Fear Itself

Here is what you should know about Fear Itself going into it. This is a documentary...with a twist. Two twists, actually: 1) There is a scripted, fictional narration over it. The woman speaking to the audience talks about how she recently underwent a trauma and has since become addicted to watching horror movies. As you maybe can guess, her dialogue revolves entirely around our relationship to fear and how the genre affects us. 2) The entire movie is made up of clips from other scary films. These range from the classic to the obscure, in English and otherwise.

Let’s start with the good stuff. I had a WONDERFUL trip down memory lane seeing clips from some of my most beloved movies. Nearly all the scenes chosen are those tension-filled moments before the monster, slasher, creature, or whathaveyou comes into the frame (and yes I do mean ‘nearly’, we’ll come back to that). A great number of those clips are from movies I’ve never seen. I was struck by how cool that was! Whilst watching, I actually started a list of scary films I want to track down ASAP.

I also want to commend director/writer Charlie Lyne for using this unfamiliar tactic of documentary/narrative. I can honestly say I’ve never watched anything with that structure. And yet...I have to be honest, that device did not work for me. It just didn’t. I realize it would have defeated the filmmaker’s whole point, but I really would have benefitted from multiple actors narrating the piece. A change in tone, inflection, pacing, or maybe even accent would have made me more engaged. When I could tune in for pieces of dialogue, I understood that the things she was saying were often interesting and insightful, but the nearly monotonous and unending stream of her voice made it extremely difficult for me to stay focused on what she was saying. I found my mind wandering to either reminiscing on the clips being shown, or thinking, “Oooo, I gotta see that one!” and scribbling the title down in my notebook.

Remember earlier when I said that "nearly" all the scenes were those tension-filled instances right before climactic moments? Well some of them gave away too much. In fact, they were downright spoilers. Just be warned about that going in. Perhaps more problematic than the above is this: what makes so many of those classic movie moments special is how engrossing or captivating they are. The last thing I want, while watching those pieces, is to hear someone speaking over them. No matter how intelligent, observant, or interesting the narration was, her words just couldn't compete with the powerful, frightening, and exciting images on the screen. Some of those visuals are so stunning, they’re what made many of us fall in love with horror. I like to think I can appreciate where Lyne was going with his vision, but it failed to hit the mark for me.

Fear Itself is available for streaming in the UK on BBC online.

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~ Sandra (@LilMsMnstr)

III - The Ritual

Director: Pavel Khvaleev | Writers: Aleksandra Khvaleev, Oleg Mustafin, & Evgenia Mustafin | Release Date: October 2015 | Rating: No MPAA (German/Russian film)

The human mind can be a freaky place to explore. Just ask poor Ayia. She gets a first class ticket to poke around inside her sister’s subconscious and finds it to be a place of torment and agony. Not exactly an ideal vacation spot. But Ayia isn’t visiting for fun. She’s there on a life or death mission. Ayia and Mirra are sisters living in a desolate and tiny European town. A pandemic strikes the little hamlet and claims the life of their mother. Sadly, it’s not long before Mirra also becomes sick from the completely debilitating illness. Ayia turns to their close family friend (and priest) Father Herman for help. Herman reveals that such an illness needs a supernatural solution when traditional medicine falls short. Possessing shamanic books and knowledge, he teaches Ayia how to enter into her sister’s troubled mind. By getting into the nasty, nitty-gritty of the subconscious, Ayia should be able to see what issues are holding Mirra captive in her own brain. Such a journey can only take place between two people who share a deep bond. Bravely, Ayia accepts the challenge in order to save her sister.

Now, this is a horror film. So...as I hinted above, some pretty weird and scary things are going down in Mirra’s subconscious. A movie such as this must rely heavily on visuals. Musty, dreamy, sepia tones transport the audience to this sad and depressing place. Mirra’s world can be described in one word, HELLISH. Fans of Tarsem Singh’s 2000 thriller, The Cell, will feel right at home here. Besides being striking feasts for the eyes, these two films even share the concept of entering the depths of someone’s mind. I like this device. After all, what’s more frightening than what a person is capable of imaging? It leads to endless possibilities. Especially when it comes to symbolically hiding behind their fears and traumas.

As you probably noticed, this is a German/Russian made film. You’re going to have to read subtitles unless you speak Russian. Subtitles are fine by me. In fact, I prefer them over being subjected to sucky dubbing. Actually, there isn’t a ton of dialogue in the movie to begin with. I would rate this as being an above average horror movie worth checking out. Most credit is due to those trippy and beautifully composed visuals. There is certainly a lack of character development. Especially in terms of our heroine, Ayia. I found myself wishing I knew more about her. I was rooting for her to succeed, but there was a missed opportunity there. As someone who is super close to her older sister, I have a bias for stories which feature siblings sacrificing themselves in order to save one another. I won’t lie to you, all in all, the plot is a little sparse. However, despite some imperfections, I still liked taking this weird excursion into a nightmare.

Don’t neglect foreign horror movies, my friends! There are plenty of gems to be found out there. Oh, and please don’t ask me to explain the title. I only kind of understand how it relates.

~ Sandra (@LilMsMnstr)

Witching Season Films - Horror Anthology

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Thanks to the success of such anthologies as Trick ‘r Treat, Tales of Halloween, and Southbound, horror anthologies don’t seem to be going anywhere. I’m pumped about that! Like hors d’oeuvres, they allow us to get a sample serving of delicious horror from all sub-genres; there’s always something for everyone. They also inspire wonderful conversations as the anthologies themselves are as unique as those who watch them. One that I want to talk about it in particular is available on YouTube called: The Witching Season.

