There’s a fine line between campy fun and cinematic disaster, and Shiver Me Timbers, the feature debut from writer-director Paul Stephen Mann, cannonballs into the latter without much grace. Billed as a gory, comedic reimagining of Popeye with a horror twist, this film misses nearly every mark—hard. Set in 1986 California during the arrival of Halley’s Comet, the plot follows Olive Oyl, her brother Castor, and a group of forgettable friends on a camping trip that goes sideways when a meteor fragment lands in the pipe of a local fisherman.
Read MoreFear Street: Prom Queen (2025)
Welcome back to Shadyside—where the blood never dries and the drama never ends. Fear Street: Prom Queen, the latest installment in the R.L. Stine-inspired series, hits Netflix on May 23, delivering a retro-styled slasher that plays like Carrie meets I Know What You Did Last Summer with a synth-drenched, neon glow-up. Directed by Matt Palmer and co-written with Donald McLeary, Prom Queen dives into the cutthroat world of high school royalty in 1988.
Read MoreClown in a Cornfield (2025)
Eli Craig’s Clown in a Cornfield is the kind of horror movie that knows exactly what it is—and executes with the confidence of a masked killer in broad daylight. Adapted from Adam Cesare’s novel by Craig and Carter Blanchard, the film is a back-to-basics slasher that manages to feel both comfortingly familiar and surprisingly fresh. Set in the economically shattered town of Kettle Springs, the story follows Quinn and her father as they attempt to rebuild their lives following a tragic past.
Read MoreThe Ugly Stepsister (2025)
From the very first frame of Emilie Blichfeldt’s feature directorial debut, The Ugly Stepsister, it’s clear that we’re in for something far removed from the polished perfection of Disney’s animated fairy tales—or the chaos of whatever’s happening in The Twisted Childhood Universe. What Blichfeldt delivers instead is a brutal, beautifully crafted, and unsettling reimagining of Cinderella filtered through a lens of body horror, biting satire, and feminist fury. Set in a lush, live-action world that mimics the meticulous detail of a Disney production, The Ugly Stepsister feels like it’s been plucked from a dream—or a nightmare.
Read MoreHell of a Summer (2023)
Hell of a Summer, directed by Billy Bryk and Finn Wolfhard, offers a familiar blend of slasher horror and comedy with a modern twist. The film centers on Jason Hochberg, a 24-year-old camp counselor who feels out of sync with his younger colleagues at Camp Pineway. However, his sense of disconnection soon takes a backseat when a masked killer starts picking off the counselors, leading to a tense, bloody showdown in the woods.
Read MoreI Heart Willie (2024)
Alejandro G. Alegre’s I Heart Willie is a film that knows exactly what it is—a campy, gore-filled fever dream loosely inspired by Steamboat Willie. While it borrows heavily from horror classics like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, this twisted slasher tale still manages to stand out with its absurdity and unexpected moments of brilliance. Despite some obvious flaws, I Heart Willie is a fun and bizarre ride that horror fans should check out—just don’t expect Scorsese.
Read MorePeter Pan's Neverland Nightmare (2025)
Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare is a bold and macabre reimagining of J.M. Barrie’s beloved tale, directed and written by Scott Jeffrey, who continues to redefine public domain stories in the horror genre. As the third installment in The Twisted Childhood Universe, the 2025 British independent film expands the series’ trademark style with a darkly creative and unsettling take on Peter Pan. With standout performances, commendable production values, and a uniquely twisted narrative, the film delivers a compelling experience for horror fans.
Read MoreTerrifier 3 (2024)
Bloody sounds. Ooey, gooey, blood spurty sounds. Cue audience members walking out in disgust.
Read More