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Sci-fi Horror Movie ‘Brightwood’ Goes Viral

From time to time, something that actually deserves attention goes viral on social media, and I’m not talking about the “hawk tuah” girl. I’m talking about the indie horror movie Brightwood. Seemingly out of nowhere, the 2023 movie has suddenly gone viral, with posts on social media from fans reaching over 8 million views. The award-winning film, which debuted last August, received a 94% fresh rating at the time of its release. During its festival tour, it got high praise from critics. More rave reviews came after its release on VOD from critics and viewers alike, earning it a massive following that only continues to grow. Written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Dane Elcar, Brightwood stars Dana Berger (Orange is the New Black) and Max Woertendyke (Succession) as a couple on the verge of divorce. The two, to their horror, find themselves stuck while on a run around a local pond. At its core, this sci-fi horror film delves into

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Aug 1, 2024

An Interview with ‘In Our Blood’ Director and Its Stars

Following the premiere of horror-thriller In Our Blood at Fantasia, I sat down with the film’s director, Pedro Kos, and its stars, Brittany O’Grady (“The White Lotus”) and E. J. Bonilla (“The Old Man”), to have quite the entertaining conversation about the film’s complexity, its heart, and its big twist. Don’t worry; there are no major spoilers. O’Grady stars as Emily, a young woman who returns to the small border town where she was born to reunite with the mother she’s estranged from. She is joined by her cameraman, Danny, played by Bonilla, who struggles with keeping Emily grounded. But while making a documentary about the reunion, Emily and Danny make a dark discovery that sends them into a spiral of chaos. After watching In Our Blood, I wanted to ask a few questions that were lingering in my mind. Luckily, Pedro, Brittany, and E.J. were willing to let me pick their brains. I couldn’t believe how kind and funny

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Jul 25, 2024

A Dark Discovery is Made in ‘The Mitchin Murders’ Trailer

Terror Films has just announced the release of The Mitchin Murders, a chilling new film by writer-director Jamie Bolton-Debbage. The Mitchin Murders follows two intrepid documentarians as they delve into the darkness of the town of Mitchin. Their mission: to uncover the truth behind a series of gruesome killings linked to a local boogeyman legend. Bolton-Debbage describes his film as the first in a series of “hipster horror” projects. Set in the 1990s, the film captures the distinct aesthetics of the era while weaving in relevant social issues. Expect a healthy dose of female empowerment and a plot to keep you guessing. The Mitchin Murders boasts a talented cast, including Georgie McGuigan, Robert Metson, Kate Winter, and Alistair Findlay. The film’s authenticity is further enhanced by the use of 90s-style cinematography, which transports the audience right into the heart of the mystery. Get ready to uncover dark secrets when The Mitchin Murders is released on September 6th, 2024, across multiple

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Jul 23, 2024

Discover the Monstrous New Poster for Shudder’s ‘Hell Hole’

Calling all Shudder subscribers! Get ready for a chilling descent into sci-fi horror with Hell Hole, premiering exclusively on the streaming service this August. Today, the creepy new poster has arrived. Hell Hole is the latest brainchild of the Adams Family filmmaking team—John Adams, Lulu Adams, and Toby Poser. This sci-fi horror flick takes viewers deep into the remote wilderness of Serbia. An American drilling crew stumbles upon a horrifying discovery that turns their world upside down. The crew unearths a horrifying sight – a perfectly preserved French soldier entombed within the frozen rock. But the terror doesn’t stop there. A parasitic monster bursts from the soldier’s icy prison, seeking a new host within the mining facility. As the crew confronts this monstrous entity, a desperate fight for survival ensues. The talented cast, featuring Toby Poser, John Adams, Lulu Adams, Max Portman, Anders Hove, and Olivera Perunicic, brings the characters’ struggles to life. The Adams family is a force to

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Jul 18, 2024

Game Review: ‘Lifeless Moon’

The moon is mysterious, true we’ve sent men to it and are planning to go back soon. Mystery awaits humanity but, what if, there’s something there, something man-made? That’s what Lifeless Worlds and Serenity Forge offer players in Lifeless Moon. Lifeless Moon puts players in the boots of an Astronaut on one of the Apollo Moon Missions. While exploring the moon with your crewmate, you discover a rip in space and time that sends you to another world, or are you still on the moon? Now, onto the game itself! when it comes to Lifeless Moon‘s controls, there is not a whole lot as the game is mainly exploration and platforming. One issue that annoyed me to no end while playing was the inventory and notebook mechanic, as from time to time the notebook’s pages seem to glitch. When it comes to the game’s sound, it’s OK but what I liked was the soundtrack even though at times the music