The Witching Season describes itself as “a Halloween horror anthology series composed of short horror films that are presented on YouTube as a free web series. Inspired by classic anthology shows such as 'Tales From The Crypt', 'The Twilight Zone', and 'Are You Afraid Of The Dark?', The Witching Season delivers originally produced tales of terror, all set during the Halloween season. Fueled by nostalgia, the series pays special attention to the spirit of Halloween and reminds us of the magic that exists during that special time of year.”

The Witching Season brings you delightful self-contained episodes to startle your scary bone (I have a scary bone, don’t laugh) The first thing that stands out is the fantastic original music by Slasher Dave in the opening credits. It’s immediately reminiscent of 80s horror synth which always brings to mind the master of horror himself, John Carpenter. The music adds to the hype of what’s to follow, which is impressive production quality and dedicated actors. As each episode is a stand-alone and less than 20 minutes, it makes for a quick yet rewarding viewing. Childhood fans of Goosebumps and Halloween in general will especially enjoy this. With only 3 episodes so far, you can get caught up right away and get right on the hype train that’s waiting for the next one!

Episode 1: Killer on the Loose
Written, Directed, Shot & Edited by Michael Ballif

Fans of slashers take note - this is your episode. Of the three, I found this episode the weakest. I have a sneaking suspicion it’s only because it’s not my favourite subgenre. As with any other show, the first episode aims to get the show’s feet on the ground, and this one hits it running (quite literally) with an assumed escapee of a mad killer...on the loose.
One moment that stood out in particular is the use of Night of the Living Dead playing on the TV in a house in which the main character takes shelter at one point. The score adds a tension that is palpable in a creative way. It also served as an interesting interjection as the episode is entirely without dialogue. Though the premise and characters are a bit unimagined, you might find yourself impressed by the twist at the end.

Episode 2: Princess
Written, Directed, & Edited by James Morris

This episode’s premise? A haunted doll, left behind by former tenants, is discovered by a young girl after moving into the new house. For once, this is a genuinely creepy doll that’s not of the humanoid variety. Pediophobia, the fear of dolls, is a reality for many people. I’m not usually bothered by wee porcelain babes but I could not deny the sinister glare of Princess’ eyes.
Child actors are hard to love, but this one plays her role perfectly - somehow coming across still likeable and just a little bit bratty. I found myself actually wondering about the lives of the characters in this episode - they felt very real! Little Jamie wakes to a noise and peers down the stairs with a flashlight: “Are there mice down here?” she whispers, which I found adorable.
I was a big fan of the cinematography in this episode - a quality that keeps improving as the show goes on. I especially loved the last shot. This episode has a particularly childlike quality that isn’t found in the others but it really worked for me.

Episode 3: Not Alone
Written, Directed, & Edited by James Morris

This one is my favourite of the bunch! Like any quality cheese or fine wine, this anthology show keeps getting better with age. This was the episode that made me jump and say, “Ohhhh” - which is seriously difficult these days especially when aliens are involved. There’s a wonderful use of lighting and playing with shadows that mimics the foolery of our own brains. We’ve all mistaken a lump of clothes or hanging jacket for a ghoul, haven’t we? It’s a most unnerving experience. I especially enjoyed the radio in place of dialogue (and if you listen, you’ll even hear a tie-in to the previous episode!). Overall, the use of sound was superb and I enjoyed the tension throughout the episode. Most impressively, it resisted my most-hated horror trope that involves a mirror. I nearly cheered when it proved me wrong.
If you’re only going to watch one, make it this one!

The Witching Season is clearly a labour of love made by true horror fans. I have high hopes for subsequent episodes; they just keep getting better. Check them out, you won’t regret it!

-@bexbz

Jaws Movie Challenge

Your challenge, should you choose to accept it: watch all movies in the Jaws franchise.

That’s right, all of ‘em. The good, the bad, The Revenge. As a huge fan of all things shark-related, I jumped at this chance to review all the Jaws films for you fine people. Let’s dive right in. Yes, there are some spoilers here and there; I give fair warning. Just skim over those parts if need be.

Jaws, 1975 (rated PG)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writers: Peter Benchley (screenplay and original novel) and Carl Gottlieb
 

What can be said about this beloved horror classic? Jaws is one of the first horror movies I can remember watching. I'll bet a lot of fans would say the same. One of the rare scary movies that breaks down barriers and is celebrated for being a feat of film making. It won three Oscars! Maybe you’ve heard of the film’s director, a fellow named Steven Spielberg? He’s done a few movies here and there over the years. Anyway, did you notice that back in ’75 they rated this movie PG? I somehow don’t think that would fly today.

Jaws is set on Amity Island, a vacation destination gearing up for their busiest weekend, the 4th of July celebration. Chief Martin Brody and his family are new in town. Following a shark attack, Brody is met with opposition from the town council when he tries to close the beach. They’re all worried about scaring away the tourists on the profitable summer weekend. Matt Hooper comes in as an Oceanographer to lend his expertise. He understands the dangers the island faces with the great white on the loose. Some local yahoos catch a tiger shark which Hooper determines couldn’t possibly be our culprit. The stupid and greedy council members eventually listen after another poor sucker dies.

