‘Hell is hungry.’

The Demon’s Rook is a 2013 American horror film directed by James Sizemore (Goat Witch) from a screenplay by Sizemore and Akom Tidwell for Tribeca Film. It stars James Sizemore, Ashleigh Jo Sizemore, Josh Gould, Melanie Richardson, John Chatham, Sadé Smith, and Dustin Dorough.

The Demon’s Rook will be available on VOD platforms from September 30, 2014.

Plot teaser:

A young boy named Roscoe finds a portal to another world where he is taught magic by an elder demon known as Dimwos. Dimwos raises the boy into manhood, revealing to him many secrets… Although there is one dark secret that Dimwos keeps from Roscoe. When Roscoe discovers what his master has been keeping from him all these years, he revolts against him, inadvertently unleashing three malevolent demons. Through desperation, Roscoe is forced to escape the demons’ wrath by way of the portal leading back to our world. Unbeknownst to Roscoe, he leads the demons to discover the portal for themselves. The demons pass through, and a nightmarish foray of summoned monsters are unleashed…

Reviews:

“The Demon’s Rook’s heart and earnest spirit override any limitation. Frankly rougher aspects like performance give away to imagination and positivity. While happy to gleefully revel in practical FX and gory spatter, the film will not wallow in it.” Samuel Zimmerman, Fangoria

“All the performers, Sizemore, Ashleigh Jo Sizemore as Eva, and all the supporting cast put their heart and souls into it; they match their acting to the style and level of the film without making light or fun of it. This is a rare and great case of a labour of love that is incredible accomplished, without falling into the usual traps of DIY filmmaking. There is great time and care in this film, and above all, great fun. So sit back, relax (spliff optional) and enjoy what is sure to become a classic.” Shelagh M. Rowan-Legg, Twitch

“ …gut-flinging monster mash that you won’t soon forget.” Dread Central

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‘You will pay for your sins’

See No Evil 2 is an American slasher horror film directed by the Soska sisters, written by Nathan Brookes and Bobby Lee Darby, produced by Michael Luisi. It stars professional wrestler Kane (WWE’s Glenn “Kane” Jacobs), Danielle Harris and Katharine Isabelle (American Mary).

The film is a sequel to the 2006 See No Evil. Unlike the original, which had a theatrical release, this film was released in October 2014 direct to VOD, DVD and Blu-ray by Lionsgate.

Plot teaser:

A group of friends pays a late-night visit to the city morgue to surprise Amy (Harris) on her birthday. But the surprise is on them when the one-eyed corpse of brutal psychopath Jacob Goodnight (Jacobs) unexpectedly rises from a cold sub-basement slab. Their wild party quickly turns into a terrifying slay-fest as the sadistic mass-murderer resumes his savage rampage complete with hooks, surgical knives and power saws…

Reviews:

“In its skill and cleverness, in its playfulness and bawdiness, See No Evil 2 reminds me very much of John Carpenter’s Halloween, though it is set in an environment closer to that of the hospital in Halloween 2 – a perpetuation, perhaps, of the Soskas’ evident misgivings about the medical establishment. Unlike its oppressively heavy predecessor, it is something of a rare bird among today’s horror fare in that it is a horror film that intends its audience to enjoy it.” Tim Lucas, Video Watchdog

“With the first film absolutely lambasted for its lack of originality, one would think any attempt at a sequel would try to correct that flaw. Bringing in directors like the Soskas was a great start, but giving them a script to work with that is such a cookie-cutter slasher doesn’t help. The creepy location is set, the group of partiers who will be fodder for the killer arrive, and the slasher does his slashing. Thankfully, as mentioned, the F/X work is great and the Twins infuse enough of their own flavor that the familiarity of the story can be somewhat forgiven. Somewhat.” Scott Hallam, Dread Central

“Where the first film was carried by it’s unique kills and practical effects, See No Evil 2 is anything but. If you cast a 7ft giant of a man and have him play with a bunch of cool metal cutting tools, let him use them. With a little of half of the kills of the original, we are only treated to one solid practical kill, the rest were mostly off screen in done in extremely unoriginal ways. Being a big Soska fan, this was easily the biggest let down of the year.” Bloodbath and Beyond, Moviepilot.com

Buy See No Evil 2 on Blu-ray from Amazon.com

“The kills are bloody as hell, and filmed beautifully. The Soskas know how to make blood spray look pretty, and tragic. Particularly since they are shooting in a dark hospital, they were able to hold the picture together in very low levels of lighting. The Blu-ray makes it perfectly evident that they can craft attractive lighting setups with barely a lit match, and some of those lighting setups are very clever. They keep Goodnight in the shadows, and Kane maximizes the impact of his presence in the glimpses we see of him.” Fred Topel, Nuke the Fridge

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Slew Hampshire is a 2013 American horror film directed by Flood Reed and starring Dayo Okeniyi, Shawn Thomas, and Tyler Rice.

