kannibalcorpsegrinder Reviews

Death Ranch (2020)

A rather enjoyable Action/Horror hybrid

[8/10 · 18 May 2024]

On the run from the authorities, a group of siblings decide to hide out from the authorities at a supposedly abandoned farmhouse only to realize they've stumbled upon a hideout of a group of cannibal KKK members conducting ritual executions on the property and must fight their way to safety.

Overall, this was a fairly fun and likable genre effort. One of the better aspects to be had with the film is the way it manages to work through its blaxploitation heritage to offer up the kind of solid storyline within this one. The early setup to this one bringing the family members along with the setup about his release and them hooking up once again by going on the run to the farmhouse where they can stay as it's supposedly abandoned.and allow them to stay there unbothered. While spending some time bringing up a form of personal conflict between everyone, that it doesn't take long before they realize that there's something nefarious going on when they witness the sacrifice going on and the guilty party responsible for it all that all wraps everything together into a fun time here. This leads incredibly well into the series of encounters here where they have to overcome the rabid nature of the psychopaths to save themselves. After the initial battle in the woods where they get captured in the middle of their ceremonial sacrifice, their capture and ensuring torture while staying prisoner at their compound is a vastly enjoyable series of setpieces here where they're forced to endure tons of racially-charged verbal and physical torture before the escape and retribution takes place. This is incredibly well-handled as the violent revenge encounters are given a strong series of cathartic sequences of them going through the compound taking out the entirety of the gang in fun, incredibly vicious confrontations drawing scores of bloodshed as a result. This runs throughout the film as a whole and the non-stop nature of the plotline makes for a great series of gruesome, violent bloodbaths that make for a great time here. The film does have a few drawbacks that hold it back. The main detriment to this one is the rather illogical means through which this one turns into a bloodbath with the whole thing taking place so quickly it doesn't really have the chance to get a grip on the nature of the siblings. They seem to drop into the sadistic behavior to stop the chasing Klan almost as quickly as they do while torturing them which lets everything come off at a different tone than expected where the actions and intention are indeed cathartic but hardly ever effectively captures that spirit. That ties into the cannibalistic nature of their captors which feels like the only real hint that this is a genuine genre effort with the majority of the film being an Action film with tons of brutality involved so this is a bit bizarre. Otherwise, there's not a lot wrong here.

Rated Unrated/R: Extreme Graphic and racist Language and Graphic Violence.

Punch (III) (2023)

A highly enjoyable modern slasher effort

[9/10 · 17 May 2024]

Trying to move on with her life, a teen returning to a small town with her feuding family and old friends tries to catch up with them about what they've been doing since she's been away, but when the festivities are crashed by a masked killer has to find the reason for the rampage and stop him.

This was a fairly fun slasher that does have a few drawbacks. What works rather well here is the somewhat intriguing setup that provides a great small-town folklore for the resulting shenanigans. The initial story about the childhood interactions with the figure offers a touch of the local lore in the area with how they first encountered the story of the mythical figure offers a fine way to wrap this localized figure around the secondary story about the struggles of the family and meeting up with her old friends still in town. These are fine enough at presenting the traditional returning towns member who's trying to catch up with the comings and goings of her old crew about how much they've changed since she's been away storyline while still keeping just enough of a focus on the killer running around the outskirts of the situation to make the traditional slasher setup worthwhile. There's also a rather fun series of immensely fun encounters where the imposing killer takes to the random friends and townspeople she crosses paths with. The initial encounters here, whether the confrontation with the harbinger under the pier or the stellar confrontation with the drunken bride and bridesmaid out on the town, provide a strong starting point to get to know the brutality of the killer here. As it takes far more increasingly brutal and graphic confrontations later on such as the rampage in a neon-lit nightclub or a series of bashings that take place at a seaside gathering, the action here becomes incredibly fun with plenty of atmospheric stalking, brutal kills, and some enjoyable one-liners to add some comedy to the proceedings. Combined with the frantic finale where the reveal of the killer comes across rather nicely with a fleshed-out backstory alongside some standout chases, there's quite a lot to like here. The film doesn't have much wrong with it but there are some issues. One of the main detriments is the rather British context for what's going on here that can get lost in translation. This is quite important as it includes why the killer dons the specific mask or how it ties into the motivation for everything at the end which is a bit too localized to have much universal appeal or recognition. Those that will get it won't have an issue here, while an equally problematic and more accessible one is the irritating ability to always have the killer attack others in pairs which results in one standing around watching as the killer takes out one of them. It happens several times throughout here and is equally frustrating everytime it occurs here, and alongside the somewhat sluggish first half setting up the plotlines to come that are necessary for everything even in this context are what hold this down slightly.

Rated Unrated/R: Extreme Graphic Language, Graphic Violence, Brief Nudity, and drug use.

Silence of the Prey (2024)

A watchable if somewhat flawed genre effort

[5/10 · 17 May 2024]

Forced to leave the country, an undocumented woman and her daughter are forced to seek shelter at the house of an elderly gentleman to work as his caretaker, but the more they stay there the more his unhinged antics start to signal something dangerous lurking in the home must fight to stop it.

This was a fairly enjoyable if somewhat troubling genre effort. What seems to be the best part here is the rather fun nature in which this one starts to build up to the conclusion present here. With the majority of this one content to focus on the continued ignorance of the red flags being continued offered up throughout here both in the way the constant glances and comments hint at something macabre beneath the surface, there's a big sense of this energy found in the finale. Revealing the grand design that had been building up the entire film and finally allowed to present it on-screen as they start to put pieces together about the diabolical plans in place. Tying this together with topical political commentary about the state of the world in immigration and xenophobic sentimentality, there's some fun to be had with this one. Beyond this, though, there's not a whole lot to like here. The main factor here is that, because it spends so much time focusing on her ignoring red flags to stay there because she needs the work caring for her daughter, this becomes so obvious about what's going on that it might be fun to see play out but it's not scary or suspenseful at all. To see these flashing obvious signs about the danger of the situation go ignored simply so that it can present the ideas as a surprise is a massively underwhelming feature when the film tries to present her as being so smart that to fall victim to them is a bit disingenuous as it gets around these scenes with some blatantly onslaught of ideas hoping to present this. As well as some odd slow-motion sequences that don't need to be utilized in this manner, these features are what bring this one down.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language, Graphic Violence, children-in-jeopardy, and Brief Nudity.

Freddy's Fridays (2023)

A rather solid if somewhat slightly flawed genre effort

[8/10 · 17 May 2024]

Following a string of disappearances, a detective decides to investigate a supposed suspect in the area who's found to be duping call girls in the area back to his place and offering them up as sacrifices to a group of demonic beings summoned through a sacred ritual and tries to stop it before it continues.

