‘Pretty evil.’

Scream Queens is an American horror comedy anthology television series created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan that premiered on Fox on September 22, 2015.

Ryan Murphy has stated that every episode a cast member will be killed off, saying, “It’s very much like Ten Little Indians. There’s a real tune-in factor because it’s like, Who’s going to be picked off this week? And also who is the killer? Every episode, you get clues as to who the killer is going to be and then all of these clues accumulate.”

Plot:

The first season focuses on the Kappa Kappa Tau sorority at Wallace University, led by Chanel Oberlin (Emma Roberts), that is threatened by Dean Cathy Munsch (Jamie Lee Curtis); leading to events that reignite a 20-year old murder mystery, with the re-emergence of the Red Devil serial killer, who begins targeting the sorority members…

Reviews:

Borders on constant hysteria but relatively amusing if you can handle the sensory overload and unsubtle political jibes.

Adrian J Smith, Horrorpedia

“Shiny, gory and whip-smart, Scream Queens thus attempted to pummel the viewer into submission with sheer, rictus-grinning relentlessness. And it worked.” Ed Power, The Telegraph

“The satire is sharp, including a scene in which one sister texts with her killer as he’s trying to kill her. But the two-hour premiere does itself no favors, so overstuffed with scares, silliness, intrigues and occasional moments of real horror that it fails to coalesce into something resembling coherence.” Vicki Hyman, nj.com

“Similarities to past horror/comedies aside, Scream Queens is successful in its mission to entertain. While it may not have the broad appeal FOX is counting on, it certainly has the performers and creative tools to craft an enjoyable ride. And although the focus for many won’t be on narrative, Scream Queens also has a fun murder mystery to solve.” Daniel Johnson, Screen Rant

“Get past the baubles, though, and the series simply feels too derivative to be truly exciting or particularly suspenseful. So while the casting and format should be enough to help Scream Queens make some initial noise ratings-wise, creatively speaking, there’s just not much here to shout about.” Brian Lowry, Variety

Main cast and characters:

• Emma Roberts as Chanel Oberlin; the merciless president of the Kappa Kappa Tau sorority at Wallace University.
• Skyler Samuels as Grace Gardner; a Kappa Kappa Tau legacy and pledge who wants to uncover the mysteries surrounding Kappa and the recent murders
• Lea Michele as Hester Ulrich / Chanel #6; an awkward girl with scoliosis and Kappa Kappa Tau pledge who becomes Chanel’s new pseudo minion
• Glen Powell as Chad Radwell; Chanel’s womanizing, on-again/off-again boyfriend and the president of the Dickie Dollar Scholars fraternity
• Diego Boneta as Pete Martinez; the university’s newspaper editor, Grace’s love interest and her co-investigator
• Abigail Breslin as Chanel #5; a member of Kappa Kappa Tau and one of Chanel’s minions
• Keke Palmer as Zayday Williams; Grace’s streetwise roommate who has a genius IQ and a Kappa Kappa Tau pledge who challenges Chanel for the presidency of Kappa
• Nasim Pedrad as Gigi Caldwell; the sorority’s national president with a psyche stuck in the 1990’s.
• Lucien Laviscount as Earl Grey; a British member of the Dickie Dollar Scholars
• Oliver Hudson as Weston “Wes” Gardner; Grace’s father and a professor at Wallace University
• Billie Lourd as Chanel #3 (surname Swenson); a member of Kappa Kappa Tau and one of Chanel’s minions. She is allegedly the illegitimate daughter of infamous serial killer Charles Manson
• Jamie Lee Curtis as Cathy Munsch; the Dean of the university

Trailer:

Revenge of the Sun Demon aka What’s Up, Hideous Sun Demon is a 1983 re-dubbed, re-edited comedy version of The Hideous Sun Demon (1959) scripted by Craig Mitchell, Allen Astrik and Mark Estrik. Featuring the voice of Jay Leno, the spoof was authorised by original director Robert Clarke.

