Monday Movie Review - MARROWBONE

This is one of those psychological horror movies, short on gore but heavy on screwing with your mind.

Three siblings go to the U.S. with their mother to escape a harrowing ordeal involving the father. They move back into the mother's old, abandoned family homestead and change their last names to that of her maiden name, Marrowbone. 

The mother gets sick. In order for the family to remain together, they hide the fact that she's dying, and pretty much keep a low profile from the rest of civilization until the eldest son turns 21 in a few months.

Eldest son falls in love with the town librarian, but another man is vying for her affections. Someone is seen prowling around on the grounds. And strange noises and odors are coming from the attic in the big old house.

If you're thinking this is going to be one of those movies where the house is possessed by an evil demon, forget it. That's what I believed until I got swept up into this story. What followed had me rewinding the video to double-check what I'd witnessed. And then I had to watch the movie all over again to catch all the subtle little clues I'd missed the first time around.

This movie left me with a gut punch to the feels. After reading past reviews for it, it's clear you're either going to hate the movie or love it. But for me, the bottom question left for me to answer was, would I watch it again?

Hell, yes. 

Which is why my recommendation is that you

Monday Movie Review - CROWSNEST

Four tropes this movie includes:
1) Found footage/ shaky camera film
2) Five young twenty-somethings going out into the middle of nowhere for a weekend. 
3) Dire warnings given but not observed.
4) Spotty or no cell phone service.

Three things this movie had that surprised me:
1) The majority of this film takes place inside an SUV.
2) The main protagonists drive an RV.
3) It doesn't end the way you think it might.

The acting was very good. Several scenes actually had my stomach tied up in knots as I waited for the outcome. Not a lot of bloodbath, but there is one really gruesome kill.

Which is why my recommendation is that you

Monday Movie Review - SUSPIRIA (2018)

I have never seen the first SUSPIRIA, nor the other two original films of this trilogy by Dario Argento. It was word of mouth that got me interested enough in renting this flick, plus the fact that there were some well-known actresses in it.

Do you remember me saying my recommendation is largely based on whether or not the movie "sticks" with me after viewing it? I must admit this film left a lasting impression on me, and that's saying a lot. Not because of the incredible photography, not because of the acting, but because of the gradual build-up to the final act. An act that both grossed me out and kept me glued to the screen.

A brief synopsis is this: an American girl gets accepted into a premiere German dance school. It is the 70s, and themes of destruction and death during political upheavals at that time are played throughout the film.

While the girl is learning the ropes, she begins to feel as if there is much more to the the dance academy than being just a school for dance. That there could be an evil and dark malevolence behind the teachers. What she inevitably learns is more horrifying, until she learns how it can be handled.

I had to go back and re-watch the first part of the movie, in order to grasp what I saw later in the film. Although I still have some confusion regarding the Mother, a quick internet check helped to clear that up.

The brutality is vivid. There are no holds barred. This isn't you average hack-and-slash movie. This is well-crafted gore to the point of being an art form. And although I personally have no desire (at the moment) to see the movie again, my recommendation is that you

Monday Movie Review - OVERLORD

To me, this was FRANKENSTEIN'S ARMY meets SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. 

I'd heard a lot of up talk about this film, but you all know how that goes. One man's thumbs-up may be another man's thumbs-down. So I went into it with an open mind because - hey! - Nazi zombies!

First of all, the special effects were phenomenal in this flick. In addition, the acting was spot-on. There was no corniness, and no over-the-top moments that pulled you out of the story. Of course, with J.J. Abrams at the helm, I expected nothing less than well-polished entertainment.

Roughly thirty minutes into the movie, I felt I was settling into another version of SPR, until they got to the underground bunker and the undead. Even then, the show didn't become a free-for-all splatterfest, and for once I was impressed. I'm not saying there isn't that much gore. On the contrary, because - hey! - Nazi undead! But what's there is evenly matched with the build-up of tension and the inevitable gun fights.

And bombs. Let's not forget the bombs.

If you're looking for something pretty decent to escape with, I highly recommend that you

Monday Movie Review - THE GOLEM

Lithuania, 1673

From the beginning you can tell this is going to be a historical horror tale, and that's what caught my attention. I rather enjoy the period costumes, the locations, and the lack of modern-day technology.

To briefly sum up the premise: 
The plague is decimating whole families and towns. A group of men from an adjacent village are blaming one town in particular of being the reason for the plague because those villagers are of the Jewish faith. They blame the Jewish community of bringing God's wrath in the form of the disease upon everyone because of their religious beliefs.

Hannah sees only one way for her people to survive the accusations and attacks, and that's to create a golem -- a creature who will defend her village.

