It says a lot about the history of nunsploitation cinema that “The Nun II,” which opens with a scary ghost nun levitating a priest and setting him spectacularly on fire, is one of the more understated entries in the genre.
That’s not to say “The Nun II” is a subtle film, or a thoughtful film, or even a good film. It’s just that when you share space on the video store shelf with Ken Russell’s “The Devils” and Bruno Mattei’s “The Other Hell,” a bunch of cheesy random jump scares wrapped around a tepid storyline just doesn’t stand out much.
Even compared to Corin Hardy’s first “The Nun” movie — itself the fifth entry in the “Conjuring” franchise, with “The Nun II” now the ninth — Michael Chaves’s sequel is a major step down. Hardy’s stylish horror adventure was energetic enough to entertain despite its egregious silliness.
That’s not to say “The Nun II” is a subtle film, or a thoughtful film, or even a good film. It’s just that when you share space on the video store shelf with Ken Russell’s “The Devils” and Bruno Mattei’s “The Other Hell,” a bunch of cheesy random jump scares wrapped around a tepid storyline just doesn’t stand out much.
Even compared to Corin Hardy’s first “The Nun” movie — itself the fifth entry in the “Conjuring” franchise, with “The Nun II” now the ninth — Michael Chaves’s sequel is a major step down. Hardy’s stylish horror adventure was energetic enough to entertain despite its egregious silliness.
- 9/7/2023
- by William Bibbiani
- The Wrap
If nuns make you nervous, you’re not alone. Whether it’s their distinctive religious attire, their unwavering devotion to a higher power, or their reputation for meting out corporal punishment in Catholic school, it’s hard to deny that there’s something vaguely eerie about them at times. As the new supernatural horror film “The Nun 2” prepares to haunt theaters on Sept. 8, here’s a look at 20 other movie nuns that are guaranteed to give you the creeps.
Courtesy of New Line Cinema
The Conjuring 2 (2016)
Audiences first met the eerie title character of “The Nun” in the sequel to James Wan’s horror hit “The Conjuring.” Sporting a ghostly complexion, a bad attitude, and a mouthful of rotting fangs that would make Pennywise the clown jealous, the Nun is referred to by several names throughout the film, including the Marquis of Snakes, the Defiler, and the demon Valak.
Courtesy of New Line Cinema
The Conjuring 2 (2016)
Audiences first met the eerie title character of “The Nun” in the sequel to James Wan’s horror hit “The Conjuring.” Sporting a ghostly complexion, a bad attitude, and a mouthful of rotting fangs that would make Pennywise the clown jealous, the Nun is referred to by several names throughout the film, including the Marquis of Snakes, the Defiler, and the demon Valak.
- 9/5/2018
- by Matthew Chernov
- Variety Film + TV
If you have even a passing acquaintance with Italian horror, the odds are pretty good that you’ve come across the work of Claudio Fragasso. Like many Italian auteurs, he’s gone by many names; perhaps you know him as Clyde Anderson, director of the Alice Cooper werewolf tale Monster Dog (1984), or Drake Floyd, helmer of the legendary Troll 2 (1990). There’s also his work as a writer on fellow Italian Bruno Mattei’s The Other Hell (’81) and Rats: Night of Terror (’84). But if you’ve been following Severin Films as of late (and for shame if you haven’t), Fragasso has his hands all over their latest trio of Blu-ray releases: Shocking Dark (’89), Zombi 3 (’88), and the one where he slips into the director’s chair again, Zombie 4: After Death (’89), a film light on imagination yet heavy on high octane zombie mowdowns.
Which isn’t to say that After...
Which isn’t to say that After...
- 6/14/2018
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
Severin Films do a great service for those of us who aren’t as familiar with the “second tier” Italian horror filmmakers like Bruno Mattei. I just haven’t seen much of his work, but of what I have, The Other Hell (1981) is my favorite. I should say it’s my favorite film of his that borrows from Carrie and The Exorcist; apparently I need to start a new list of faves that are influenced by Aliens and The Terminator, starting with Shocking Dark (1989), a jaw-dropping mush of both that manages to entertain almost as much as either.
Aka Terminator II in certain markets, the term “rip-off” was pretty much perfected by Shocking Dark; but this was neither Mattei or co-screenwriters Claudio Fragasso and Rossella Drudi (Troll 2) fault, but rather producers eager to jump on Cameron’s bandwagon and hijack it before it reached the next station. The writers...