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Clip:

IMDb

King of the Zombies is a 1941 American horror comedy film directed by Jean Yarbrough (The Devil Bat; She-Wolf of London; House of Horrors) from a screenplay by Edmond Kelso. It was produced by Monogram Pictures.

The role of Dr. Miklos Sangre was intended for Bela Lugosi. When he became unavailable, negotiations ensued to obtain Peter Lorre for the part, but a deal could not be reached. Veteran character actor Henry Victor was signed just prior to the date of filming.

In the press kit for this film, Monogram advised exhibitors to sell “it along the same lines as Paramount’s The Ghost Breakers (1940).”

Two years later, in 1943, the film was followed by a sequel, of sorts, called Revenge of the Zombies which included two of the original cast members. Mantan Moreland reprised his role as Jeff.

Plot:

During World War II, a Capelis XC-12 plane somewhere over the Caribbean runs low on fuel and is blown off course by a storm. Guided by a faint radio signal, they crash-land on an island. The passenger, his manservant and the pilot take refuge in a mansion owned by a doctor.

Quick-witted yet easily frightened valet (Mantan Moreland) soon becomes convinced the mansion is haunted by zombies, and confirms this with some of the doctor’s hired help.

Exploring, the three stumble upon a voodoo ritual being conducted in the cellar, where the doctor, who is in reality a foreign spy, is trying to acquire war intelligence from a captured US Admiral whose plane had crashed in a similar fashion on the island. But the interruption causes the zombies to turn on their master…

Buy: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

Reviews:

“In what would otherwise be a rather mediocre movie, the hilarious performance of Mantan Moreland is masterful to say the least. It’s interesting to see that, even back in the forties, black people were the voice of reason in horror movies. White people never listen, and are therefore doomed.” Nigel Honeybone, HorrorNews.net

“… utterly absurd and delightful” Peter Dendle, The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

“Jeff’s role is a lot like that played by Shaggy some 30 years later in Scooby Doo, Where Are You? – with the important distinction that we are invited to believe that Jeff’s cowardice somehow follows naturally and inevitably from him being black. Above and beyond all else, it’s this that makes watching King of the Zombies such an uncomfortable experience.” 1000 Misspent Hours and Counting

Buy Poverty Row Horrors! from Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

Cast and characters:

• Dick Purcell as James “Mac” McCarthy
• Joan Woodbury as Barbara Winslow
• Mantan Moreland as valet Jefferson “Jeff” Jackson
• Henry Victor as Dr. Miklos Sangre
• John Archer as Bill Summers
• Patricia Stacey as Alyce Sangre
• Guy Usher as Admiral Arthur Wainwright
• Marguerite Whitten as Samantha, the Maid
• Leigh Whipper as Momba, the Butler
• Madame Sul-Te-Wan as Tahama, the Cook and High Priestess
• James Davis as Lazarus, a Zombie
• Laurence Criner as Dr. Couillie

Whole film [public domain]:

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘You’ll burn for this’

Flesh for the Inferno is a 2015 American supernatural comedy horror film directed by Richard Griffin (Creature from the Hillbilly Lagoon; Necroville; Frankenstein’s Hungry Dead) from a screenplay by Michael Varrati (Tales of Poe; The Sins of Dracula; 60 Seconds to Die).

Cast:

Anna Rizzo, Jamie Dufault, Monica Saviolakis, Jamie Lyn Bagley and Michael Thurber.

Plot:

At a Catholic school, the nuns have noticed that the priest is doing more than just leading his students in prayer. Not content to stand idly by as evil walks their halls, the Sisters decide to take action. Confronted by the nuns about his wicked ways, the priest retaliates. For defying him, the Father takes the Sisters hostage and bricks them into the walls of the school’s basement. The sadistic and fatal punishment shakes the faith of the women, forcing them to renounce their holy vows in the moments before their demise.