Now, here is when the movie really gets cooking. Brody, Hooper, and shark hunter extraordinaire, Quint, set out on Quint’s boat, The Orca, to hunt down the beast. Quint is one of the best characters in cinematic history, horror or not. He is a snarky old salt who survived the sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the hellish five days it took for those men to be rescued. Many died, many were eaten by sharks. Ugly scene. Quint becomes impassioned and ultimately obsessed with killing the dastardly animal and he manages all this while being a complete badass. Don’t believe me? Just look at that steely gaze:

Should I spoil the ending to a 41-year-old movie? I sincerely hope everyone reading this has seen this masterpiece. If not, consider yourself warned. After some seriously intense action scenes of man vs. shark, Quint is the only one of our crew who gets eaten. And what a horribly slow shark munching death it is! Brody is ultimately the one who gets the job done by blowing the shark to pieces. Every time I watch the movie and see him do this, I cringe thinking that little pieces of partially digested Quint had to be in there. Sad. Brody and Martin swim back to shore, and thus ends one of the best horror movies ever. It is a WONDERFUL film and a great introduction to the genre for a new fan. Actually, it’s essential viewing.

Our hunky heroes.

Jaws 2, 1978 (rated PG)
Director: Jeannot Szwarc
Writers: Carl Gottlieb and Howard Sackler (Peter Benchley gets credit for creating the characters)

A mere few years after the the realease of Jaws, audiences were graced with Jaws 2. The rating is the same, but we have a new director this time around. We meet up again with Chief Brody, his wife Ellen, and their two sons, little Sean and teen Mike. I feel like Mike aged rapidly between parts 1 & 2. It does seem important to the filmmakers to have had a much more “youthful” presence this time around. There are simply teens everywhere in this movie; teens boating, teens frolicking, teens flirting, and teens finding dead whales. An early scene shows two young women getting attacked by a great white while water skiing. Upon having her boat and friend compromised, the woman driving inexplicably coats herself in gasoline. I guess she was aiming solely for the shark and...um...missed? She then shoots a flare gun, lighting herself and the beast on fire. Now our antagonist has a nice “Two-Face” appearance from its burns.

This charred shark is really aggressive, almost vindictive. It really hates boats. And helicopters. The main action of the film takes place when the Brody boys sneak off with the other sea-faring teens to have a raging party at the lighthouse. The shark delights in this floating buffet! And Martin takes off to save the kids. God love him, he wears those absurd little short shorts for the whole final act.

*Spoiler Alert* Brody gets the shark to bite a power line and fries the devil up extra crispy. I was especially fond of the black smoke pouring out of its eyes. He saves his sons and the majority of those groovy teens. I guess since Quint is dead, Amity Island needs a new resident bad ass. I totally missed the Matt Hooper character in this one! And while it was more “action-packed” than the first, it just doesn’t live up. It is fun and all, and I do recommend revisiting it if you haven’t seen it in a while.

Jaws 3-D, 1983 (rated PG-13)
Director: Joe Alves
Writers: Richard Matheson, Carl Gottlieb, story by Guerdon Trueblood, and, once again, Peter Benchley is given credit for "suggested by the novel."

Okay, let’s get right to the point here. This is less of a film and more of a really long and bizarre commercial for SeaWorld. Seriously. Shamu the famous killer whale even has a damn cameo. As the title suggests, this is a 3-D experience! Not the newfangled 3-D of today mind you, but the kind of yesteryear where things fly at the camera every once in a while.

Young Mike Brody is all grown up and off Amity Island. He has magically turned into a young Denis Quaid and is some kind of construction manager/builder of things for SeaWorld. Mike is dating Kathy, the sweet, senior marine biologist for the park. Eventually, little brother Sean comes to visit, get a job, and stay a while. However, this New England transplant, who has been living in Colorado, has become a water-phobic cowboy. We also welcome Louis Gossett Jr. to the cast as Calvin, the money-grubbing SeaWorld director. As to be expected, a sneaky shark finds its way inside the controlled lagoon. This time, it’s only a baby great white. By the end of the movie, three people manage to get eaten and we, the audience, are shown virtually no carnage or scares. Boring! The special effects in this movie are absolutely HORRIBLE. A personal favorite of mine is any shot with the "submersible" in it. Their attempts are simply embarrassing to behold. By the way, I hope you like dolphins. We get two of those giggly, click-y, little scene-stealers in Jaws 3-D. There are also waterskiers in obnoxious costumes doing tricks.

At one point, some weird British photographers/hunters arrive at the park. As Hollywood as shown us before, these Brits are portrayed with the same stereotypes as their fellow countrymen in almost any animal-themed movie. All they want is fame, fortune, and the thrill of the hunt. Poor baby shark dies in captivity. But the movie doesn’t end there. Aw hell, let’s jump right to the end. *SPOILER ALERT* mama great white, who also managed to stealthly sneak her way into the lagoon, is out to avenge her child. Turns out she was the one killing all those people. What happens next?! Mostly a cheesy, faux shark ends up causing massive amounts of property damage.

This movie is an abomination. It’s not scary, it’s not thrilling, and the body count is depressingly low. Yes, it may be a fun watch for a few laughs, but I couldn’t wait for this deplorable thing to end.

Jaws: The Revenge, 1987 (rated PG-13)
Director: Joseph Sargent
Writers: Michael de Guzman and Peter Benchley (character creation)

The final instalment! Lorraine Gary reprises her role as matriarch Ellen Brody. Sean Brody is back living on Amity Island and is the new chief of police since papa Brody passed away. Within the first few minutes of the film, Sean gets eaten by a great white. Big brother Michael, along with his wife and little daughter, swoop in to take mom on a tropical vacay to their home in the Bahamas. Ellen has been through a lot; though Martin died of a heart attack, Ellen still blames the sharks for that. And with Sean now dead, she is convinced the vengeful animals have it out for the whole Brody clan. Perhaps needless to say, mom is right. The damn great white follows them and almost wipes out two more family members! Now it’s up to Ellen to kill the shark and end this feud.

