“Eyes Of The Woods” DVD (directors: Miguel F. Valenti & Darrin Reed)

Flawed monster mess

Another troubled horror film suffering from the usual limitations ...poor audio, poor acting and lackluster, well-tread and derivative storyline. You've already seen this movje, in other words, and done much, much better.

The positives? The monster effects are pretty solid, and the gore is splattery good, with some nice head splittings and bloody sprays. A shortage of breastage hurts this, too, especially as there are several lovely young ladies who tempt but never quite get nekkid. The bloody topless blonde is an unexplained anomaly, making no sense at all, and it's all we get of the boobs. Call me sexist, but in this kind of trash film, there are certain, uh, “needs”. There are some choppy edits, some pretty blatant film “stops” or skips, and plenty of technical belches that really show a lack of care.

A shame, as this one shows some promise. As it stands, though, this is a weak and flawed film with really no memorable angle, sadly.

Fade To Black / Central Film Company

“In The House Of Flies” DVD (director: Gabriel Carrer)

Unfulfilling torture indie

This micro-indie abduction horror/thriller is notable mostly for the voice acting of one Henry Rollins, who performs as “The Voice” — an unseen abductor who traps a young couple and confines them to a dark basement while he performs cruel tricks and mind-games on them. The pacing here is very slow, and there’s a lot of forgettable scenes and dialogue that really don’t do much to help.

To their own credit, main stars Lindsay Smith and Ryan Koteck (the teen lovers faced with starvation and torture) are quite believable in their roles as victims. The claustrophobic setting is effective enough, but the film’s lack of action nor depth makes for a  pretty tedious movie overall. And although this comes close to an outright horror film, the lack of much real gore or viscera is a definite detractor, too. It’s like “In The House Of Flies” holds itself back from the level of a “Saw” or other torture horror films by going a cleaner, milder route. And it just doesn’t quite work.

Ultimately, “In The House Of Flies” is unfulfilling and forgettable, and with that, I can’t justifiably recommend it.

Parade Deck Films

“Morris County” DVD (director: Matthew Garrett)

Powerful and intelligent indie drama/horror

Man, this indie trilogy really hits hard. Director Garrett here weaves a series of three distantly-related tales that could almost function as “lost” “Tales From The Crypt” stories, but with more emotional resonance and less gratuitous gore and sex. “Morris County” could be broadly considered horror, but it’s not so in conventional sense. I give great credit to the smart storytelling or Garrett, who takes these “everyday” lives into unseen and often horrifying sides, without evoking any supernatural or serial killer stereotyping.

The first story, “Ellie”, presents a rather unfortunate day in the life of teenaged Ellie, who withstands a series of poor judgement calls. Without putting out any spoilers, let’s just say it’s a riveting and painful journey to experience. Ellie is played exceptionally by Darcy Miller, conveying an unspoken air of trauma and confusion. "The Family Rubin” is a story of an upstanding Jewish family with plenty of ghosts in their closet. Startlingly similar in spirit to “American Beauty”, this is the lower point of the film, if only due to its similarity to that better-known film. The final story, “Elmer and Iris”, is a sad story of a seemingly happy elderly woman who, upon being cut from her office job of many years, finds herself painfully alone when her husband dies. Suffice to say, it gets weird, but remains very human and absolutely memorable.

As mentioned earlier, “Morris County” isn’t horror, but a well-scripted and well-acted trilogy of dramas that reflect a breakdown in traditional life in the suburbs. All the tales here are harrowing and edgy, but realistic. The portrayals are believable, as are the stories themselves. This is the ultimate strength of the film. Kudos to everyone involved, as this is a powerful movie that lingers in the psyche long after the disc has stopped.

As well, it should be noted that there is a plethora of bonus materials, including a creepy short film by Garrett called “Beating Hearts”. And the subtle electronic score by David Kristian is masterful, too.

Unearthed Films

“A Dark Place Inside” DVD (director: Mike O’Mahony)

(Serial) killer micro-indie

So, my expectations here were quite low, I don’t mind stating. The other films that arrived at Goatsden HQ from Sector 5 were pretty, shall I say, hideous, derivative, and unwatchable. Not the case here. “A Dark Place Inside” is a supremely sick and repugnant serial killer flick, with a believable villain (played well by newcomer Chris Dalbey), great camerawork, and a story that’s harrowing yet magnetic. 

