Verotika

 For years i've been stoked for Verotika. Glenn Danzig directing a horror anthology? Sign me up! Then i read the reviews, they were abysmal but some developed a cult following out of it. So will this be The Room? I love so bad they're good movies but this was just bad. A friend of mine watched this the same time i did and we were texting about how god awful it was. This is not a film to watch with friends, this isn't a fun film. The Room, Plan 9, Troll 2, they all are shit but they have charm and are quotable. This feels like a screener, a bottom of the barrel, scrape by the bare minimum,  porn level acting with out the sex, but with sex, piece of shit. Each tale begins and ends oddly, transitions between scenes is awkward, the acting is horrendous, the make up and effects might be some of the worst ever put to film and the sex scenes and "sensual" aspects are far from sensual or sexy. This is one of the worst films ever and not in a good way. Glenn, stick to music. 

Ratched

 Sarah Paulson delivers her career best performance as an already iconic character. However this is nothing like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. This is a tinted, pulpy almost noir esque game of manipulation with classic horror influences but with Ryan Murphy's stamp all over it, for good or bad. This is the most focused Murphy series yet and feels the least cluttered of his library. It didn't feel needed but it sure is welcome! 

The Devil All The Time

 The Devil All The Time is easily one of the years best films. You feel the Coen Brothers influence throughout this Southern fried slice of crime, porn, snuff, religion, murder and debauchery. Told in different decades the film showcases every actor involved and every single actor delivers an excellent performance especially Tom Holland, Bill  Skarsgard, Robert Pattinson, Sebastian Stan, Riley Keough, Jason Clarke, and Harry Melling. A haunting score and soothing narration guide us though the bloodshed as various characters lives intersect with one another. 

Lost Girls and Love Hotels

 Lost Girls and Love Hotels got a bit of promotion on various horror sites? Why? Cause it involves kink? Many claim to be into kink these days but few truly are. This here is not 50 Shades, it atleast understands kink. With that said all this film is, is Alexandra Daddario drinking booze and fucking, for over 90s minutes. No nudity outside of ass, but she has a nice one so no complaints, but even the sex scenes are dull. Who directed this? Tommy Wiseau? I mainly watched this for her, but i should have listened to the previous reviews. 

Spiral

 Spiral is a damn fine horror film where the horror is secondary to the social commentary on race and gay rights. Ominous from the start of the film and it doesn't let up for 90 minutes. The lead Jeffery Bowyer-Chapman does a great job of a man losing his grip with reality as he is manipulated in a satanic game. 

The Paramedic

 Holy Shudder, Batman....no...no no, Shudder has produced some good shit, i'm sorry. Holy screeners, Batman. Yes, that's the ticket. The ticket for a poorly paced, wooden performance driven, dull as fuck joke. Netflix has had some gems like the Babysitter and this year they have great shit like The Old Guard and Project Power, but fuck, this might be the worst film they have made. I didn't expect a fast paced slasher, i expected a giallo actually, but instead we had a giallo by way of a Lifetime knockoff. 

#alive

 #alive might be the best zombie film since Train To Busan. The film speaks volumes for today's society of quarantine and isolation and the power of social media and technology. Essentially the film is just 2 actors but through that we watch a bond as we also watch fear and disconnect. The film is fun but as far as the zombies go, they are a bit more intelligent than usual but at the core these are zombies as they should be, treated as a threat. 

Rent-A-Pal

 Rent-A-Pal is a weird, sad, creepy, depressing and unsettling film. Great concept, great acting, and it looks great in a lo fi way. It's hard to describe, on one hand it is a tribute to VHS but not the way most horror films are. On the other it is a horror film that doesn't become a horror film until the final 20 minutes. Before that we just watch this man's sad life, we grow to know him and feel bad for him until he reaches his breaking point. 

The Babysitter: Killer Queen

 2017's The Babysitter is one of my favorite films of the past decade, i loved it. I awaited the sequel but assumed we were not getting it. About 2 months ago it was announced it was finished, was it a rush job? Well the film does indeed feel rushed, it feels contrived and at times doesn't even feel like the first film. With that said this is a fun film, it has heart and is bloody as fuck, but it ultimately underwhelmed me. I feel i will need to watch it a second time, to accept the changes the film made from the original. Regardless if there is a third, i will still be stoked. 

The King of Staten Island

The past few days i've been playing catch up with 2020 films that hit VOD, the last one on my list was one i was stoked to see in theatres before covid, The King of Staten Island. Holy hell this film hit me hard. Like most Judd Apatow films it is funny, has heart, and has a great cast. Also like most of his films it is a bit long but honestly this is his best paced. No, it is not just his best paced, this is his best film. Most are usually overstuffed and could use trimming but this just felt perfect. Pete Davidson is now in two of my favorite films of the year, and this would make a great double bill with Big Time Adolescence. While this film features a younger cast than previous Apatow directed films, it fits in perfectly with his TV productions. As youthful as it is, it is also his most mature. Welcome back to film, Judd!  

