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Directed by Paul Campion Starring: Craig Hall, Matthew Sunderland, Gina Varela, Karlos Drinkwater
Released: 8th July 2011
Concept
It's the eve of D-Day, and Cpt Ben Crogan and Sgt Joe Tane are sent on a sabotage and distraction mission on Forau Island. They soon begin hearing screams once they are off the beach, from a German fortification, thinking a man is being tortured they cautiously approach.
A German soldier appears out of nowhere in hysterics, Ben then kills the soldier swiftly. A woman starts screaming. Joe waits outside until he hears a gunshot go off inside the bunker. He sprints into action and find himself in a room with a book of black magic and a ritual... soon the soldiers find themselves in an unbelievably overpowered situation more crushing in its weight than that of the war, and only they have the power to stop it...
Review
This supernatural New Zealand film pulls the viewer into a dark world where WW2 and demons collide. Upon release it was met with average to above average reviews, and rightly so. This film mixes in horror with demonology and it works marvellously.
There's a mix of historical references to the Channel Islands during the war in this film, it's not noticeable but it's there and what certain characters reference are real events that occurred. Adding a remarkable eye for perfection in this production.
The Devils Rock has great makeup and costume design, it was nominated for Best Visual Effects and Best Costume Design at the 2012 Sorta New Zealand Awards, and managed to take home the Best Makeup Design.
Don't skip this film it's a future classic it's got great pacing and atmosphere, a plot where you don't know who to trust and it is a great way to spend a couple of hours of your time.
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Starring: Kate Hodge, Viggo Mortenson, William Butler, Ken Foree
Released: January 3rd 1990
Box Office: 5.8M
Concept
Michelle and Ryan, a young couple going through relationship issues are driving in the isolated middle of nowhere, Texas. They are travelling from California to Florida and in Texas come across a body excavation ground where countless people have been killed and preserved in the earth. They are interrogated and advised by an officer to be careful.
The morning after they come across a gas station in a desolate area, after encountering a cowboy who points a route on a map to get to their destination quicker. Accompanying him a creepy pervert things go from bad to worse when the pervert goes on the defensive after creeping on Michelle, and starts shooting at them.
Ryan then takes the cowboys route and after driving for hours until dark a van with a dead coyote at the front hunts them, and thus begins a night the two will never forget. Aided by Benny, a reserve soldier and Sara, a survivor who's been lost in the wooded area for weeks can Michelle and Ryan make it out alive? Or will it be another massacre?
Review
The third instalment in the TCM franchise this film was still in the same bloodline as the previous two. Whereas the original was slow paced and stayed strong with the psychological element with a little craziness, the second was faster paced and had many random moments and wacky characters it was more of a black comedy. This film has shed its skin, kept some quirky characters, kept the pace going well and has its own scenes of action.
Starring a young Viggo Mortenson (you would known him as Aragon in the LOTR franchise). And Ken Foree who is a living legend of horror, he has been in countless horror flicks most notably in the 1978 film Dawn of the Dead, The Devil's Rejects as well as low-key films such as Splatter Disco and Apocalypse of the Dead (I'll get to that one later).
If you like the franchise you won't be disappointed with this film, banned in the UK by the BBFC (British Broadcast of Film Classification) several minutes had to be cut to be released. The film is one of my personal all time favourites and one I'll keep close to my heart, and I hope you can to.
Do you believe in ghosts? I think I've seen one...here.'
Directed by Guillmero Del Toro Starring: Marisa Parades, Eduardo Noriega, Federico Luppi, Fernando Tielve Budget: (US) 4.5M Box Office: (US) 6.5M
Concept
It is 1939, Spain is in a civil war with itself. An orphanage in an isolated area of Spain is seeing attacks from Franco's troops, as the owners of the orphanage are Republican followers. One day Carlos, a young child is taken to the orphanage, only to be purposefully left behind by his parents swiftly.
Carlos is now left alone, and quickly befriends the other boys. The owners, Cesares and Carmen, the groundskeeper Jacinto and the teacher Conchita are the only adults and carers at the establishment.
Stuck in this poor turn of fortune there then is a bomb dropped into the orphanage that fails to explode, and now becomes a landmark to everyone to stay away from it. As if things can't get any worse, Carlos now has an apparition of a young boy that follows him wherever he goes, and it's up to Carlos to solve the mystery.
Review
This Mexican- Spanish film has plenty of plots in its story, not all of them involving our innocent protagonist Carlos. It is classed as a horror nonetheless, there is a good pace to this film that will keep you until the end.
It has a great feeling of isolation and being left behind, we connect with Carlos as when we were children ourselves, feelings of being lost or not being able to ocate your parents drives that youthful fear back into you in the eyes of this character. Add that with a war around him and a ghost that follows him, and you have a shiver running up your backbone.
'I'm not going to be bullied away by a bunch of twelve-year olds'.