So, the gist of “A Dark Place Inside” isn’t too complex. Loner Andy (played by Dalbey) works a menial job, has no social life, and spends his spare time stalking and brutally murdering women, some of which he dismembers and brings home to “admire”. Sure, some of the gore effects are a bit cheesy and visibly low budget, but the point is driven home well that Andy is one troubled individual. We’re shown interspersed clips of Andy’s childhood, and his brutal torture at the hands of his abusive father, so as to explain his predilection for cruel and inhuman acts.

Along the film’s trajectory, we meet some of Andy’s annoying coworkers, and even get a brief glimpse of something that could almost resemble a flirtation with romance, before our anti-hero lapses again into his murderous ways. Director (and writer and producer) O’Mahony does an admirable job with this one, and I actually enjoyed it. Well-done serial killer horror on a shoestring budget.? See, it can be done.

Sector 5 Entertainment

"Fear The Forest" DVD (director: Matthew Bora)

Shallow Sasquatch Silliness

So, I may know where one of the masks from the "Where The Wild Things Are" movie went! Jokes aside, this silly micro-indie horror was off to a rocky start as the outer packaging included several mis-constructed sentences and misspellings. It didn't get a whole lot better, either.

So, how could a Bigfoot movie that includes a martial arts battle and motocross footage be that bad? Right. And some subtle references (or is it homages) to "Deliverance" and "The Evil Dead" do not make this any better. So what isn't present in "Fear The Forest"? How about a decent script and original idea. How about some acting? A believable monster? Or maybe even some nudity or sex scenes? Nope, we'll have none of that here. Lackluster in most every way, this film could've been a decent film school project, but in a lake teeming with bigger fish, this one is just chum.

Lost Empire Films

"Unsolved" DVD (director: Lance McDaniel)

Well-done college murder/mystery

This is a suprisingly well-done murder/horror film from director Lance McDaniel, who the cover says directed "Children Of The Corn", though the trusty imdb says otherwise. It stars the attractive Lezette Boutin -- or Jane Bunting, depending on whether you believe the packaging or the actual film credits. Hmm. Despite all the typos or misinformation, "Unsolved" comes across with solid camerawork, good cinematography, and reasonable enough acting. 

The story is shifting and interesting, too. Boutin/Bunting is convincing in her role as Amanda, a law student who is assigned to investigate an unsolved murder at her own university 15 years ago. Her investigation gets her into trouble with school officials and seedy characters alike. All the while, her tag-along boyfriend shows himself to be little more than a conniving and unfaithful diversion.

Being a product of the Oklahoma City University film department, there's little sleaze action present, unfortunately, so you won't get an abundance of breasts or blood. The charm here is in the "Clue"-style mystery of it all. Could there be something to do with Amanda's prick of a boyfriend, or does the case involve important elected officials? 

Overall, not a bad film by any means. 

Lost Empire Films

Unsolved Trailer #1 from Patrick Kirk on Vimeo.

"Mara" DVD (directors: Kondrup-Hedberg-Gustafsson)

Sexy Swedish horror

In ancient Scandinavian lore, a "mara" was a night-time demon that inspired bad dreams. Hence, we now use the word "nightmare". This Swedish-language film (with English subtitles) is a well-done horror/thriller with something to offer, even though it has nothing to do with the film's story or script. But more on that in a moment.

Starring the voluptuous and busty Swedish supermodel Angelica Jansson, "Mara" follows her character from a troubled childhood to adulthood, where she finds herself staying with some friends in the house where she, as a youth, witnessed her own mother murder her father. Needless to say, there are some ghosts still residing at that residence.

Jansson does a reasonable job here as the lead, but it's her shower scene makes it all worthwhile. Seriously, this is the most memorable part of "Mara"!  The cinematography is solid, but with a pedestrian script and predictable finale, it all falls apart. I give credit to the directors and effects people, as there are some moments of genuine tension and dread here, but it's not enough to save a fairly forgettable "OK" film. 

MVD Visual

"Mold" DVD (director: Neil Meschino)

As an homage and love letter to eighties-era splatter horror, "Mold" clearly has heart. But, execution is another thing, and this one still fails to rise above. 

