'LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW' (short film)

A biology student's failed science experiment has caused a deadly virus to be released on the United States. Enter Joe, an everyday working man infected by the outbreak who chooses to go into seclusion at a cabin. As he suffers through stages of grief, Joe waits to see if he is one of the lucky few to be immune to the virus. 



Like There's No Tomorrow  is a sad zombie short that's about 27 minutes long. It centers on a man named Joe who was bitten on his right forearm after trying to help an infected civilian. I really like how everything is explained and thought out thoroughly, as we find out that the zombie outbreak was caused by a man-made zombie rat created in a lab. Only 2% of the population is immune to the virus and can overcome it, and while Joe is hoping he's in that small percentile, we see him go about his everyday life and doing things like practice shooting with his rifle. But mostly, we see him worrying and feeling sorry for himself. As the story progresses we learn that Joe is separated from his wife and daughter, and misses them dearly. He also starts to decay and darken around the eyes, which is a nice touch.

'DANIEL' (short film)

RATED- Unrated

RUN TIME- 3 Mins

WRITER(S)- Peter Dukes

STARRING- Dominic Pace, Varda Appleton, Peter Le Bas, J.P. Giuliotti, and Jake Ryan Scott

DIRECTOR- Peter Dukes

Synopsis taken from IMDb

Daniel is the story of a young child in a closet from a dangerous intruder, but is all what it seems?

Filmmaker Peter Dukes has unleashed his 15th picture into the world, and this one is his shortest to date. In only three short minutes, it leads you one way, and then steers another. Very well done for such a short time frame, but it's obvious Dukes knows what he's doing. Over time, he's mastered the way of making short films.

INTERVIEW: Director Kirsten Walsh and actress Karen Overstreet

Last month, I had the pleasure of screening a short film low-budget achievement called "Hopscotch". If you missed my review, don't fret. Here it is: "Hopscotch" review

After the impression the short film left on me, I decided that I'd ask the director, Kirsten Walsh, and actress Karen Overstreet some questions about the film making process and "Hopscotch", their new film. Kirsten is an active military member, and has already done 10 films in her movie making career. Karen is an actress who compels your focus when she's in a scene. After seeing her performance, I knew it was a good idea to include her in this interview. So I got to play around in their heads a bit, which is cool because they're both incredibly nice people. And, they gave some pretty good answers, which is always a plus. 

Director Kirsten Walsh taking a well needed break

DEMON RESURRECTION (Screener Review)

RATED- Unrated
RUN TIME- 90 Mins
WRITER(S)- William Hopkins
STARRING- Alex Golightly, Damian Ladd, and Eli Kranski
DIRECTOR- William Hopkins



Synopsis taken from IMDb
In an isolated house, a group of friends battle supernatural forces as they try to protect a young woman from an evil cult.




First of all, I want to mention how professional this screener is. Most people just send you a burned disc, and maybe a small note. Well, this one came in a full-fledged DVD case, complete with movie cover and bonus features including a making of documentary and even commentary by writer and director, William Hopkins. So I was actually looking forward to this one, because it seemed to me that the filmmakers themselves took this project seriously, and aimed a little higher than just being a "backyard epic".

The film starts pretty quickly, introducing you to a few characters at an archaeological dig site who uncover some bodies said to be dead members of an evil cult. Then follows a brief explanation and some back story, allowing you to understand the whole picture before the proverbial crap hits the fan.

Then we go to a group of friends, who are oblivious to the fact that they're so close to the recently uncovered bodies and burial. They're in town for an intervention of their friend Grace, who they think is troubled and needs help. Eventually we get some more back story, this time from some of the characters, especially Grace, played by Alex Golightly. We find out how she's been forced to join an evil cult against her will, and was branded with the cults symbol. She was then bound and raped by an evil essence, which for the sake of the movie is green fog.

This of course, results in her pregnancy. My only complaint about her unfortunate events, is that I wish it were more depraved. I appreciate that they kept it cleaned up and to a minimum, but I think going the route of being a bit more graphic for the sake of the effect it would have had would have been the way to go.

The characters stumble into a few cliches such as there being no reception for their cell phones, but for the most part, "Demon Resurrection" is its own monster and offers up some good creativity, while nodding to certain classics in the genre such as "Night of the Living Dead" and "The Evil Dead". And make no mistake, this is no typical 'I'm pregnant with Satan's baby' movie.