Aka Terminator II in certain markets, the term “rip-off” was pretty much perfected by Shocking Dark; but this was neither Mattei or co-screenwriters Claudio Fragasso and Rossella Drudi (Troll 2) fault, but rather producers eager to jump on Cameron’s bandwagon and hijack it before it reached the next station. The writers...
- 6/5/2018
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
Nunsploitation is definitely not a strong suit of mine; going through a list to see which ones I’ve viewed has left me feeling ashamed and repentant. So after three Hail Mary’s and four Our Father’s I knelt down and witnessed The Other Hell (1981), Italian grimemaster Bruno Mattei’s take on fervid religiosity, rabid dogs, satanic offspring, and enough Catholic iconography to set a priest on fire. Which is a thing that also happens.
Released in Italy in late January and rolled out around the world throughout the year (North America would have to wait until ’85), The Other Hell is pretty much what I’ve grown to love about Italian horror of the ‘70s and ‘80s – outlandish characters, loopy plotting and jaw dropping moments – but is so far and above what I’ve seen of Mattei’s other work that it gives me a nosebleed.
So, let’s get thee to a nunnery,...
Released in Italy in late January and rolled out around the world throughout the year (North America would have to wait until ’85), The Other Hell is pretty much what I’ve grown to love about Italian horror of the ‘70s and ‘80s – outlandish characters, loopy plotting and jaw dropping moments – but is so far and above what I’ve seen of Mattei’s other work that it gives me a nosebleed.
So, let’s get thee to a nunnery,...
- 2/3/2018
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
Joe D’Amato was a filmmaker that I only knew (other than his reputation for skin flicks and sleaze) from the one movie of his I had seen, Anthropophagous (1980), aka The Grim Reaper, aka "The One Where The Guy Eats The Baby Fetus." And going by that, I had a lot of trepidation upon opening Severin Films’ brand new Blu of Beyond the Darkness (1979), D’Amato’s exploration of necrophilia, icky maternal obsession, and stuffing the ones we love. I needn’t have worried. Beyond the Darkness, aka Buried Alive, aka Buio Omega, is not only vastly superior to Anthropophagous, it gives me hope that the D’Amato catalogue is filled with further gems to uncover. I mean, they’re not All porn, right? Right?
Take pity on poor Frank (Kieran Canter – The Devil in Mr. Holmes). The wealthy, single, orphaned taxidermist’s fiancé Anna (Cinzia Monreale – The Beyond) lies dying in the hospital,...
Take pity on poor Frank (Kieran Canter – The Devil in Mr. Holmes). The wealthy, single, orphaned taxidermist’s fiancé Anna (Cinzia Monreale – The Beyond) lies dying in the hospital,...
- 8/3/2017
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
Severin Films is one of our favorite independent home video distributors, and over the last few months they've released several really great Blu-ray editions of films that desperately needed an upgrade. Flip through the gallery below to see snapshots of their recent Blu-rays of Mariano Baino's Dark Waters, Bruno Mattei's The Other Hell, Return of Kung Fu Trailers of Fury, and Canadian oddity Cathy's Curse....
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 5/4/2017
- Screen Anarchy
This Week in Home VideoPlus 20 more new releases to watch at home this week on Blu-ray/DVD.
Welcome to this week in home video! Click the title to buy a Blu-ray/DVD from Amazon and help support Fsr in the process!
Pick of the WeekCatfight
What is it? Two old college friends cross paths as adults and beat the ever-loving crap out of each other.
Why see it? Onur Tukel’s latest is also his best thanks in part to the lead performances by Sandra Oh and Anne Heche. They do a good job of manipulating our sympathies and concerns ensuring that our loyalties shift from act to act. Themes of female friendships, class distinctions, and redemption run through alongside a satirical look at modern life, and there’s a terrifically wicked streak throughout. Funny, smart, and brutal are all apt descriptors for this cynical look at our violent selves.
[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Commentaries, featurette, deleted scenes]
Catfight...
Welcome to this week in home video! Click the title to buy a Blu-ray/DVD from Amazon and help support Fsr in the process!
Pick of the WeekCatfight
What is it? Two old college friends cross paths as adults and beat the ever-loving crap out of each other.