This was a rather solid if slightly flawed genre effort. One of the finer features of this one is the intriguing setup that provides a rather strong starting point for the introduction of the various plot points present. The initial crux of the story being based on the investigation of the missing prostitutes from the specific section of the city and how it leads her into the lifestyle where it brings her into contact with the suspected killer and his black magic ways give the first half a rather solid start. Keeping things a bit low-key looking into the history of the criminal and the crossover with the skeevy lifestyle at the center of the situation, this is all quite solid enough in giving context to everything going on around them while still maintaining a far classier vibe with the material that slowly turns into a darker overall setup for a lot to like with this. That leads into the other fun part here where the outcome of the situation is a solid series of kill scenes offering the demonic creatures getting involved in the various sacrifices. Despite the setup of the whole affair, there's quite a lot to like with the way the robotic creatures are brought about and start graphically dismembering their unsuspecting victim where the gruesome concept and stellar practical effects allow for some fun times. The series of scenes featuring the women being led in as sacrifices are all quite cheesy fun here while the later scene of them ambushing one of her friends to take her off their scent comes off well enough before leading into the big finale where the reveals about the kind of ritual that has to be performed in a certain way and how it connects to the setup brings about a generally fun finish to this one which gives this one a lot to like here. There are some minor issues present that hold this one down. The main issue with this one is the way it treats the source material it's ripping on which is quite oddly structured here. Rather than opt for the robotic animatronics brought to life that the original is based on, the origin of the creatures here is based on a different source altogether that still bizarrely allows them to retain their robotic influences with their appearance and behavior that just comes off quite weird. This causes them to be quite at odds with each other overall which brings about a strange tonal shift in the way they're presented alongside the other issue here with the repetitive nature of how these scenes come off. With the ritual required to bring everything along, all of these scenes being repetitive by design doesn't help them stand out beyond the graphic carnage committed, and with the low-budget featured throughout here are the issues holding it back.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Graphic Violence.

Crying Wolf 3D (I) (2015)

A generally fun and enjoyably wrerewolf effort

[8/10 · 16 May 2024]

Following a spate of strange animal attacks, a reporter begins looking into the disappearance of several locals and finds a story about a pack of werewolves hunting victims in the town until one of their hunts brings a werewolf hunter along looking for revenge against the pack.

Overall, this one was a decent enough and enjoyable genre effort. One of the better features here is the intriguing setup that offers a fine way for everything to play out. Being the retold ramblings of an investigator looking over the book from the local shop and seeing how everything comes together from that point, there's a fun back-and-forth narrative here that has a lot to like. This main story being told in flashback as a hunting trip organized by the group to solidify their relationships with each other and take in the strange girls along the way. Given a wide range of interconnecting storylines about the nature of everyone's relationship with everyone else and some twist reveals to spice it up, there's some fun to be had with this one. As well, there's also a lot to like here with the enjoyable creature attacks. Starting off with the brief ambush attacks of the creatures taking out villagers in random, gruesome attacks, the build-up to bugger, and more vicious encounters with the various creatures coming through and grabbing unwary victims. The big finale, where the multiple werewolves attack the girls along for the trip and attack themselves with the reveals about the driver and his friends' true reason for being there turns into a hyper-violent and over-the-top battle with the creatures which is quite a lot of fun featuring cheesy gore, some decent stunt-work, and even a few jokes along the way. All combined with a solid, imposing look for the practical werewolf effects, there's a lot to like here for the most part. There are a few issues to be found here. The main issue on display with this one is the seemingly random inserts included in the story for no real reason. The film's setup about the reporter reading the incident from an ancient book makes it seem unlikely that a modern story would be included, much less one that includes various flashbacks to secondary stories within this main feature. As well, there are also the jarring tonal shifts that come about due to these inclusions, offering a goofy slapstick comedy vibe that seems at odds with the other horror action present. The only other flaw here is the highly obvious low-budget CGI which ranges from everything including excess bloodsplatter on gushing wounds or aftermath, physical interactions with more werewolves off-screen, or fleshing out some of the more spectacular ideas to be had within this one and feels quite underwhelming. Otherwise, there isn't much to hold this one back.

Rated Unrated/R Extreme Graphic Language, Graphic Violence, and Nudity.

Amityville Scarecrow 2 (2022)

A generally decent enough if flawed follow-up

[6/10 · 16 May 2024]

Over a year after the previous encounter, the survivors of the scarecrow encounter prepare the camping grounds to open it to visitors with a group of counselors, but when they start disappearing around the camp forces them to believe the cursed scarecrow has returned and must try to save the others.

This was a decent enough follow-up with some intriguing aspects. The main feature to like with this one is the rather strong setup that provides a reason for carrying on the storyline of this one incredibly well. Taking the story from the original with the survivors and how they've developed over the year with a stronger relationship than how they started, it brings a realistic touch that doesn't normally come off in this kind of situation, and when combined with the connections made here involving how the other survivors have been equally affected with their distrust of scarecrows all creates a solid amount of build-up from the original. As the truth about what happened to the location not just with the group but the other accidents that took place there allows for a more understandable reaction to what's going on and their regulations about staying there that puts it all together quite well. That all brings about some decent stalking scenes here involving the revived scarecrow coming to life and striking the campers. The long opening with it taking out the couple who are setting up the camp by themselves has some atmospheric touches that give it some suspenseful touches, much like the later scenes where it attacks the randy couple separately in the shower or in the supply bunker where the settings for these scenes features some solid setups for the suspenseful outcome. The big finale, where the remaining survivors band together to get to the creature with several big battles with the group attacking in waves and trying different tactics to stop the killer that has some life to things based on what's came before including some shocking revelations to take place which are enough to hold this one up. There are several factors here that hold this one down. One of the main issues to be had here is the generally sluggish and extremely dull pacing that keeps everything moving along at a rather glacial pace.. Far too much of the first half here is spent on inane conversations between them and the campers about what went on previously or how everything is going with the staff's inappropriate behavior which makes everything take forever to get going. Focusing on these issues as much as it does at the expense of the scarecrow's antics as they're quite low in comparison to the mindless banter without much going on. That ends up leading into the other big issue in the lack of gore from the dearth of on-screen kills featured here with the lack of time being devoted to them which is then further hampered by the low-budget not allowing them to come off that impressively with either off-screen kills or just not that interesting, leaving this one with some issues holding it back.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language, Full Nudity, several sex scenes, and Violence.

Amityville Scarecrow (2021)

A solid enough if flawed genre effort

[6/10 · 16 May 2024]

Arriving at a remote summer camp, a family hoping to reconcile over the loss of their mother by taking over the camp for themselves are soon inundated by the belief that a killer scarecrow is responsible for a slew of disappearances in the area which is proved true forcing them to work together to stop it.