Decades later, the school is now vacated. Selected by the community as a building marked for urban renewal, a neighborhood youth group has volunteered their afternoon to clean up the premises…

Release:

The film will be released on DVD in the US on February 23, 2016, via Scorpio Film Releasing with the following special features:

• Commentary with Director Richard Griffin and Writer Michael Varrati
• Commentary with Cast and Crew
• Interview with Director Richard Griffin and Writer Michael Varrati
• Trailer

Trailer:

IMDb | Facebook

She Loves Me is a 2015 American short-film, directed by Andrew Michalski and starring Matthew Bannister and Maria Nicole Held. Now doing the rounds on the festival circuit, the film won best short horror film at the Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival.

On a summer’s eve, young sweethearts, Ben and Kat, settle upon a daisy-strewn locale, full of young love, foolish notions and, no doubt, a selection of savoury snacks. Ben is full of bashful good intentions and clumsy small-talk, whilst Kat is equally daffy, as I suspect you must be to partake of Scotch eggs and wine alfresco at midnight. When Ben professes his feelings via the age-old method of plucking one of the profligate daisies and yanking off the petals one-by-one to the refrain of, “she loves me, she loves me not…”, all goes westwards when he takes exception to her insolence, prompting a slightly disproportionate machete attack. As the final five minutes play out, it becomes apparent that both of them would have been wise to take closer heed to the sign warning, “don’t pick the daisies”…

Firstly, a few thoughts on the nature of short films. Several years ago they were almost solely the tinkerings of film school students, filling their exam requirements or escaping them by filming exactly what they weren’t supposed to. Now, more often than not, they are the only way a new film-maker can get their work seen by both curious audiences and potential distributors, a necessary stepping-stone to ‘the real thing’. The counter balance to this is that this suits the horror genre very well – for the audience it allows for snappy shocks without unnecessary baggage; for the creators it gives the opportunity to both gauge audience reaction or even think better of a full-length development. With the horror film festival circuit booming in both Europe and the US, the shorts which now fulfil an important part of the offering, often serve to dish up surprises in the same way that support bands have the occasional temerity to blow the main act off the stage. Short-films are the only time it is appropriate for someone to write, direct, produce, make the tea etc – elsewhere it is the tell-tale sign of blinkered claptrap.

She Loves Me, a 15-minute film which quickly nails its colours to the mast with some obviously exaggerated performances, takes the bull by the horns and goes for the black-humour jugular, a dangerous move at the best of times. It’s testament to the actors and the director that no-one falls on their metaphorical face, more-so that the generic lunatic pitch is shuffled aside with equal aplomb. With a Carry On slug of wit, She Loves Me is clever enough to understand what it sets out to pastiche, whilst still having enough in its guts to change direction successfully and give hope that the promise is given the opportunity to grow. Writer, producer and director, Andrew Michalski explains the film’s genesis:

‘Who you gonna call’

Ghostbusters is a 2016 American supernatural comedy film directed by Paul Feig (who began his movie career in 1987 as an actor in Zombie High) from a screenplay co-written with Katie Dippold. The film’s working title was Ghostbusters 3 and it is a gender-swapped reboot of the Ghostbusters franchise.

Principal filming took place in Boston and New York City from June to September 2015. The film, which has reported budget of $154 million, is scheduled for a July 15, 2016 release in 3D and Real D 3D.

Main cast:

Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, Chris Hemsworth, Neil Casey and Andy García.

Plot:

Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig) and Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) are a pair of unheralded authors who write a book positing thatghosts are real. A few years later, Gilbert lands a prestigious teaching position at Columbia University, but her book resurfaces and she is laughed out of academia.

When ghosts invade Manhattan, Gilbert reunites with Yates, plus Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon), a nuclear engineer, and Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones), an NYC subway worker, to save the world…

Cast and characters:

• Kristen Wiig as Erin Gilbert, a published author on the subject of the paranormal and professor at Columbia University
• Melissa McCarthy as Abby Yates, who co-authored the book with Gilbert
• Kate McKinnon as Jillian Holtzmann, a nuclear engineer and Yates’ new partner
• Leslie Jones as Patty Tolan, an NYC subway worker who stumbles across the main supernatural threat in the film.
• Chris Hemsworth as Kevin, the Ghostbusters’ receptionist
• Neil Casey as Rowan, the villain
• Andy García as the Mayor of New York City
• Elizabeth Perkins
• Cecily Strong
• Michael K. Williams as Hawkins
• Matt Walsh as Rourke
• Pat Kiernan as a News Anchor

Cameos:

• Dan Aykroyd
• Ernie Hudson
• Bill Murray
• Ozzy Osbourne
• Annie Potts
• Sigourney Weaver

Wikipedia | IMDb

Just when you thought it was safe to go home!