Set in a hidden government lab in the middle of Reagan-era America, a new strain of mold, created to wipe out coca fields in the battle against the drug cartels, gets inadvertently released, and causes extreme reactions in the humans it comes into contact with. Skin meltings, madness, and oozing orifices are the order of the day here, as the group of hammy military meatheads and scientists are forced to fend for themselves. 

There's little to recommend this one, unfortunately, and although the gore is over-the-top and appropriately sticky, there is nary a breast to be seen, and in this type of film, that's somehow verboten. Sure, it's trashy and silly, and the shoestring budget is evident in every scene, but this one just doesn't satisfy in it's pursuit of "over the top".

WIld Eye Releasing

"Pure Canadian Horror" (aka "Extreme Canadian Horror") DVD

This 5-film set (on one disc, no less) has more to offer than expected, luckily, especially as it took 7+ hours to sift through it all!  In truth, there are some decent and imaginative indie flicks here.

"Abolition" (director: Mike Kiasson) begins the set, and holds up with some well-done cinematography. The story revolves around a troubled man named Joshua who, as it turns out, is both a prophet and a murderer. This one features a charismatic and memorable appearance by horror legend Reggie Bannister ("Phantasm"), which helps the cause, too. The movie seems to drag a bit, but I give it credit for having some subtlety and direction.

"Aegri Somnia" (director: James Rewucki) is a Lynch/Aranofsky-inspired art/horror film that follows a reclusive loner named Edgar whose social anxieties lead him into madness and ultimately to face his own personal "demons". It's another technically well-done film with some fine cinematography and a keen, artful visual sense.

"Long Pigs" (director: Chris Power) is a faux-documentary whereas a pair of young filmmakers are granted access to record the daily activities of a cannibalistic serial killer. There's plenty of grisly gore here, and some entertaining moments of black comedy.

"I Heart Doomsday" (director: Patrick Downing) comes close to suckness, but pulls through with an unusual charm. This is a weird little story of a nerdy, backward, and megalomaniacal "scientist" who invents of robotic version of himself to woo a beautiful woman (the stunning Christine Ghawi). The plan backfires as she falls for the robot. Sound silly? It is, as are the dirt-cheap effects and sets. But beyond the superficial aspects, this movie has heart, and with bigger production values, it could be a winner.

Finally, there's "Werewolf Fever" (director: Brian Singleton), which drops the bomb altogether. This tongue-in-cheek splatstick is set in a small-town Kingburger fast food restaurant, where a late-night delivery is interrupted by a bad case of lycanthropy. Trouble is, "Werewolf Fever" isn't amusing, only tedious. This is plainly a bad movie.

So, horror in Canada is pretty alive and kicking. There are some fun (albeit raw) moments here, so die-hard horror aficionados will surely find something of value. (R Squared Films)

"Butterfly" DVD (director: Edward E. Romero)

This American micro-indie horror flick isn't nearly as bad as it seems, though it does leave plenty to be desired.The premise? Young film student Lacey (played admirably well by Mandi Kreisher) drugs, abducts, and tortures various people (on camera) for atrocities committed years before. Her "film" is basically thinly-disguised snuff, but her intentions are, well, revenge.

You'd expect plenty of blood and torture, but it never quite happens. Fair enough -- gore isn't needed to get the point across. My issue lies with empathy. Lacey isn't particularly likable (though she is attractive and well-spoken), and nor are the people she maims and murders. Despite a nice twisty ending, "Butterfly" is, unfortunately, very forgettable. (R Squared)

"My Stepdad's A Freakin' Vampire!" DVD (director: David Matheny)

This low-budget indie horror/spoof did an admirable job holding my interest, despite some obvious shortcomings. What won me over?

Despite a silly premise and plenty of unnecessary reliance on CGI monsters (which were well-done for the budget), "My Stepdad..." boasts some relatively decent acting, and a likeable lead character (Lahcen Anajjar). Sure, this is a mild horror film with comedic elements tailored for a teenage audience, but "My Stepdad" is entertaining, if light, good-time that didn't have me cringing (or reaching for the 'STOP' button). The gore was fair (mostly green goo rather than bloody evisceration), and a lack of nudity didn't affect this one at all.