I think my favorite part about the movie is the zombies. They're straight Lucio Fulci style, taking you back to the feel of the late 70's and early 80's era of zombie makeup. They're constantly surrounded by a green smoke and glow, like the smoke that impregnated Grace. And these zombies are pretty vicious, they fight back, and they scratch the hell out of you. Nasty gore, but throughout the movie it isn't overused or overplayed. 

As a matter of fact, there's a throat cut scene that rivals that of "The Crate" from 1982's "Creepshow". Not to mention, there's some gruesome throwback disembowelments to add to the awesomeness. The window scene in general is painful to watch, but the guy who meets such a cruel end is worthy of it, and easily the least likable character.

The evil within Grace is birthed as a creature that looked to me like a cross between a graboid (Tremors) and a Xenomorph (Alien). It's done old school with a puppet and not cgi, another throwback to older films. And although William Hopkins was open about what an aggravation it was to use a puppet, I appreciate that much more than I would have a computer generated creature.

The movie ends in a semi-happy way, but not really. Through the entire film, there's not really any score to it. I appreciate the way that using natural sounds keeps things in a more grounded level, and it is effective. However, I think a good score that gets your blood pumping adds in suspense, and would have overall improved the effectiveness the film has.

The makeup work is decent, I've definitely seen worse, and I've absolutely seen better. But, it works for the feel that the movie achieves. With some low quality lighting throughout, and some weak acting, this movie fails to be perfect. However, the good outweighs the bad, and there's some good dialogue between the characters. I just wish it was carried out in a better way.

One of the things that I disliked was the way the zombies meet their end, and wanted them to vanish differently. I guess great minds think alike, because after watching the film with commentary, I came to find out that William Hopkins actually wanted them to ignite into flames, but was restricted in doing so. I agree that would have been a better farewell. And I think that with the style of the zombies, that it would have been better if the whole movie were shot in a grainy Grindhouse type of look.

I also learned during the commentary how difficult it was to make this movie, the setbacks they had in pulling it off, and how it took a long time. All of which just builds more appreciation from me. The commentary also pinpoints some continuity issues that I honestly probably would have never noticed otherwise, and goes into how the zombies were designed to look retro, because they didn't look right in the films "Blair Witch" style. They also didn't hire friends to play parts, they hired pros, unlike most indie directors do. And they had to shoot eight pages of the script each day, which is a lot compared to a usual production.

In the end, even with flaws, "Demon Resurrection" is an indie achievement. It was created and treated very professionally, and gives the genre a big high five. It's a low-budget B movie that doesn't let up.

3 stars out of 5

4 DEAD GIRLS: THE SOUL TAKER (2012)

a.k.a. "The Rental"

RATED- UNRATED
RUN TIME- 95 MINS
WRITER(S)- MIKE CAMPBELL AND TODD JOHNSON
STARRING- KATHERINE BROWNING, MIKE CAMPBELL, AND LEAH VERRILL
DIRECTOR- MIKE CAMPBELL AND TODD JOHNSON



Synopsis taken from IMDb
The Rental is a horror feature film about 4 girls who move into their first off-campus house only to find that the owner is a soul-eater.

"4 Dead Girls" is the latest screener I've viewed. Off the bat, you can instantly see the quality of the film isn't very good. The lighting is off, and makes the whole film have the feel that it was shot with a handheld camera, which it might have been. 

The acting isn't of the highest quality, either. But, one actress, Katherine Browning, stood out and was the most convincing performer of the cast. I understand that the actors are amateurs, and I'm not going to rip this film apart for that, but I have to be honest, and acting can make or break a movie.

I think the soul eater route is a good choice, you don't see too many of them around. I find the story to be too simple and easy. I don't think writing this script or coming up with ideas for it was a very difficult task. It maintains being original but, loses any effect due to lack of complexity. It's too effortless. Part of me isn't sure if budgets are what got the better of this movie, or plain laziness.

I've never heard of a soul eater only grubbing on evil women's souls, so that's new to me. I know that some say soul eaters would eat the souls of men who were cursed by witches but, I never heard of them only feasting on women. I like how this film tries to take the folklore and change it, but it doesn't have the right means to effectively use it.

When the soul eater reveals that he wants the girls to kill each other so he can eat their souls, it becomes a fight to the death amongst four females who were all good friends just a few minutes before. These girls turn on each other fast! No one wants to die, and everyone wants to be the last woman standing. 

The girls all have somewhat conflicting personalities. Two of them are homosexual, one is very loose with men, and the other is a good girl who has morals. Some of the interactions are pretty interesting, and I feel that they touch up on real topics, and confront the harsh truth of reality. I like how you see the argument from all sides.

