Monster Party (2018)

January 15, 2019

All of us have an addiction. You’re not alone. Human beings are prone to it.

Inside (2007) #RetroReview

January 2, 2019

One of the great tragedies of modern horror cinema is the confounding ambivalence shown to Inside upon its U.S. release. The stunning 2007 French shocker generated some buzz during its award-winning festival run, but never received a proper theatrical release save for France and a handful of European markets. The Weinstein’s ended up purchasing the American rights, quietly moving it past go – and sending it directly to DVD jail in 2008 under their Dimension Extreme banner.

Christmas Blood (2017)

January 2, 2019

You’ve seen Silent Night, Deadly Night. You’ve heard of Christmas Evil. Now comes a new take from Norway on the “killer Santa” sub-genre of horror, Christmas Blood.

The Demonologist (2018)

December 11, 2018

There’s a phrase that I often think of while writing: Keep it simple, stupid. The words may not always keep me from veering off into some weird tangent while you sit there wondering where the hell I’m going with this, but they’re words to live by when developing any sort of creative project. The intention is to remind us that simpler is always better, especially in storytelling, because when you cram in too much, the core theme of the tale is almost always lost.

The Cabin (2018)

December 3, 2018

Mysterious killer slices up old man in a cabin. Obnoxious couple that is so annoying they’re actually made for each other visits cabin because spending time alone together with nothing to do somehow seems like a good idea. Killer sets his sight on couple and decides the world would be better off without them.

Elves (2018)

November 15, 2018

Raise your hand if you saw Blumhouse’s Truth or Dare earlier this year? While the film didn’t exactly break open the box office, it did quite well considering its minimal budget around 3 mil, so I’m assuming a good chunk of you have either seen it or at least know of it. Why am I mentioning a Blumhouse movie that has nothing to do with a Christmas horror indie called Elves?

Cam (2018) #IthacaFantastik

November 9, 2018

As a self-proclaimed “media personality”, there is an inherent… strangeness to the whole thing. In a similar sense to the films I review, I’m laying myself bare out here, ready to be picked apart for my opinions, which is often pretty justified. I don’t know you, and you barely know me, even if you’ve been reading my work for a while.

Dead Love (2018)

October 31, 2018

Ah, love. What is love? Baby, don’t hurt me.

Killer Kate! (2018)

October 26, 2018

If you had to choose some kind of nickname done with alliteration, what would it be? Me, I’d probably pick Morbid Matt. Seems right.

Johnny Gruesome (2018)

October 17, 2018

As a kid that wasn’t exactly swimming in popularity growing up, one of my favorite types of horror films has always been the “supernatural revenge” film. Movies like Evilspeak, Carrie, Christine, The Crow, Pumpkinhead, and The Wraith, just to name a very few of many. There’s nothing quite like seeing bullies and assholes get their bloody comeuppance.

King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen (2017)

August 21, 2018

Often referred to as “the Cassavetes of exploitation,” filmmaker Larry Cohen was responsible for some of the most engaging and transgressive films of the 70's and 80's. Though arguably more famous as the creative force behind the It’s Alive franchise and the quirky cult film Q, his career began as a prolific television writer for dozens of 60's television productions. His work spans six decades of creative and often challenging material, which would make any attempt at a documentary on his legacy a daunting task.

Animalistic (2015)

August 14, 2018

When you sit back and think about it, what are human beings but a bunch of sophisticated animals? Yeah sure, we give ourselves laws, create beautiful art, develop science that does important things like provide ugly face Snapchat filters or allow access to videos of cats jumping into boxes. But take out all the “higher thinking” and pretend morals, and we’re just a bunch of animals working off of primal instincts, the two most basic being sex and survival.

Review

When Healing Hurts: Archangel Delivers an Emotional Gut Punch

For more than a decade, filmmaker Sam Platizky and his team at Narrow Bridge Films have built a reputation through comedy, horror, and the occasional hybrid of the two. With Archangel, however, Platizky takes an unexpected turn into dramatic territory, delivering a deeply personal and emotionally grounded short film that feels less interested in spectacle than in something far more challenging: compassion.

Guerrilla Metropolitana's Dariuss Is a Fever Dream You Survive, Not Watch

"The most important questions are the unanswered ones." Take a moment to let that sink in. Then forget everything you think you know about horror cinema and press play on Dariuss.