Why see it? Onur Tukel’s latest is also his best thanks in part to the lead performances by Sandra Oh and Anne Heche. They do a good job of manipulating our sympathies and concerns ensuring that our loyalties shift from act to act. Themes of female friendships, class distinctions, and redemption run through alongside a satirical look at modern life, and there’s a terrifically wicked streak throughout. Funny, smart, and brutal are all apt descriptors for this cynical look at our violent selves.
[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Commentaries, featurette, deleted scenes]
Catfight...
- 4/25/2017
- by Rob Hunter
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Tuesday, April 25th boasts an array of diverse Blu-ray and DVD offerings with a great assortment titles both new and old. Lionsgate is releasing one of the best zombie films I’ve seen as of late, The Girl With All the Gifts, on both formats, and the most recent sequel in the Underworld franchise, Blood Wars, arrives this week on 4K Blu-ray, as well as the typical Blu and DVD discs, too.
Scream Factory is resurrecting both The Screaming Skull and I Bury the Living on Blu this Tuesday, and Arrow Video has put together a fantastic 2-Disc Special Edition set for Caltiki The Immortal Monster that fans definitely will want to pick up.
Other notable titles coming home on April 25th include a special edition release of The Vampire Bat, Mean Dreams, Detour, From Hell It Came, and Psycho Cop Returns.
Caltiki The Immortal Monster: 2-Disc Special Edition (Arrow Video,...
Scream Factory is resurrecting both The Screaming Skull and I Bury the Living on Blu this Tuesday, and Arrow Video has put together a fantastic 2-Disc Special Edition set for Caltiki The Immortal Monster that fans definitely will want to pick up.
Other notable titles coming home on April 25th include a special edition release of The Vampire Bat, Mean Dreams, Detour, From Hell It Came, and Psycho Cop Returns.
Caltiki The Immortal Monster: 2-Disc Special Edition (Arrow Video,...
- 4/25/2017
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
This Week in Home Video‘Toni Erdmann’ Suggests It’s Time to Get Naked With Your Co-WorkersPlus 17 more new releases to watch at home this week on Blu-ray/DVD.
Welcome to this week in home video! Click the title to buy a Blu-ray/DVD from Amazon and help support Fsr in the process!
Pick of the WeekToni Erdmann
What is it? A professional woman and her oddball father dance around their complicated relationship, both in and out of costumes.
Why buy it? Family dysfunction is a longtime staple in cinema, but no film this year captured it with such humor, warmth, and wisdom as Maren Ade’s third feature. Even at 162 minutes our time with Ines and her oddball father feels far too short as their journey of discovery becomes one we don’t want to see end. There’s an honesty here — yes, even with subtitles — about the way we see ourselves through our loved ones...
Welcome to this week in home video! Click the title to buy a Blu-ray/DVD from Amazon and help support Fsr in the process!
Pick of the WeekToni Erdmann
What is it? A professional woman and her oddball father dance around their complicated relationship, both in and out of costumes.
Why buy it? Family dysfunction is a longtime staple in cinema, but no film this year captured it with such humor, warmth, and wisdom as Maren Ade’s third feature. Even at 162 minutes our time with Ines and her oddball father feels far too short as their journey of discovery becomes one we don’t want to see end. There’s an honesty here — yes, even with subtitles — about the way we see ourselves through our loved ones...
- 4/11/2017
- by Rob Hunter
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
I hope you guys are ready, because April 11th looks to be an incredible day of home entertainment releases for genre fans, especially if you’ve been patiently waiting for the stunning new Phantasm Blu-ray set from Well Go USA, which features every film from the franchise together in one nifty package. Arrow Video has also assembled the first two House movies for a limited edition Blu-ray set that arrives this week, and Severin Films has resurrected the cult classic Cathy’s Curse in HD for the first time ever.
Severin Films is also keeping busy with a pair of other releases—Dark Water and The Other Hell—and Scream Factory is giving both The Vampire and Demented the Blu-ray treatment as well.
Other notable horror and sci-fi home entertainment offerings for April 11th include The Bye Bye Man (Unrated), The Violent Shit Collection, Chupacabra Territory, Naciye, Takashi Miike’s Dead or Alive trilogy,...
Severin Films is also keeping busy with a pair of other releases—Dark Water and The Other Hell—and Scream Factory is giving both The Vampire and Demented the Blu-ray treatment as well.
Other notable horror and sci-fi home entertainment offerings for April 11th include The Bye Bye Man (Unrated), The Violent Shit Collection, Chupacabra Territory, Naciye, Takashi Miike’s Dead or Alive trilogy,...