Overall, this was a pretty solid and fun genre effort. One of the biggest factors here is the strong setup that's featured throughout here that brings together several rather fun storylines for a rather fine starting point. Working well with the distanced sisters who are trying to repair their relationship after a slew of past trauma and issues between them that held up the reconciliation before getting them back together trying to sell the property, this is a fine way to set the first half in motion by creating a solid conflict between them that gets them together at the location to start their healing. This goes along nicely with the secondary setup of the sisters discovering the history of the location involving the haunted house that provided the series of strange accidents and deaths that follow it while they try to figure out how to help their parents get back together that shows how the two stories at play work together. That allows for a decent series of confrontations and encounters with the main scarecrow once it gets up and moving. With a fine opening sequence that involves the creature taking out the couple arriving at the campground, the later scenes are quite fun with the reanimation sequence featuring the creature coming to life after numerous amounts of ridicule before to deal out some rather fun stalking around the campground and surrounding locations. This goes along with the later encounters where the series of ambushes by the creature lead to a solid series of deaths and action here which never really rises above the decent but keeps everything at a frantic enough pace to provide simply decent kills and an intriguing look to the killer that are enough to hold this one up. There are some issues featured here which bring it down. The main factor to be had with this is the utterly sluggish and glacial pacing that spends way too much time on the various storylines rather than dealing out the scarecrow slashing. Going in-depth on the sisters' relationship and personal struggles with each other comes at the expense of the creature action which takes until the film's half-over before it even gets resurrected in the first place, and to then stop immediately after that point to learn the truth by way of a videotape confession about the incident may put the pieces together rather nicely but also causes the pacing to become so start/stop at the point where you don't want that is utterly criminal. This type of stupidity is odd to see from a setup like this, and tends to go along nicely here with the lower budget here without any kind of spectacular deaths or gore to be the main drawbacks here.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Violence.

Aura (2018)

A rather intriguing genre effort with a few drawbacks

[7/10 · 12 May 2024]

Moving into a new house together, a married couple looking to settle the family drama with everyone that allows them to come upon a camera that captures people's auras, and when they try to bond with his troubled sister during this time find a deadly entity inhabiting her that must be dealt with.

This was a fine if somewhat flawed genre effort. One of the finer features here is the ability to utilize a rather cliched premise and setup that offers a rather decent changeover into a solid supernatural feature. With the whole idea of the original move into the house to try to settle the family issues just before they deliver their baby and come to terms with the family legacy involving the bizarre camera that can capture the aura of people's souls in the developed picture, there's a rather fine supernatural setup in play here that offers up the kind of grounding for what happens throughout here. Having to interpret the meaning behind everything with the tarot card reader that is instrumental in helping this one get clearer and defined by beginning him into contact with the troubled relative that sets everything in motion, the main storyline for this one works rather well. This sets up the rather strong second-half where the sister's arrival and series of bizarre encounters that follow shortly afterward make for a rather intriguing series of encounters. The creepy behavior she shows from the very beginning with the stares and nervous tics that provide plenty of proof that she's not well even before it starts to dig into the more overt physical interactions which are full of the usual low-key incidents that grow progressively more troublesome over time. As this grows into more supernatural antics that require the return of the medium to help guide them through the scenes not only discovering the condition afflicting her and how it's all leading into the big finale where the exploits of the possession come full-force into a generally fun time putting more action into this one during these scenes. These all provide a lot to like here while there are some drawbacks to be had here. The main drawback with this one is the generally sluggish pacing that provides this one with quite a familiar route in regards to what's happening. The family drama that takes place with how the couple has come together and are preparing for their upcoming birth sets up a traditional series of sparks that keep things at a pretty slow pace, much like the slow discovery of the troubled sister which sets about the important possession angle that allows the use of the camera to come into play. This part at least picks up the pace against the sluggish opening but it's just all overly familiar instead with the material here being the bigger culprit due to having to hit the necessary mystical setpieces detailing the discovery of the figure haunting her and how to combat it which takes quite a lot to overcome as that all hits the hallmarks of the style more than anything. These are what give this one some factors to bring it down.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Violence.

Hellriser (2017)

A generally fun feature with a lot to like about it

[8/10 · 12 May 2024]

After a series of gruesome murders, a woman joins a detective on the case looking into the deaths of several prostitutes murdered over the span of a month, and after finding a connection involving his targets and a strange woman from a previous case of his sets out to stop the rampage.

This was a fairly solid and enjoyable feature. One of the better elements here is the rather solid setup involving quite a few solid concepts brought together into a solid mystery. The starting point offering a murder case with a similar set of targets taking place within a restrictive time-frame in a specific section of the city creates an intriguing setup, much like the subsequent investigation that has connections to the previous case forms a fine feature here. With the supernatural implications tying together some of their work on the case with the resident inside the sanitarium who starts them in on following the facts of the case, the overall status of the case featured here is a pretty solid and enjoyable one. Due to this setup, the implications of the case comes off quite well offering a decent series of clues to figure out the case. With the murders seemingly pointing to the detective but which are soon given to a much more sinister figure as time goes on, this sort of paranormal-themed murder mystery case offers some charmingly solid investigations where the clues are revealed to fall into place quite nicely. Providing some solid gore along the way with the few kill scenes here taking on a fun mixture of gruesome giallo-inspired ferocity alongside more over-the-top sequences which provide some cheesy sequences as well as some fantastic atmospheric touches that include the lighting and mist swirling around the scenery for a chilling Gothic atmosphere, these manage to give off a lot to like here. There isn't much to dislike here, but it does have a few minor flaws. The biggest issue is the film's somewhat sluggish and slower tempo than expected, as the focus on investigating the deaths rather than dealing with them on screen. Given that it's been a point of contention to have multiple bodies in the rampage already taken out before the start of the film and several more are taken out during the course of the investigation, not getting as many opportunities to revel in them since the police procedural is more of the primary focus here leading to a lot of overly-long dialogue-heavy segments throughout here. The other drawback here is the somewhat cheesy visual effects here with some cheesy CGI and silly effects in the finale to present the twist it brings up that are understandable due to the particular twist attempted, all of which bring this one down overall.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, and Full Nudity.

Nocturnal Activity (2014)

A rather fun erotic-tinged supernatural indie effort

[7/10 · 12 May 2024]

Accused of a heinous crime, a woman recounts for the investigating officer her connection to the owner of an apartment she lived in that was secretly bugged by the landlord who owned it which sets off a round of paranormal activity within the apartment that sparks more dangerous revelations.

Overall, this was a fairly fun erotic supernatural thriller. This is the fun part of the first half here where the film's more overtly erotic leanings are on display which bring about the later turn to the overt genre elements. Spending the first half dwelling in the sleazier tone here with the interactions involving the police officer owner of the property who either records others performing explicit activity in the apartment or watching her around the apartment thinking she's alone taking showers or getting undressed to walk around in a towel. This happens frequently enough to provide a solid background for what's going on with the reveal about what he's doing this for that allows for the solid introduction of the supernatural activity within the apartment to have some great work to go on. Once this works through the erotic undertones, the supernatural possession that comes together is quite enjoyable. The initial sequences focusing on the concept of the haunted apartment with the series of interactions within that hint at another force inside targeting her when dealing with the swirling hints of smoke or steam when she's doing something, there's some genuinely chilling work at play here that starts to develop into more overt hauntings that look into the more sinister purpose behind it all. This is all explored rather nicely with the final half where it deals with a solid series of reveals that lets everything come together in a surprising manner that isn't as obvious as expected which helps to end this on a surprising note to give this some likable factors. There are some factors here that hold this one back. One of the main issues here is the sluggish pacing that takes a while to get going as there's not much in the way of action for a large part of the running length. Featuring the erotic underpinnings at the expense of the supernatural action, it takes so long until it happens and it takes several attempts before that point as well that it's all quite slow getting to the more overt genre fare with the seeming focus on the constant showering or checking in on the sleazy apartment owner. As a result, that can also make this one fall somewhat in line with the lower budget genre fare where the lack of high-scale effects or production values with it giving off a cheap look without much going on, factors which aren't too detrimental but do hold it back somewhat.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language, Nudity, sex scenes, and Violence.