Superman: Man of Tomorrow

 Superman: Man of Tomorrow might be the best non Batman centric DC Animated film yet. It is a toss up with this and the Death of Superman, which is funny because this is the birth of Superman. Great plot, excellent voice cast, well timed humor and awesome action, plus it has Lobo being Lobo! Lois Lane was a bit different here, but i loved how she was portrayed. Easily the best DC film this year thus far. 

Nail in the Coffin: The Rise and Fall of Vampiro

 The Last Dance, the Last Ride, You Can Not Kill David Arquette, Nail In the Coffin. What an excellent year for sports doc. What a great year for wrestling docs, hell throw Darkside of the Ring in there. Speaking of Dark Side of the Ring, this here could have been an episode, and still could be one day. From Vampiro's upbringing to his struggles with pills, all the day to his attitude problems in AAA, this doc showcases it all. It is only 90 minutes but it felt like an hour. I wish this had been longer, to fit in more interviews, but in doing so it might take away from his relationship with his daughter, his love/hate relationship with the industry and the pain he goes through every day. I grew up loving Vampiro from the moment i saw him. His look was unique but his in ring work was aswell. He introduced me to the Misfits and i began seeing his mexican figures in magazines, when he disappeared i was sad but when he popped up in Lucha Underground i was stoked, he brought me back to AAA, and that is when i began to sour on him after seeing him blow up. This doc gives new perspective and is now my top doc of the year, Last Ride is top docu series. It is sad to see how his health is especially at his age, but if anyone gave up on him, watch this and cheer him on!

To Your Last Death

 To Your Last Death is a cool little flick. It begins like a comic but then begins to feel like cut scenes from a video game. Alot of it reminded me of City of Rott, a under seen animated zombie film from 2006. This has alot of style and alot of blood, it moves at a fast pace, so if you want to spend $3 go rent it on Amazon and have a fun time. 

10/31

 Most anthology films are a mixed bag. Most Halloween themed movies are a mixed bag. So combining the two could create Trick R Treat, but this is not that film. This isn't god awful, in fact i was entertained but overall it felt cheap and uninspired. 

I'm Thinking of Ending Things

 As a teen i was head over heels for the films written by Charlie Kaufman. When his first film came out, Synecdoche New York, i thought it was a solid film but that it needed a different director. Anomalisa was a better effort but after that i thought he was better suited just writing. With his latest, I'm Thinking of Ending Things, he has once again upped his game. This is a vintage Kaufman story and as tedious as this is, which it greatly is, i found it so intriguing. This is a film i was trying to dissect while viewing it and i feel i need to watch it  a second time to fully grasp. Congrats, Charlie. You did it!  

Followed

 Followed had an interesting box office run. Played mainly at drive ins, it also reached number one. The producers supposedly bought out some theatres to make it happen, which if true, is ingenious. The film itself will be perfect for fans of youtube videos based on ghost hunting and urban exploration. It is found footage, and the cast is pretty great. It used the Paranormal Activity approach of watching the background to see shit move, set in a hotel with David Olmos, think American Horror Story Hotel and Richard Ramirez. Atmospheric as fuck and loaded with jump scares, it is a perfect flick for Halloween(which it is based around)

The Owners

 The Owners is an interesting film. It shows how both thieves and the victim can be equally villainous. Much like Don't Breathe or last year's Villains, this is a film where tables are turned and the "victims" are far worse. Killers, kidnappers, evil doctors, they are fucked up. Solid performances, including Maise Williams, and good suspense carries this film. 

Irresistible

 Irresistible is the film i wanted from John Stewart. Rosewater covered topics he finds interesting in the political landscape but this here is the political landscape. Sure it has liberal leanings but the film is fair and balanced. It is witty, simple and well acted. It is a film for today, and remember to go out and vote.  

The Binge

 The Binge is getting shat on everywhere. This Purge send up where for one night drugs and alcohol are legal is possibly the funniest film of the year. This is the best stoner film in a couple of years, and the best teen film since Booksmart. It has cult classic written all over it, and i found the plot, cast, and musical numbers to be delightful. 

Zombie For Sale

 Zombie For Sale might not just be the best zombie film of the year, it might also be the best Korean film of the year. A fun plot, likeable cast, insanely upbeat score and buckets of blood made this flick a blast! It is super cheap right now too, only. 1.99 on youtube. Unsure if it is going to a service but if not, spend the two bucks and enjoy!

Game of Death

 Game of Death is a good concept, teens find a game and hell breaks loose. Think Jumanji, only with exploding heads, in an almost Natural Born Killers esque rampage. Colorful and gorgeous blood, terrible characters, and a let down of a plot is basically what this turd is. Worst film of the year? It is a contender, but hey atleast it is ambitious! 

You Should Have Left

 You Should Have Left was David Koepp's worthy follow up, 20 years later, to Stir of Echos. Great acting and chemistry with Kevin Bacon, Amanda Seyfried, and Avery Essex. The film is all sorts of creepy and is atmospheric as fuck but the surreal moments definitely make this film. It has plenty of influence from Stanley Kubrick, especially The Shinning, and would be a perfect film to watched stoned and try to dissect. 

Z

 Z is one creepy film. The tale of a boy and his imaginary friend, an imaginary friend that murders, burns and fucks. There are some shocks in here and plenty is unsettling moments complete with an open ended finale that ends on a perfect note. 