House Shark is a 2016 American satirical horror film produced, written and directed by SRS Cinema owner Ron Bonk (Gut Pile, Satan’s Cannibal Holocaust, Sexquatch: The Legend of Blood Stool Creek).

Bonk has launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise $15,000 for production. Practical effects will be handled by Marcus Koch (Sweatshop; We Are Still Here, American Guinea Pig). Wes Reid, Trey Harrison (Night of Something Strange) and Michael Merchant (Amityville Death House) will star.

Plot:

When Frank (Trey Harrison) finds his happy home under attack by a dangerous but largely unknown breed of shark, he’s enlists the aid of the world’s only “House Shark” Expert, Zachary (Michael Merchant), and a grizzled former real estate agent, Abraham (Wes Reid), to embark on a desperate quest to destroy the beast and claim back his life…

Teaser trailer:

Sharksploitation on Horrorpedia: 2-Headed Shark Attack | 3-Headed Shark Attack | Atomic Shark | Avalanche Sharks | Cruel Jaws | Ghost Shark | Ghost Shark 2: Urban Jaws | Great White | Hammerhead: Shark Frenzy aka SharkMan | Jaws | Jaws 2 | Jersey Shore Shark Attack | Jurassic Shark | Malibu Shark Attack | Mega Shark vs. Crocosaurus | Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus | Mega Shark vs. Kolossus | Piranha Sharks | Psycho Shark | Raiders of the Lost Shark | Roboshark | Sand Sharks | Shark Attack 3: Megalodon | Shark Exorcist | The Shark is Still Working | Shark Lake | Shark Week | Sharkansas Women’s Prison Massacre | Sharknado | Sharknado 2: The Second One | Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! | Sharktopus | Sharktopus vs. Mermantula | Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda | Sky Sharks | Snow Shark | Super Shark | Swamp Shark | Zombie Shark

‘Demons are a girl’s best friend’

Ava’s Possessions is a 2015 comedy horror film written and directed by Jordan Galland.

Momentum Pictures release the film in cinemas and on VOD March 4, 2016. A DVD release by Entertainment One follows on April 6,

Buy: Amazon.com

Main cast:

Jemima Kirke, Carol Kane (When a Stranger Calls), William Sadler, Alysia Reiner, Louisa Krause, Dan Fogler, Joel de la Fuente, Lou Taylor Pucci, John Ventimiglia, Deborah Rush,  Whitney Able, Wass Stevens, Zachary Booth, Geneva Carr, Stella Schnabel.

Plot:

Ava Dobkins is recovering from demonic possession. With no memory of the past month, she is forced to attend a Spirit Possession Anonymous support group. As Ava struggles to reconnect with her friends, get her job back, and figure out where the huge bloodstain in her apartment came from, she’s plagued by nightmarish visions – the demon is trying to come back…

Reviews:

“Galland’s film plays more like a cable-ready mystery than a cult film in the making, offering just enough chuckles to stay afloat. Though sometimes clever, it doesn’t offer anything like the deep-geek inventiveness of, say, Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright’s movies. Still, it’s a nice alternative to yet another self-serious Exorcist wannabe.” John DeFore, The Hollywood Reporter

“It’s clear early on that this is a low-key affair, but while low budget doesn’t have to mean low energy that’s exactly what we get here … It’s all just so flat, and while some of that is attributed to the performances the fault ultimately sits with the direction and script.’ Rob Hunter, Film School Rejects

“Galland elevates his film by going about exorcisms in a fresh light, whether he’s filming the religious ritual from Ava’s point-of-view or addressing how survivors cope, and his ambitious efforts pay off in the realm of cinematic individuality. It’s not without slow sections and scenes that could use some tighter performances, but Ava’s Possession is a favorable genre watch that offers more than cussing demons and heroic priests who save the day.” Matt Donato, We Got This Covered

Trailer:

IMDb | Facebook

Vere Vazhi Ille (English: “No Other Way”) is an 2015 Malaysian horror comedy and the first zombie film in Tamil, written and directed by M.S. Prem Nath.