I try not to bash or harshly criticize motion pictures made on tiny budgets, because I understand resources are slim. But, when you're making a movie that you want taken seriously, you have to deliver and make an impact. Such is not the case with this flick.

Keep An Eye Out For THE TAKING

"The Taking is a cinematic experience of light and sound. It's a film made with balls and intellectual muscle. In this film you will discover horrific art told via grisly images and two tales of woe...

The experience begins with Carl who seeks to murder his best friend and adulterous fiancee. Unexpectedly, he awakens in a wooded wasteland. He has no idea as to where he is or how he got there. A sinister family now holds him captive along with another victim named Jade. They're subjected to arcane rituals and are left tied to a tree for several days.

When Carl looks back on their grisly experience in the forest, he comes to the realization that they're not just in the woods; rather they are in a place where people go to fight the vices living inside them. The losing of this fight is something far worse than death; it's the utter damnation of one's very soul."  

"The Taking" is a micro-budget film, made on only $14K by the filmmaking duo known as The BAPartists (Cezil Reed & Lydelle Jackson). It's shot completely during the day, using the Cannon 5D Mark II.

Also, it's been to four international festivals so far, and will screen in competition for the New Visions category in October of this year. And, within six months of completing the film, it's found distributors domestically and internationally. So far, it's already sold to Australian and German territories.

Based on what little the trailer reveals, and the story, all I can say is that I'll be watching this one closely. And I hope to see it soon. With such limited resources, it's always a triumph when movies of this caliber are able to pull off their desired effect. I'll be awaiting patiently for this one, and remain optimistic as always.

For more info, check "The Taking" out online.
http://thetakingmovie.com/

State Of Emergency Isn't Just Another Zombie Movie

RATED- UNRATED
RUN TIME- 90 MINS
WRITER(S)- TURNER CLAY
STARRING- JAY HAYDEN, ANDY STAHL AND TORI WHITE
DIRECTOR- TURNER CLAY



Synopsis taken from IMDb
Chaos consumes a small town when a chemical facility explodes a deadly toxin. Moments after the leak, the town's residents show signs of mutation, causing the military to quarantine the area leaving any survivors helpless inside. The story follows Jim, a young man isolated within the red zone, as he eludes flesh eating zombies in an attempt to win back his freedom. 




Even though this movie was made in 2011, it's just now released. So technically it's a 2013 film. Same as the upcoming horror film "You're Next", which was also filmed two years ago and is just now coming out. This film, however, is actually on Netflix instant. That's how I stumbled upon it!

From the go, I had low expectations. I wasn't expecting too much from this film at all. In my mind, I instantly saw another bad zombie movie written all over it. I had nothing else to do, and it was late, so I figured what the hell. My mentality was that if it's bad enough, it'll just put me to sleep, and I love sleep. So I watched it anyway.

You can tell from the opening of the film that it's not made on a very large budget (estimated $1,300,000) but that doesn't always stop a movie from being good, so I try and not judge cinema by that alone. After about five minutes in, it appeared to me that my initial judgement on the film was wrong, and that this may actually be something special. So no, I didn't fall asleep. I did however, have to continue it the next night because I was so tired the night before. The point is, I actually stopped it to resume later as opposed to letting it play and sleeping through it. I guess you can say it hooked me.

First off, the acting does suffer a bit, but it's very good for a low-budget film. Jay Hayden isn't the strongest of actors, but he does a very descent job of holding up this movie, with the whole film being about his character Jim.

If it sounds like I'm over praising this, let me back it up a bit and clearly state that, this is in no way a perfect movie. As I mentioned above, some of the acting suffers, as well as there's some forced and unnecessary dialog. There's also editing flaws throughout the film. I'm openly stating that this film is not a masterpiece. It is however, one of the few films that stand out in the zombie genre amongst the abundance made. Even though the zombie scene is exhausted in almost every way by now, "State of Emergency" offers it's own goodies.

One of them being that, there's actually a happy ending, and get this, they actually have a cause for what caused the sickness to spread! As opposed to the ever so popular "we don't know what caused the outbreak" cop out.

Another thing that this film lacks is some deep layered character development. It doesn't seem we ever get past the "woe is me and it's the end of the world" theme. I would have liked to go in deep with some solid character story. That would have put this movie over, and it's a shame it wasn't included. Coulda woulda shoulda, right? 

This movie barely makes it over the mediocre line, but ultimately it does cross the line. I didn't mind the way the zombies looked, but again, another aspect that could have stood out, but really doesn't. The fact that this movie keeps you intrigued enough to watch through the end is the most complimentary thing I can say. It falls into the middle of the zombie pack, but far from top and further from the bottom.