Continue reading →
Daniel S. Liuzzi
Jul 11, 2024

Movie Review: Dracula, Prisoner of Frankenstein (1972) – Severin Blu-ray

Drac (Jess Franco regular Howard Vernon, who’s appearance here proves my words, as this too is a Franco flick) is back, and he’s doing his fang bang schtick on ye local comely lasses… an action that really sticks in the ass of Dr. Jonathan Seward (Alberto Dalbés)… here filling the traditional Van Helsing role… so much so that he takes a carriage ride to Dracula’s castle and straight up stakes the mother sucker turning him into an ex-bat! Well, nightmare over… right? Wrong. Before the pillow is even cold, Dr. Frankenstein (Dennis Price, who would return to the role in Franco’s The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein a year later in 1973), and his unfortunately horny assistant Morpho (Luis Barboo) slide their asses on into the castle, and immediately reawaken the Doctor’s Monster (Fernando Bilbao) whom they’ve conveniently brought along. Said Monster then ambles into town and abducts a showgirl (who’s eventual corpse is the only thing to quench Morpho’s unholy

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Jul 10, 2024

Body Horror ‘Tiger Stripes’ Claws Its Way onto VOD Today

Brace yourself for a coming-of-age story that will get under your skin. Tiger Stripes, the critically acclaimed debut film by director Amanda Nell Eu, is out today. This unique film tackles the complexities of puberty through a haunting lens of female body horror. Zaffan, a rebellious 12-year-old, experiences a horrifying transformation as her body begins to change. Struggling to maintain normalcy at school, Zaffan desperately tries to hide her transformations, leading to a growing sense of isolation and fear. As Zaffan’s anxieties rise, a wave of mass hysteria engulfs the school. Rumors of a dark presence and bizarre physical manifestations spread like wildfire. A visiting doctor arrives, determined to banish the supposed demon plaguing the school. Tragically, his misguided investigation leads him to Zaffan, wrongly accusing her of causing the chaos. Faced with public humiliation and the doctor’s extreme methods, Zaffan undergoes a profound transformation. Like a cornered tiger, she sheds her inhibitions and unleashes her rage. She channels her

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Jul 10, 2024

‘Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open’ coming to PC and Consoles

Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open, the latest ghostly apparition from Cellar Vault Games and Chorus Worldwide Games, is releasing on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox One (X/S Compatible), and Nintendo Switch. Third Eye Open is a new installment in the award-winning Paper Ghost Stories series, it provides a narrative-driven visual novel that follows the story of Ting, a young girl who possesses the ability to see spirits. Joined by her young ghost friend Xiu, the pair are forced to face challenges from both the real and spiritual worlds, as Ting battles to discover whether her power is a gift or a curse. This coming-of-age narrative covers five pivotal years of Ting’s childhood when she discovers just how her powers make her different from her peers as she struggles to come to terms with her abilities. While Ting contends with trying to save her family on the verge of falling apart, she will need to navigate challenging conversations, save

Continue reading →
Daniel S. Liuzzi
Jul 8, 2024

Movie Review: Tormented (1960) – Film Masters Blu-ray

Apparent chick magnet Tom Stewart (Richard Carlson, The Creature From the Black Lagoon) is a jazz musician who just got a slight crimp in his plans to marry his fiancée Meg Hubbard (Lugene Sanders) in the form of jealous ex-lover Vi (Juli Reding), who shows up at a lighthouse next to Tom’s Cape Cod residence and informs his ass there is no way she is letting him get hitched. Things start coming up Tom when Vi falls to her death from the lighthouse, and although he could easily save her life Tom watches her plummet to the icy waters below. Well, problem fuckin’ solved I guess… Of course Tom’s shitty ways soon catch up with him, as the preternatural goings-on begin to mount, which isn’t helped much by the lore spun by the locals that only accentuates the supernatural shenanigans experienced by our hero… unnatural events that leads one to believe Vi is back from the dead and ready to

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Jul 5, 2024

Movie Review: The Guyver (1991) – Unearthed 4K/Blu-ray/CD combo

So dig this; in prehistoric times aliens visited the Earth and created mankind along with a race of monstrous mutants named Zoanoids. They also created a way of destroying the Zoanoids called a Guyver unit; a suit of bio-mechanic armor that encases it’s user from head to toe and gives them amazing ability as well as deadly weaponry. We learn this via on screen text before we cut to a scientist named Dr. Tetsu Segawa (Greg Joung Paik) haulin’ ass away from the Chronos Corporation, pilfered items in tow… items he hides before turning into a fish monster and battling Chronos’ security goons, who’s ranks include Jimmy “JJ” Walker (from beloved ’70s television sitcom Good Times… and yes, he says “Dy-no-mite” in the film at least once, and raps throughout) and The Hills Have Eyes‘ Michael Berryman. As if it isn’t strange enough, Berryman’s character Lisker… in truth a Zoanoid, as are all the Chronos cronies… turns into a monster