Make no mistake, this is not a “good” movie by any means; but, it is kinda fun. Ellen is fierce and I love that. After all, this poor woman has been through so much. The filmmakers are clearly proceeding as if Jaws 3-D never happened, and thank God for that. Michael Caine comes on board as Hoagie, a foot-loose and fancy-free pilot who romances Ellen. The story of a family vendetta between the Brody tribe and the great white sharks is silly, this we know. The whole movie has this forced sentimentality vibe. I think they were trying to make audiences nostalgic for the original movie and how much they loved it when they first saw it. In the interest of completing the saga, and rooting for mama Brody, give it at least one viewing. In closing, please enjoy this image, from the film, of a woman being eaten alive whilst on a banana boat.

Hope you had a happy Shark Week, kids!

~ Sandra @LilMsMnstr

Child of Rage (Documentary & TV Movie)

Child of Rage (TV Documentary Short) | Released: 1990 | Rated: Unrated | Running Time: 30 minutes

I got sucked into a Youtube vortex last week that ultimately led to a countdown of controversial documentaries. It was pretty standard fare: Blackfish, Jesus Camp, Earthlings, and The Bridge were among the films listed. I’d seen most of them, but Child of Rage in particular caught my eye. In my current line of work, I interact with children who have witnessed abuse. Behavioural issues are not uncommon, and I was struck by the story Child of Rage told. This heartbreaking and disturbing TV Documentary aired in 1990 on HBO. It shows the real therapy tapes of a 6 ½ year old girl named Beth Thomas who experienced infant abuse and displayed subsequent “reactive attachment disorder”. This disorder is thought to occur when an infant does not attach to his/her primary caregiver (usually the mother) adequately in the early years. It manifests itself as disordered social models, behavioural disturbances, and in Beth’s case, a total lack of empathy or compassion.

Beth looks like a seemingly normal child. Her tiny frame and missing teeth plead innocence, but the minute she speaks a chill runs down your spine. The most disturbing part of this short documentary is Beth’s total lack of emotion. She recounts horrifying stories of abuse with a blank expression, glancing into the camera every now and again with her piercingly bright blue eyes.

We’re also introduced to Beth’s adoptive parents, a minister and his wife who adopted Beth and her younger brother John. They are well-meaning people who speak frankly about their situation; you can tell they’ve been dealing with it for some time. They share the fact that Beth and John were found by social services in their own filth, neglected and abused. Beth recounts terrible sexual abuse by her birth father, only one consequence of which is her inappropriate sexual interaction with family members.

Beth openly admits her desire to kill her entire family. She tells of repeatedly smashing John’s head into a cement floor, only stopping because her mom gets involved. She steals knives and plans to stab her parents at night. One of the most chilling quotes from the documentary is when the therapist asks, “Why do you want to do it at night?” and Beth responds, “Because I don’t like them seeing me do it, but they’ll feel me do it.” she is kept locked in her room at night to prevent her from injuring the family.

The family pets are not exempt from Beth’s rage. She recounts sticking pins into them, and killing a nest of baby birds. She seems to understand that she does these acts because of her inner pain, but shares no empathy or consideration for the pain of others. The documentary is not totally depressing - progress is shown through Beth’s experimental “attachment therapy” treatment, with a woman named Connell Watkins, that results in visible changes to her demeanor and emotional displays by the end of the film.

Short on time but chock full of disturbing retellings, this is a short documentary you’ll want to see. It gives an eerie look at the effects of child abuse and shows the transformation of a young girl. And because you’re already wondering: today, Beth is a Registered Nurse and seems to live a full and happy life.

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Child of Rage (TV Movie) | Released: 1992 | Rated: Unrated | Running Time: 1 hour 34 minutes | Directed: Larry Peerce | Written: Phil Penningroth, Suzette Couture

There is also a 1992 TV movie telling the story of Beth (though in the film she is called Catherine, or Cat) and her family. This movie version is automatically less disturbing, despite the great performance of Ashley Peldon as Catherine. Her sinister glare and evil smile are memorable. She plays mother to her younger brother Eric throughout the movie, dictating his every move and punishing any resistance.

Filmed with direct re-enactments of stories told by Beth in the documentary, several uncomfortable scenes are shown. This includes abuse done to both her brother and the animals in the house. Though, in therapy, Beth speaks fully of her father’s sexual abuse, this is more implied in the movie as Cat has dreams in inverse color of a man approaching her bed. She shows his actions with her teddy bears and tears them apart in one scene, learning to deal with her anger. “I killed him! I killed him!” she cries, as her terrified brother frantically blows an emergency whistle to wake their parents.

The parents seem more helpless here than in the actual therapy videos. In the beginning, they’re portrayed as delightfully naive and woefully unprepared. Perhaps they were, having no children of their own. They argue with each other over the best method to help Catherine. Cat’s tantrums are violent and destructive and her mother openly struggles with her ability to love her.

One thing that was clearer in this movie was the idea of what “attachment therapy” is. Without getting into the controversial pseudoscience: a therapist holds Cat down as she screams and fights in order to help her access her rage, and then feel the pain behind it. It’s interesting to note that approximately 8 years later a child (Candace Newmaker) was killed in the same woman’s therapy program. Beth Thomas testified on Connell’s behalf at her trial when she was tried and convicted of reckless child abuse resulting in death.

The TV movie version is eerie, but is not necessary viewing. While three times as long as the documentary, most of the addition is reenactments that you’ll already have seen vividly in your head if you’ve seen the documentary, or when showing the therapy sessions. If you’re going to watch both, watch the documentary first. The truth doesn’t change: what happened to Beth Thomas is gut-wrenching and had a real impact on her life.