The film was recognised for containing the “Goriest Scene of the Year” in Rue Morgue Magazine‘s 2013 Year in Review (Issue #141).

Plot teaser:

In June 1994, one of the most brutal mass slaughters in history occurred in the woods of northern New England.

Four months later, history is about to repeat itself. What begins as a humorous comedy of errors quickly becomes a Darwinian gore fest, and what unfolds is a cerebral yet repulsive journey through the history and nature of humanity and ‘civilization.’ With four distinct clans vying for supremacy and survival in the woods of New Hampshire, less than 24 hours will pass before a slew of lives have been claimed and the last of the living remains…

Review:

“It’s a unique movie that you won’t feel unfamiliar with, and that’s just one of its many tricks. Slew Hampshire actually requires you to think about it after its done, and how often does that happen with movies that essentially show themselves to be shlock horror? This is shlock, exploitation, creature feature, teen comedy and Darwinism, all trapped in the middle of the woods. So basically – fun, a little confusing and reeks of filth.” Film Bizarro

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Lemon Tree Passage is a 2013 Australian horror film directed by David Campbell from a screenplay he co-wrote with Erica Brien. It stars Jessica Tovey, Nicholas Gunn, Pippa Black, Tim Phillipps, Andrew Ryan, Tim Pocock, Piera Forde and Dean Kirkright.

Plot teaser:

When a group of young backpackers learn of a ghost said to appear in the rear-view mirror of a speeding car they set out to recreate it with the help of some locals. After speeding down Lemon Tree Passage, a remote road surrounded by dense woods, their jubilation turns to terror as one by one each passenger begins to disappear in a violent fashion. Isolated and ten thousand miles from home, the tourists find themselves caught in the clutches of a malevolent force much more heinous than the local myth they set out to experience.

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Siccin is a 2014 Turkish supernatural horror film written and directed by Alper Mestçi (Musallat; Musallat 2: Lanet). It stars Pınar Çağlar Gençtürk, Koray Şahinbaş, Ebru Kaymakçı, Merve Ateş, Güneş Galava, Toygun Ateş, Aydan Çakır and Asuman Kostak.

V/H/S Viral also known as V/H/S: Viral; VHS Viral and V/H/S 3 is a 2014 American anthology horror film sequel produced by The Collective and Bloody Disgusting. It features segments directed by Justin Benson, Gregg Bishop (Dance of the Dead), Aaron Moorhead, Marcel Sarmiento (Dead Girl, The ABCs of Death) and Nacho Vigalondo. Todd Lincoln’s (The Apparition) segment was dropped. It stars Justin Welborn and Emmy Argo.

The film debuted at the Fantastic Fest on September 23, 2014 and hits VOD platforms October 23, 2014, with a limited theatrical run slated for November 21, 2014.

Red band trailer:

Plot teaser:

A police chase after a deranged ice cream truck has captivated the attention of the greater Los Angeles area. Dozens of fame-obsessed teens flock to the streets with their video cameras and camera phones, hell-bent on capturing the next viral video. But there is something far more sinister occurring in the streets of L.A. than a simple police chase. A resounding effect is created onto all those obsessed with capturing salacious footage for no other purpose than to amuse or titillate. Soon the discovery becomes that they themselves are the stars of the next video, one where they face their own death…

Reviews:

“Despite the connecting story going for broke and coming up a bit short, these are the strongest collection of tapes assembled yet, none of which make us reach for the fast-forward button. The duo of Benson and Moorehead walk away with top honors, but Nacho and Gregg all have segments worth bragging about, and even Marcel – each oozes such a unique style and there’s never a bland repetition while jumping about from one demented story to the next. Get down with the sickness kiddies, because V/H/S: Viral is a vicious freakshow that’s worth going to the looney bin over.” Matt Donato, We Got This Covered

‘Revenge is a bitch’

The Scarehouse is a 2014 Canadian horror film written and directed by Gavin Michael Booth(To Hell, With Love). It stars Sarah Booth (Werewoman; Hemlock Grove), Kimberly-Sue Murray (The Colony; Crimson Peak), Katherine Barrell (Poe; Definition of Hell), Teagan Vincze (Dead Genesis, Fortune Cookie Prophecies), Emily Alatalo, Dani Barker, Ivana Stojanovic, Jennifer Miller, Brad Everett, Jack Ettlinger, Alex Harrouch and Tanya Bevan.