Data Not Drama Finds Heart Inside the Algorithm

For someone whose entire life exists online, Jenessa Miller spends much of Data Not Drama profoundly alone. Writer-director David Ramer's intimate sci-fi drama follows the influencer behind the wildly successful "Data Not Drama" brand, a woman who has built a career sharing herself with millions while carefully withholding the parts that matter most. What begins as a clever satire of content culture gradually evolves into something far more affecting: a story about loneliness, vulnerability, companionship, and the universal desire to be understood.

Isabel Hagen Strikes a Perfect Note in On a String

There are funny movies, and then there are movies that catch you so completely off guard that you find yourself laughing harder than you have in months. On a String belongs firmly in that second category. Written, directed by, and starring Isabel Hagen, the Tribeca Best Screenplay winner follows a Juilliard-trained violist attempting to navigate New York's classical music scene while still living at home and trying to figure out what adulthood is supposed to look like.

The Legend of Van Dorn A Civil War Drama That Finds the Man Behind the Myth

Historical dramas often succeed or fail based on whether they can make familiar events feel fresh. The Legend of Van Dorn, directed by Shane Stanley, takes a different route by focusing on a fascinating Civil War figure who remains largely unknown outside history circles. The result is an engaging period drama that blends military strategy, romance, ambition, and tragedy into a story that feels both intimate and consequential.

The Heart Behind Obsession: Amy Evans-Vega, the One Wish Willow, and a Family Creative Legacy

One of the most fascinating aspects of Obsession is how deeply family is woven into its DNA. While audiences have become captivated by the mystery of the One Wish Willow and the film's layered storytelling, many may not realize that one of the movie's most iconic creations came from the hands of Amy Evans-Vega, a graphic designer, illustrator, mother of writer-director Curry Barker, and one of the earliest creative collaborators on the project. As the designer behind the now-famous One Wish Willow packaging, Amy helped create a prop that has become every bit as memorable as the film itself.

Nathan Tymoshuk Is Still Chasing Frogman, and Fans Couldn’t Be Happier

Few independent horror films have built the kind of passionate following that Frogman has earned over the last several years. What began as a low-budget labor of love from director Anthony Cousins and his collaborators has grown into a genuine cult phenomenon, with Frogman Returns expanding the mythology in surprising ways and leaving audiences eager to see where the story goes next. At the center of it all is Nathan Tymoshuk, whose portrayal of Dallas Kyle has become synonymous with the franchise itself.

Jason Isaacs Finds Humanity on The Salt Path

There are certain actors who elevate every project they touch, and Jason Isaacs has long been one of them. While many audiences know him from the Harry Potter franchise or more recently The White Lotus, his latest role in The Salt Path may be one of the most affecting performances of his career. Based on the memoir by Raynor Winn, the film follows Raynor and her husband Moth after they lose their home and face a devastating medical diagnosis, setting out on a 630-mile journey along England's South West Coast Path.

Big Baby: Spider One and Krsy Fox Continue Their Horror Evolution

There are interviews you look forward to, and then there are interviews that feel surreal. Sitting down with Spider One and Krsy Fox to discuss Big Baby was firmly in the latter category for me. Long before Spider One was building horror films through OneFox Productions, he was fronting Powerman 5000.

Malcolm Kelner Is the Face of Obsession, Whether the Rest of the Cast Likes It or Not

Every great film has that one performance audiences can't stop talking about. For Obsession, the viral thriller from director Curry Barker, that performance belongs, unquestionably, to Malcolm Kelner's bartender. What began as a brief appearance in the film's opening moments has somehow evolved into one of the internet's favorite running jokes, spawning memes, fan theories, social media discourse, and a level of celebrity that Kelner has embraced with remarkable confidence.

Over Coffee Creations Wins Award in Accolade Global Film Competition

Jeff Stirling, of Over Coffee Creations, has won a prestigious Award of Recognition from The Accolade Global Film Competition. The award was given for Jeff Stirling’s exciting web cartoon, Soulbound, which aims to platform new talent and create a unique artistic experience that lifts up the little guy in global online production. Soulbound features exceptional animation, character writing, sharp dialogue, densely-packed storytelling, colors, art direction, and innovation that could only emerge from a small indie film sphere.