Conjuring the Genie 2 (2022)

A downgraded sequel but still with enough to like about it

[6/10 · 11 May 2024]

Trying to get her career going, an aspiring novelist tasked with trying to find a suitable topic for her next book wants to try a ritual attempted by others which resulted in them summoning a genie, and when her friends start to act weird following the incident comes to believe they've done the same.

This was a decent enough follow-up if a bit lower than the original. One of the better features here is the solid starting point that brings about a fun way of connecting the two films by going through a similar setup. As both films deal with the idea of trying to find a means of enhancing their life experience while looking for story ideas and stumbling upon the concept at play with the genie conjuring being the way to go about that, this serves well enough at getting the group established and set about with their issues before the ritual takes place. That comes off nicely as a means of getting a sped-up version of the scenario at the very beginning so that the being can start its tricks following up the eventual reveal as the fast-tempo and cruelty in those tricks keep this one moving along. There are a few issues here that bring this one down. Among its biggest drawbacks is a factor gathered from the setup where it feels like a retread of the original with minimal changes to the story. It's pretty much the same setup about a person looking for a bit of life experience and coming upon the genie as a way to do that only to then get in over their heads over what's been summoned. The main difference with this one is that it is far quicker to bring the genie about and unleash it upon the group as there's very little research into the ritual, what it's all about, or even explaining how she came about the proper procedure to do so which makes everything feel rushed and underdeveloped as a result. That leads into the second issue here where she comes off as such an unlikable and unbelievable lead that it's hard to care what happens. As the central setup is rushed through to the point that it never really makes sense why they're doing it, the main girl comes off as so unbelievably rude to her friends who've been given a fair bit of build-up beforehand making it seem like a rather strained friend group. With her fame being unlikely to be a first-time writer and having the success she claims to have from the very start, a constant series of fiery confrontations about their relationships with each other making her selfishly ungrateful, and no one doing much to change this perception, the fact that nothing is interesting happening despite tons of plot reveals is a big drawback to be had. The other big problem with this one is the wholly misguided and underwhelming main genie who's entirely laughable as a main threat. The same issues with the immobile mask carry true here as the wide-open mouth dangling about as it tries to talk to others is just the wrong kind of cheesy for this one while the voice changes to what sounds like the genuine actor's natural voice kills any fear in him. This is not a threatening being in the slightest and he takes away a lot of the suspense that's supposed to be generated with this one. Given that hardly any of the tricks involved cruel twists to their fates until the last half also causes this to lose a lot of steam as hardly anything creepy or chilling happens, all of which come together and result in lowering this one overall.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.

Conjuring the Genie (2021)

A generally fun feature that has a few minor drawbacks

[8/10 · 11 May 2024]

Trying to get past her traumatic past, a student heartbroken over her father's death is tasked with preparing a paper on urban legends to help cope with the situation, but when a group of friends decide to summon a mystical being for her studies, they find the creature twisting their wishes to kill them.

For the most part, this was a fairly enjoyable genre effort. One of the better elements present is the unusually strong setup at play that provides a far more immersive start for things to unfold. The build-up here involving her struggling to come to terms with the death of her father and struggling through life as well as school serves this one quite a strong setup for her as a whole. Knowing that the paper is a way to get herself caught up on studies due to missing everything for truly valid reasons and that there's a lot of turmoil within her friend group trying to get her back into the good graces of the college or the personal squabbles with her mother helps to make for a solid background on things which helps the later scenes involving the creatures' appearance have a bit of emotional resonance. That becomes even more exposed once the wish comes true and there's a highly impressive emotional connection to what's going on at play here based on the wish which helps to carry this along somewhat nicely. While that setup works quite nicely, those scenes involving the creature coming for the friend group and delivering the typically demonic form of wish-twisting that's in play here come off incredibly well. With the opening sequence showing a previous victim getting that kind of treatment where the Djinn's powers are observed forcing her to off herself following the wish gone wrong, the later scenes targeting the friend group after the summoning ritual carry a rather creepy and unnerving tone to it. The implications of the Djinn forcing itself into the victim's world and trying to force them into making the wish so that it can twist everything around in grand fashion which features some great effects to pull off on top of the solid chases and confrontations to get everything accomplished and giving this a lot to like. This one does have some big issues involved with it. The main drawback at the center of the film is the rather sluggish tempo that keeps this one struggling to maintain a great sense of pace or energy for a lot of the middle sections. Focusing on storylines that aren't that interesting or just sloughing through a never-ending series of scenes about the group dealing with the aftereffects of the Djinn's powers take up a large part of the film and very little of it makes for an exciting time trying to get to the creature's attempts at tricking them. As well, there's also the disappointingly cheesy and obvious face of the creature which never moves and just flops around hilariously, undermining a lot of the attempts at terror and making this a lot more comical than expected which are enough to bring this down.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.

Crocodile Swarm (2023)

A perfectly cheesy if tonally odd creature feature

[9/10 · 10 May 2024]

After her sister goes missing, a woman gathers some friends and a team of explorers who can lead them through the underground cave system she disappeared in, but when the team finds that a swarm of crocodiles have attacked the first group and turned to them must find a way to get out alive.