The camera work was well-done, with interesting angles and activity, and the score (by Douglas Edward) was also professional, stylish, and tiers above similar films. I say, well-done for vampire fans. I can see a promising future for director Matheny if he can maintain this level of professionalism. (MVD VIsual)

official site with trailer

"Corporate Cutthroat Massacre" DVD (director: Creep Creepersin)

Another micro-indie from prolific musician/filmmaker Creepersin, this one fares only slightly better than his tortuous domestic paranoia flick, "He". Starring Elina Madison as the uber-hateful corporate boss, this tale takes place in an office where work pressure and personal lives are at odds in a major fashion. There are the requisite inter-office dalliances, internal politics, and backstabbing as usual, but when a number of grisly murders occur one evening, the staff plays a cat and mouse game, with the vengeful (and rightfully detested) boss at the center.

All things considered, "TCCM" isn't a good film. The acting is quite over-the-top, the gore fairly tame, and the sexual situations pretty unnecessary. There isn't a single character to get behind, so the murders seems, well, apt. There are plenty of other horror flicks to admire, but this isn't one of them. (MVD Visual)

Creepersin Films

"He" DVD (director: Creep Creepersin)

I dunno where this Creep Creepersin guy comes from, but I'd never heard of him until I received multiple films and CDs. Prolific indeed! Anyway, "He" is a small indie film centered around a pathetic and paranoid man who looks like Kevin Smith (portrayed by Creepersin himself) who suspects his nagging wife is plotting his demise. This cleavage-heavy wife (played by Ariauna Albright) is clearly unimpressed by her meek and obnoxious husband (and rightfully so). My issue is that the characters are little more than simplistic stereotypes, with no depth or complexity. I didn't like the husband any more than the wife, so the question of his paranoia was moot. Not to reveal any spoilers, but I wished she'd off "Him" sooner, rather than later. Not a good film. (MVD Visual)

Creepersin Films

"Cold Storage" (director: Tony Elwood)

A surprisingly fun and disturbing indie horror here from 2006, with good acting and scripting. With obvious references to "Deliverance" and "The Hills Have Eyes", this is another backwoods hillbilly horror, but with a neat and morbid twist.

Starring Nick Searcy (now of TV's superb "Justified") as gross-out simpleton Clive, "Cold Storage" spins the tale of woman who is tragically killed in an auto accident in a small, out-of-the-way town. Her body is discovered by the freaky Clive, who does his best to make her feel "welcome" in his isolated mountain shack. Well, Clive is convinced that the inanimate woman is the love of his life, and he, in his own twisted rationale, keeps his "Rosalie" clean and tended to, even as she begins to decay. There's a good dose of dark humor as Clive takes his love out for a leisurely ride through town, and the townsfolk notice his "ladyfriend", even as she sits (e)motionless in the passenger's seat of Clive's aging jalopy.

The deceased's sister, played by Joelle Carter (also now of "Justified", oddly), goes on a search for her sister's whereabouts, only to learn the ghastly truth. Searcy is superb in his role as backwoods weirdo, as he protects his lady love from other jealous freaks and nosy neighbors. His character isn't so much a villain, as would be assumed. His care and altruistic attitude for his deceased "friend" is almost touching, in a weird way. Sure, she's dead (and beginning to smell), but his tireless care shows that he has a heart, however twisted.

There are some really wild splattery sick moments, but this isn't a splatter film by any means. There's a lot more going on here than the obvious. Give this one a chance...it's a well-done little gem for the genre.

"Savage Holocaust" 5xDVD

This rather suspect boxset begins things with cover art that betrays the contents. Is it a set of dangerous and subversive "torture porn"? Some obscure and near-forgotten collection of seminal horror films that will satisfy even the cruelest sadist's thirst for blood? Most certainly not. With "Savage Holocaust", expectations be damned. When it comes to shady multi-disc "value packs" containing movies that either didn't sell on their own, or were overstocked in their previous format, this is a deceptive and lower-tier set. There are 5 discs here, with a total of 6 films. I'll give brief synopses here.

