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Joseph Perry

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Horror Fuel

Movie Review: It Cuts Deep

Writer/director Nicholas Santos’ horror comedy It Cuts Deep is an odd feature that should appeal to viewers interested in offbeat, awkward comedy movies and slasher film completists. Other viewers may find themselves perplexed. Why Ashley (Quinn Jackson) and her boyfriend Sam (Charles Gould) are together is the first mystery of the film, and why Ashley wants to marry him is another. On Christmas vacation in Sam’s hometown, which he hasn’t visited for 10 years — the same amount of time that a double murder took place there — Ashley wants to talk marriage while Sam does everything he can to avoid the subject, which includes an almost non-stop barrage of self-deprecating and sophomoric unfunny (intentionally so, it should be noted) jokes. Unsubtly inserting himself into the couple’s life together is Nolan (John Anderson), who claims to be Sam’s best friend. Initially, Sam shows an irritated grudge toward Nolan, but Ashley finds him interesting. As matters proceed, Nolan becomes more aggressive

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Nov 17, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review (Lund Fantastic Film Festival): Get the Hell Out

Taiwanese horror comedy Get the Hell Out is an ultra-fast-paced romp with political messages aplenty that are relatable across international borders. It is a spectacle, to be sure, but ultimately doesn’t offer much new in the zombie comedy department. Hsiung (Megan Lai) is a government official trying to stop a chemical plant from being built literally where her beachside home is. Little does she — let alone others — know that construction of the plant will unleash a rabies virus and turn people into “idiots” — the translated word used in the film in place of zombies. After being forced out of office by rival Li (Chung-wang Wang), she manipulates a security guard she has known since childhood named Wang (Bruce Ho) into running to replace her in office, hoping to be a puppet ruler behind him. Naturally, Li has other plans for Wang, and Wang has his own reasons for doing things in office. Once the infected President enters

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Nov 5, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review (Arrow Video FrightFest October Edition): Cyst

Imagine classic science fiction creature features of the past such as Fiend Without a Face mashed up with modern gross-out comedy gags and you are on the right track toward describing Cyst, a loving tribute to the black-and-white creature feature classics and clas-sicks of the 1950s and 1960s with a garish coat of cinematic color. With Cyst set sometime in those aforementioned decades, Eva Habermann stars as Patricia, a put-upon nurse in a medical clinic who serves notice of her intention to quit when physician in charge Dr. Guy (George Hardy of Troll 2) tells her that patent officials are due any minute to have another look at Get Gone, his laser invention meant to be a pain-free way of removing cysts. Patricia still bears the scars from one of his earlier attempts with the device, and she wants nothing more to do with it — though she must serve out the rest of the workday. Naturally, the machine doesn’t

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Nov 4, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: May the Devil Take You Too

Fasten your seat belts and keep your arms inside the vehicle at all times for May the Devil Take You Too, the practically nonstop assault on the senses that is writer/director Timo Tjahjanto’s sequel to his 2018 May the Devil Take You. That first installment in the series was a wild, intense, grue-soaked ride of occult horror á la The Evil Dead, and this sequel doesn’t lose any momentum. The film kicks off with two friends, Gadis (Widika Sidmore) and her friend Dewi (Aurélie Moeremans) going through a supernatural encounter that will prove fatal for Dewi. It then cuts to Alfie (Chelsea Islan) and her young stepsister Nara (Hadijah Shahab), survivors of a battle with the devil from the first film. They are kidnapped by a group of masked home invaders and taken to an abandoned orphanage. The kidnappers turn out to be a group of young adults who were raised at the orphanage: Gadis, Jenar (Shareefa Danish), Budi (Bhaskara

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Nov 3, 2020
Horror Fuel

Popcorn Frights Film Festival Announces a Tantalizing “Wicked Weekend” Virtual Event for Halloween Weekend

Popcorn Frights Film Festival, Florida’s premiere horror-themed film fest, will hold a Wicked Weekend virtual event from October 29th through November 1st. What a way to spend the Halloween weekend this year! Wicked Weekend boasts 21 film premieres, including the world premiere of Smiley Face Killers starring Crispin Glover and the Florida premiere of supernatural thriller Spell, along with the North American premieres of such films as the paranormal thriller They Reach, the documentary about horror anthology movies Tales of the Uncanny, the chiller Babysitter Must Die, and the creature feature The Retreat. Following is the official press announcement. Hang on to your popcorn, boils and ghouls, Popcorn Frights is celebrating this spooky season with a Wicked Weekend virtual event taking place all through Halloween weekend, from October 29th-November 1st, featuring 21 film premieres, conversations, panels, and other special surprises. Come and escape into Halloween with us, it’s our favorite time of year! Highlights from the film line-up include the