@bexbz

Eaten Alive (1976)

Eaten Alive, 1976 | Rated: R | Director: Tobe Hooper | Writers: Alvin L. Fast, Mohammed Rustam, Kim Henkel

Where have I been that I've never heard of Tobe Hooper's Eaten Alive before today?!?!? Wandering around aimlessly apparently…

This bizarre, psychedelic, and atmospheric 1970's gem is a shocker from second one until the end.

The story opens with a very disturbing scene involving a prostitute and a terrible customer, then moves directly to the red-lit world of a psychotic hotel owner (with country music playing in the background at all times). There's a dead monkey, a dead dog, and it continues to spiral into the completely unsettling realm usually only found in fever-induced nightmares.

I can't even begin to define the dynamics of a vacationing family who happen to pass through this rural hell. I'm just going to share this picture. Just stare at it for a while. Soak it in.

I've seen some reviews where people complain that this movie is a poor follow-up to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre - that it's not good or just boring. Any true horror fan will quickly realize that these people have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. This is a great horror film. Is it dated, off beat, quirky? Yes to all these things. Still great. Additionally, it's not The Texas Chainsaw Massacre so the two should stop being compared to each other.

There are a few similarities, however. Crazy rural-Texas guy, bizarre bone-chilling sounds, completely unnerving images with no explanation, and unfortunate folks who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Other than that, watch these two as completely different beasts and you won't go wrong.

For some odd reason I decided to watch this movie in the morning. Like 8:30 AM morning. I'm not sure if that's why I found this film more disturbing than some would argue it is. Starting my day with images of this film in my head was probably not the wisest choice. You might not want to start your day with this one. It would be a great way to end the day, however!

Suggested pairing: gator meat and a liquid that looks questionable - or cheap cans of beer. Be sure to smash the cans on your forehead after downing each one. If you have a red light around then turn it on, sit back, and prepare for insanity. Note: If you do watch this film at 8:30 in the morning, then you might want to watch some cat videos afterwards, or anything that restores your faith in goodness and humanity.

~ Jolie @HorrorHabitBlog

Holidays (2016)

Release Date: April 22, 2016 (VOD)
Rating: NR
Directors/Writers: Anthony Scott Burns, Kevin Kolsch, Nicholas McCarthy, Adam Egypt Mortimer, Sarah Adina Smith, Gary Shore, Kevin Smith, Scott Stewart, Dennis Wydmyer

Horror anthologies have always had a special place in my heart and seemed to make a big comeback with films like ABC’s of Death (2012) and V/H/S (2012). Since then we’ve gotten to see directors, big and small, come together and create some really fun horror tales that otherwise might not have been given the chance to see a feature-length treatment. Over the last year alone we’ve seen holiday-centric anthology films with Tales of Halloween (2015) and A Christmas Horror Story (2015) -- I didn’t forget the wonderfully gory Trick ‘r Treat (2007) but, for the sake of this review, I’m only going off of the last year. This year, a handful of directors in horror decided to come together and create an anthology that covered the majority of the major holidays in the calendar year (but also left out some important ones, as well - but we’ll talk about that later.)

Let's just jump right in, shall we?

Valentine's Day - written & directed by Kevin Kolsch & Dennis Widmyer

Probably one of the least memorable segments for me, Valentine's Day follows Maxine (Madeleine Coghlan), who is relentlessly bullied by mean-girl, Heidi (Savannah Kennick). Her bizarre crush on her swim coach, who happens to be in need of a heart transplant, gives her the push she needs to prove just how much she loves him. It’s completely predictable and unfortunately, it felt like Kolsch and Widmyer didn’t even try on this one. It’s a story we have definitely seen before - the 80’s synth-driven music, the mean girl bullying the meek, quiet girl until she eventually snaps...this isn’t a horror fan’s first rodeo.

St. Patrick’s Day - written & directed by Gary Shore

Elizabeth Cullen (Ruth Bradley) is a school teacher who wishes for nothing more than to have a child of her own. Unbeknownst to her, the quiet, redheaded little girl who refuses to smile will end up making that wish come true - it just might not be exactly what she planned. One of the only humorous segments in the film, this one didn’t take itself seriously at all. By the final minutes, everything was so bonkers and nonsensical that it wasn’t even enjoyable for me and teetered near "WTF" territory.

Easter - written & directed by Nicholas McCarthy

As a young girl is tucked into bed the night before Easter, her mother tells her all children must be fast asleep before the Easter Bunny can come and leave goodies. What worries the girl, though, is the man named Jesus who is supposed to come back from the dead as well. Naturally, she wakes up in the middle of the night and comes face-to-face with something that no child has ever seen before -- and she’s going to pay for it. This segment was the first of several in this film that ended right when the good stuff was happening, unfortunately. It was actually pretty creepy and didn’t do any favors for my Easter Bunny phobia.

Mother’s Day - written & directed by Sarah Adina Smith

Kate (Sophie Traub) has a problem; she gets pregnant every time she has sex. Her doctor suggests she attend a fertility ceremony in the high desert, run by the doctor’s sister. I think we know where this one is going to go…
This was another segment that, despite having a really cool concept, was hindered by an abrupt ending. Some backstory to the women running the ceremonies would have been a nice touch, as well.

Father’s Day - written & directed by Anthony Scott Burns

Carol (Jocelin Donahue) receives a package containing a tape player and a cassette from her deceased father. Recorded years prior, when she was a little girl, her father leaves her directions to a place where she can find him as he’s been waiting for her ever since. One of my favorite segments, it’s a bit heartbreaking. With hardly any dialogue from Donahue, the father’s voice heard through the tape player lends an eerie and dread-filled vibe, amplified by the fact we have no idea where he’s leading her. There were a lot of components that came together in the short amount of time, which made this such a well-done segment. My only gripe is it suffers from another abrupt ending with little to no real answers.

