Forbidden Fruits starts strong. Almost annoyingly so. We open on a scantily clad woman dancing, then another song kicks in immediately as we’re introduced to three of the central characters.
Read MoreEchoes in the Hallway: Hokum Is Chilling Until You’ve Seen It All Before
Damian McCarthy’s Hokum made its world premiere in SXSW’s Midnighter lineup, and from the jump, it announces itself as a horror film deeply committed to vibe. From its opening moments, the film settles into an eerie, funereal atmosphere that never fully lifts, even when the movie briefly pretends it might. This is a haunted hotel story soaked in shadow, dread, and folkloric menace, one that wants to crawl under your skin before yanking the floor out from under you.
Read MoreWitchboard (2024)
Chuck Russell makes a triumphant and gloriously over-the-top return to the horror genre with Witchboard, a deliriously fun reimagining of the 1986 cult classic. The filmmaker behind A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors and The Blob is clearly in his element, blending practical effects, camp, and chaos into a film that feels like a 1990s VHS treasure, rewound and reborn in a high-def 2024 package. Set in the voodoo-rich atmosphere of New Orleans, Witchboard introduces us to Emily and Christian, a couple opening an organic café in the French Quarter.
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