This was a perfectly serviceable cheesy creature feature. Among its better features here is the strong overall setup that provides the film with the type of serious approach to a typically cheesy scenario. The whole idea of the group arriving in the caves to find the missing party that had disappeared during the proposed engagement trip but coming across the same group of crocodiles living inside the system trapping them inside and hunted down like the first group is a great way to get this one going. Providing the motivation and reasoning to get the group down there to encounter the creatures while being melodramatic enough to contain a sense of urgency to get them out of the closed-off system makes the setup here rather fun. Featuring the perfect setting for this type of action to take place as well with the overall layout and presentation of the caves as a mysterious labyrinth that continually hides the creatures who can pop out of nowhere with the darkness and confusing maze-like structure giving everything the kind of impressive presentation needed. On top of the fine setup, the slew of cheesy creature feature action when the crocs are given a chance to roam free in the system. The early scenes with the creatures stalking the first party are quite fun as the surprise appearance of them living there and knocking off the group in several fun moments makes for some fun including the first attack on the group while on the sandy outcrop, a brutal scene showing the creature devouring one of the group in front of others who can't alert it to its presence, or swimming after a victim trying to escape in a boat left behind. These scenes are matched nicely by the later encounters where the creatures are shown stalking the new rescue group as the series of chases and confrontations here featuring the fantastic scene at their nesting lair or the final battle using the left-over mining equipment to try to stop them, mixing serious action with goofy CGI or practical effects gives everything the perfect touch and provides a lot to like here. There isn't much to dislike here but it's got a few minor factors here. The main issue with it is the expectedly cheesy and goofy special effects that run rampant in a film like this. Since it's expected to see the hallmarks of the genre come out in full force including size and dimension changes depending on the scene being featured, clunky animation for normal activities, or being forced to perform unnatural motions or behavior to suit the sequence, none of these are truly detrimental but still stick out overall here. The other issue with this one is the generally stiff tempo that goes alongside this type of goofy presentation but causes things to feel somewhat off-kilter, where the special effects have a cheesy action to it while the seriousness of the search to find everyone keeps it far too stiff and plodding for what's going on. This is an odd touch and sticks out here as these are the main factors holding it back.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Graphic Violence.

The Midnight Horror Show (2014)

A solid genre effort that has a few factors against it

[7/10 · 9 May 2024]

Working together at a traveling carnival, a murderous family tries to get by in life by doing whatever devious activity will allow them to remain together, and when this alerts a dangerous hunter to their whereabouts seeks revenge on the family and must rely on those tactics to stay together.

This was enjoyable enough for what it was. One of the better aspects of this one is the somewhat cliched setup that manages to still provide enough to know about the group going on. The first half spends quite a lot of time going through the various members of the group and their different relationships, with the controlling father trying to keep his family together, the ventriloquist son stuck in his head about the supposedly-alive puppet insulting him, the clown son dealing with the trauma of his condition, the youngest son being a constant screw-up that needs reprimanding all the time, and the daughter living the golden life as the perfect child. Knowing who they are and what they're about lets this part come together so that their murderous antics come off with the sense of disgust due to the humanizing efforts done to get them there beforehand. Those scenes involving their murderous antics come off incredibly well here which has some solid aspects at play. Knowing the daily are insane psychopaths who will resort to murder the first chance they get whenever someone wrongs them which they get away with due to the roving nature of the carnival, this sets up their freewheeling ability to strike out against the ruthless talent agent, the disgraceful boyfriend, and the woman he was dating that feature some better-than-expected moments as it ties into established storylines quite well. The second half, turning into a solid enough version of a retribution feature that allows for the hunter to come upon the family leading to some brutal moments offering some additional gore and brutality in what's going on as everything leads to some likable features here. There isn't much to hold it down but there are some slight factors present. The main drawback featured here is the sluggish and slow-going pace that takes things way too slow for this kind of feature. The whole family-based setup that takes an in-depth look at how the group operates is filled with cliches about the nature of what's going on between everyone which makes it all feel quite repetitive from every psychotic carnival family in the genre so even if this section has a lot to like with setting up their behavior there's not a lot here that provides much in the way of interest. The sluggish quality of what's going on here takes a while to sort out and get something happening to bump up the excitement, which might not be a factor for all out there who want a faster-moving genre effort. As well, the low budget being on display does serve as a factor to get over which is quite prominent and could be a factor here which are all enough to bring it down.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.

The Amityville Asylum (2013)

Intriguing enough at points but let down by some big flaws

[6/10 · 9 May 2024]

Taking a job at an insane asylum, a young woman working the cleaning shift at the facility begins to feel uneasy about working there when a series of bizarre sightings have her convinced something isn't right with the facility, and the longer she stays there finds the truth darker than she expected.

This was a decent enough if somewhat problematic genre effort. Among its better aspects here comes from the solid enough setup that provides some worthwhile motivations for what's eventually going on. With the mundane work done at the beginning involving how the early stages of the work go with her arriving at the facility and meeting up with her co-worker which puts them through the paces of what goes on there, the fact that it goes as well as it does with the various sightings and misgivings about being there works this rather nicely by giving off the idea of her inexperience providing the cause for all the disruptions caused while working there. That allows for the film to work towards a solid enough series of encounters suggesting the paranormal operating within the sanitarium. Again starting nicely with the first stages being simply strange whispers or hallucinations that point to something unusual happening around the building which no one believes, it sets up the type of environment necessary here where the later encounters and visions that signal the occult work being done by the one patient in the facility. The series of reveals here that come about from this, including the connection to the titular location and the culprits responsible for the gruesome visions she had, turn this into a more frantic section than expected with some solid gore to generate a bit more to like than expected. There are some issues present that hold this one down. The main aspect against it is the low-key and sluggish pacing that spends far too much of the running time on building up the idea of what's going on through more talking scenes than anything else. Whether it be her talking with the co-worker about the qualms of the job, the other staff at the facility about the potential hauntings at the site, or the best friend about the history of the location, this tends to favor a more lethargic route than some will like which provides the sluggish mentality that won't win most others. There are just a few bits of action in the final few minutes so the rest of this one tends to slowly work its way there at a slow-going tempo. It also leads into the last big issue here but it's also quite obvious low-budget origins do shine through quite heavily. The lack of action here means this one works without any kind of all-out gore or bloodshed until the end, while the other special effects featured here are so flimsy it can potentially distract from what's going on here so it never has much of a chance to get going here with these limitations and then when they occur it's all handled so underwhelmingly with obviously fake CGI or some silly practical effects that are fine in concept but somewhat silly in execution. Combined with a weird digitized presentation that makes everything look darker than it should even though they're already in an asylum at night, there are some issues present that hold it down.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Graphic Violence.

Dead Cert (2010)

A generally fun vampire/gangster hybrid with a few flaws

[8/10 · 9 May 2024]

Running an exclusive nightclub, a London promoter preparing to open his new club finds that he's been cheated out of the location by a gang of vampires looking to use the property for their own means and forces him to get a gang together to reclaim what was his before the vampires spread into the city.

This was a pretty decent and enjoyable vampire effort. Among the more enjoyable factors here is the films' strong mixture of gangster crime thriller alongside more traditional genre elements. Managing to work rather nicely as a series of early exploits focusing on how he conducts business by showing the extras doing hits or backstage at the club's day-to-day duties sets this one up really nicely in that universe to get an idea of what's going on as a setup for the later takeover of the club that turns this around into more traditional genre fare at that point. That brings about how the gradual discovery of their vampire background turns this into that kind of genre effort. The valiant yet futile march to reclaim the club that turns into a trap with the full reveal and battle with the vampires that shows them getting hollow victories before the change but then getting systematically and obviously overwhelmed and swarmed resulting in some brutal beatdowns with plenty of fun gore involved in the aftermath. Not only is the fighting hard-hitting and brutal, but the sight of the battles occurring while the dancers snack on disfigured body parts is quite an impressive sight. That also gives the finale a lot to like as the survivors take the fight to the remaining vampires one last time. Wisely sidestepping two cliches in that there's no wait to regroup and reform a day later but charging back later that same day as well as taking out the traitor before he turns them, that they're forced to use some creativity and ingenuity in order to stop them is a far better way to go about this one. Getting some solid action here with the various battles between each other which puts those to good use and featuring some surprising outcomes as well as even more fine gore, there's quite a lot to like here. This one doesn't have much to hold it back. The main problem here is the rather confusing and baffling manner in which the vampires carry themselves here. Rather than press the advantage over the demoralized crew, they try and belittle them to the point of drawing attention to themselves for how they're acting, which is even worse in the finale where they go about taunting and speechifying their superiority rather than going on. The other weird issue with the finale is several excessive scenes that aren't really needed as it's focused on getting celebrity cameos that aren't necessary. Otherwise, there's not a lot to hold it down.