Against the wishes and warning from her rabbi, who refuses to do it himself, she brings a golem to life, who she believes has taken the form of the son she lost seven years ago. This child golem attaches itself to her as if she were indeed its mother.

There are copious amounts of blood, and the deaths are gruesome.  The acting is top-notch, and the story kept my interest. This is not your typical monster rambling in the woods. I actually felt sympathy for the connection between the golem and Hannah.

If you want a taste of something different, I highly recommend that you 

Monday Movie Review - HELLFEST

It's Halloween. An amusement park that specializes in horror themes has come to town. A group of young adults decides to try it out for a lark. A crazed killer is hiding in plain sight on the grounds, and his kills are mistaken as part of the props and decorations.

Sorta sound like a scenario you've heard or watched before? Same here. But I decided to give it a try anyway, having nothing better to do on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

I was nicely surprised.

The heroine wasn't spending the entire movie screaming for help or running around the park, looking for a way out. The secondary characters were relate-able. The kills were gory but not over the top. I could have kicked the security guards for their nonchalance. Better still, the park's rides and attractions were so cool looking, I wished they would come to my home town (sans killer, of course).

All in all, one of the better-made movies about horror parks. And not a bad way to spend a wintry afternoon. Which is why my recommendation is that you

Monday Movie Review - Housebound

Kylie is caught trying to rob an ATM. She's ordered to spend 8 months in home detention, where her mother and stepfather live.

It's not long before she realizes there's something going on with the huge old house. In fact, when she discovers the actual history behind the structure, that's when all hell starts to break loose -- beginning with whatever is living behind the walls.

Initially I thought this movie was going to be another one of those haunted house flicks, complete with a demon she'd have to find a way to exorcise. But midway this story took a sharp left turn and went in a direction I wasn't expecting. And the ride it took me on left me breathless in some scenes, and laughing in terror in others.

Lots of red herrings are thrown at you in this New Zealand movie. I wouldn't so much rate this as a horror film as much as a murder and suspense. 

I strongly suggest that you

but be sure you're not holding the popcorn bowl while you're watching it.

Monday Movie Review - Sightseers

If you like your horror with a touch of black comedy, you can't go wrong with this little gem.

Sightseers is a British flick about a 34-year-old woman escaping the clutches of her overbearing mother to spend a long holiday with her boyfriend. They're taking a camper to go see some of the grander tourist sites such as a pencil factory and a tram museum, as well as some scenic locations.

Along the way, people die. Some are deliberately killed, and others are accidental. But as we follow this couple (the actors are also the writers of the script), you get to wondering how it's all going to end.

All in all, I got several good laughs out of it. If you liked Shaun of the Dead, and you have a couple of hours to while away, you might want to give this one a try.

In short, my recommendation is that you 

Monday Movie Review - The Night Eats the World

Every so often you need a post-apocalyptic, zombie-filled movie that's a bit different. In most of the ones I've seen, it's always a small group of people trying to find an ideal safe spot. This movie does things a bit differently, and that in itself is refreshing.

A young man wakes up one morning after an alcohol-fueled night of partying to discover he's the last man left alive in the world. Or, at least, in France. Realizing that if he steps outside his apartment building he'd be eaten by zombies, he remains put and does the best he can to survive. We never find out where the zombies came from, or what caused them, but I think that only adds to the story.

The movie is a slow burn all the way through, yet meticulous, showing all the ingenious methods he uses to stay alive. But most of all, to remain sane, considering the circumstance. 

Very different, and with an ending I wasn't prepared for. Which is why I heartily recommend that you

Monday Movie Review - THE RITUAL

Four men, friends since college, embark on a pilgrimage to Sweden to honor a fallen comrade. While there, they encounter an entity in the woods, and the people who worship it, who intend on offering the newcomers as sacrifice.

Hot damn! This movie messes with your head. The deaths are gruesome. And when you finally see the monster in all its glory, it is one for the books.

Again, I checked this one out because several sites listed it among their top ranked horror movies. From beginning to end, at no time did this film lag or grow tedious. The build-up is punctuated with horrific discoveries, and there are no jump scares.

Which is why my wholehearted recommendation is that you

Monday Movie Review - Downrange

SHUDDER is a site where you can watch unlimited horror movies for a monthly fee. This month they're touting their newest release, DOWNRANGE. And although I was initially skeptic of the premise - six friends on a road trip are confronted by a sniper - I thought I'd go ahead and give it a try.

I'm glad I did.

This is one bloody carnage. Six friends, three boys and three girls, are on their way somewhere, when they get a flat tire. Only they find out the hard way the tire didn't blow on its own. It was hit by a high caliber bullet. From a sniper. Who then proceeds to play with them, punching them in the legs and hands to watch them writhe in agony, before finally taking them out with a head shot. Or two.