Blood Quantum

 Blood Quantum is a welcome change of pace to the zombie genre. With a focus on characters that are Natives, plus characters that happen to have immunity. The gore in plentiful and the subjects of addiction and race are tackled. Like many zombie films it is full of social commentary and blood. 

The Room

 The remake of the remake of the Room abandons both the child/mother imprisonment angle and the lovable group of apartment dwellers that play football in tuxedos, cheat and definitely have breast cancer. Instead we get a surreal film about a couple that moves into a mansion and finds a room that grants whatever they want with a price. It is a damn fine film about greed and the lengths people will go to protect. The final act is pretty batty but is welcome from the early slow burn. 

The Shed

 The Shed is one of the best vampire films in recent years. It reminds me of a darker and more serious Fright Night, with Salems Lot vampires and a dash of the Lost Boys. The subject of orphans, bullies and abuse is tackled and blended perfectly into vampire lore. 

Enter The Fat Dragon

 If Kung Pow was the martial arts spoof and King Fu Hustle was the comedic martial arts film then Enter the Fat Dragon somewhere in between . This is more of a martial arts comedy but no where as good as King Fu Hustle. This is a film that is every bit as bad everyone thinks Kung Pow is.

Random Acts of Violence

 I've been waiting years for Jay Baruchel's Random Acts of Violence. He has been talking about doing a horror film for a decade, but the film i expected is not the film i got. I expected a fun little romp, but instead he gave a visceral and at times disturbing film that tackles trauma, media influence, and the mind of a serial killer. I hope Jay delivers another film as soon as possible. 

Scare Package

 Scare Package, like most modern anthology films, is a mess. The cold open, named Cold Open, is a contrived jumble of a mess but it works because they are self aware about how self aware it is. The wrap around segment, Rad Chad's Horror Emporium feels like a want to be Clerks. One Time in the Woods is gore for gores sake, M.I.S.T.E.R. feels like the worst of the worst of screeners. Girls Night Out of Body  is the best of the bunch. The Night He Came Back Again Part IV: The Final Kill is the most fun easily. So Much To Do is jumbled. The end of the wrap around/open, Horror Hypothesis atleast benefits from Joe Bob Briggs. This overall is a piece of shit. 

Muppets Now

 The ABC Muppets a few years ago was an underrated gem of an Office esque mocumentary. The newst series, Muppets Now, is a gem that no one seems to be talking about. In my opinion this is the best piece of Muppet lore since the 2011 film and the best thing on Disney Plus since the Mandalorian. Swedish Chef steals the show on each episode except for the finale, the Fozzie Bear/Seth Rogen bit is one of the funniest things i've seen in some time. 

The Beach House

 Take the infection element of Cabin Fever, add in some zombie elements and mix in The Fog, you get The Beach House. The trailer didn't really catch my eye and when i popped this on i felt it would be almost Lifetime, but then you get sucked in by the character interactions, the quasi surreal moments and the horror that goes all out atmospheric in the last act. The ending was abrupt but it fit in with the overall tone.  

Yummy

 There are modern day crap ass zombie films and there are modern day classic zombie films, Yummy falls in between the two. By no means is this great but it is far from bad. At times it feels overly forced but it is highly entertaining. A fun concept with decent humor in a setting that honestly should be used more in zombie films along with awesome gore and a likable cast(for the most part)

Jessica Forever

 Holy hell, this was not the film i expected. I don't recall ever seeing a trailer for Jessica Forever but the stills and plot sounded like a cyber punk film, instead it was basically a young adult novel adaptation only no where as good as stuff like Maze Runner or Divergent. The fist 20 minutes or so is beautiful and incredibly crafted, but once the group is united it begins to feel like a fake trailer for What If John Hughes directed The Hunger Games. 

Match of August

North American Title Ladder match: Takeover 

Finn Balor vs Timothy Thatcher: Takeover 

Adam Cole vs Pat McAfee : Takeover 

Io Shirai vs Dakota Kai: Takeover  

Suzuki vs Shingo: Never Openweight Title: SUmmer Struggle 

Metamorphosis

 Another Shudder film, another trip to Korea, and another possession film. If they sounds negative, it is not, this is actually a pretty damn good demon flick with pretty awesome effects. The first couple acts drag but the final act has shit hitting the fan. The demons look creepy and the blood letting is beautiful. While Monstrum felt like a better fitted Netflix series done as a film, this feels like a screener that actually have talent. 

Monstrum

 Well Monstrum was a surprise. It almost feels like a film that would adapted by Netflix as a series. A period piece from Korea but with monsters? Pacing is great, action is awesome, the creature looks sweet, i was surprised with how much fun this was. It is gorgeous and at times feels epic. One of Shudder's better films. 

Dogs Don't Wear Pants

 Dogs Don't Wear Pants is a funny, disturbing, feel good, feel bad, beautiful and pretentious little film. This is a damn fine look at kink and s&m but a bit tedious at times. It reminds me of Todd Solondz and Gaspar Noe. I feel this is going to be a film i may not ever watch again but one i will think about greatly.