Halloween - written & directed by Kevin Smith

Ian (Harley Morenstein) runs a webcam house where he basically pimps out girls for online sex shows - and he’s a bit of a dickhead. The three girls he “employs” (one played by Smith’s daughter, Harley Quinn Smith) finally decide they’ve had enough of his shit. This was probably the least holiday-themed segment of the entire film. There wasn’t much more than a few background pieces to suggest what time of year it was. As a horror fan, I was pretty bummed about that. We all love Halloween, we expect it to be treated better than that. It did have potential and alllmost seemed like it was going to go in one direction but then tossed that aside and went for a safer bet.

Christmas - written & directed by Scott Stewart

Pete (Seth Green) goes to the extreme to get his son the virtual reality glasses he so desperately wants. The glasses claim to “show you YOU!” What Pete doesn’t realize is that the glasses are serious, and his actions to get the gift come back to haunt him. It’s another one of the shorter and more forgettable segments. It was a cool concept but needed to be fleshed out a bit more. I won’t spoil anything but the segment would have fared better had they shown it from the wife’s perspective.

New Year’s Eve - written by Kevin Kolsch & Dennis Widmyer - directed by Adam Egypt Mortimer

Reggie (Andrew Bowen) is an obsessive killer who winds up on a date with Jean (Lorenza Izzo) after getting a 96% match on a dating site. Though we can only guess what his intentions for her will be, he finds out that hers are much worse, when she brings him back to her apartment. Decidedly better than most of the segments, this is another one that could have benefitted from a couple of extra minutes spent on some backstory. I also am going to need Izzo to play more crazy-lady roles (except Knock, Knock. That was bad.) Oh, and Andrew Bowen, I need him in more horror movies, please.

Overall, Holidays seemed to miss the mark more than not. The segments were quick and to the point for the most part, which was actually a downfall for the majority of them - and I’m annoyed that there was no Thanksgiving segment! Please don’t leave us with Thankskilling for another year! Complaints aside, the score was kickass and the cast, as a whole, was pretty good. I won’t tell you to skip out on Holidays, but I won’t be mad at you if you take your time on giving this one a watch.

~ Stacey-Beth (@TheStaceyBeth)

Stacey was the creepy kid growing up who would bring VHS copies from the video store of Prince of Darkness and Zombie to her sleepovers. Now she's the creepy adult that brings blu-ray copies of Prince of Darkness and Zombie to dinner parties. Fascinated by all things macabre - if it involves the occult and/or true crime, she's in. Currently living in the Hill Country of Texas with her ferocious Yorkie and her husband, she also runs her own horror blog, To Avoid Fainting, where she mostly tries to sound like she knows what she's talking about, while watching scary movies.

Honeymoon (2014) Rated R

Meet Bea and Paul. Two young newlyweds fresh from the aisle and off on their honeymoon. These two are so cutesy and touchy-feely it just may make you ill. They’re spending this blessed event at Bea’s family cabin in the woods. Of course they picked the perfect time of year for it. The lake will be secluded and empty! No one around to bother or bear witness! Well, almost no one. Bea’s childhood friend, Will, and his wife, Annie, are still there during the offseason. It’s just a bit odd because Will seems rather violent and Annie seems kinda traumatized. During the night, Paul accidentally wakes up too early to go fishing. He is shocked to find Bea has wandered from the house for no apparent reason. After a frantic search, Paul stumbles upon her in the woods, naked and visibly shaken. Slowly but surely, Bea’s behavior starts to change. She becomes forgetful, strange, and not quite herself…

That’s as much as I can tell you about the plot before getting into spoilers. Trust me, I don’t want to spoil this one for you! I want you to watch it and enjoy it as much as I did! I found this movie to be a most impressive directorial debut for Leigh Janiak. Fans of Game of Thrones will recognize actress Rose Leslie as Bea. Both she and costar Harry Treadaway give fantastic performances here. With barely any supporting actors to bounce off of, they have tremendous chemistry to carry this movie.

It was fun to follow the story from start to finish since it definitely kept me guessing a couple of times as to what was really going on. It also poses some interesting questions to the audience: What do you do for your partner when their behavior unexpectedly gets weird? Like, really weird and strange? Suddenly, the course of true love isn’t so nice and smooth. Do you stick it out when things get tough? Or do you throw in the towel? Do you try to help them? Or maybe you should just run away screaming?

As I told you before, I highly recommend checking out this movie. It’s a slow burn, it’s subtle, and it’s worth it.

~ Sandra (@LilMsMnstr)

Memory of the Dead (2013) Rated R

Director: Valentin Javier Diment
Writers: Martin Blousson, Valentin Javier Diment, Nicanor Loreti, German Val

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While recently visiting the local library, I decided to take a quick peek at the movie section, see if there were any horror movie surprises waiting to be discovered. There was. My introduction to Argentinean horror: Memory of the Dead.

What I was expecting: Gore gore gore galore. Maybe even a little something along the lines of giallo horror.

What I got: A twisted, gortastic spookfest with a delightfully disturbing and perverted take on giallo horror.

IMDB is telling me that this is a comedy-horror. I wouldn't go so far as to say there is comedy here. I never really laughed. There were just a few times where I smiled uncomfortably for a few seconds and then waited expectantly for something terrible to happen.

The story opens with a grieving wife who gathers her husband's best friends over to their mansion for a memorial service. The love poured out here is tear-jerking, to say the least. There are dedications said that will likely bring on some buckets of happy/sad tears.