Speak No Evil Will Leave You Speechless

RATED- UNRATED

RUN TIME- 74 MINS

WRITER(S)- ROZE

STARRING- GREG BRONSON, ANNALISE CAVENDER AND ELISABETH CAVENDER

DIRECTOR- ROZE

Synopsis taken from IMDb

Speak No Evil is the story of Anna, a single mother, fighting to protect her daughter from demonically possessed children in town gone mad.

After speaking with Roze about his new film, I was eager to test it out and see what it's about. As a horror fan, I'm always looking for an original horror film, and this seemed right up my alley.

After viewing a private screener for the film, I can honestly say that this is one of the best screeners I've seen to date! While it's not very long, the beauty of it is, it never drags on, or gets boring. It doesn't outlive it's purpose. It's short and sweet and to the bones. This is undoubtedly an indie achievement.

With no time to spare, the film picks right up the ball and runs with it almost instantly. The whole film we're trying to figure out who kidnapped Anna's (Gabrielle Stone) daughter, Joey (Olivia Cavender). Was it her father? Or something else? We learn that Joey was taken by a demonic force known as Adramelech. As theories of Joey's whereabouts get discredited, the story becomes deeper and more mysterious.  

Anna is a single mother, struggling to keep things together in her personal life. After splitting up with Dale, Joey's father, the cops are lead to believe Joey's disappearance is a runaway case and refuse to give an valid help. So, Anna is forced to search for her daughter without the assistance of the police. Only she could never be prepared for what she'll discover.

Once more kids go missing, it starts an uproar in the town, forcing some into religion. At this point, everyone is certain it isn't humans doing the kidnapping, and that something supernatural has involved itself. The missing kids (including Joey) all return eventually, but things only get worse when we discover they're all possessed and vicious, and hungry. There are some really intense scenes that naturally, on instinct, make you want to turn away. Of course I didn't though, I was too intrigued in what was going to happen.

The makeup is really well done. To be truthful, I was actually surprised by how good it was. A lot of indie films don't deliver on the effects or makeup, so I wasn't expecting much in that field, and it was a pleasant surprise. The Mule headed demon that is Adramelech looked fantastic! 

I really like that the gore isn't overdone. It's there, but they don't overuse it, and turn this into a gore flick. It's used when needed, like gore should be used. That with the mixture of dialog that isn't forced and seems natural, are two very key things to this film. The focus is all in the characters and story, the way it should be. I can tell that writer/director Roze definitely has good taste in horror films, because he made one that is classy, but still packs the scares and entertainment factor.

The movie was made on an estimated $150, 000, so it's not a big budget picture by any means. It is however, very well shot and the story is well told. Not to mention the originality of it. This just goes to show that not everyone out there in the indie circuit is an amateur, and some really do know what they're doing. The only negative thing that this movie suffers from is a bit of over and under acting at parts throughout the film by the main and supporting cast. 

However, these aren't pro actors and actresses yet, and it's an indie movie. So to watch this and criticize it for some of the acting is pointless, because nobody expected a Michelle Pfeiffer or Daniel Day-Lewis performance.

The last thing that I'll say is, if you like films that don't explain everything, you'll truly enjoy this. It doesn't explain everything to the viewer, there's mystery to it. I like that.

Parasitic (2012)

RATED- R
RUN TIME- 79 MINS
WRITER(S)- TIM MARTIN
STARRING- JULIE ANNE, CAMILLE BALSAMO AND AMANDA BECK
DIRECTOR- TIM MARTIN



Synopsis taken from IMDb
A group of friends become trapped inside a nightclub with an unseen terror. Unable to escape, one at a time they fall victim to the ravenous, bloodthirsty beast.




Another night of staying up late with insomnia is the reason I watched this film. It was simply the next one in line on my Netflix Queue. And If you've read my last few posts, you know that I'm on a losing streak with Netflix.

So I wasn't expecting anything from this film. I was just hoping that it wouldn't be as bad as the last one I've watched. I believe I saw this film at Redbox, I'm not sure, but I've seen this movie around before somewhere, and I've been eager to try it. That's why it was on my instant queue in the first place. They say never judge a book by its cover, but this one is hard to not wanna watch after you see the cover.