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 21, 2020
Horror Fuel

Lund Fantastic Film Festival Presents Surrealism, Psychological Horror, and Science Fiction Among Its  2020 Hybrid Edition Selections 

Sweden’s Lund Fantastic Film Festival will offer both in-cinema and digital offerings for its hybrid edition this year. The fest boasts 14 amazing feature films and 6 curated short film packages for its October 28th through November 1st run. Horror Fuel has reviewed the insane Butt Boy and I have seen the Japanese psychosexual thriller Woman of the Photographs and the French dark fantasy Jumbo, and can absolutely recommend both. The rest of the superb lineup that I haven’t yet seen has me incredibly excited. Following is the fest’s official press announcement. Starting on October 28 and closing out on November 1, The Lund Fantastic Film Festival goes hybrid to present Swedish fans of all things fantastical with a smorgasbord of wholesome genre fare. With a lineup consisting of 14 features and 6 short film packages Lund Fantastic continues to represent all corners of the world in an effort to bring the best and most diverse international genre cinema to

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 20, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review (Sitges Film Festival): The Old Ways

The Old Ways is, above all, a folk horror film set in Latin America that also includes elements of possession and body horror, as well as blending psychological horror and gore. It tries to tackle a lot, obviously, and sometimes that feels like it loses focus, but strong performances from its three female leads and solid direction make up for that. Christina Lopez (Brigitte Kali Canales) is a reporter of Mexican-American heritage who was born in Veracruz but left as a child sometime after seeing — though not fully understanding — her mother being exorcised. As an adult, she returns to the area on an assignment to research witchcraft, faith healers, and other local supernatural traditions. The film wastes no time in establishing its occult leanings as Christina sees something frightening in a forbidden cave, faints, and wakes up to find herself held captive by an elderly woman (Julia Vera) and her adult son (Sal Lopez), receiving pieces of information

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 19, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review (2020 Virtual Cinequest Film Festival): Fox Hunt Drive

A terrific thrill ride that offers up plenty of uncomfortable scenes and twists, Fox Hunt Drive boasts engaging performances from its two leads and solid, suspenseful directing. Alison (Lizzie Zerebko) wants to land an architecture job. She has the education and qualifications, but something that happened at a former position is working against her. She tries to make ends meet by working for a rideshare company. When she picks up a suspicious fare (Michael Olavson) who looks nothing like the profile photo for her fare and has a duffle bag full of questionable items, it is only the beginning of a deadly night of surprises. That set-up may sound like one used by generic thrillers and horror films galore, but what happens during the course of the night is far above the usual fare, thanks to a clever script from Adam Armstrong and Marcus Devivo. Zerebko and Olavson have crackling chemistry together, which helps elevate the suspension. They both get

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 15, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review (Nightstream Film Festival): Bloody Hell

A man who wants to escape the attention of being a local infamous celebrity in Boise, Idaho, packs his bags for Finland, only to find himself getting more horrific and deadly attention there in director Alister Grierson’s U.S./Australian coproduction Bloody Hell. The film delivers strongly in both the fright-fare and humor departments, rating as a must-see for horror comedy fans. Rex (Ben O’Toole) foils a bank robbery by killing the criminals, but during the event, a bank employee is shot dead. Having to agree to a deal, Rex spends eight years in prison and finds himself hounded by paparazzi and citizens because some consider him a hero while others blame the employee’s death on his recklessness. Looking to get away from it all, Rex flies to Finland but on the way, a creepy couple states that he is “perfect for their son.” Soon, Rex finds himself hanging from a rope in a cellar, with one of his legs cut off.

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 13, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: The Wolf of Snow Hollow

Writer/director Jim Cummings follows up his debut feature at the helm, Thunder Road, with the highly entertaining werewolf outing The Wolf of Snow Hollow. Cummings portrays officer and recovering alcoholic John Marshall, a bullheaded personality who can go from silent to raging at the slightest disagreement. He is in line to succeed his aged father Sherriff Hadley (played marvelously by the late, great Robert Forster), who just won’t retire despite having a bad ticker. When the vicious killing of a young woman occurs by the light of a full moon, officials are torn as to whether the act was committed by an animal, a man, or a lycanthrope. Things only get muddier as the slayings continue. Part horror movie, part police procedural, part comedy, and part character study, The Wolf of Snow Hollow is a riveting, energetic ride. How much viewers will enjoy the film could depend greatly on how they feel about the John Marshall character. There’s no denying