It stars Denes Kumar in the lead role with Jasmine Michael. The film was released on 2 July 2015 in Malaysia and Singapore.

Plot:

Surya is an easygoing laid back guy who constantly switches jobs. One day, he accepts a job from his former employer at a security agency, who offers him RM3,000 for a 2-day and 1-night job as security guard at a soon-to-be shut down shopping complex building.

Maniam, the former Head of Security, gives Surya a tour in the building and tells him that the most suspicious and dangerous place he should avoid is the sixth floor, which is currently rented by a religious yoga group led by `Swamiji` (priest). They are up to no good as they plan to summon and trap spirits in dead bodies so that they can control them.

When the door to the spirit world is opened, dozens are possessed and turned into flesh eating Zombies. The only way to stop the Zombies is to get the Black Magic Book located on the sixth floor…

Teaser:

Trailer:

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘What role will you play?’

OMG… We’re in a Horror Movie!!! is a 2014 American comedy horror film directed by Ajala Bandele (who also stars) from a screenplay co-written with Tom Hatfield. As the title suggests, it concerns a group of friends who inexplicably find themselves trapped in a horror movie…

Main cast:

Ajala Bandele, Liz Fenning, Sharon Mae Wang, Brittany Anne Woodford, Brendan McGowan, Shanna Malcolm, Chris Hampton, Nils Jansson.

Official synopsis:

Six friends having a weekly board game night are interrupted by a booming movie trailer voice from the sky. Inexplicably, they find themselves trapped in a horror movie!

Who amongst them will turn into a homicidal killer? Who will be the sole survivor? And who will be the first to die in the shower? Struggling to break free from the stereotypes that would see them dead, each of the friends try to stay alive in whatever hopelessly desperate ways they can…

Review:

“If you’re expecting cheap parody-esque jokes with pooping and farting, they are pretty much non-existent here. The film is full of clever jokes found in the writing of the film that play on the expectations of a typical horror (and slasher, specifically) film.” Brendan W, Game It All

“Raunchy, offensive humor can be fantastic when the punchlines land, but in this sad case, they do not. To Bandele’s credit, he does try to draw laughs by breaking the fourth wall, but these efforts are horribly overshadowed.” Alicja Johnson, Screen Relish

“So many doors were opened when the cast was tossed into their own horror movie but they tried to play it safe by attempting to be a shitty slasher with no originality or entertaining values.” Blacktooth, Horror Society

“This movie might be some of the best horror satire I’ve seen in a long time.  I’ve seen some reviews that liken it to Tucker and Dale vs Evil and I have to agree.  In this movie nothing is as you expect it to be, and you just need to strap in and enjoy the ride.” Aubrey Bree, Nerd Squadron

” … big on ideas, but low on technical proficiency, good writing, acting, and story. It tries hard, withCommunity and Joss Whedon-esque aspirations of humour, but its characters irritate and most of its jokes fall flat.” Joel Harley, Starburst

“After a strong start, it’s fair to say that the film sags towards the middle and the running time of 107 minutes does feel a little over stretched … Mad, but kind of fun at the same time. Not all of the laughs land quite as you might want… ” Sinead Beverland, UK Horror Scene

Trailer:

IMDb | Official website | Facebook

WH

‘Some assembly required’

Patchwork is a 2015 Canadian-American comedy horror film directed by Tyler MacIntyre from a screenplay co-written with Chris Lee Hill.

Main cast:

Tory Stolper, Tracey Fairaway, Maria Blasucci, James Phelps, Craig Anstett, Seth Cassell, Anthony DiMieri, Eric Edelstein, Camila Greenberg, Mark Hapka.

