Review: Holds tension very well while still maintaining its questions with great use of jump-cuts.
Watch it if: You're ok with something a little more ambiguous.
And if you liked: Upstream Color, Martin, Bug
Tuesday, October 4
Nightbreed
Director: Clive Barker
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100260
Review: Some interesting ideas and monster designs but dragged down by a meandering plot and overlong running time.
Watch it if: You're interested in Clive Barker's directorial work beyond Hellraiser.
And if you liked: Hellraiser, Dust Devil, Lord of Illusions
Check this out: Cabal
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100260
Review: Some interesting ideas and monster designs but dragged down by a meandering plot and overlong running time.
Watch it if: You're interested in Clive Barker's directorial work beyond Hellraiser.
And if you liked: Hellraiser, Dust Devil, Lord of Illusions
Check this out: Cabal
He Never Died
Director: Jason Crawczyk
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2386404
Review: An intriguing plot carried through a charismatic performance with an interesting tone and some nice ideas.
Watch it if: You're interested in seeing Henry Rollins in a lead role.
And if you liked: Horns, Bubba Hotep, Taxi Driver
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2386404
Review: An intriguing plot carried through a charismatic performance with an interesting tone and some nice ideas.
Watch it if: You're interested in seeing Henry Rollins in a lead role.
And if you liked: Horns, Bubba Hotep, Taxi Driver
Dead Silence
Director: James Wan
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455760
Review: A little bit too much frantic editing but follows a decent story pretty well with a strong atmosphere and some genuinely chilling moments.
Watch it if: You can handle a lot of creepy ventriloquist dummies.
And if you liked: Candyman, The Ring, The Woman in Black (2012)
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455760
Review: A little bit too much frantic editing but follows a decent story pretty well with a strong atmosphere and some genuinely chilling moments.
Watch it if: You can handle a lot of creepy ventriloquist dummies.
And if you liked: Candyman, The Ring, The Woman in Black (2012)
Monday, October 3
The Fly
Director: Kurt Neumann
IMDB: IMDB URL
Review: Unfolds in a nicely intriguing way with strong performances and some deeply unsettling moments.
Watch it if: You can handle a slower paced story with a strong payoff.
And if you liked: From Beyond, Frankenstein, House on Haunted Hill
Check this out: The Fly
IMDB: IMDB URL
Review: Unfolds in a nicely intriguing way with strong performances and some deeply unsettling moments.
Watch it if: You can handle a slower paced story with a strong payoff.
And if you liked: From Beyond, Frankenstein, House on Haunted Hill
Check this out: The Fly
V/H/S Viral
Director: Marcel Sarmiento, Gregg Bishop, Nacho Vigalondo, Justin Benson and Aaron Scott Moorhead
IMDB: IMDB URL
Review: Has a few nice ideas that it doesn't do a lot with and seems to end with a deeply dopey message but one segment shines through fairly well.
Watch it if: You can handle stuff that ignores its own rules enough that it may as well not have them.
And if you liked: V/H/S, V/H/S/2, Are You Afraid of the Dark?
IMDB: IMDB URL
Review: Has a few nice ideas that it doesn't do a lot with and seems to end with a deeply dopey message but one segment shines through fairly well.
Watch it if: You can handle stuff that ignores its own rules enough that it may as well not have them.
And if you liked: V/H/S, V/H/S/2, Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Deathgasm
Director: Jason Lei Howden
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3705412
Review: Mired somewhat by an unnecessary male-gazey streak but still has a lot to offer in terms of fun, action and humour.
Watch it if: You can handle a lot of bloody gore.
And if you liked: Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, Evil Dead 2, Braindead
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3705412
Review: Mired somewhat by an unnecessary male-gazey streak but still has a lot to offer in terms of fun, action and humour.
Watch it if: You can handle a lot of bloody gore.
And if you liked: Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, Evil Dead 2, Braindead
Sunday, October 2
Hush
Director: Mike Flanagan
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5022702
Review: Lulls a little in a few places but brings a lot of tension and fresh ideas to the table.
Watch it if: You can handle some fairly brutal violence.
And if you liked: Oculus, Scream, The Purge, Don't Breathe
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5022702
Review: Lulls a little in a few places but brings a lot of tension and fresh ideas to the table.
Watch it if: You can handle some fairly brutal violence.
And if you liked: Oculus, Scream, The Purge, Don't Breathe
We Are Still Here
Director: Ted Geoghegan
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3520418
Review: Sits in used tropes a little but brings an unfolding story to the table well with a some nice bits of imagery and some well put together violence.
Watch it if: You can handle some splatter gore.
And if you liked: The Innkeepers, The House of the Devil
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3520418
Review: Sits in used tropes a little but brings an unfolding story to the table well with a some nice bits of imagery and some well put together violence.
Watch it if: You can handle some splatter gore.
And if you liked: The Innkeepers, The House of the Devil
Now You See Me 2
Director: Jon M. Chu
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3110958
Review: Riddled with holes and lapses in logic but silly and frothy enough to keep the fun going.
Watch it if: You're not likely to get too tripped up by lack of sense.
And if you liked: Bottle Rocket, Point Break
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3110958
Review: Riddled with holes and lapses in logic but silly and frothy enough to keep the fun going.
Watch it if: You're not likely to get too tripped up by lack of sense.
And if you liked: Bottle Rocket, Point Break
Saturday, October 1
The Invitation
Director: Karyn Kusama
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2400463
Review: Well crafted in its tension and character building with a consistently mysterious plot and an excellent use of sound.
Watch it if: You want a film that can keep you guessing all the way through.
And if you liked: You're Next, The House of the Devil, The Gift
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2400463
Review: Well crafted in its tension and character building with a consistently mysterious plot and an excellent use of sound.
Watch it if: You want a film that can keep you guessing all the way through.
And if you liked: You're Next, The House of the Devil, The Gift
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