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 8, 2020

More from Joseph Perry

Horror Fuel

Movie Review: It Cuts Deep

Writer/director Nicholas Santos’ horror comedy It Cuts Deep is an odd feature that should appeal to viewers interested in offbeat, awkward comedy movies and slasher film completists. Other viewers may find themselves perplexed. Why Ashley (Quinn Jackson) and her boyfriend Sam (Charles Gould) are together is the first mystery of the film, and why Ashley wants to marry him is another. On Christmas vacation in Sam’s hometown, which he hasn’t visited for 10 years — the same amount of time that a double murder took place there — Ashley wants to talk marriage while Sam does everything he can to avoid the subject, which includes an almost non-stop barrage of self-deprecating and sophomoric unfunny (intentionally so, it should be noted) jokes. Unsubtly inserting himself into the couple’s life together is Nolan (John Anderson), who claims to be Sam’s best friend. Initially, Sam shows an irritated grudge toward Nolan, but Ashley finds him interesting. As matters proceed, Nolan becomes more aggressive

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Nov 17, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review (Lund Fantastic Film Festival): Get the Hell Out

Taiwanese horror comedy Get the Hell Out is an ultra-fast-paced romp with political messages aplenty that are relatable across international borders. It is a spectacle, to be sure, but ultimately doesn’t offer much new in the zombie comedy department. Hsiung (Megan Lai) is a government official trying to stop a chemical plant from being built literally where her beachside home is. Little does she — let alone others — know that construction of the plant will unleash a rabies virus and turn people into “idiots” — the translated word used in the film in place of zombies. After being forced out of office by rival Li (Chung-wang Wang), she manipulates a security guard she has known since childhood named Wang (Bruce Ho) into running to replace her in office, hoping to be a puppet ruler behind him. Naturally, Li has other plans for Wang, and Wang has his own reasons for doing things in office. Once the infected President enters

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Nov 5, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review (Arrow Video FrightFest October Edition): Cyst

Imagine classic science fiction creature features of the past such as Fiend Without a Face mashed up with modern gross-out comedy gags and you are on the right track toward describing Cyst, a loving tribute to the black-and-white creature feature classics and clas-sicks of the 1950s and 1960s with a garish coat of cinematic color. With Cyst set sometime in those aforementioned decades, Eva Habermann stars as Patricia, a put-upon nurse in a medical clinic who serves notice of her intention to quit when physician in charge Dr. Guy (George Hardy of Troll 2) tells her that patent officials are due any minute to have another look at Get Gone, his laser invention meant to be a pain-free way of removing cysts. Patricia still bears the scars from one of his earlier attempts with the device, and she wants nothing more to do with it — though she must serve out the rest of the workday. Naturally, the machine doesn’t

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Nov 4, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: May the Devil Take You Too

Fasten your seat belts and keep your arms inside the vehicle at all times for May the Devil Take You Too, the practically nonstop assault on the senses that is writer/director Timo Tjahjanto’s sequel to his 2018 May the Devil Take You. That first installment in the series was a wild, intense, grue-soaked ride of occult horror á la The Evil Dead, and this sequel doesn’t lose any momentum. The film kicks off with two friends, Gadis (Widika Sidmore) and her friend Dewi (Aurélie Moeremans) going through a supernatural encounter that will prove fatal for Dewi. It then cuts to Alfie (Chelsea Islan) and her young stepsister Nara (Hadijah Shahab), survivors of a battle with the devil from the first film. They are kidnapped by a group of masked home invaders and taken to an abandoned orphanage. The kidnappers turn out to be a group of young adults who were raised at the orphanage: Gadis, Jenar (Shareefa Danish), Budi (Bhaskara

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Nov 3, 2020
Horror Fuel

Popcorn Frights Film Festival Announces a Tantalizing “Wicked Weekend” Virtual Event for Halloween Weekend

Popcorn Frights Film Festival, Florida’s premiere horror-themed film fest, will hold a Wicked Weekend virtual event from October 29th through November 1st. What a way to spend the Halloween weekend this year! Wicked Weekend boasts 21 film premieres, including the world premiere of Smiley Face Killers starring Crispin Glover and the Florida premiere of supernatural thriller Spell, along with the North American premieres of such films as the paranormal thriller They Reach, the documentary about horror anthology movies Tales of the Uncanny, the chiller Babysitter Must Die, and the creature feature The Retreat. Following is the official press announcement. Hang on to your popcorn, boils and ghouls, Popcorn Frights is celebrating this spooky season with a Wicked Weekend virtual event taking place all through Halloween weekend, from October 29th-November 1st, featuring 21 film premieres, conversations, panels, and other special surprises. Come and escape into Halloween with us, it’s our favorite time of year! Highlights from the film line-up include the