And yet, and yet...something is not right. Something is terribly wrong. Just as you are wiping away the tear remnants, you are promptly catapulted into a surreal night terror of epic proportions. I use the word "catapulted" specifically because that is exactly how it felt. The movie begins and continues with no explanation. It just moves fast, furious, and takes no prisoners.

The first half of the story takes place inside the mansion. Viewers are provided with the false allusion that all the angry ghosts, hungry ghouls, never-ending darkness, and all-consuming madness are outside. The second half moves inside - into each of the individual guests' greatest fears - fears that also happen to come to life and be littered throughout the menacing mansion.

The majority of the movie plays out like a cold-sweat nightmare with few answers as to why. Don't worry! Answers will come in the last few minutes of the film.

Like giallo horror, Memory of the Dead, is visually stunning. It is also jam-packed with mystery and murder. Of course there is also sex. No good sex; e.g., rape, incest. Viewer discretion is advised. That said, I'm happy to report that these scenes, albeit striking, are scarce.

Derogatory slurs are thrown around, people are absolutely brutal to each other, blood and guts EVERYWHERE, monsters, witchcraft, and crippling, crippling love. Because don't forget! This movie is also a love story.

I enjoyed this film for its visuals, creativity, the unfolding of each character, and for the rather brilliant twist at the end. A must see for fans of supernatural horror, Latin horror, and of course anyone looking for an absolute gore fest.

This film should be seen in a small group of your closest friends. If someone is harboring a nasty secret, all the better. Pairs with wine, a little whiskey, a big bowl of pomegranates and mangos, steaks (rare), and if you can get your hands on some home-made empanadas with a mystery filling, even better.

Jolie
@HorrorHabitBlog

One of the newest contributors to The Bloodlust website, horror movies have always played a significant role in Jolie's life. Since her introduction to Gremilns at the tender age of 5, growing up with four horror movie-loving brothers - all who managed to memorized the entire script of John Carpenter's The Thing at a young age - and a father who still delights in frightening them all at the dinner table with scary stories, it's safe to say watching horror movies is, in essence, her comfort food. A research health scientist for the government by day and a devotee to horror movies (particularly ghost and werewolf stories) by night, Jolie lives in Seattle with her artist husband, two cats, and created her blog, Horror Habit, to keep her out of trouble.

"Online Dating Can Be Murder: A Review of Indie-Horror film, Other Halves"

Indie-horror movies seem to be not only growing in number, but also rising with respect to their all-around quality. With so many cookie-cutter horror movies being released in theaters throughout the year (not to mention the multiple sequels that are sure to follow), it’s always refreshing to see low-budget, indie films from the horror genre that attempt to accomplish something different. This seems to be exactly what writer/director Matthew T. Price and writer/producer Kelly Morr sought out to do with their 2015 debut feature film, Other Halves. Part sci-fi thriller, part dark comedy, Other Halves is a satirical and gruesome look into the dangers of technology, urging us to reexamine how much of our lives we share on the internet.

Devon (Lauren Lakis) talks shop with fellow programmers Shawn (Sam Schweikert), Beth (Megan Hui), and Jana (Melanie Friedrich).

Taking place almost entirely in a San Francisco office over the course of one night, Other Halves centers around a team of programmers, working diligently to prepare their revolutionary new dating app, "Other Halves", for its next-day release. This app sets itself apart from all other dating apps on the market by pairing people together based on an analysis of their entire internet history. As the night goes on, the programmers (who we learn are also long-time friends) discover a bug in the app’s code which, upon loading, causes the user’s full internet history to be displayed in rapid succession, on the screen of their device. The result of this odd glitch is, instead of finding the user’s “other half” in another individual, the app brings out a side of the user that is both depraved and murderous. One-by-one, the programmers begin to fall prey to the power of Other Halves.

Shawn and Beth gettin' their code on.

I was particularly impressed with the casting in this movie. The group of programmers, who essentially make up the entire cast, are almost all female! The lone male of the group, Shawn (Sam Schweikert), seems to serve as little more than the hopeful love interest to Beth (Megan Hui) - which, I must say, is a refreshing reversal of what I have come to expect from movies; especially those set in the world of IT. Newsflash: ladies love technology, too! While I feel the cast, as a whole, delivers solid performances, Lauren Lakis’ portrayal of programmer Devon is arguably the strongest of the bunch. She brings a level of personality and realism to a character who might have easily fallen victim to the film’s often underwhelming and unnatural-feeling dialogue. There are more than a few moments where the progression of the film’s fragmented narrative tends to get lost by the characters’ delivery of technical exposition and overuse of quips.

Devon heads towards the "dioramas of death."

The movie also contains a surprising amount of nudity. While I’m no stranger to nudity in horror movies (topless ladies are a common and familiar trope), the nudity in Other Halves feels misplaced and baseless - though I do appreciate the inclusion of both male and female nudity. Despite its few shortcomings, Other Halves has quite a bit going for it. The film offers up some rather impressive and visually striking shots. One of the most exciting and unforgettable scenes is when Devon walks through what Price refers to as the “dioramas of death.” Everything from the lighting, to the editing, to the sound design works to create a thrillingly disturbing series of shots. Almost every frame feels like something that could easily have been plucked from any number of classic horror slashers.

Despite my initial confusion with why the programmers are working at night, with such low lighting in their office, the use of low lighting is successful in creating an atmosphere that can be either comfortable or suspenseful. It helps to create a sense of unease for the viewer. Price also utilizes neat digital tricks, which he and co-writer Morr refer to as “codebrain”, to give scenes a trippy, sci-fi feel, while illustrating to the viewer that a particular character is losing their grip on reality. He also employs the use of text message bubbles to show conversations taking place between characters. I personally love the use of on-screen text bubbles in movies and think their employment in the film was one of the smartest decisions made. They provide such a clever and visually interesting way to conveniently show character interaction while, at the same time, moving the plot forward.