"Psycho Santa" (director: Peter Keir) - A horrendous backwoods Santa stalks his prey in broad daylight, and in full costume...and it doesn't even look like December! A little bit o' titties, some bad acting, almost no story...pass.

"Satan Claus" (director: Massamiliano Cerchi) - Cheapie slasher with painful sub-par over-acting. Santa here is a NY serial killer in costume, with plenty of sappy one-liners. Was this shot during a power outage? Why is the NYPD a dinky one-room with about 5 employees? I dunno, but this one's pretty well garbage.

"Campfire Tales" (directors: William Cooke & Paul Talbot) - This one's a series of
mostly-derivative 80's serial killer/slasher tales, notable for an appearance by Gunnar Hansen (the original Leatherface). Dumb teens and flat acting, mostly, but plenty of gore. My favorite piece is called "Overtoke", and is a sort of cautionary tale of weird-weed...fun in a seriously gooey way.

"Vampire Junction" (director: Jess Franco) - What the fuck is this? Weird, disjointed, surreal, and outlandish Spanish-Western-vampire romp, with plenty of Franco's trademark sex. Includes a multitude of odd and annoying filters, but also tons of tits, labial shots, and lesbian vampire action. But why do these vamp lezzies make piggie snorting sounds when performing cunnilingus? Almost unwatchable stuff here.

"FAQ" (director: Carlos Attanes) - An oppressive Orwellian future, in Paris, where human contact is verboten. Nono is a subversive citizen who chooses to interact with nature, women, and underground groups who seek to preserve the sounds of nature (of course, outside the law). The powerful Sisterhood attempts to silence him, or do they? Kinda confusing, kinda visionary, barely tolerable.

"Binge & Purge" (director: Brian Clement) - Clever and interesting (though sometimes poorly-acted) tale of fashion models (who look more akin to rollerderby girls) whose methods of dieting are a bit, uhh, unorthodox. Packed with meaty entrail-ripping and H.G. Lewis-styled gore, "Binge & Purge" is full of lovely ladies and slurpy cannibal action. Best of the bunch? Maybe.

(MVD Visual)

"Banshee!!!" (director: Colin Theys)

This interesting indie horror flick harkens back to the days of classic splatter-monsters, and does it with flair and fun. The story involves a group of college friends who, upon vacationing in rural Connecticut, encounter a rural "legend", in the form of a demonic banshee with a devastating subsonic cry (and a taste for human flesh). The creature effects are actually quite superb (kudos to Dan Anderson and director/visual effects master Theys), and the gross-out gore here is top-notch. The acting and dialogue is a stumbling point, though, as some of the acting is delivered a little too "scripted" and unnatural. The lovely Ashley Bates is obviously the focal point here, and some of the other actors are likeable enough, too, though the aforementioned dialogue hurts the film's overall impact. I admit to cringing with the finale, where, not to give away too much, "Rocker" uses his guitar riffage to banish the beast. Ugh. Despite these flaws, "Banshee" is an entertaining and well-done little film that gets the job done better than many major studio offerings.
(Synthetic Cinema via MVD Visual)

"Penance" (director: Jake Kennedy)

This indie torture/horror flick "inspired by true events" manages to out-fox some similar higher-profile films, with a rather tried-and-true premise, but with solid acting and some fun genre cameos & casting. Starring the likable Marieh Delfino, this is a tale of a modest single mom (Amelia) who, down on her luck, resorts to stripping to make some quick cash to stay afloat. Well, in one of her first jobs, she ends up abducted by a religious-oriented madman and a skeleton crew of sadistic, proto-fascist lackeys. The enigmatic and stately Gavin McTavish stars as the fallen doctor who subjects the amoral strippers (including the innocent Amelia) to all sorts of "moral tests" to rehabilitate them and cleanse their souls in penance. Things get ugly, naturally. This one's bloody and sometimes shocking, but the gore is more implied and never truly on-camera. My favorite scenes are the cat and mouse games in the hallways of the "hospital", where the hand-held cameras succeed in creating an air of tension and distress. Fine work. Look for Michael Rooker ("Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer") and Tony Todd ("Candyman") among the worthy guest appearances. Delfino is cool, appealing, and convincing as Amelia, and McTavish is a perfect villain. Good stuff, and worthy of attention from horror fans. (IMD - Independent Media Distribution)