Rated Unrated/R: Extreme Graphic Language and Graphic Violence.

Preternatural (2016)

An incredibly fun found-footage effort

[8/10 · 9 May 2024]

Preparing to film a new documentary, a pair of filmmakers set off into the woods to get their footage shot which is halted by the increasingly-irrational demands of the actor in the role, and when it's all exacerbated by the sense of paranoia they experience while filming must try to get out alive.

This was a rather solid and rather fun fund-footage effort. One of the better features here is the stellar way this one works its cheesy setup that shouldn't work but comes off quite well throughout here. The central concept of the shoot turning into a spoof of mockumentary performances with the whole approach taking on a decidedly comedic approach concerning the increasingly more disastrous presentations that go on the longer they film is an exceptionally accomplished setup here. This slow turn from a series of comical setpieces to showcase their inept nature at making a movie only to realize that there's something wrong with what's going on here delivers a rather solid turn here with the group being tormented with the idea of the method actor's personality conflicting with their carefully scripted setup. This balances quite nicely into the final half where the final attempts at making the movie go so far off the rails it's chilling and suspenseful. With the idea that there's something supernatural happening to the group, especially once the other cast-members arrive to shoot their parts, the dizzying nature of what's going on and the frenetic pacing comes in stark contrast to the other sequences shot earlier where the slow-burn build works to the film's advantage. Some explanations are still left muddled and it does show its budget in places but there's still more than enough to like here that it holds this one up rather well.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Violence.

The Shadow of Death (I) (2012)

An immensely enjoyable indie slasher effort

[8/10 · 9 May 2024]

Looking to score a new weed supply, a group of friends unwillingly get together to visit the supplier stashing his supply in the woods, but when they find the area patrolled by a psychotic killer targeting anyone that enters the woods must find a way to stop his rampage and get out alive.

This was a solid low-budget slasher effort. Among the brightest aspects of this one is the solid build-up that provides all the requirements necessary to get this one going well enough. The need for the group of friends to head out into the wilderness to find their supplier who has a new stash to give them and their need to go get it personally provides well enough reasoning to get them out into the countryside where they encounter the killer running rampant in the area while also getting a reason for the killer to strike them. The other sidestories that go on here with the secondary characters, including the police officer patrolling the area or the other random strangers that appear, provide the kind of fine setup this kind of film requires. As well, the series of indie-style action scenes involving the killers' antics interrupting the trip comes off as quite fun. Relying on that style of shock ambush sequence coming across random, nameless figures in the woods merely there to enhance the body count, there are some decent aspects to be had here with the scenes offering up some fine kills. Taking out the stoner, the hiker, and the bicyclist among others before turning his attention to the main group, there are some generally fun times to be had with these encounters that turn into slightly more involved stalking scenes once the group is aware of the killer's presence and their race to get out of the area alive. Getting some frantic chasing into the woods alongside some decent gore and some funny one-liners, these all allow for some fun with this one. There isn't much holding it back, but some slight factors are here. The main drawback is the obvious and overwhelming low-budget sense overriding this one, which can be a personal preference feature for some. The guerilla production, lack of elaborate special effects, and a weekend-warrior production style about a random group of friends wandering the woods yelling insults at each other provide enough sense that its origins are omnipresent here even if that isn't an issue. That does carry over into the films' bits that are used to beef up the running time when they aren't necessary, with the series of callbacks to the police station or the stay at the cabin telling stories clearly there to eat up the time. Thankfully, they're not overly damaging and do only manage to hold this one back slightly.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Graphic Violence.

Jack & Jill: The Hills of Hell (2022)

A bit of a disappointment compared to the original

[7/10 · 5 May 2024]

Concerned with her missing daughter and friends, a woman decides to look into the disappearances by bringing a group of friends with her on a mission to go look for them, but when they discover the area is patrolled by the deadly siblings that killed off the previous group must try to get away alive.

This was a pretty solid and likable genre feature. Among the better features of this one is the series of connections and setups on display that connect this one with the original. The initial attempts at integrating the backstory from the original by featuring the same scenes that focus on bringing about the same characters is a nice touch to carry the continuity, much like the main idea of the mother looking to find out what happened to her missing daughter which sets this up to be a continuation of the previous film. Based on what we know about them, this is a trap leading the new group into the firing line of the killers as they're unaware of what's in store but decide to arrive at the location to look for them as this all provides the motivation and reasoning required for getting them out to the woods it comes off solid enough storyline for what's on display. As well, there's also the usually strong series of stalking and slashing scenes at the forefront of the film. The opening ambush of the group on the car trip in the woods is a strong enough start to get this going, much like the later scenes offering the siblings putting their tried-and-tested striking angle to the test in a solid slew of encounters where they pick off various members of the group who enter the woods. As it carries on with a fine series of encounters inside the woods, a great setup inside their underground hideout, and more frantic chases that take place in their property's surrounding woods, this one provides the kind of fun indie-style encounters while also featuring some great attempts at bonding the siblings together who do appear to be protective and care for each other. This adds a fine dynamic to the finale where the differing sides have their stakes for what they want to see play out but only one can win so there's bound to be a bit of disappointment either way. This is all rather fun and provides some fun factors to make this one quite likable even though there are some drawbacks featured here. The main detriment that comes to hold this down is the somewhat stagnant setup that decides to retread the group going through the woods for their trip which consists of endless footage involving them hanging around the woods. This is fine for what they're going for as it carries off a few remarkably solid pieces to get to know them but there's also way too much time spent on recycling the same type of content about the reason for the trip and what happened to her daughter. This makes the first half struggle to get going with everyone trying to go through the same thing several times over. The other issue here is the rather low-key nature of the kills featured here which manage to be a bit more underwhelming than expected as most of the kills are focused on drawing the characters out-of-focus or just slightly off-screen that it remains hard to tell what's happening so it misses out on the blood and gore usually featured here. Combined with the cheap make-up effects on the characters featured here, these all manage to bring this down.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Graphic Violence.