Prior to its VOD and iTunes release on October 21, 2014 (USA and Canada), The Scarehouse has its world premiere on October 5th at the Lakeshore Cinema in Windsor, Ontario.

Plot teaser:

Two friends open a Halloween fun house on Devil’s Night, an elaborate party for their former sorority sisters. As these six sisters arrive one by one, they are confronted by a troublesome past. When their hosts’ true intentions are revealed, everyone inside the Scarehouse will find out that, indeed, revenge is a bitch…

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‘Every bloodline has a beginning’

Dracula Untold (originally titled Dracula: Year Zero) is a 2014 American horror film produced by Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures and directed by Gary Shore from a screenplay by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless.

It stars Luke Evans (The Raven; The Crow) as Vlad Tepes, the man who becomes the mythological bloodsucker Dracula, Sarah Gadon (The Moth Diaries) as Mirena, wife of Vlad, Dominic Cooper as Mehmed the Second, Samantha Barks as Baba Yaga, a beautiful woman who turns into an evil witch, Art Parkinson as Ingeras, son of Vlad/Dracula, Charlie Cox, William Houston, Ferdinand Kingsley, Noah Huntley, Dilan Gwyn, Zach McGowan, Ronan Vibert.

Location shooting took place in Northern Ireland. The film has a reported budget of 100 million dollars.

Plot teaser:

Vlad Tepes is a young prince who  risks his soul, when the lives of his wife and child are put in danger by a bloodthirsty sultan. In the process, he becomes the first vampire…

Reviews:

“Whereas Francis Coppola’s 1992 “Dracula” (a veritable golden oldie in today’s short-term cultural memory) was a baroque, high-fashion free-for-all, “Dracula Untold” opts for the stately, staid approach, and even at a mere 85 minutes (sans credits) it’s something of a bore — neither scary nor romantic nor exciting in any of the ways it seems to intend.” Scott Foundas, Variety

“Shot in Ireland with sets, extras and costumes that evoke Game of Thrones, this is a comic book action-adventure with fantasy-horror elements, fatally overdependent on Luke Evans’ glowering presence and unsure whether to go for contemporary-sounding dialogue (Dracula repeatedly tells a dying comrade he’s ‘going to be okay’) and Black Shield of Falworth-style thigh-slapping swashbucklery.” Kim Newman, Screen Daily

“Making his feature debut, director Gary Shore displays little flair for the action sequences, with such stylistic devices as using Vlad’s POV for several scenes adding to the overall cheesiness. Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless’ muddled screenplay seems so intent on providing a Maleficent-style revisionist spin that it’s hard to believe that this heroic and sympathetic figure will ever wind up tormenting the nightmares of children for centuries to come. A coda set in the present day, with Vlad encountering his seemingly reincarnated wife in meet-cute fashion, is beyond silly…” The Hollywood Reporter

“Action isn’t the focus of the film, though, which is a surprisingly bold move for a film being sold as an effects-driven blockbuster. If anything, Dracula Untold is a family drama, and it’s a gambit that pays off well.” Duncan Bowles, Den of Geek

“For about the first hour of its running time, “Dracula Untold” is far too restrained and tasteful, and it certainly suffers from its tediously noble hero; it’s well made but fatally lacking in thrills or excitement. There are some modest battles here and there, but only Gadon’s lovely face seems truly worthy of the camera’s time until the last half hour, when the film springs to at least half life with several very imaginative images that make use of swarms of bats.”  Dan Callahan, The Wrap

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‘You never get out’

Hollows Grove is a 2014 American horror film written, produced and directed by Craig Efros. It is his first feature film and stars Mykelti Williamson, Lance Henriksen, Matthew Carey, Sunkrish Bala, Bresha Webb, Val Morrison, Matt Doherty, Eddie Perez.