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Jul 5, 2024

More from Indie

Sci-fi Horror Movie ‘Brightwood’ Goes Viral

From time to time, something that actually deserves attention goes viral on social media, and I’m not talking about the “hawk tuah” girl. I’m talking about the indie horror movie Brightwood. Seemingly out of nowhere, the 2023 movie has suddenly gone viral, with posts on social media from fans reaching over 8 million views. The award-winning film, which debuted last August, received a 94% fresh rating at the time of its release. During its festival tour, it got high praise from critics. More rave reviews came after its release on VOD from critics and viewers alike, earning it a massive following that only continues to grow. Written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Dane Elcar, Brightwood stars Dana Berger (Orange is the New Black) and Max Woertendyke (Succession) as a couple on the verge of divorce. The two, to their horror, find themselves stuck while on a run around a local pond. At its core, this sci-fi horror film delves into

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Aug 1, 2024

An Interview with ‘In Our Blood’ Director and Its Stars

Following the premiere of horror-thriller In Our Blood at Fantasia, I sat down with the film’s director, Pedro Kos, and its stars, Brittany O’Grady (“The White Lotus”) and E. J. Bonilla (“The Old Man”), to have quite the entertaining conversation about the film’s complexity, its heart, and its big twist. Don’t worry; there are no major spoilers. O’Grady stars as Emily, a young woman who returns to the small border town where she was born to reunite with the mother she’s estranged from. She is joined by her cameraman, Danny, played by Bonilla, who struggles with keeping Emily grounded. But while making a documentary about the reunion, Emily and Danny make a dark discovery that sends them into a spiral of chaos. After watching In Our Blood, I wanted to ask a few questions that were lingering in my mind. Luckily, Pedro, Brittany, and E.J. were willing to let me pick their brains. I couldn’t believe how kind and funny

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Jul 25, 2024

A Dark Discovery is Made in ‘The Mitchin Murders’ Trailer

Terror Films has just announced the release of The Mitchin Murders, a chilling new film by writer-director Jamie Bolton-Debbage. The Mitchin Murders follows two intrepid documentarians as they delve into the darkness of the town of Mitchin. Their mission: to uncover the truth behind a series of gruesome killings linked to a local boogeyman legend. Bolton-Debbage describes his film as the first in a series of “hipster horror” projects. Set in the 1990s, the film captures the distinct aesthetics of the era while weaving in relevant social issues. Expect a healthy dose of female empowerment and a plot to keep you guessing. The Mitchin Murders boasts a talented cast, including Georgie McGuigan, Robert Metson, Kate Winter, and Alistair Findlay. The film’s authenticity is further enhanced by the use of 90s-style cinematography, which transports the audience right into the heart of the mystery. Get ready to uncover dark secrets when The Mitchin Murders is released on September 6th, 2024, across multiple

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Jul 23, 2024

Discover the Monstrous New Poster for Shudder’s ‘Hell Hole’

Calling all Shudder subscribers! Get ready for a chilling descent into sci-fi horror with Hell Hole, premiering exclusively on the streaming service this August. Today, the creepy new poster has arrived. Hell Hole is the latest brainchild of the Adams Family filmmaking team—John Adams, Lulu Adams, and Toby Poser. This sci-fi horror flick takes viewers deep into the remote wilderness of Serbia. An American drilling crew stumbles upon a horrifying discovery that turns their world upside down. The crew unearths a horrifying sight – a perfectly preserved French soldier entombed within the frozen rock. But the terror doesn’t stop there. A parasitic monster bursts from the soldier’s icy prison, seeking a new host within the mining facility. As the crew confronts this monstrous entity, a desperate fight for survival ensues. The talented cast, featuring Toby Poser, John Adams, Lulu Adams, Max Portman, Anders Hove, and Olivera Perunicic, brings the characters’ struggles to life. The Adams family is a force to

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Jul 18, 2024

Game Review: ‘Lifeless Moon’

The moon is mysterious, true we’ve sent men to it and are planning to go back soon. Mystery awaits humanity but, what if, there’s something there, something man-made? That’s what Lifeless Worlds and Serenity Forge offer players in Lifeless Moon. Lifeless Moon puts players in the boots of an Astronaut on one of the Apollo Moon Missions. While exploring the moon with your crewmate, you discover a rip in space and time that sends you to another world, or are you still on the moon? Now, onto the game itself! when it comes to Lifeless Moon‘s controls, there is not a whole lot as the game is mainly exploration and platforming. One issue that annoyed me to no end while playing was the inventory and notebook mechanic, as from time to time the notebook’s pages seem to glitch. When it comes to the game’s sound, it’s OK but what I liked was the soundtrack even though at times the music