Plot:

Three young women go out partying one night and find themselves Frankensteined together in one body. Now they must put aside their differences so they can find who did this and exact revenge!

Reviews:

“Not much in the way of scares – but the frequent and well-done gore will have you laughing and gagging simultaneously. Honestly, whether in the operating room where Stitch was brought to life, or during one of the many murderous rampages to find her/their killer, there is no shortage of bloody fun in Patchwork.” Michael Klug, Horrorfreak News

“The acting by the three ladies is superb, as was the overall story. The humour hit home more often than not, and the makeup effects were excellent. While the sadist in me wishes that it was a little gorier, there’s still plenty of brutality here being doled out by the creature. Tyler MacIntyre has taken the Frankenstein tale and tweaked it, giving us something new and fun. Definitely check it out.”Pat Torfe, Bloody Disgusting

“Tyler MacIntyre’s film Patchwork is a riotous take on the Frankenstein story by way of Stuart Gordon. The writing by MacIntyre and his writing partner Chris Lee Hill (This Hour Has 22 Minutes) is strewn with humor and cartoonish violence. During one scene the girl(s) are bashing in someone’s skull with a brick and his partner, in a panicky voice, asks, “Can you please stop doing that?”. The pair really have put a lot of laughs into their film.” Andrew Mack, Twitch

“Patchwork is a highly entertaining, funny, twisted and original take on the classic Frankenstein mythos. It features fine performances, solid directing and great use of practical make-up effects; one piece nearly stole the entire film. MacIntyre’s film is very much Re-Animator for a new generation of genre fans. It’s not as good as that horror classic – not many genre films can or ever will be – but it certainly deserves to be recognized as one of the best genre films of the year…” Ernie Trinidad, Film Pulse

“Having more meaning than most lends an endearing intelligence to “Patchwork” not often found in this kind of film.  Equally genius about the presentation is that none of the messaging is heavy handed.  There is enough subtlety that subtext can be ignored if one chooses, and the meat of the movie can be enjoyed as unadulterated horror humor no matter what.” Culture Crypt

“Much like Stuart Gordon’s Re-Animator and Hennenlotter’s Frankenhooker, this film has a wicked sense of humor while it tosses body parts into your face. The film pulls no punches with the ultragore, which is a part of all the fun. Those who long for the 80s blood-drenched horror films have a new film to fawn over as this film sloshes around in the red stuff with unabandoned glee.” Ambush Bug, Ain’t It Cool News

Trailer:

IMDb | Facebook

Suckula is a 1973 American adult comedy horror film directed by Anthony Spinelli [as Jack Armstrong].

Cast:

Pat Arno, Ann Finn, Art Gill, George ‘Buck’ Flower (Criminally Insane; The Fog; Pumpkinhead), Brigitte Maier, Antoinette Maynard, Paul Scharf, Keith Erickson, Jim Sims.

Plot: 

George Smutnam (George ‘Buck’ Flower), a New York news reporter, covers Dracula’s rampage in Hollywood.

Review:

“The movie is like a poverty row version of The Groove Tube or Kentucky Fried Movie. There are goofy commercials interspersed throughout them tracking down Dracula. I did think it odd that the Dracula scenes were done with silent film title cards. Made it a little surreal.” Divine Exploitation

Choice dialogue:

George Smutnam: “Now stay tuned for the late movie, The Mad Motorcycle Monster Who Ate Naked Hippies.”

IMDb

‘2 men, 2 weeks to live, too many vampires.’

The Slayers is a 2015 British comedy horror film written and directed by John Williams (director of the shorts The Mothertown and Dark).

Main cast:

Darren McAree, Matthew Sandland, George Newton, Sophie Elsby, Dan Smith, Marnix Van Der Kraan and Pete Bennett.

Plot:

Two cult members, Nigel and Job, decide to go on a road trip during their last two weeks on earth. Bucketlist in hand, motorhome fired up, the two head for the mountains of Scotland for a final fortnight filled with girls, skydiving, camping, alcohol and strange men claiming to be vampire slayers…

Filming locations:

Staffordshire Moorlands and Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

Trailer:

IMDb | Facebook | Official site

WH

‘Angrier. Deadlier. Sexier.’