Directed by James Watkins
Starring: Kelly Reilly, Michael Fassbender, Jack O'Connell, Finn Atkins
Released: 28th September 2008
Box Office: 4M
Concept
A young couple Jenny and Steve go for a short break to a lake, where Steve used to go to as a child. They are enjoying themselves immensely until they find themselves being disturbed by a gang of youths nearby. They begin playing loud music and staring at Jenny.
Feeling disgruntled, Steve politely asks the youths to behave. Which falls flat on its face. Clearly they are unsupervised and are out to do what they want. The morning after Steve finds a mark on his car, presumably by the teens. In frustration he comes across a house by the town, it has a bike outside one of the youths had...
Steve and Jenny end up finding themselves eventually being hunted, and now must find a way out of the lake and woods to escape the young psychopaths. The gangs leader, Brett is a sadistic psychopath fuelled only by his home life and his friends are too afraid to disagree or just don't care.
Review
This is a British horror film, and has an underlying social belly to the film regarding the youth of Britain, which is still angry and unfortunately still relevant today. Whilst it would be unfair to say all teenagers in Britain are like this in the working class or lower there is a problem.
There is a moral dilemma when watching this film, because you are watching children deliberately and enjoyfully try and cause active harm to a couple. But in society being hostile towards anyone under age is considered immoral and practically illegal.
It makes you wonder what you yourself would do in that situation, all the more burdening if you are with your loved one. It personally made me feel angry and constantly waiting for the revenge on the youths. Watch this film at least once it is a great ride for any horror fan.
'The dead have highways, highways that lead to intersections, and intersections that spill into our world. If you should find yourself at one of these intersections you should stop and listen. Because the dead have stories to tell'.
Directed by John Harrison
Starring: Jonas Armstrong, Sophie Ward, Doug Bradley
Released: 28th September 2009
Concept
Another film based on the works of Clive Barker. Book of Blood, based on the novel of the same name is a very dark and foreboding tale only a sick creative mind could create.
The film follows a young man named Simon, who is kidnapped by a hitman. The hitman is hired to to take away Simon's skin, which he finds is horrifically covered in words carved all over his body. Curious, he offers Simon a quick death if he reveals how this happened to him. Simon begins telling the story.
Simon goes on to explain how a young girl was violated and brutally murdered by a supernatural force. This incident brings curiosity to Mary Florescu, a paranormal professor, and Reg Fuller, her partner. Mary then discovers Simon, a clairvoyant student, and though reluctant, the three of them eventually venture into the home to move in to begin a paranormal investigation. But things go from bad to worse.
Review
I love this film, it's original, it's dark, it's gritty. It's a great British horror movie and there's a few twists and turns including a big one halfway through which I won't spoil for you. It has an horrific ending that follows it and is a great underrated film people need to see.
It's gory, atmospheric, it's aesthetic is Britain on a rainy day, all stony and gloomy. If you don't have this movie in your collection I urge you to get it you will not be disappointed at all.
Clive Barker is such a great author and films based on his novels are just fantastic. If you haven't seen this film you should.
'The purpose of today's experiment, is to prove that the object behind me is responsible for at least forty-five deaths, in the four centuries of its reported existence'.
This is a recent film but it is criminal that it is so underrated and unseen by the masses. Oculus follows the story that occurs several years after a horrific homicide. Where the father went on a murderous rampage, murdering the mother in cold blood and in self defence, his son killed him in front of his daughter.
Fast forward a few years and those children have now grown up. The daughter, Kaylie has met up with her brother Tim after he is discharged from the psychiatric hospital. In this time she has managed to track down an old antique mirror, a mirror which she claims is the reason their parents are dead.
Determined, Kaylie arms herself in their childhood home with several cameras, lights, etc. Oh and a killswitch to shatter the mirror in case anything goes wrong.
The mirror is black, is four-hundred years old and has a deliciously gruesome past with it. Specifically death. You follow them on an horrifically dark journey as they fight against the mirror.
Review
This film will leave you scratching your head, it has a shocking ending and all the while you will need to see this film more than once simply because it makes you think. There are so many factors in this movie it is unbelievable and everything contradicts the facts.
Tim has grown up being told blaming the mirror is in his mind, and he used it as a scapegoat to deal with the trauma, so he's level headed at first. Kaylie however has had no psychiatric help and has been driven to destroy the mirror, and behaves erratically.
As the film goes on we see different patterns emerging, the film is told using flashbacks both hopping back and forth and even blending together. It is a great tale that must be seen by anyone who says they have a love for horror. Check out this film, do not skip this film for your own sake.
Also this film is based of a short film from 2005 of the same name. But director Mike Flanagan put it off because of fears it may become a dreaded found footage film.
For your displeasure I have placed a link below where you can watch the short film if you wish.
Starring: Rider Strong, Noah Segan, Alexi Wasser, Rusty Kelly
Released: October 24th 2009 (Screamfest Horror Film Festival)
Concept
In this sequel to the bizarre gorefest the original was, this time the infection has spread rapidly. Taking place after the first Cabin Fever the disease has spread from the desolate woods into a small town via the water supply, a company has bottled the water and it is now distributed at the local high school.