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 21, 2020
Horror Fuel

Lund Fantastic Film Festival Presents Surrealism, Psychological Horror, and Science Fiction Among Its  2020 Hybrid Edition Selections 

Sweden’s Lund Fantastic Film Festival will offer both in-cinema and digital offerings for its hybrid edition this year. The fest boasts 14 amazing feature films and 6 curated short film packages for its October 28th through November 1st run. Horror Fuel has reviewed the insane Butt Boy and I have seen the Japanese psychosexual thriller Woman of the Photographs and the French dark fantasy Jumbo, and can absolutely recommend both. The rest of the superb lineup that I haven’t yet seen has me incredibly excited. Following is the fest’s official press announcement. Starting on October 28 and closing out on November 1, The Lund Fantastic Film Festival goes hybrid to present Swedish fans of all things fantastical with a smorgasbord of wholesome genre fare. With a lineup consisting of 14 features and 6 short film packages Lund Fantastic continues to represent all corners of the world in an effort to bring the best and most diverse international genre cinema to

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 20, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review (Sitges Film Festival): The Old Ways

The Old Ways is, above all, a folk horror film set in Latin America that also includes elements of possession and body horror, as well as blending psychological horror and gore. It tries to tackle a lot, obviously, and sometimes that feels like it loses focus, but strong performances from its three female leads and solid direction make up for that. Christina Lopez (Brigitte Kali Canales) is a reporter of Mexican-American heritage who was born in Veracruz but left as a child sometime after seeing — though not fully understanding — her mother being exorcised. As an adult, she returns to the area on an assignment to research witchcraft, faith healers, and other local supernatural traditions. The film wastes no time in establishing its occult leanings as Christina sees something frightening in a forbidden cave, faints, and wakes up to find herself held captive by an elderly woman (Julia Vera) and her adult son (Sal Lopez), receiving pieces of information

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 19, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review (2020 Virtual Cinequest Film Festival): Fox Hunt Drive

A terrific thrill ride that offers up plenty of uncomfortable scenes and twists, Fox Hunt Drive boasts engaging performances from its two leads and solid, suspenseful directing. Alison (Lizzie Zerebko) wants to land an architecture job. She has the education and qualifications, but something that happened at a former position is working against her. She tries to make ends meet by working for a rideshare company. When she picks up a suspicious fare (Michael Olavson) who looks nothing like the profile photo for her fare and has a duffle bag full of questionable items, it is only the beginning of a deadly night of surprises. That set-up may sound like one used by generic thrillers and horror films galore, but what happens during the course of the night is far above the usual fare, thanks to a clever script from Adam Armstrong and Marcus Devivo. Zerebko and Olavson have crackling chemistry together, which helps elevate the suspension. They both get

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 15, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review (Nightstream Film Festival): Bloody Hell

A man who wants to escape the attention of being a local infamous celebrity in Boise, Idaho, packs his bags for Finland, only to find himself getting more horrific and deadly attention there in director Alister Grierson’s U.S./Australian coproduction Bloody Hell. The film delivers strongly in both the fright-fare and humor departments, rating as a must-see for horror comedy fans. Rex (Ben O’Toole) foils a bank robbery by killing the criminals, but during the event, a bank employee is shot dead. Having to agree to a deal, Rex spends eight years in prison and finds himself hounded by paparazzi and citizens because some consider him a hero while others blame the employee’s death on his recklessness. Looking to get away from it all, Rex flies to Finland but on the way, a creepy couple states that he is “perfect for their son.” Soon, Rex finds himself hanging from a rope in a cellar, with one of his legs cut off.

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 13, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: The Wolf of Snow Hollow

Writer/director Jim Cummings follows up his debut feature at the helm, Thunder Road, with the highly entertaining werewolf outing The Wolf of Snow Hollow. Cummings portrays officer and recovering alcoholic John Marshall, a bullheaded personality who can go from silent to raging at the slightest disagreement. He is in line to succeed his aged father Sherriff Hadley (played marvelously by the late, great Robert Forster), who just won’t retire despite having a bad ticker. When the vicious killing of a young woman occurs by the light of a full moon, officials are torn as to whether the act was committed by an animal, a man, or a lycanthrope. Things only get muddier as the slayings continue. Part horror movie, part police procedural, part comedy, and part character study, The Wolf of Snow Hollow is a riveting, energetic ride. How much viewers will enjoy the film could depend greatly on how they feel about the John Marshall character. There’s no denying

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 8, 2020
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