American Psycho 2 – aka American Psycho II: All American Girl – is a 2002 black comedy slasher horror film sequel to American Psycho (2000) directed by Morgan J. Freeman from a screenplay by Alex Sanger and Karen Craig. It stars Mila Kunis (Black Swan) and William Shatner (Incubus; The Devil’s Rain; A Christmas Horror Story).

The film was adapted from a script titled The Girl Who Wouldn’t Die, and was originally conceived as a thriller with no association with American Psycho. It was not until production began that the film’s script was altered with the incorporation of the Patrick Bateman subplot.

In 2005, Kunis expressed embarrassment over the film, and spoke out against the idea of a sequel. “Please — somebody stop this,” she said. “Write a petition. When I did the second one, I didn’t know it would be ’American Psycho II.’ It was supposed to be a different project, and it was re-edited, but, ooh … I don’t know. Bad.”

Buy: Amazon.co.uk

Plot:

A 12-year-old girl is being looked after a babysitter who is on a date with serial killer Patrick Bateman. After Bateman kills and starts to dissect her babysitter, the girl stabs him with an ice pick.

Fast forward to the present day and the girl, who is named Rachael Newman, is now a college student studying criminology under Professor Starkman, a former FBI agent. Rachael aspires to join the FBI and is determined to get the teaching assistant position under Starkman, which would make her a shoe-in for the FBI training program.

Tough competition for the position stands in her way, and Rachael proceeds to kill off classmates one by one…

Reviews:

“Well, let’s face it; the screenplay, directing and the film’s bravery are not up to par with the original “American Psycho”. But as a stand alone, kitschy, more conventional slasher…it worked. It’s tacky, easy on the eyes/ears and pleasant enough to peek under its skirt to witness the goods.” Arrow in the Head

“Kundis does a good job as Newman, blending sexuality with a sharp performance, although there are often telltale signs of the film’s breakneck 20-day shoot. The ‘Two Years Later’ coda is also ludicrous. But what would be a slasher sequel be without one of those? Despite its critical panning, American Psycho 2 could have been far worse.” Slasherama.com

” … a mixture of dumbed-down irony, groan-inducing black comedy, and gratuitous bloodshed. Like the original film, Psycho 2 treats mass murder as a joke, with society’s indifference as the punchline, but the gag isn’t fresh or funny this time around. Freeman and his screenwriters mistake misogyny and misanthropy for satire and sociological insight…” Nathan Rabin, A.V. Club

Cast and characters:

• Mila Kunis as Rachael Newman, the serial killer, and a student of Professor Starkman’s class, seeking to learn everything she can about serial killers.
• William Shatner as Robert Starkman, a college professor and former FBI agent. He teaches in the Behavioral and Social Sciences department and is Rachael’s professor.
• Kim Schraner as Elizabeth McGuire, Starkman’s assistant
• Geraint Wyn Davies as Eric Daniels, the school psychiatrist
• Michael Kremko as Patrick Bateman, the killer (in the original, Bateman was played by Christian Bale) in this film, the character exists only in Rachael’s memories.
• Robin Dunne as Brian Leads, one of Rachael’s classmates; he is choked to death with a condom by her.
• Kim Poirier as Barbara Brown, a student in Starkman’s class who is hoping for a good grade, only to be set aside due to the professor’s affair with Cassandra Blaire.
• Lindy Booth as Cassandra Blaire, a student in Starkman’s class with whom he is having an affair.
• Charles Officer as Keith Lawson
• Shoshana Sperling as Gertrude Fleck
• Lynne Deragon as Mrs. Newman
• Philip Williams as Mr. Newman
• Kay Hawtrey as Mrs. Daniels

Choice dialogue:

Rachael Newman: “My mother drives me crazy. Now I know that sounds pretty clichéd but how many people actually envision carving into their mother’s neck and yanking out her vocal chords?”