Plot teaser:

A young filmmaker, Harold Maxwell, is shooting a behind-the-scenes documentary on his ghost hunting reality show friends, the Spirit and Paranormal Investigation Team, (S.P.I.T.), as they prepare for their next assignment. Harold and the S.P.I.T crew head out to film an old, abandoned and supposedly haunted orphanage, Hollows Grove. Soon after arriving at the orphanage the team begins to realize that what they thought would be a routine investigation is turning in to a nightmare from which they cannot escape…

Reviews:

“The performances from Lance Henriksen and Matt Doherty are strong enough to keep the film afloat when the story and the effects threaten to sink the entire affair. The film remains tightly tucked inside the established blue print for this kind of found footage film, it never pushes any boundaries nor reaches for any taboos or new ground. It is decidedly by the books which makes it often dull. Still, however, the direction is strong and promising making the film an interesting debut for director Craig Efros.” Doc Rotten, HorrorNews.net

“Craig Efros’s directorial debut is the mark of a horror master in the making. Hollows Grove is a well done suspenseful horror film, that is both fun and funny.” The Art of Monteque

“All I kept asking myself while watching this film was “why?” The last scene while intended to give a shock only cheapened the story more and took whatever credibility it had with it. Good effects and some expressive cast members ultimately stumble because of an underdeveloped script.” Mark Rivera, Halloween Forevermore

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Let Us Prey is a 2014 British/Irish horror film directed by Brian O’Malley starring Liam Cunningham, Pollyanna McIntosh, and Bryan Larkin. It had its UK premiere at the opening gala of Grimmfest on 2nd October 2014.

Plot teaser:

Rachel, a rookie cop, is about to begin her first night shift in a neglected police station in a Scottish backwater town. The kind of place where the tide has gone out and stranded a motley bunch of the aimless, the forgotten, the bitter-and-twisted who all think that, really, they deserve to be somewhere else. They all think they’re there by accident and that, with a little luck, life is going to get better. Wrong, on both counts. Six is about to arrive – and All Hell Will Break Loose!

Reviews:

“Credit must go to cinematographer Piers McGrail whose sumptuous visuals add to the tension and creeping sense of dread and bring to mind French slasher flick Switchblade Romance. There’s plenty gore to keep horror fiends satisfied, yet enough intrigue and chuckles to appeal to a wider audience too.” Eye For Film

“O’Malley has marked himself as a talent to watch. Striking a perfect balance of suspense, violence, humour, story and action, Let Us Prey feels at once classic and modern; horror the way it was always supposed to have been made. You will not be disappointed.” Starburst

“Let Us Prey is a film well worth seeking out. This is an action thriller with a smattering of horror that will appeal to most audiences and while the final scenes may not satisfy everyone, what’s gone before will forgive this possibly minor miss-step.” The Horror Asylum

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‘The experiment is real’

Malignant – working title: Black Butterflies – is a 2013 sci-fi horror film written and directed by Brian Avenet-Bradley (Free’z’er; Ghost of the Needle; Dark Remains). It stars Gary Cairns, horror icon Brad Dourif, Nick Nicotera and Sienna Farall.

Following a VOD outing, the film is being released on DVD in the US on February 17, 2015, courtesy of MVD Visual, that includes extras such as ‘Surgery for the Soul,’ an exclusive 38-minute documentary.

Plot teaser:

After the death of his wife, a grieving alcoholic (Gary Cairns) becomes the victim of a mad doctor (Brad Dourif) and his horrific twelve-step program to “cure” him…

Reviews:

“Unfortunately, the viewer would need to be as drunk as Cairns is for much of the film to miss the incongruity, implausibility, and inconsistency of the entire effort. A plan as elaborate as the one we are asked to believe would require an X-Files-esque government conspiracy, but we get a couple of guys working out of their garages, one of whom is Dourif. Maybe. The character allegedly being played by Dourif is seen from behind or in blurred focus or with a mask at least half the time he’s on screen. Then again, when we do see Dourif, his face looks like it’s been pumped with enough Botox for him to be a Real Housewife.” Meet Mr. Karma

“Brad Dourif steals the show in this one. He uses his voice, facial expressions, everything to execute a monstrous and slithery villain. Truly, he is of the Karloff/Lugosi/Carradine caliber—an old school ghoul of the highest degree … good, atmospheric camerawork, competent acting, grotesque, but sparing makeup effects, a creepy soundtrack. But because the screenplay neglects so much, Malignant comes off mediocre, and any suspense or emotional impact suffers for it.” Ross Peterson, HorrorNews.net

“Perhaps those more personally connected to themes of addiction struggles will find better reasons to engage with the metaphorical overtones. But above all else, “Malignant” is the partly quiet portrait of one man’s battle against grief through a realized nightmare scenario. And ultimately, the personalities providing the fulcrum are too weak to bear the weight of a moody character study burdened by this much underdeveloped psychological drama.” Culture Crypt

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‘A curse. You’ve got 19 hours left. And then you die.’