- 4/11/2017
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
"Say your prayers" and witness the stylized carnage of Bruno Mattei's The Other Hell (1981), which will be available on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films on April 11th.
From Severin Films: “Note: This Listing Includes The Dark Waters Blu-ray Along With Our Limited Edition The Other Hell Inspired T-shirt Which Was Made In Collaboration With The Fine Folks Of Pallbearer Press.
Available on 04/11/2017
At the peak of his ‘80s excess, Italian sleaze maestro Bruno Mattei – using the alias ‘Stefan Oblowsky’ – stunned audiences with The Other Hell, a raging Nunsploitation shocker about a series of brutal murders in a depraved convent. And while his cinematic legacy may remain controversial, Mattei here delivers a surprisingly stylized yet undeniably blasphemous orgy of stabbings, stigmata, Satanism, sexual violence and graphic savagery that ranks among his very best. Franca Stoppi (The True Story Of The Nun Of Monza), Carlo De Mejo (Women’S Prison...
From Severin Films: “Note: This Listing Includes The Dark Waters Blu-ray Along With Our Limited Edition The Other Hell Inspired T-shirt Which Was Made In Collaboration With The Fine Folks Of Pallbearer Press.
Available on 04/11/2017
At the peak of his ‘80s excess, Italian sleaze maestro Bruno Mattei – using the alias ‘Stefan Oblowsky’ – stunned audiences with The Other Hell, a raging Nunsploitation shocker about a series of brutal murders in a depraved convent. And while his cinematic legacy may remain controversial, Mattei here delivers a surprisingly stylized yet undeniably blasphemous orgy of stabbings, stigmata, Satanism, sexual violence and graphic savagery that ranks among his very best. Franca Stoppi (The True Story Of The Nun Of Monza), Carlo De Mejo (Women’S Prison...
- 3/3/2017
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
I have been a Blue Underground fanboy for quite a while now, as I have quite an impressive collection of their Blu-ray releases. This will be the first Blue Underground title that I have reviewed for the site, and what a title to start with. Blue Underground’s Blood Soaked Double Feature, is two Bruno Mattei films on Blu-ray for the price of one, and it’s quite an interesting pairing, I must say. The set consists of Hell of the Living Dead, following by Rats: Night of Terror. I have seen Hell of the Living Dead several times, but this marks the first time that I’ve seen Rats. If you want to follow the format given to us, you would watch Hell of the Living Dead first, but the truth of the matter is, these two films compliment each other so well that you could reverse it and...
- 8/29/2014
- by Shawn Savage
- The Liberal Dead
We recently told Daily Dead readers that Blue Underground has been working on a Blu-ray version of Hell of the Living Dead. Packaged together with Rats: Night of Terror in a Blu-ray 2-pack, we now have the official release date and list of bonus features:
Hell Of The Living Dead: “When The Creeping Dead Devour The Living Flesh! An accident at a chemical plant unleashes a horrific virus, and an elite Swat team is sent to New Guinea to investigate. But when they arrive on the hellish island, they discover a plague of flesh-eating zombies as well as a beautiful female reporter who practices nude anthropology. Can the commandos survive this cannibal rampage, uncover a shocking government secret, and still find time for the occasional cross-dressing before the ravenous hordes of the living dead infect the entire world?
Directed by the notorious Bruno Mattei (The Other Hell), this ’80s...
Hell Of The Living Dead: “When The Creeping Dead Devour The Living Flesh! An accident at a chemical plant unleashes a horrific virus, and an elite Swat team is sent to New Guinea to investigate. But when they arrive on the hellish island, they discover a plague of flesh-eating zombies as well as a beautiful female reporter who practices nude anthropology. Can the commandos survive this cannibal rampage, uncover a shocking government secret, and still find time for the occasional cross-dressing before the ravenous hordes of the living dead infect the entire world?
Directed by the notorious Bruno Mattei (The Other Hell), this ’80s...
- 4/30/2014
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
1980′s Hell of the Living Dead is getting a new high-definition transfer and is due out later this year. Blue Underground will package the Italian zombie movie with Rats: Night of Terror in a Blu-ray 2-pack. Although a specific release date has not yet been set, be on the lookout for this later in 2014. Here’s a look at the cover art and additional release details:
Hell Of The Living Dead: “When The Creeping Dead Devour The Living Flesh! An accident at a chemical plant unleashes a horrific virus, and an elite Swat team is sent to New Guinea to investigate. But when they arrive on the hellish island, they discover a plague of flesh-eating zombies as well as a beautiful female reporter who practices nude anthropology. Can the commandos survive this cannibal rampage, uncover a shocking government secret, and still find time for the occasional cross-dressing before the...
