★★★★ out of ★★★★★
It’s all fun and games until you have to draw straws to determine who becomes the sacrifice in a lifeboat dilemma. Harpoon is a savage look at a love triangle gone completely haywire and lost at sea.
The Scariest Things Podcast Episode XC: Black History Horror : Our Favorite Characters
In the sophisticated current age of genre fare, black characters are getting meatier and more significant roles in horror feature films. It hasn’t always been that way though. In Episode 90, The Scariest Things discusses the pioneers of black horror cinema, as well as some of the new faces looking to move the genre forward.
Mike’s Review: Three from Hell (2019)
★★ out of ★★★★★ At Rob Zombie’s darkened dirtbag core is a full and unfiltered embrace of the age-old adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Slow motion. Hyperbolic acting (or in some cases no acting). Closeups so close you can count individual pores Captain Spaulding’s grease-paint soaked forehead. Weirdly rare and off-putting selection of non-Joe Walsh James Gang tracks. If you’ve seen House of a Thousand Corpses and Devil’s Rejects then you’ve been thoroughly exposed to Mr. Zombie’s cinema trickery.
Joseph’s Reviews (Horror-on-Sea Film Festival): Big Man, Bleed, Idle Hands, The Last Reel, This Mourning
Horror-on-Sea Film Festival offered up a treasure trove of incredible fright-fare shorts. In this second installment of short-film reviews from […]
Eric’s Review: The Lighthouse (2019)
★★★★1/2 out of ★★★★★
Isolation, misery, toil, secrets, and madness. Just another day for Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe in the Robert Eggers brilliantly bleak seascape The Lighthouse.
Joseph’s Review: Swallow (Final Girls Berlin Film Fest)
★★★★1/2 out of ★★★★★ A Stepford Wife in training begins swallowing dangerous objects — and that’s only the start of […]
Mike’s Review: Bliss (2019)
🤟🤟out of 🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟
Are you a fan of a) Metal, b) vaguely satanic possessions, c) explicit drug usage, d) nudity, e) lots of blood (read: LOTS), and f) the word FUCK? I mean, sure who isn’t in favor of all these things right? Each has lots to offer. They’re interesting. Taken in small doses they can be a very powerful antidote to a lagging cinematic undertaking. When taken in over-dose-like proportions the gore and bad words take on an underwhelming status.
The Scariest Things Podcast Episode LXXXVIII: Celebrating Women Horror Directors
Happy Women in Horror Month! In celebration of the contributions of women creators and directors, The Scariest Things invited Gwen Callahan from The Portland Horror Film Festival to discuss some of the great contributions from women behind the camera.
Robert’s Review: There Are Monsters (2013)
★★ out of ★★★★★
Have a great idea for a horror movie? Here’s a perfect example of how to make your great idea almost completely unwatchable!
Trailer Alert: Spiral (2020)
The Saw franchise is getting a new twist as it is being produced, written, and starring Chris Rock. Yes, THAT Chris Rock. Oh, and some guy named Samuel L. Jackson. Him too. A potentially great career move for Rock, in a series that suggests that still has some legs left. (Though given that it’s Saw, those legs may be gone by the end.)
MidWest WeirdFest First Wave Announcement Promises Monsters, Mayhem, and Mirth
Wisconsin’s MidWest WeirdFest has announced its first seven feature films, and what a promising group it is! MidWest WeirdFest— a […]
Joseph’s Reviews (Horror-on-Sea Film Festival): Horror Shorts — Noctámbulos (Night Owls), No Strings, One Touch, Tolerance
Horror-on-Sea Film Festival offered up a treasure trove of incredible horror shorts. Here are reviews about four of them, featuring […]
Trailer Alert: Locke and Key (Netflix)
A long-awaited graphic novel adaptation is hitting Netflix next week. The trailer captures a lot of the magic of the book, but will it go as dark as the comic was willing to go?
Eric’s Review: VFW (2020)
★★★ out of ★★★★★
Chalk one up for the old dudes! Drugged out mutant crazies siege the local veteran’s watering hole in the latest offering from FANGORIA, featuring some fan-favorite genre actors getting a chance to step out of the supporting role shadows.