Magi is a 2014 Turkish horror film written and directed Hasan Karacadağ (Dabbe), who also co-produced with Loris Curci for Taff Pictures. It stars Lucie Pohl, Michael Madsen, Stephen Baldwin and Brianne Davis.

The film is due to be released in Turkey on February 27, 2015.

Plot teaser:

Marla Watkins moved to Istanbul a few years ago. She now teaches English in a local language school. Her sister, Olivia, is a New York-based journalist. When informed about Marla’s pregnancy, Olivia travels to Turkey to visit her sister. Marla lives in a fancy neighborhood. She was previously married to an Iranian artist, but the two have recently put an end to their relationship. Marla decided to keep the baby and that is when sinister happenings began to occur…

Cast:

• Michael Madsen as Lawrence Irlam
• Stephen Baldwin Burga
• Brianne Davis as Marla Watkins
• Dragan Micanovic as Deyran
• Lucie Pohl as Olivia Watkins
• Emine Meyrem as Suzan
• Kenan Ece as Emir

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Ojuju is a no-budget Nigerian horror-thriller film written, directed and edited by C.J. “Fiery” Obasi, starring Gabriel Afolayan, Omowunmi Dada, and Kelechi Udegbe. Ojuju premiered at the 4th Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), where it won the award for Best Nigerian Movie.

Official plot teaser:

Romero’s (Gabriel Afolayan) neighbourhood is in trouble. People are suddenly manifesting symptoms of rabid river blindness . With his friends, Emmy (Kelechi Udegbe) and Peju (Omawunmi Dada) he struggles to understand how the neighbourhood’s sole source of water supply could have been infected. However, there’s no time to ponder because they all must survive and fight their way through to escape the infested neighbourhood…

Review:

“Yes, Ojuju is – for all intents and purposes – a zombie film, one that follows all the basic tenets of the sub-genre albeit with budget constraints tight enough to limit the scope of gore, creature makeup and action and place a stronger emphasis on the characters and neighborhood. Which is absolutely fine, really, given that these elements all play to Obasi’s strengths as a director. What Ojuju lacks in scope and polish it makes up in authenticity and compelling characters. The rhythm of the neighborhood, with Obasi presenting multiple intersecting storylines and characters.” Todd Brown, Twitch Film

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‘The invasion has begun’

The Device is a 2014 sci-fi/horror film directed by Jeremy Berg from a screenplay he co-wrote with John Portanova. It stars Angela DiMarco, David S. Hogan, Kate Alden, Gabriel Congdon, Lorraine Montez, Ben Andrews, Morgen Johnson and Russell Hodgkinson.

The film is released on DVD in the US by Image Entertainment on December 16, 2014.

Official plot teaser:

What if the rumours and urban legends are real… that aliens walk among us, abducting people for unthinkable experiments? Sisters Abby and Rebecca are about to discover the horrifying truth when they find a harmless looking object in the woods near their family’s cabin.

The small black sphere is the key to a shocking mystery that will change the course of human destiny. The Device has plans for us, and this world is no longer ours…

Reviews:

“It’s very clear that Berg and Portanova are fans of the alien subgenre, and they excel at telling the story based around that, but what really stands out about the film, is how much character development is accomplished, while also doing its best to genuinely creep the audience out. It works on all levels, the horror aspects are dead on, but the drama and relationships are what makes The Device rise greatly above typical genre films.” Jerry Smith, Icons of Fright

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‘If Jake can’t fix it, it’s been dead too long.’

Blood Salvage aka Mad Jake is a 1990 American horror film directed by Tucker Johnston from a screenplay he co-wrote with Ken S. Sanders (Southern Shockers). It stars Danny Nelson, Lori Birdsong (Munchies), Christian Helser, Ralph Pruitt Vaughn (Cannibal Apocalypse), John Saxon (Cannibal Apocalypse; Tenebrae; A Nightmare on Elm Street), Laura Whyte (False Face) and Ray Walston (Galaxy of Terror; Popcorn; Addams Family Reunion).