The acting was pretty damn good. There were many suspenseful moments when you didn't know when the next shot was coming (because the sniper is using a silencer). But the gore effects were spectacular.

Of course, there were some large plot holes that bothered me, especially when it came to their cell phones. If they can post pictures to their social media sites, why can't they call 9-1-1 for help? Maybe I missed that explanation. 

But, all in all, it was a pretty entertaining flick. Even better was the ending, which I didn't anticipate AT ALL.

Which is why my recommendation is that you

Monday Movie Review - MAYHEM

Last year I watched The Belko Experiment, and very much enjoyed it. Mayhem is similar in some aspects. It takes place in a large office complex, and people end up killing each other. But that's where all similarities end.

Where in TBE, people find they have an explosive inserted in the backs of their heads, and it becomes a kill-or-be-killed experiment driven by some outside entity, Mayhem is caused when a particular non-lethal virus infects the workers. This virus causes everyone to lose all inhibitions, and what follows is mass murders, fuck fests, and--in general--mayhem.

The lead in this movie is Steven Yeun, late of The Walking Dead, who plays a character named Derek Cho. This is his movie, and he carries it out with aplomb. Set-up to take a major corporate fall, he's about to be run out on a rail, when SWAT shuts down the office building, trapping everyone inside because of the virus. Everyone is stuck inside for the next eight hours, the length of time it takes for the virus to run its course. Derek uses this time to get his revenge on the people who framed him.

Unlike the bleaker TBE, this movie has more humor. Rather than being a "who gets out alive at the end" flick, it's more of a "how badass can Derek be, and enact payback to all those responsible"?

I had a great time watching it, and I believe you will, too. Which is why my hearty recommendation is that you 

Monday Movie Review - CREEP 2

Our favorite creepy person is back for this second installment of  what looks to become a series.

Josef, now calling himself Aaron, hires Sara to videotape him for a day. That's it. No other explanation needed. He's changed his appearance, but other than that, what he then proceeds to do in front of her camera is anything but normal or expected.

However, Sara is unfazed by his jump scares and overt nudity, among other wild and questionable behaviors. But she also realizes she can't turn her back on him for one minute.

This flick tends to drag a bit more than the first one. I guess it's the writer's and director's way to slowly build tension. But when things happen, you're given little chance to blink (especially the scene in the beginning).

And the ending... Hopefully there'll be a #3.

You don't necessarily need to see the first movie before watching #2, but it would definitely add to the "ick" factor. Unlike a lot of movies, these two stick with me simply because of the superb performances of the actors.

Which is why I strongly suggest that you 

Monday Movie Review - CREEP

Again, another first person video movie, but with a slightly different angle. In this one, a videographer (Aaron) takes a job offered on Craigslist. To whit, to videotape a day in the life of a man (Jakob) dying of an inoperable brain tumor. Apparently this man and his wife are expecting their first child. But considering the fact that the man may be dead before his child is born, he wants a video that can he can hand down and become part of his legacy.

In the hours that follow, Jakob's requests of what he wants taped grow more and more bizarre, and his actions become increasingly...well...creepy.

I must admit that Jakob upped the "ick" factor in several scenes, including the final one. I knew there had to be a "kicker" at the end, and although I expected it, I never really saw it coming.

The actors, who are also the creators and writers, did an impeccable job. And considering they are the only two people in the entire movie (with the exception of one "voice" actress), it was a phenomenal job they managed to pull off.

Although I wouldn't personally add this one to my collection, you might. So my final recommendation is that you

 and make that decision for yourself.

Monday Movie Review - THE MONSTER PROJECT

Sometimes I read the blurb for a movie and decide to rent it without looking at the trailer. Wouldn't you know I'd get another camera POV flick. But at least this one had some originality.

We have a group of friends who like to make fake ghost videos/short films and post them online. They're so successful, they decide to make a real movie, but with one major catch. Rather than hire actors, they put out a call for real monsters.

What they get is a Native American who claims to be a skinwalker, a tattooed beauty with freaky eyes who says she's a vampire, and a winsome Asian woman a la Samara from The Ring, who happens to be possessed by a demon.

Our film crew rents a "known" haunted house to use as their backdrop. Once they're locked inside for the night, crap starts to happen.

I admit I was pretty entertained for the large majority of this film, although I believe the shaky chase-n-screaming scenes dragged on far too long. Lots of out-of-focus shots, but some decent special effects.

In addition, I did not see the finale coming. To me, it was a lame way to end the film. But your mileage may vary.

All in all, however, the acting was excellent and not over the top. Ditto for the makeup effects. This was a Kickstarter project that I feel was well-funded.

Which is why I recommend that you  

Monday Movie Review - CAPTURE KILL RELEASE

Just for a lark, she wants to kill someone. Because he loves her and will do anything for her, he goes along...until it gets to be too much.