It follows a roughly new set of characters aside from the creepy strange policeman from the first film (paarrty man). It contains the usual quirky guy trying to get the girl who's with the unflattering jock boyfriend and that obese friend who somehow manages to score with the popular girl.
It is a lot more claustrophobic specifically because it is in a school soon locked down by authorities, there's no running through trees from wild dogs and hermits this time, but it does have that style with it.
A strange headmistress, a janitor that does something unforgivable to the punch, jock boyfriend who is a complete... well. And a scene in which uses a prosthetic penis that made me threw up in my mouth. Amputation is involved and diseased breasts. Oh boy, you best not eat before watching this.
Review
I watched this film before I watched the original Cabin Fever. And let me tell you, in terms of making your stomach churn, this is worse. This film is so grotesque I wouldn't be surprised if you felt uncomfortable watching it throughout. The trailer itself might put you off.
However if you are a gore fanatic you will enjoy this crude, ridiculous film. It is in no way a bad film in my opinion but it is not the best. It has the same elements as before, aside from a different crew working on it and just two members of the original cast this film is a good ride for gore seekers.
I recommend this to anyone who likes the original, or the Human Centipede franchise, oh and zombies.
If you have any suggestions please feel free to comment below, i would also appreciate if you followed me and shared me. Take care fiends.
Starring: Alex Pettyfur, Calvin Dean, Tom Hopper, April Pearson
Released: 22 May 2009
Budget: £700,000 Box Office: £280,000
Concept
This BBC film that obviously bombed is a classic take on the revenge slasher. This time the premise is a social look at bullying, suicide and teenage social pressures. It is about an unpopular, overweight pupil named Darren Mullet, who by the time this film begins as already taken his own life.
He took his own life due to the extreme bullying he recieved from a certain group of people as well as the attitude and social neglect of the other students. And now he's come back back from the dead to take them out. One by one.
This is an incredibly sad tale and as a slasher you really are on his side despite him barely speaking let alone not much screen time throughout. Each murder seems like a victory and it drives you as you hope he completes his conquest and receives the results of his bloodcurdling campaign.
Review
This film coincidentally came out on my 14th birthday, and at that time in my life I really identified with Mullet. This film is not a perfect film granted, but it's a fun film to watch if you want a cheap laugh, gory kills and a heart rendering side to it as well. It might take yourself back to a time where exploring sexuality, parties and other activities where your thing, or keeping your head down in the corridors.
If you love slasher movies or quirky Brit films or anything to do with what this film is giving you I urge you to check it out. Watch it just the once and you will be amazed at this sad black comedy horror film. (Phew that was a mouthful).
In this South Korean monster film a clumsy young father who sells food to tourists finds himself in a parents unimaginable nightmare when a creature climbs out of the local river and kidnaps his young daughter after a menacing killing spree. Having had 200 bottles of Formaldehyde dumped into the river years prior. There were strange sightings and rumours and even a suicide linked to the myth. Now along with his grandfather, graduate alcoholic brother and professional archer sis they must track down this creature and rescue their young family member. With quite a mix of comedy and tragedy this amazing film brings into it some psychological elements as well.
ReviewThis is likely to be my most favourite Asian horror film. It can give you a good laugh and make you feel sad the next. The camera angles in this partiular film are just amazing especially when the monster is first shown on screen. The CGI doesn't look fantastic but it can be forgiven for a great plot you can't help but finish. An absolute must-see 8/10. Once again there is a lonk for this DVD down below.
Directed by James Wan Starring: Ryan Kwanten, Amber Valletta, Donnie Wahlberg. Michael Fairman Released: March 16th 2007
Concept
Jamie Ashen is thrown into his own personal hell from the very start when a mysterious package arrives. When he and his girlfriend open it they find a very creepy doll. There is no clue as to where it cam from except a small card that states 'my name is Billy'. James runs out for some food and when he returns his love is found murdered without her tongue.
Convinced the doll did it somehow he then proceeds to go visit his estranged father and discovers a terrible secret. A terrible secret the townsfolk have kept for many many years.
Being the prime suspect hot on his trails is a detective who is certain Jamie is the murderer and is using Billy as a scapegoat. Can Jamie solve the mystery and somehow prove to police that Billy did it? An excellently tense and creepy film. There is not much I can say without spoiling the ending. Go watch it...now!
Review
I love this underrated film. It didn't score well on sites such as Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic but forget what the critics say listen to what a fan says; this film is awesome. It's got great atmosphere with it as well as a compelling story with highly tense scenes and a thought out backstory.
It has an amazing twist ending. Don't spoil the ending for anyone who hasn't seen it please. From the creators of the SAW franchise I beg you to seek this out and please watch it at least just the once.
I watched this film in my teen years when friends came round for the night, we'd sit in the dark watching films and this has a great nostalgic feeling for me. if you get the opportunity to see this film I highly recommend watching it...now!