Special makeup effects were provided by Bill Johnston.

Plot teaser:

A crazy, Bible-preaching, redneck farmer and his two dim-witted sons kidnap victims from the highway and perform sick medical experiments on them. They then proceed to sell their organs on the black market. Meanwhile, their pet alligator lurks nearby. Everything is going fine until they kidnap the handicapped April Evans and find out that she is harder to control than the others…

Reviews:

“Blood Salvage doesn’t exactly turn the redneck killer shtick on its head, but it does offer a few unique tidbits. Jake Pruitt, the film’s central baddie, is somewhat of an evil mastermind. Okay, mastermind is a bit strong, but he ain’t stupid and he is quite congenial. Blood Salvage is a peculiar mix of nasty, cruel, bizarrely funny, and completely ridiculous.” Goregirl’s Dungeon

“This patent Texas Chainsaw Massacre rip-off is mostly sadistic, occasionally funny, and acted with down-home brio by a cast of nobodies (although boxer-coproducer Evander Holyfield has a cameo). The only original touch is Lori Birdsong’s portrayal of the ill- tempered young beauty in distress. As one of the killers says, ”She’s a mean little thing, ain’t she?'” Entertainment Weekly

“Blood Salvage is a smart take on what’s considered a stupid subgenre. The film not only looks great, with plenty of attention to detail, but the acting is very good all around. And there are lots of funny lines and moments to balance the explicit creepiness…leading up to a satisfying ending (that holds some surprises).” Video Eyeball Magazine

“It’s got slobbering rednecks, it’s got car chases, it’s got maniac alligators, it’s got Elvis on life support, it’s got Ray Walston. Drive-In Academy Award nominations for Danny Nelson, better known as the Cates Pickle Man, as Jake the junkyard surgeon.” Joe Bob Briggs, Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In

“Danny Nelson plays a Hooperesque backwoods patriarch whose road salvage work conceals his real dabbling… trafficking in human organs salvaged from unwilling folks with car trouble… all presented with an unexpected degree of wit, pathos and polish.” Video Watchdog

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Alyce Kills is a 2011 American horror film written and directed by Jay Lee (The Slaughter; Zombie Strippers; The House with 100 Eyes). It stars Jade Dornfeld, Tamara Feldman and James Duval. The film’s title was originally Alyce.

Official Synopsis:

After accidentally knocking her best friend off a roof, Alyce is haunted by guilt and delves into a brutal nightmare wonderland of sex, drugs and violence, her mind tearing itself apart… along with anyone else who gets in her way.

Reviews:

“There’s a lot going on in the subtext of Alyce Kills, including thematic explorations of obsession, identity, and morality. We’re given some indications that Alyce may have been slightly off-kilter before the horrible incident on the roof. The ladies’ night of debauchery began after a period of separation. The exact details are not discussed, but a reference to Single White Female speaks volumes.” Saucy Josh, Blood and Guts for Grown Ups

“There is an amazing style to the way it is filmed that made it feel a little like The Virgin Suicides at times – hazy and unsteady and compelling to look at. Other times you’ll note the standard ‘twitch and shake’ shots and quick chop edits that accompany many mental breakdown movies but they really don’t feel that burdensome or take away from the overall feel. Also, the use of color at different points in the film is quite striking and lovely to watch wash over the set pieces and the actors.” Flay Otters, Horror-Movies.ca

“Fans who enjoy good character development and gritty storylines will appreciate this addition.  Combining both those qualities with some ghostly hallucinations and twisted murders – some of which rival the finest moments in slasher films – creates a unique film that doesn’t fit comfortably into any subgenre … Rather, Alyce Kills crosses the boundaries of many and ultimately only partially fits into the horror genre.  Yet there can be no doubt that the action builds to a crescendo of horror that is truly worthy and much anticipated.” John Strand, Best Horror Movies

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‘What a lovely day.’

Mad Max: Fury Road is an upcoming post-apocalyptic action film directed, produced and co-written by George Miller, and the fourth film of Miller’s Mad Max franchise.

The first film of the franchise in thirty years, Fury Road features actor Tom Hardy as Mad Max and has a reported budget of $150 million. The film is scheduled to be released on 15 May 2015.