Joseph’s Reviews (Another Hole in the Head Film Fest): Horror Shorts — Patina, Playtime’s Over, and Zombie Debt
An intimidating humanoid robot, a preteen horror movie fan bent on terrorizing her babysitter, and a woman pursued by a debt collector during a zombie apocalypse were the subjects of three fantastic short films that recently screened at Another Hole in the Head Film Fest in San Francisco.
Scary Toys: The VVitch Playmobil Set
“Woulds’t thou like to live deliciously?” Of course you would, and that’s why you’re going to get the Playmobil set of Robert Egger’s The VVitch, courtesy of the very clever folks at Millionaire Playboy!
Robert’s Review: Eat Locals (2017)
★★★ out of ★★★★★
Filmed entirely in Hertfordshire, England, this charming vampire flick starts slowly, but saves itself with an action-filled second act and a thoroughly satisfying ending.
Mike’s Review: The Color Out of Space (2020)
★★★ out of ★★★★★
Is the ultimate test of a director the ability to grow, mature, and evolve? Pick up new tricks, devices, and viewpoints? Create new and unique takes on the film medium? OR, is it the director’s job to figure out what formula works, stick with that, and never grow, mature, and evolve. Sort of a “greatest hits” approach to filmmaking.
Liz’s review: The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007)
★★★★ out of ★★★★★
A found footage style film that for years was found footage itself. Dip your toe into the water under a bridge too far and watch The Poughkeepsie Tapes.
The Scariest Things Podcast Episode LXXXVIII: Our Most Anticipated Horror Movies of 2020
We’ve got some films for you to look forward to in 2020. Once again, we’re faced with an onslaught of remakes and sequels, but you know what? There are some really interesting films that are coming out, and we’re here to slap you some horror wisdom!
Robert’s Review: Jack Frost (1997)
★★★ out of ★★★★★
It’s a holiday classic! This very B-grade movie overcame studio bankruptcy, anomalous weather, and the fact that it’s about a goofy-looking 7-foot tall rubber snowman to achieve cult status as a direct-to-video release.
Trailer Alert: Color Out Of Space (2020)
The most fully realized film version of an HP Lovecraft story? More psychedelic freakouts from Nick Cage? The return of more Mandy-like weirdness? A real live Cthulu monster? Director Richard Stanley’s (Island of Dr. Moreau, Hardware, Dust Devil) return to greatness? SO. MANY. QUESTIONS!
Mike’s Review: Mausoleum (1983)
★★1/2 out of ★★★★★ 1983 just called. Your VHS tape is overdue!
Mike’s Review: The Marshes (2020)
★★1/2 out of ★★★★★ Word has it that the kids are in to mash-ups. Girl Talk, Danger Mouse, a little Jay Z, a little Beatles. Throw it all together and see what sticks. 2020’s the Marsh (originally released in 2018 in Australia) does just that — but maybe a little too much.
Creepy Doll Video from Our Friends at Unsettling Toys
Oh, these dollies are the give me the creepies! Our Patron and friend of the Podcast, Brian Jillson has some slightly (OK sometimes REALLY) disturbing toys that need homes. Are you brave enough to get one?
Robert’s Review: Countdown (2019)
★1/2 out of ★★★★★
This Final Destination rip-off is cliché, derivative, and predictable. You’ve got better things to do with your time.
The Scariest Things Podcast Episode LXXXVII: The Worst Horror Films of 2019
What’s that smell? That, friends of the podcast, is the stench of the worst horror movies of 2019! It’s a smell that lingers and we’d like to move past, but we have to acknowledge the stinkers of last year.
Joseph’s Review: The Wave (2019)
★★★1/2 out of ★★★★★ The Wave bends time and film genres, and it is bound to bend viewers’ minds, too, […]
Joseph’s Review: The Numbers (Horror-on-Sea Film Festival)
★★★1/2 out of ★★★★★ Fans of classic British horror anthologies should find plenty to admire in independent chiller The Numbers. […]
Eric’s Review: Underwater (2020)
★★★1/2 out of ★★★★★.
Underwater is a furiously paced movie that applies the pressure early (pun intended) and rarely lets you up for air (pun intended again). The familiar setting and lack of character arcs are overcome by a strong cast, great production values, and a simple but well-executed plot.