I've seen some of the most perverse horror movies out there, but this one got to me. And I blame the director, the fantastic in-house special effects, and most of all the actors in this tense, nerve-wracking film with the tag line "A Romantic Bloodbath".

You get a clear understanding of the woman's deranged state of mind at the very beginning when they're shopping for tools and materials to kill with. Which ones will be best for torturing? Which ones will cut through bone and decapitate the cleanest? Isn't this a pretty ax? Oh, and don't forget the bleach and rolls of plastic. It's a slow build-up, after which you're pounded again and again with the methodical insanity that prevails.

But when the husband's conscience begins to bother him, and he tries to dissuade his wife from going through with dispatching any more victims, the brilliance of these actors shine through. Right to the end that will sadden and disgust you.

This is one movie that will stick with me forever, but I seriously doubt I'll ever want to view it again. So I was hung between telling you to BUY IT, or RENT IT. But, considering my own feelings, my final recommendation is that you

Monday Movie Review - SIREN

In 2012, the horror anthology V/H/S was released, and immediately struck a chord with horror fans. Of the four stories included in it, the one that created the most buzz was the first one entitled "Amateur Night". 

If you haven't seen V/H/S, go now and rent it. Then you'll see why I was excited to find this movie, which is supposed to be a prequel? sequel? to that story.

The best part? The same actress returned to play the part of the siren.

This movie had some slow moments, but it also had some great effects, decent bloodletting, good acting, and a decent story line. Besides, when was the last time you rooted for the creature?

Two thumbs up! I wholeheartedly urge you to 

Monday Movie Review - THE BELKO EXPERIMENT

The subtitle at the top of the poster says it all. "Office Spaces Meets Battle Royale". Add "in Bogota, Columbia".

The film begins on a typical Monday morning at this multi-storied office building that's situated in the middle of nowhere, and surrounded by armed guards. We soon meet a wide array of characters, most of whom will be nothing more than kill fodder once the experiment begins. However, there are a handful of people we come to know more about because they're the "heroes". And their deaths or survival will then mean something to us, the audience.

Basically, this movie is a set-up simply for the explosive amount of carnage that ensues. It's bloody and violent, and non-stop once everyone realizes that it's either kill or be killed. The "winner" is pretty predictable, but I have to say I was glued to the screen throughout. And the final ten seconds of the flick were a surprise.

If you want mindless slaughtering, I wholeheartedly recommend that you
 

In fact, rent one of the PURGE movies, too, and make it double feature.

Monday Movie Review - RAW

A young woman follows in the footsteps of her parents and older sister, and enrolls in an exclusive veterinary college. There, she and her fellow freshmen undergo a ritual hazing which involves the eating of raw animal parts. However, Justine and her family are vegetarians. Despite her initial revulsion, she soon finds herself unable to resist gorging on more raw flesh...and soon develops a craving for the human kind.

This French flick has subtitles, in case you didn't know. It's slow in many places. Older sister is still at the college, and tries to help her sister learn to cope, but with sinister consequences. And, frankly, I didn't see the ending coming.

It's not as bloody as one might suspect, given the topic. RAW is more of a psychological drama, but it does include some very graphic scenes other than cannibalism. The hazing rituals are degrading, and I honestly wish such "traditions" on college campuses would stop. But I have to admit that such activities make for perfect horror movie fodder.

Which is why my recommendation is that you 

Monday Movie Review - TRAIN TO BUSAN

It's a well-known fact that South Korea has given us several superb horror movies in the past (I Saw the Devil, one of my favorites, among them.) Their film-making quality is a combination of extreme gore and great character introspection.

This time they've entered the zombie genre with Train to Busan. Warning: these are not your lumbering versions like "The Walking Dead", but more of the rabid, virus-infected, fast and furious kind ala 24 Days Later. Or, better yet, think Snakes on a Plane, but with zombies.

The story involves an investment banker in Seoul trying to balance his job with his life, which includes a fresh divorce and his young daughter whom he has custody of. His daughter wants to visit her mother, who lives in Busan, so he takes time off from his busy job to take her there via the high-speed rail train. What they don't know is that an infected woman slips in before the train takes off. When she dies, she turns into the raving dead, and attacks others, creating other infected dead exponentially.

The next two hours is the father and daughter trying to survive the increasing Apocalypse while trapped on this speeding train. The scares are unexpected, the gore is plenty, and it doesn't end the way you'd expect.

Yes, there are a few holes I couldn't grasp, including how patient zero got infected, and with what. But once this film sinks its teeth into your throat, it never lets go.

If you're into Asian horror, you'll definitely want to add this one to your collection. For everyone else, I strongly recommend that you