The Legend of Jack and Jill (2021)

A highly enjoyable adaptation on the story

[8/10 · 5 May 2024]

Hoping to cope with their life, a group of friends decides to visit a special site in the woods where they can bond and reconnect with their friendship again, but when they stumble upon the legend of a pair of homicidal siblings haunting the grounds killing anyone who enters must fight to stay alive.

On the whole, there's quite a lot to enjoy with this one. One of the best qualities on display here is the film's rather strong usage of the central nursery rhyme to provide a launching pad for the story to unfold. The initial backstory of the pair, here given the extra incentive of them being born from a homicidal mental asylum escapee who wandered into the hills and was never seen again despite the horde of missing persons' cases that are reported in the same area, serves as the perfect accompaniment to the group of friends who come along looking for their chance to seek closure. Looking to use the trip as a way to put their unresolved feelings to the test while attempting to carry out a return to past glories, complete with recapturing their former interests and relationships while also looking into a friend who's in the area, generates the kind of solid and workable storyline at the center of the film. As well, there's also quite a lot to like with the group coming into contact with the murderous siblings when they start to become hunted by the duo. The opening scene featuring the reporter coming into contact with them sets up an intriguing and somewhat suspenseful stalking sequence, much like the later ambush they pull on the sisters looking for the missing woman which sets up the later tactic we see they pull off. When they start to target the main group as they wander through the woods, the repeated tactics and suspenseful stalkings go along nicely with their behavioral tics involving the bonding they do with each other or the scenes where it looks like they are keeping them hostage before viciously killing them that enhances the brutality quite nicely. It all leads into the solid finale where the family chasing them through the woods and the nearby structures feature some decent stalking scenes and some vicious kills that provide quite a lot to enjoy with this. There are some drawbacks to be had here. The main factor to be had against it is the somewhat sluggish and slow-burn pace that takes place here. This one goes on way too long with the endless scenes of the group trying to figure out what their purpose for the trip is as it takes a series of turns through the various relationship signs and what's going on there that it takes quite a while before anything horrific starts to happen. That isn't bad to see play out but when there are multiple attempts to get with the proper couple because they're discussing who's supposed to be attracted to whom it takes away from the stalking and ends up stretching out the running time as well. As well, with the misguided finale that tries to build an emotional resonance off of the titular nursery rhyme but instead just rushes through everything without that connection, there are some slight drawbacks employed here.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Graphic Violence.

The House of Violent Desire (2018)

An incredibly enjoyable Gothic horror throwback

[9/10 · 5 May 2024]

Arriving at a remote mansion in the countryside, a woman hired to be a new maid for a mysterious family begins to witness the psychological unraveling that emerges once they welcome a stranger in the middle of a tense battle of sexual battle of wills within the household setting off a fierce battle to survive.

Overall, this was a standout Gothic-horror-style throwback. That it plays so well with these elements in a great manner offers the majority of the fun with this one where it runs through the style and tropes of the genre in fine fashion. The idea of the outsider arriving at a remote mansion featuring a mysterious family with mounds of secrets within them is the type of glorious setup that plays homage to the greats of the genre as the more things are unraveled and revealed the more it opens up the different elements deeper under the surface. With the secret rooms off-limits to others, a mysterious accident that claimed a life in the not-so-distant past, and a cryptic stranger looking to stir hidden feelings with repressed urges, this one works incredibly well at harboring that slow-burning tempo so crucial to the genre. On top of that, once the secrets start being revealed and the tension within the house gets turned up, the film becomes far more intriguing with how everything gets brought about. The search for the missing father and how that leads to the missing items, the desire to look into the closed-off attic that provides the clues about the ghostly visions within, and the arrival of the stranger who starts to instigate upheaval within the established couples all force this one along into the type of required tropes within the genre that move this along quite smoothly. These all lead together into a gloriously twisted and frantic finale where the devilish actions take place as the various forces here come to take revenge in their own means which provide some macabre moments through it all. The other really impressive aspect of this one comes from the stellar use of the influx of sexual content within here to prove their madness and insanity. As the situation grows darker and more depraved, the idea of how the different scenarios get brought up as the use of tempting each other with the reality of carnal desires strikes a major chord in the middle section here. Despite not being overly graphic about what's going on, the use of being open and frank with the sexuality at play where it deals with intriguing BDSM-type relationships or other types of relationships that take on a different air than expected with how they tackle the setup featured here in the final stages where this plays a major part in the action featured throughout here. All told, these all give the film quite a lot to like as while there isn't much to dislike here there are some drawbacks to be had. The main factor with the film is the excessively long running time that drags this one out far longer than it should be. It's far too long for its own good with several plotlines that really could've been told at a brisker pace, with the siblings trying to convince themselves something's going on or the numerous conversations about the nature of pleasures being the main ones which leave the running time more than it needs to be. It causes the maid to disappear from the middle of the film entirely despite being presented as the main character due to this bizarre treatment, and the series of revelations that come about are oftentimes way too much to take seriously as it all could've been taken down somewhat slightly. These are the few factors that hold it back.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language, Graphic Violence, Nudity, and sexual content.

Rag Doll (2023)

A rather fun take on this particular style

[7/10 · 5 May 2024]

After moving into a new house, a woman, her daughter, and new girlfriend try to make the most of the situation which is helped along by the discovery of a rag doll left behind by the previous owner, but when they come to find it's corrupting the daughter must try to stop it.

Overall, this was a pretty fun if formulaic genre effort. One of the finer aspects of this one comes from the wholly effective setup that provides a solid means of establishing the family dynamic for the doll to play with. While we're given a derivative series of family squabbles as a divorced family member tries to move on with a new partner against the child's wishes, this one at least plays with it nicely enough with the interactions between everyone as it sets up how the mother wants to keep the daughter happy while her girlfriend tries to keep the peace. This leads to a nice bit of dramatic tension between everyone where the strain of the situation gives the family just enough conflict with each other that it comes together rather well when the doll can come to life and pit everyone against each other further and leave it to its malicious intentions. That allows the series of doll attacks to be immensely enjoyable with some fun to be had involving it preying upon the family and their friends. Generally resorting to fantastic ambush encounters while eerie laughing plays in the background to highlight its presence, this sets up a fine series of scenes here involving the doll taking out the ex-husband in his car, the stalking of a friend while babysitting, or the attack on the girlfriend where she's pushed down the stairs in front of the mother and daughter. With the whole thing set up to frame the daughter for everything as a means of exacerbating the tension at play here, this brings about some intriguing work as it leads to a radically unconventional finale that features this setup rather nicely which combined makes for a fun enough time here. There are some minor issues to be had with this one. The main factor to be had with this one is the rather familiar and somewhat cliched family drama that takes place here turning this into a generally repetitive genre effort. The new family dynamic at play is pretty much the culprit here where it's way too familiar regarding the daughter being upset by the disruption and lashing out verbally with unconventional outbursts and comebacks while the mother and new girlfriend try to make the situation make sense due to how supposedly out of character these events are. It doesn't help that the blank-faced statements and robotic delivery of these encounters offer the kind of enhanced mindset for that storyline where the atrocious performance is a help in believing this setup. Alongside the lack of violence or gore featured, these here are what bring this one down.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Violence.