Outside of the more technical aspects of the film, the underlying story is perhaps not as polished and clear as would be ideal. Don’t get me wrong, the idea of technology causing seriously negative psychological effects on the human brain is one that I’m particularly fond of. However, what Other Halves has in the way of an uncommon and compelling idea, it lacks a bit in clarity and execution. I was slightly disappointed not to get any kind of scientific explanation of what was taking place between the technology and the characters’ brains. While I don't feel as if this lack of exposition significantly took away from the narrative, as a whole, I do feel it would have benefited the film to spend a small amount of time providing some of the explanatory science behind this unusual anomaly.

An example of "codebrain" in a scene with Devon and Jasmine (Mercedes Manning)

On that same note, by leaving the explanation ambiguous, it allows the viewer to create their own interpretation. For example, the idea that the app causes the characters to essentially lose all conscience and inhibition made me think of Gaspar Noe’s intensely disturbing 2002 film, Irreversible, and how he employed the concept of infrasound, also known as “the fear frequency”, in the film’s opening scene. In the first 30 minutes of Irreversible, the viewer is subject to a nearly inaudible background noise, with a low frequency of 28 hz (sound waves with frequencies at 20 hz or below are considered to be infrasound and are below the lower limit of human audibility). This was intentionally done to cause the viewer to experience feelings of nausea, dizziness, and vertigo. I felt like the physical effect this film’s titular app had on its users played with that same idea. It’s an interesting theory that, despite being infrequently explored, I feel lends itself really well to the horror genre.

Other Halves is a refreshing break from the seemingly endless barrage of sequels and prequels Hollywood keeps shoving down our throats (I’m talking to you, Ouija 2!). It uses technology and social media, things very near and dear to all of our hearts, and creates something evil that should be feared. Skillfully shot and admirably acted, Other Halves takes its viewers on an original and gruesome ride as it illustrates why people should be wary of how much trust they place in technology. Despite shortcomings with the dialogue and story, Other Halves is an imaginative and entertaining debut feature that is well-worth the watch for any serious fan of the horror genre.

• Jamie

IMDB | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

One of The Bloodlust's OGs, Jamie has heard, "I can't believe you can watch that stuff" for most of her life. Though willing to give any movie a try, those involving time travel, home invasions, or cults tend to be her favs. She's also not ashamed to admit she loves found footage.

@jamiestamp

Other Halves

2015/NR

Director: Matthew T. Price

Writers: Matthew T. Price & Kelly Morr

Stars: Lauren Lakis, Mercedes Manning, Lianna Liew

The movie starts with a commercial for Other Halves, a dating app that looks at the usage on your phone and uses it to pair you with suitable matches. Sounds like a fascinating idea, right? If you're like me and spend way too much time attached to your smartphone, it would give you a pretty accurate match.

After the commercial, we are introduced to the group of programmers who are testing the app before its release the next day. The majority of the programmers are women, which is a refreshing change from the usual representation of computer gurus. While testing the app, they notice a glitch in the loading screen that causes anyone who uses it to black out and commit violent acts. Instead of finding their other half in another person, they find the darker other half within themselves. 

This movie is especially impressive when you consider that it is a low-budget independent film. It looks like a film that easily could have come from a major studio. It is well-edited and has a soundtrack that adds to the general ambiance of the whole film. It jumps right into the action, yet still manages to leave the viewer guessing for a while, as to what is actually happening. It is refreshing to see a group of programmers consisting of mostly women and the film passes the Bechdel Test with flying colors. The acting is great and the actors have a nice chemistry that doesn't feel forced - it actually felt as if they've been acting together for a long time. I'm really excited to see what the director and writers come up with next. 

 - Karen (@karenmarsack)

Bone Tomahawk

2015/NR

Director: S. Craig Zahler

Writer: S. Craig Zahler

Stars: Kurt Russell,  Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, Lili Simmons, and Richard Jenkins.

The movie opens with criminals Buddy (Sid Haig) and Purvis (David Arquette) getting brutally attacked after stumbling upon a burial site. Purvis manages to escape with his life but, unfortunately, the same can't be said for poor Buddy. We catch up with ol' Purv as he enters Bright Hope, a small frontier town. The back-up Deputy, Chicory (Richard Jenkins) noticed Purvis burying some stolen items and alerts the Sheriff, Franklin Hunt (Kurt Russell). Franklin and Chicory confront Purvis at the local saloon and end up shooting him in the leg when he tries to escape.

The Sheriff calls on Samantha O'Dwyer (Lili Simmons) to see to Purvis' injuries as the town doctor is drunk. At some point during the night, Samantha, Purvis, and another Deputy are kidnapped by what they can only assume are Indians. After learning from a local professor that this particular tribe has cannibalistic tendencies, Sheriff Hunt and Deputy Chicory head out on a rescue attempt along with Arthur O'Dwyer (Patrick Wilson) and a very fancy John Brooder (Matthew Fox).

That, folks, is the long and short of it, in terms of what's going on in this movie. So what'd I think? Well, I'm glad you asked...

As soon as I heard this movie categorized as a "horror-western", I was in. It's definitely not a genre that you see very often. The movie is just a straight Western, most of the time, but has some fantastically gory scenes that almost made me lose my lunch.

I am shocked this is the Zahler's first film considering how beautifully shot it is. It's over two hours long, but is paced so well I didn't even notice. The casting is perfect and the dialogue is wonderful. There's an entire conversation about a flea circus - how can you beat that?! Do yourself a favor and check out this great horror-western. 

-Karen