Plot teaser:

In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, loner Max meets Furiosa, a woman who wishes to cross the desert…

Cast:

• Tom Hardy as “Mad” Max Rockatansky
• Charlize Theron as Imperator Furiosa
• Nicholas Hoult as Nux
• Hugh Keays-Byrne as Immortan Joe
• Nathan Jones as Rictus Erectus
• Zoë Kravitz as Toast
• Riley Keough as Capable
• Rosie Huntington-Whiteley as Splendid
• Abbey Lee Kershaw as The Dag
• Courtney Eaton as Fragile
• Josh Helman as Slit
• Jennifer Hagan as Miss Giddy
• iOTA as Coma-Doof Warrior
• John Howard as The People Eater
• Richard Carter as the Bullet Farmer
• Megan Gale as Valkyrie
• Angus Sampson as the Organic Mechanic
• Joy Smithers
• Gillian Jones
• Melissa Jaffer

Wikipedia | IMDb | Official website

Army of Frankensteins is a 2013 US horror film produced, edited, written and directed by Ryan Bellgardt.

The film stars John Ferguson, Jordan Farris, Christian Bellgardt, Lucas Ross, Rett Terrell and  Raychelle McDonald.

It should not be confused with Richard Raaphorst’s 2013 movie Frankenstein’s Army.

Plot teaser:

“After a failed attempt to propose to his girlfriend, Alan Jones is beaten to within an inch of his life by a street gang and taken to a mysterious lab where Dr. Tanner Finski and his kid genius assistant perform horrible experiments on him hoping to re-animate a Frankenstein. The experiments lead to a hole being ripped in space and time, manifesting an army of Frankensteins from hundreds of parallel universes and sending them all back to the 19th century, directly into the heart of a bloody battle between the North and South.”

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The Dark is a 1979 US science fiction horror film directed by John “Bud” Cardos from a screenplay by Stanford Whitmore (The Eyes of Charles Sand; Night Gallery) for Film Ventures International. Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre; Death Trap) was the original the director but was fired by the producers. Roger Kellaway’s score apes Jerry Goldsmith’s musical motifs for The Omen.

The film stars William Devane (Hollow Man; Leprechaun’s Revenge), Cathy Lee Crosby, Richard Jaeckel (The Green Slime; Blood Song), Keenan Wynn (Piranha; Laserblast; The Clonus Horror), Warren J. Kemmerling, Biff Elliot (Blood Bath; The Navy vs. the Night Monsters), Jacquelyn Hyde (House of Terror; Superstition), Casey Kasem (Shaggy’s voice in Scooby-Doo), Vivian Blaine (Parasite), John Bloom (Dracula vs. Frankenstein; The Have Eyes Part II), Bill Derringer, Jay Lawrence (Kingdom of the Spiders), Russ Marin (Chiller; Deadly Friend), Vernon Washington. Diminutive veteran actor Angelo Rossitto has an uncredited role as a newspaper vendor.

Plot teaser:

In Santa Monica, an alien “mangler” stalks and kills human prey during the night, beheading them in the process…

Buy The Dark + The Being + Creatures from the Abyss from Amazon.com

Reviews:

“Amidst the chaos, there are actually some well done scenes in this movie. The stalking bits are moody and creepy and each one shows the monster getting stronger. Whether hurling his victims through fences, crashing through walls, moving vehicles like they were cardboard, or firing off ocular blasts of laser beams, the beast is big, but never looks like he came from the stars. If anything, it resembles a less hairy werewolf.” Cool Ass Cinema

“This is without a doubt the dumbest, most inept, most maddeningly unsatisfactory thriller of the last five years. It’s really bad: so bad, indeed, that it provides some sort of measuring tool against which to measure other bad thrillers.” Roger Ebert

“When it’s in motion The Dark is lovably bonkers in a similar vein to The Manitou or The Visitor but when it’s stagnant, it’s dishwater dull. It actually looks pretty amazing in all of its Panavision glory on DVD but there’s no escaping the frustrating, unfocused, half-hearted pace.” Kindertrauma

“Much of this film reaches Ed Wood levels of inanity. The opening crawl is hilarious (only Uwe Boll’s Alone in the Dark betters it in terms of absurdity). It talks about species of animals on earth that can kill with electric shocks and poisons (and this is related to a laser-eyed alien in trucker clothes, how?). It talks about millions of planets in the universe capable of supporting life (do the writers know something we don’t?).” Bill Gordon, Horror Fan Zine

“since the movie’s special effects are mediocre — and since the acting is so lifeless it feels like the performers were handed their lines just before they walked on camera –the film’s only redeeming value is atmospheric widescreen cinematography that lives up to the title. Using a mixture of deep shadows and epic lens flares straight out of the John Carpenter playbook, John Arthur Morrill’s tasty images almost make The Dark worth watching. Almost.” Peter Hanson, Every 70s Movie

Buy The Dark on DVD from Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

IMDb | Image credits: Cool Ass Cinema

‘Evil. Deadly. Immortal.’