Hell Of The Living Dead: “When The Creeping Dead Devour The Living Flesh! An accident at a chemical plant unleashes a horrific virus, and an elite Swat team is sent to New Guinea to investigate. But when they arrive on the hellish island, they discover a plague of flesh-eating zombies as well as a beautiful female reporter who practices nude anthropology. Can the commandos survive this cannibal rampage, uncover a shocking government secret, and still find time for the occasional cross-dressing before the...
- 2/4/2014
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Italy has frequently been at the forefront of European cinema as a trendsetter in the annals of exploitation cinema. Without Italy, we wouldn’t have the Mondo film or Gialli. Who else would have supplied us with Amazonian cannibals, nasty Nazis or demented nuns in such a pleasing manner?
Italy has always been awash with cinematic talent. And it is a country that doesn’t mind doing sexy, doing off beat, to be a little daring. The amount of wonderful exploitation directors has ensured that Italy has produced some of the most amazing horror films, cult oddities, documentaries and pornos.
I have listed the foremost Italian exploitation film directors that I can think of.. If you have a particular Italian director that you admire that I have missed out, please let’s have a discussion below.
10. Bruno Mattei (1931-1997)
Those of you who read my reviews will know that I...
Italy has always been awash with cinematic talent. And it is a country that doesn’t mind doing sexy, doing off beat, to be a little daring. The amount of wonderful exploitation directors has ensured that Italy has produced some of the most amazing horror films, cult oddities, documentaries and pornos.
I have listed the foremost Italian exploitation film directors that I can think of.. If you have a particular Italian director that you admire that I have missed out, please let’s have a discussion below.
10. Bruno Mattei (1931-1997)
Those of you who read my reviews will know that I...
- 6/24/2013
- by Clare Simpson
- Obsessed with Film
By Seth Metoyer, MoreHorror.com
Our MoreHorror in Hollywood correspondent Dawna Lee Heising recently sat down with progressive film-maker Mark Savage for an exclusive video interview.
Savage is set to direct Circus of Dread, starring Domiziano Arcangeli, Bill Oberst Jr., Vida Ghaffari and featuring Dawna Lee Heising, Rich Goteri and Jasi Cotton Lanier.
Initially garnishing notoriety as an underground cult filmmaker, Savage specialized in brutal, gory psychological thrillers and horror movies. He's directed dozens of short films and started helming the camera at age 14 before moving on to feature films, commercials, music videos, and industrial films.
Also currently in post production from Savage is Pond Scum, a film about "A wronged woman heads for Los Angeles to settle a score with an ex-boyfriend. Unfortunately, her plans are upended by a chance and brutal encounter with a monstrous killer/rapist. Also upended are his grisly plans for her because she is...
Our MoreHorror in Hollywood correspondent Dawna Lee Heising recently sat down with progressive film-maker Mark Savage for an exclusive video interview.
Savage is set to direct Circus of Dread, starring Domiziano Arcangeli, Bill Oberst Jr., Vida Ghaffari and featuring Dawna Lee Heising, Rich Goteri and Jasi Cotton Lanier.
Initially garnishing notoriety as an underground cult filmmaker, Savage specialized in brutal, gory psychological thrillers and horror movies. He's directed dozens of short films and started helming the camera at age 14 before moving on to feature films, commercials, music videos, and industrial films.
Also currently in post production from Savage is Pond Scum, a film about "A wronged woman heads for Los Angeles to settle a score with an ex-boyfriend. Unfortunately, her plans are upended by a chance and brutal encounter with a monstrous killer/rapist. Also upended are his grisly plans for her because she is...
- 8/17/2012
- by admin
- MoreHorror
Here is one of my older reviews, the Nunsploitation horror film The Other Hell The Other Hell (1981) "Nuns become possessed by the Devil and lust after the abbot" The Other Hell is one of the more bizarre movies I've reviewed and yet is still fairly tame for the Nunsploitation genre. It's an odd mix of giallo, gore, and strange plot twists.
- 11/3/2011
- Horrorbid
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