Instantly, I got a feel of the film, what it was going to be like, how it was going to turn out, etc. The reason is, this film is one of those with a very simple and basic story. You can text through it, get up and grab a bite to eat, and use the toilet without pausing it, and still understand the movie completely. There isn't anything to understand, it is what it is. This is literally a film where no one's infected, then people start getting infected, and then there's a conclusion. Nothing special or anything original.

I had my ups and downs with this movie. One minute I was excited to see what would happen, and the other I wasn't. There are things that I certainly do like about this film, but there's also things that I don't. I think being truthful and speaking down the line, that this film is a bad movie. However, it has a lot of entertainment value and quality. It's not so bad that you trash it to your friends, it's one that you invite friends over to watch, so you can laugh and have a good time.

I was upset when the attractive bartender, Val (Bianca Holland), got infected. She wasn't someone I would have minded looking at for the duration of the film. Then I got happy because after becoming infected, Val undresses in the bathroom. So at that point, I was glad that she had gotten infected. It was totally worth not seeing her for a long period after, when she disappeared into the vents.

The acting in this film is pretty damn bad. As a horror fan, we all know how actors in horror get it wrong. Due to this fact, we all have different levels of bad. There's good-bad, bad-but-awesome, etc. This film falls into bad-bad, where it's such bad acting, that when it's unintentionally funny. You're actually laughing at the people instead of with them.

The dialog in this little piece of cinema is really, really bad. Nothing that's said feels natural, it's all forced. There's a lot of idiotic things spoken. None of the characters felt real, so the disconnection you feel for them makes it hard to give a damn if they get infected or not. I really didn't care what happened to any of them.

One thing that really got on my nerves is the fact that all of the men in this movie, aren't men at all. They're little sissy girls. None of the guys want to fight, they're as bad as the girls, and it's embarrassing. Of the handful of guys in the club, none of them show that they have any guts, they just lay there and expect everyone else to help them. Had this been me, I would have been coming up with a plan, not being useless like they were.

As bad as this film is, I can't honestly say that I wouldn't watch it again. That's probably the biggest and only compliment that I can give this movie, because I don't plan on revisiting a lot of what I've watched recently. The parasite at the end was actually really impressive! I really liked the look and design, it was a cross between the Predator and Alien hybrid, mixed with the alien from "The Faculty". I feel that most of the budget went into this creature, and it showed, because the rest of the film suffers.

In conclusion, if you're in the mood for a film that's easy to watch, has some laughs, and doesn't take itself seriously, than this is a film that's worth at least a one time watch. It's not a good movie, but it's a fun one, and that's better than what I can say about some of the other films I've seen as of late.

"Crawl Bitch Crawl" Is Coming Soon

I recently found out about this film, and I cannot wait to give it a watch. Though it doesn't have a release date yet, it's set to land this year, so be ready and keep your eyes peeled.

The HORROR film CRAWL BITCH CRAWL is...

Synopsis: An elite security team assigned the task of protecting the last known woman who can become pregnant, find themselves caught in an endless claustrophobic underground tunnel system. The team soon learns - the real horror is not the unstoppable creature chasing them, but the ever growing smaller tunnel itself. The will to live for each member of the team gets challenged with the obstacle of fourteen inch two thousand foot tunnel.

What horror fans are saying about CRAWL BITCH CRAWL...

"...Get through this horror tunnel..."

-Bloody Disgusting (Mr Disgusting)

"...A Fist-Clenching, Breath-Holding, Claustrophobic Thrill-Ride..."

-Yell! Magazine (Joanna Jaguar)

"Going to the counter and ordering a ticket to this film should be fun!"

-Horror Smorgasbord (Slowdeath77) 

"...Breakout Actress Nicole Alonso...kicks some serious ass..."

 -Yell! Magazine (Joanna Jaguar)

CLICK TO VIEW THE OFFICIAL TRAILER

OFFICIAL MOVIE IMAGES

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CRAWL BITCH CRAWL ON THE FOLLOWING SITES:

WEBSITE: http://crawlmovie.us6.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=73d428549a29ac5e5557ac7b6&id=bdf08ee760&e=2ecbb7cbb6

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CRAWLmovie

TWITTER: www.twitter.com/EXTREMEINDIE

DIRECTED BY: OKLAHOMA WARD

WRITTEN BY: OKLAHOMA WARD

STARRING: NICOLE ALONSO, TOREY BYRNE, TOM CHAMBERLAIN, DAVID P. BAKER, WIL CROWN, TOMMY BALL AND CLAYTON BURGESS

Home Sweet Home Will Chill Your Bones

RATED- UNRATED
RUN TIME- 80 MINS
WRITER(S)- DAVID MORLET 
STARRING- MARTY ADAMS, SHAUN BENSEN AND MEGHAN HEFFERN
DIRECTOR- DAVID MORLET



Synopsis taken from IMDb
A young married couple comes home from a date night to discover that they are imprisoned in their house with a methodical killer inside.