Continue reading →
Daniel S. Liuzzi
Jul 11, 2024

Movie Review: Dracula, Prisoner of Frankenstein (1972) – Severin Blu-ray

Drac (Jess Franco regular Howard Vernon, who’s appearance here proves my words, as this too is a Franco flick) is back, and he’s doing his fang bang schtick on ye local comely lasses… an action that really sticks in the ass of Dr. Jonathan Seward (Alberto Dalbés)… here filling the traditional Van Helsing role… so much so that he takes a carriage ride to Dracula’s castle and straight up stakes the mother sucker turning him into an ex-bat! Well, nightmare over… right? Wrong. Before the pillow is even cold, Dr. Frankenstein (Dennis Price, who would return to the role in Franco’s The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein a year later in 1973), and his unfortunately horny assistant Morpho (Luis Barboo) slide their asses on into the castle, and immediately reawaken the Doctor’s Monster (Fernando Bilbao) whom they’ve conveniently brought along. Said Monster then ambles into town and abducts a showgirl (who’s eventual corpse is the only thing to quench Morpho’s unholy

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Jul 10, 2024

Body Horror ‘Tiger Stripes’ Claws Its Way onto VOD Today

Brace yourself for a coming-of-age story that will get under your skin. Tiger Stripes, the critically acclaimed debut film by director Amanda Nell Eu, is out today. This unique film tackles the complexities of puberty through a haunting lens of female body horror. Zaffan, a rebellious 12-year-old, experiences a horrifying transformation as her body begins to change. Struggling to maintain normalcy at school, Zaffan desperately tries to hide her transformations, leading to a growing sense of isolation and fear. As Zaffan’s anxieties rise, a wave of mass hysteria engulfs the school. Rumors of a dark presence and bizarre physical manifestations spread like wildfire. A visiting doctor arrives, determined to banish the supposed demon plaguing the school. Tragically, his misguided investigation leads him to Zaffan, wrongly accusing her of causing the chaos. Faced with public humiliation and the doctor’s extreme methods, Zaffan undergoes a profound transformation. Like a cornered tiger, she sheds her inhibitions and unleashes her rage. She channels her

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Jul 10, 2024

‘Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open’ coming to PC and Consoles

Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open, the latest ghostly apparition from Cellar Vault Games and Chorus Worldwide Games, is releasing on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox One (X/S Compatible), and Nintendo Switch. Third Eye Open is a new installment in the award-winning Paper Ghost Stories series, it provides a narrative-driven visual novel that follows the story of Ting, a young girl who possesses the ability to see spirits. Joined by her young ghost friend Xiu, the pair are forced to face challenges from both the real and spiritual worlds, as Ting battles to discover whether her power is a gift or a curse. This coming-of-age narrative covers five pivotal years of Ting’s childhood when she discovers just how her powers make her different from her peers as she struggles to come to terms with her abilities. While Ting contends with trying to save her family on the verge of falling apart, she will need to navigate challenging conversations, save

Continue reading →
Daniel S. Liuzzi
Jul 8, 2024

Movie Review: Tormented (1960) – Film Masters Blu-ray

Apparent chick magnet Tom Stewart (Richard Carlson, The Creature From the Black Lagoon) is a jazz musician who just got a slight crimp in his plans to marry his fiancée Meg Hubbard (Lugene Sanders) in the form of jealous ex-lover Vi (Juli Reding), who shows up at a lighthouse next to Tom’s Cape Cod residence and informs his ass there is no way she is letting him get hitched. Things start coming up Tom when Vi falls to her death from the lighthouse, and although he could easily save her life Tom watches her plummet to the icy waters below. Well, problem fuckin’ solved I guess… Of course Tom’s shitty ways soon catch up with him, as the preternatural goings-on begin to mount, which isn’t helped much by the lore spun by the locals that only accentuates the supernatural shenanigans experienced by our hero… unnatural events that leads one to believe Vi is back from the dead and ready to

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Jul 5, 2024

Movie Review: The Guyver (1991) – Unearthed 4K/Blu-ray/CD combo

So dig this; in prehistoric times aliens visited the Earth and created mankind along with a race of monstrous mutants named Zoanoids. They also created a way of destroying the Zoanoids called a Guyver unit; a suit of bio-mechanic armor that encases it’s user from head to toe and gives them amazing ability as well as deadly weaponry. We learn this via on screen text before we cut to a scientist named Dr. Tetsu Segawa (Greg Joung Paik) haulin’ ass away from the Chronos Corporation, pilfered items in tow… items he hides before turning into a fish monster and battling Chronos’ security goons, who’s ranks include Jimmy “JJ” Walker (from beloved ’70s television sitcom Good Times… and yes, he says “Dy-no-mite” in the film at least once, and raps throughout) and The Hills Have Eyes‘ Michael Berryman. As if it isn’t strange enough, Berryman’s character Lisker… in truth a Zoanoid, as are all the Chronos cronies… turns into a monster

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Jul 5, 2024
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