Hellraiser: Hellseeker is a 2002 horror film, directed by Rick Bota (Hellraiser: Deader; Hellraiser: Hellworld) from a screenplay by Carl V. Dupré and Tim Day. It is the sixth film in the Hellraiser series. It also features the return of Kirsty Cotton, the heroine from the first film and its sequel. The film was released straight to DVD by Dimension Home Video on 15 October 2002.

It stars Doug Bradley, Ashley Laurence, Dean Winters, William S. Taylor, Michael Rogers, Rachel Hayward and Trevor White.

Plot teaser:

Trevor Gooden (Dean Winters) survives a car accident that apparently kills his wife Kirsty Cotton-Gooden (Ashley Laurence) when their car plunges off a bridge into the river below. Trevor manages to escape with his life, but even though police divers find both car doors open there is no sign of Kirsty.

A month later, Trevor wakes up in a hospital and realises that his wife is missing, but because of a head injury his memory is uncertain and he cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality. Trevor finds himself the prime suspect in a murder case, and has two homicide detectives on his tail.

Many strange events befall him, until the Cenobite Pinhead shows him reality. The reality is that Kirsty is in fact still alive…

Buy on Blu-ray from Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

Hellraiser films on Horrorpedia: Hellraiser | Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth | Hellraiser: Hellseeker | Hellraiser: Deader | Hellraiser: Hellworld | Hellraiser: Revelations

Reviews:

“The film is not excessively gory like the first four instalments were. There’s enough to make us recoil (including a cranium drilling aided with a horrific sound effect) but nothing like the Grand Guignol when Barker was involved.

Also, those looking forward to Laurence’s return may be disappointed that she isn’t on screen more. But when she is on screen is important. She’s not shoved out of the way. She is merely asked to step aside as the story progresses.” Scott W. Davis, Horror Express

“… the movie could have shifted into Act III the moment after Trevor wakes up from the car crash. The body of Hellseeker is a narrative void, which is extremely irksome once we hit the twist and realize there was a whole other interesting story going on that we didn’t get to see because we were focusing on the wrong character.” Joshua Miller, CHUD.com

Buy first eight Hellraiser films on DVD from Amazon.co.uk

“Hellraiser Hellseeker sets to accomplish two things…a reflection of the seedy life Trevor lived and the slow torment of Hell’s effects on him while reflecting on this. The film may have a bit of that…”what’s going on” aspect to it, but I think most viewers will quickly get with the realization that Trevor is in fact experiencing one of those “end of life flashbacks’. This is reaffirmed thru the choking of water, eels coming out of his mouth and this silently narrated path of showing Trevor the events of his life before hand.” HorrorNews.net

“The Se7en-esque look kicks in again with the colors being washed out and the tone being all grim. It still works although it’s starting to get a little tired. Bota handles his directorial duties well by slapping in potent slow motion, giving the images an effective bluish tint, using the occasional blurry cam and delivering stylish camera angles.” The Arrow, Joblo.com

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Buy Miramax Hellraiser series from Amazon.com

Cast:

• Doug Bradley as Pinhead / Merchant (as Charles Stead)
• Ashley Laurence as Kirsty Cotton-Gooden
• Dean Winters as Trevor Gooden
• William S. Taylor as Det. Mike Lange
• Michael Rogers as Detective Givens
• Rachel Hayward as Dr. Allison Dormer
• Trevor White as Bret
• Sarah-Jane Redmond as Gwen Stevens
• Jody Thompson as Tawny
• Kaaren de Zilva as Sage
• Dale Wilson as Chief Surgeon / Surgeon Cenobite
• Ken Camroux as Dr. Ambrose
• Brenda McDonald as Angular Nurse

Choice dialogue:

“You look like Hell warmed over.”

Wikipedia | IMDb