While on my recent tirade of Netflix film, I couldn't decide what to watch, nothing on my queue looked appealing at the time. So, I scrolled through the new releases and found a film from this year called "Home Sweet Home". The cover had me guessing it to be a low quality film, but I figured what the hell, and clicked play.

Right away, I could see that I was wrong about this one. I found myself not wanting to take my eyes off of the screen the entire film. And that's a rare thing. This movie is like "Halloween" meets "The Collector" and had a baby that looked a lot like "The Strangers". It's definitely a creepy film, there's no denying it.

This is another one of those home invasion films that just gets into your bones and makes your skin crawl. There's a few good jumps in it and an even better amount of suspense. I was really on edge watching it. It was like a common slasher film, but it has it's own touch and it stands out. One of those reasons is that the antagonist had a different outfit. Not that we haven't seen it before, but we haven't seen this particular outfit used as a slashers costume before. And his mask is cold and creepy as hell, as well as original!

The movie starts with a good build up. Nothing really happens the whole first half hour, but it's intriguing and never gets boring. When I realized this, I knew I had to give this movie a respectful nod. This film is the opposite of what you're used to seeing. Instead of a movie that makes you afraid to leave your house, this one makes you afraid to go home.

I was invested in how you spend some time with "The Killer". I liked how even though you know nothing about him, he gave off enough to show that he's a normal human being, just completely twisted. Shaun Benson really brought it while playing the role. You can see hints and traces of Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees' (head tilt), but it's not too much or overpowering. There's some well done homages in this film, and I always like it when a film can give another film a wink without stealing from it.

When the lead characters, Sara (Meghan Heffern) and Frank, (Adam Macdonald) realize there's someone in there house and it's too late to do anything. The movie carries on with Sara and Frank enjoying their night, not even knowing that the killer is in their home and has made it impossible for them to leave. You never know when he's going to come around the corner and catch you. The dialog seemed a little forced at points, but for the most part Sara and Frank came off as a real couple.

There is some gore in this film but, it's not a gory film at all. There's not an over abundance of blood, it's only used when necessary, and not overused, so I appreciated that. However, I know I've been singing this films praises, but it's not a perfect film. For one, the twist was very good, and a lot probably won't see it coming, but I did. Even though I liked the twist, having already predicted it hurt the impact it had. And there's some over acting as well. 

I won't go into a rant about it, because it wasn't awful, you can just easily tell these aren't pro actors, but they do a decent job. And the biggest flaw with the film is how the ending dragged out. I didn't care for the slow motion close-ups with opera music blaring. I don't think that part fit into the film well because, the rest of the film isn't like that. It's almost as if they wanted it to suddenly become an artsy horror film, and I didn't like it. The ending is unsettling though, and leaves you shaking your head in disbelief.

Although this film suffers from some cliches and slight predictability, it's actually a good slasher film. There's only a few small things wrong with it, and had they been done better, this film would be a damn near perfect slasher film. It's taken down a peg or two due to flaws, but it's a good and entertaining horror film that's actually scary. If you get the chance to watch any Netflix, add this one to the queue.

Sledge Is A Good Old-Fashioned American Slasher Film

RATED- UNRATED
RUN TIME- 75 MINS
WRITER(S)- KRISTIAN HANSEN
STARRING- KRISTIAN HANSEN, RACHEL CORNELL AND TINO FAYGO
DIRECTOR- JOHN B SOVIE II AND KRISTIAN HANSEN



Synopsis taken from IMDb
Sledge hits you from the beginning with humor and originality. Opening with Assly's True American Horror television program, the action kicks off instantly with skull crushing deaths from the killer, Adam Lynch. Adam believes he is in a movie and video game that he has created in his head.




After briefly speaking with writer and co-director, Kristian Hansen, I immediately became interested in the film "Sledge". Due to my interest, Kristian sent me the screener, so I could see the film for myself. Let me state that I do not write generous or kind reviews for films because I was allowed to view the screener. It doesn't get you an automatic good write-up. I am avid about horror, and will always be totally, and completely honest in my reviews and writing. If I'm not honest, than what I do is pointless.