Dinosaur Hotel 2 (2022)

A cheesy and likable genre follow-up

[7/10 · 5 May 2024]

After surviving the previous game, a woman is coerced into coming back for a new game show where she must get through the night with other fellow survivors to get through the night chased by vicious dinosaurs and must navigate tricky alliances with the other contestants to get away alive.

This was a solid and fairly serviceable follow-up with a lot to like about it. One of the better features here is the ability to bring about a new way to get the setup for the game show to get underway which follows up nicely from the original. With the new showrunners trying to drive up ratings again by bringing back former winners to play a new season and compete against each other, the fact that her refusal due to those circumstances only to get dragged into doing so with the way it happens here comes off quite nicely. Not only does this setup play off what she went through before and how she's handled herself since, but it explains how the other contestants are brought back as well as the different personality she displays compared to the others which is all enough to provide a strong starting point for a sequel like this. That all provides a solid baseline for the series of encounters here which are fewer in number but still have a cheesy attitude about them. With the creatures shown to be far more vicious and omnipresent from the beginning when we get the clips of them fighting with the other contestants on their proposed installments of the show, it all comes across well enough to get the dinosaurs in focus here. The encounters with the creatures at the beginning of the games that signal the start of the new game include several rather fun showcases with the raptors chasing them around the compound where this takes place has the kind of cheesy and exciting battles with the contestants has some fine work here. The later scenes where the creatures are bigger threats to the group winning since they're trying to kill each other rather than the creatures and give this enough silly, cheesy encounters to have a lot to like with this one. There are some slight flaws to be had here that bring it down. One of the biggest drawbacks is a similar issue as the original in that it has way too much going on for its own good. This one tries to make it seem way too dramatic where one of the contestants turns out to be a massive scumbag out for themselves and leaving characters to die simply because he's trying to be the one to leave the games alive that he's inserted as a human protagonist instead of the dinosaurs. The mindset is completely valid, but it's just not needed to have scenes where he tricks them or captures the group and tortures them for fun as this all takes the focus away from the more natural drama of the creatures trying to kill them that this forgets about from time to time to deal with these factors. As well as the expected silliness and cheesy CGI for the creatures, these are what bring this one down.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.

Dinosaur Hotel (2021)

An enjoyably cheesy dinosaur film

[7/10 · 5 May 2024]

Agreeing to partake in a special reality show, a young mother joins other women at a remote hotel where she's subjected to a series of challenges to try to win money for her kids, but when they find themselves forced to survive the night against vicious dinosaurs must complete the game.

This was a rather fun and generally likable genre effort. Among its better features is the strong setup that provides quite a strong excuse and motivation for what's going on. Using the idea of the reality show format to understand how the women are brought together, forced to survive in the scenario, and come upon the location's dark secret being live dinosaurs that are trying to eat them one by one while they try to work together to survive the situation. The setup itself is somewhat cliched but manages to include enough about how the science works to create the creatures and place them there but also to include the series of tactics to keep them within the confines of the location while everything takes place around them is quite a fine way of keeping this one going along as they discover the stakes of the game. This allows for a fantastic series of interactions and confrontations that take place in and around the house. With the usual suspects here in raptors, pterosaurs, and a Rex for good measure allowed to stomp through the place quite freely, there's plenty of fun with the women struggling to accept they're real and coming upon the truth in grisly fashion as we see the raptors stalking them inside the hallways and throughout the various interiors here resulting in encounters in the dining room and living room standing out quite nicely. As these allow the use of stalking scenes with the women and eventually the children trying to sneak away from the human-sized creatures, these are usually tense and somewhat chilling. At the same time, the massive Rex is kept as more of a shock ambush to prevent the final escape attempts from taking place as it's used to take out those outside leaving some solid kill scenes along the way. Combined with its cheesy atmosphere and effects, these are enough to hold this one up. The film does have some issues that hold it back. One of the main factors against it is the use of several unnecessary and overly complicated twists that don't need to be there. This one worked incredibly well as a straightforward case of a group of women duped into being on a game show where they have to survive against vicious dinosaurs, but to include several unnecessary twists here for no reason involving one of the contestants being involved in the conspiracy with the bad guy controlling the games out of nowhere or to keep going around in circles about who's playing the game or not. The decision to make one of the women involved makes no sense as it feels out of nowhere where she disappears from the film for a while to then appear in cahoots with the owner of the hotel as well which makes no sense, and the inability to keep the rules of the game in check makes for a disappointing enough time here overall. Alongside the expected and exceptionally cheesy effects of the goofy actions of the dinosaurs, these all manage to bring the film down.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.

The Barge People (2018)

A wholly exciting creature feature effort

[9/10 · 5 May 2024]

Taking a special trip together, a group of friends head on a special scenic river barge trip through the countryside so they can spend some time together, but when they encroach the territory of a group of fish-people creatures must band together to fight off the ravenous creatures and get away alive.

This was a fairly fun low-budget creature feature. Among the brighter aspects of this one is the rather impressive starting half where the general build-up to the creatures comes off quite well. Using the early exploits of the barge trip to do the requisite character-building and personal dynamics within the group so we get a sense of the various characters and personalities featured within, this starts the film rather nicely with the different motivations for going on the trip and the different styles they all operate on while keeping just enough hints that there's something in the woods along the way. As the group continues on and their experiences take them deeper into the woods as a result, the way they come off here with the varied encounters that take place sets up everything incredibly well. That serves the film incredibly well when the creatures finally appear and start going after the group. While the initial encounters in the woods are presented as solid ambush scenarios where they appear on unsuspecting loners, the main attack on the barge here is an exceptionally accomplished sequence that comes off phenomenally. With the group of intruders also involved when the fish creatures arrive, there's plenty of carnage on display as the brawling, weaponry being used to defend themselves, high-quality gore, and some surprising death orders with how they get knocked off, this frenetic series of action sets this in motion incredibly well as a standout sequence leading into the strong finale. The final battles with the creatures are incredibly fun and manage to get quite a lot to like in the brutality and choreography as they come together with the stellar creature designs for some generally exciting times here giving the film quite a lot to enjoy about it. There aren't too many flaws to be had with this one. The biggest issue here is the somewhat overlong finale that has several distinct possible endings but doesn't know which one to actually use. This one tacks on several endings involving the capture of the lone survivor and her treatment during the finale where it takes on her continued chances at escape only to keep getting interfered with so it takes a while to get everything sorted out perfectly. Taking out one or two of these features and settling on one of the finishes would've served this one so well in how it finished as it keeps trying for twist after twist and falling short due to including so many unnecessary tactics. As well, the other slight drawback here comes from the behavior of the local couple the group meets up with as it's unnaturally petty and realistic for them to continue on the way they are targeting the group simply to add more bodies to the mix which isn't thankfully detrimental but does crop up here.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.