That being said, I really liked this film! I wasn't exactly sure what I was getting into, but I was ready nonetheless. I liked that that though this film has a small budget, it was spent wisely. It doesn't come off as cheap and poor as other low-budget or independent films do most of the time. The lighting is the thing I first noticed about the film, because it was up to par. Having a well lit scene is everything, and this film didn't miss that little fact.

This is a good old-fashioned American slasher film. The scenery is a large wooded area, and the victims are campers. So, this isn't anything new in those terms, but what really makes this film stand out, is that it's supposed to be the way it is. The point of this film is to be a fun slasher film, like the ones we all like and enjoy from throughout the decades. This film is a true shout-out to genre fans, just like the "Hatchet" series.

Another thing that makes the film stand apart from others, is that the killer, Adam Lynch, actually talks, and he's very funny. A lot of good one liners are caught from the mouth of the protagonist, and it's a lot of fun. It's not everyday that you see a film with a killer that talks. The last slasher I saw where the killer talked was "The Orphan Killer", and despite how popular that film is, I didn't care for it. I liked the fact that the killer spoke, but if I were to say any criticism about it, it would be that I think he speaks a bit too much. Other than that, his dialog is a good aspect of the film.

I really liked Adam lynch's mask as well! It looks like a twisted Slipknot mask. Very wicked looking! Like most slashers, his outfit isn't anything noteworthy, but the mask makes up for it all.

There's actually good dialog in this film, to bring up another thing this film got right. Too many horror films, or movies of any genre, get dialog way off. Bad writing makes you disconnected from the characters. However, the characters in this film aren't people you can necessarily relate to. It's funny, because a lot of newer films get bashed for such lack of character development, but there's a bunch of older films that are the same way. This film fits right in with the slasher films we all love and adore, and takes its place along side them.

The gore is really tastefully done, and something other horror films should look to for clues on what and what not to do. This film isn't beefed up with bad effects, most of the shots cut away before you see anything. All you see the the aftermath of blood, and body parts. Even though the film is funny, they kept the cheese toned down on the effects and gore, which is a really nice touch. This proves to be a film that used it's resources properly and intelligently.

When you see the film, you'll notice that there is some horror film references, which I thought was a nice addition. Most memorably, "Jeepers Creepers" gets a nod.

The whole time the feature plays, we're taken out of the scene to see that it's a film that is being watched by a young, attractive woman. In the end, it all tied together really well. And I have to be honest, I was really hoping the film would end a certain way, and it actually did. This was very pleasing because it made a really good ending. It's the cherry on top of the bloody cake. I almost stood up and clapped, and had I been in a theater, I would have.

The only criticism I have for this film, is that I feel the killer talks a bit too much. I love that he talks, as I mentioned before, but I feel his lines could have been cut back a little. Also, there is some overacting that happens during the film, most notably in the beginning sequence. And other than a little bit of forced dialog here and there, this film is all around bloody well done. And an overall solid horror movie, that can be enjoyed by anyone who's a fan of the genre. "Sledge" film leaves it's mark on you.
Plain and simple, this is a film for the true horror fans.

Entrance (2012)

RATED- UNRATED
RUN TIME- 83 MINS
WRITER(S)- KAREN GORHAM, DALLAS RICHARD HALLAM, PATRICK HORVATH AND MICHELLE MARGOLIS
STARRING- KAREN BAIRD, SUZIEY BLOCK AND FARLEY BURGE
DIRECTOR- DALLAS RICHARD HALLAM AND PATRICK HORVATH



Synopsis taken from IMDb
ENTRANCE is about the limits of our perception, how the things lurking in the periphery of our lives can lead to horrific conclusions; about how she fell out of love with the city, but it wouldn't let her go.




A friend recommended this film to me, because I have never heard of it before. It looked a little weird from the start, I wasn't sure it'd be my thing. But this is what I call a slow burning horror film. It takes it's time building up, never ceasing to be creepy. And you're always waiting for the payoff because you know it's coming.

This is a nice, little low-budget indie film. We follow the lead character around and watch her boring life day after day. She has no friends, other than her roommate, because she's new to the city. The realness that's portrayed in the film really builds up that sense of dread and loneliness that the lead character feels. It puts us right in her shoes with her.

Always on edge, she notices everyone around her, weary of them. You can see the fear and nervousness running all through her as she walks the streets of the city. Guys try and talk to her, cars follow her, she's really uncomfortable and out of her element.

Unbeknownst to her, there's noises coming from inside her house every night. She hears them a few times, but is too scared to act. Other times, it occurs while she's sleeping. She and her roommate are being watched by someone. Yet again, this is another one of those creepy home invasion movies. One of the scariest things is to think that you're not safe in your own place of living. 
It's a very unsettling and effective to think your not in control of the place you sleep every night.

Then, one morning she wakes up to find her dog missing. This really effects her because her dog is all she really had. He was her companion, and best friend. Now he's missing and the last time she saw him was in her building, in the next room from her, while she slept. So, she puts up flyers and calls everyone she can to try and get her dog back. Taking her dog was actually a really terrifying thing, to make her completely abandoned in a city she's already afraid of, puts you in that state of panic with her.

The acting is actually really well done, for once I can't really think of any bad, or poor dialog. It all just seemed very genuine, and that's what works for this film. That, and the mystery of what's going to conclude the film.

As the film reared it's end, things really get out of hand and it becomes a serious, nail biting horror film. We discover who is watching her and why. It seems so real, like you're watching it really happen. It's downright creepy, and not one I'd recommend if you're home alone, because things get crazy. This movie will send chills down your spine!

The ending leaves you with that eerie feeling, like you need to take a shower. It's not a happy movie, and it doesn't end very happily. It just sits with you for a while because, people really do act like this and do these things. So to have them done in such a realistic manor is really scary. The last 20 minutes of the film becomes like "The Strangers", and we've all seen how messed up and demented that film is.

If you're able to check this out, I highly suggest you do. It's on Netflix instant right now, that's how I watched it. As I said before, don't watch it alone, and especially alone at night. However, the first bit of the movie tends to be a bit too slow for my liking. So I'm not giving it as high of a rating as it could have gotten. But it's a good little effective movie.

Help get The Fake Horse printed!

The Fake Horse is a dark, meaningful story from the mind of Toby Johansen, an independent artist and film maker. His labor of love is coming to a close as he's almost finished it. With only 41 pages left, Toby needs to raise the money required to make his dream book happen. If the quota isn't met by July 14th, he'll be starting a Kickstarter campaign soon after, to keep the ball rolling.

What is The Fake Horse you ask? In Toby's own words:

"It's called 'The Fake Horse', where in a post-apocalyptic 2018, where a man who wears a horse mask is bent on protecting a herd of horses from savage flesh-eaters left from the fallout, while trying to make a meaningful life in a world that's ended."

If you're a graphic novel/comics fan and a horror fan, than this is definitely your thing. Don't miss this!

LEARN MORE WITH THE LINKS BELOW:

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-get-the-fake-horse-printed/

http://www.gorypumpkin.com/

And don't forget to LIKE it on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/TheFakeHorse

Gut (2012)

RATED- UNRATED
RUN TIME- 90 MINS
WRITER(S)- ELIAS
STARRING- JASON VAIL, NICHOLAS WILDER AND SARAH SCHOOFS
DIRECTOR- ELIAS



Synopsis taken from IMDb
Family man Tom, has something he can't forget, a mysterious video with an ugly secret that soon spreads into his daily life and threatens to dismantle everything around him.

'Gut' is a low budget indie film that has a few surprises up its sleeve. I viewed it as a reflection film; a film that reflects us and shows us all of our faults. The faults we ignore but are still there. It turns the mirror on us, and exposes our weaknesses and insecurities. Showing us that regardless of how normal we try to be, we're still all full of the need, or want, to do bad things.

This film tells the story of how dangerous temptation is to us all. And how regardless of our good intentions, the dark side always seems so delicious! Our will to depart from our morals just to taste and pique our curiosities, is what this film focuses in on and gently gropes.

I found the overall point and purpose of this film to be both profound and, impactful. These films are always entertaining because, the people portrayed in them are us. It's me, it's you, it's the guy in traffic beside you. It's the nice guy you always buy the morning paper from on the corner.

'Gut' is a film about people, nothing else. The snuff films in this movie are just a tool to help tell the story, to help turn that aforementioned mirror on you, the viewer. The acting suffers, but it's fair, and what you'd expect. There's also some dialog that I felt was forced and didn't really belong.

But, if you focus on the films message and story, it'll resonate with you. You'll get it. There's some violence that is tastefully done as well. This isn't a tits and gore film, but it's got them as well.

It has that dry, dreary blankness that resembles a film by Lucky McKee called "May". A film in which I adore. 'Gut' is slow-paced and keeps that pace the same speed the duration of the movie. There isn't any payoff, it's just disturbing and blissfully awkward. I enjoyed watching this, it's a step towards something new. But it's not for everyone.

The films guts are in the ability to show us we're the villains.

THIS FILM GETS 3 REAPER SKULLS OUT OF 5