Trailer:

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘Mascot’s mirthful mystery’

One Frightened Night is a 1935 American comedy mystery thriller film directed by Christy Cabanne (The Mummy’s Hand; Scared to Death) from a screenplay by Wellyn Totman, based on a story by Stuart Palmer (The Smiling Ghost).

The film is in the public domain.

Plot:

Faced with an upcoming inheritance tax, multimillionaire Jasper Whyte summons a group of people to his mansion to announce that he is leaving each of them one million dollars.

The situation soon changes when he discovers a long lost granddaughter Doris Waverly has come to his mansion; Jasper decides to leave his total fortune to her. However, another Doris Waverly arrives at the mansion and a murder is committed…

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Reviews:

“This films stands out from other stories of rainy nights and jealous inheritance mostly because if its dialog which is as quick as a 1930s film needed to be. Since cinematographers hadn’t quite grasped the concept of emulating candlelight and since film quality left much to be desired, writers had to be sharp enough to keep audiences riveted. This film is no different. It’s billed as a comedy and mystery, and it lives up to both.” Scott Beggs, Film School Rejects

“So if you like natural lighting and interchangeable blondes, then One Frightened Night is your cup of poisoned tea. Drink up!” The Umbrellahead Review

“Low budget thriller that sometimes seems like a spoof of The Cat and the Canary.” Leslie Halliwell, Halliwell’s Film Guide

Choice dialogue:

Joe Luvalle: “Pardon me madam, are you made up for Lady MacBeth?”

Deputy Abner: “It wasn’t human! It wasn’t like any face like you’ve seen before.”

Cast and characters:

• Charley Grapewin as Jasper Whyte
• Lucien Littlefield as Dr. Denham
• Mary Carlisle as The Second Doris Waverly
• Regis Toomey as Tom Dean
• Arthur Hohl as Arthur Proctor
• Fred Kelsey as Sheriff Jenks
• Evalyn Knapp as The Fake Doris Waverly
• Clarence Wilson as Mr. Felix
• Wallace Ford as Joe Luvalle
• Adrian Morris as Deputy Abner
• Hedda Hopper as Laura Proctor
• Rafaela Ottiano as Elvira, the Maid

Whole film:

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘Tis about to get medieval up in here’

Knights of Badassdom is a 2013 American comedy horror film directed by Joe Lynch (Wrong Turn 2: Dead End; Chillerama) from a screenplay by Kevin Dreyfuss and Matt Wall. Allegedly, the producers took over Lynch’s direction and reduced the film’s humour to repeated one-joke ideas.

Main cast:

Ryan Kwanten, Steve Zahn, Peter Dinklage and Summer Glau.

Plot:

Three best male friends and dedicated roleplayers (Peter Dinklage, Ryan Kwanten, Steve Zahn) take to the woods to reenact a-like live-action medieval role-playing game. Trouble arises when a prop book of spells purchased on the internet ends up being a genuine grimoire and they unwittingly conjure up a blood-lusting succubus from Hell…

Reviews:

“While the LARPers are ostensibly treated with affection, the film still repeatedly goes for low-hanging comedy fruit such as the histrionic and incorrect olde-English-speak they use while in-game, an obvious gag that quickly grows tiresome.” Dan Kaufman, Paste Magazine

“It has plenty of humorously over-the-top gore, and a knowing way around its subject, though its inside jokes are available to all. It’s hardly a masterpiece, but then, it shows no signs it ever wanted to be, and sometimes that’s a relief.” Sam Adams, The Dissolve

“the movie’s ideas feel like desperate homages/ ripoffs that someone got afraid of, legally speaking, at the last minute, such as an opening credits sequence designed to look this close to the prologue of “Evil Dead 2.” Todd Gilchrist, The Wrap

“Knights of Badassdom actually delivers everything the 2011 Danny McBride-James Franco comedy “Your Highness” purported to be but fell short on. The film is This Is the End festooned with Middle Ages accoutrements. In spite of its B-movie low-tech effects, the cheesiness does not attenuate the gruesomeness quotient.” Martin Tsai, Los Angeles Times

Cast and characters:

• Ryan Kwanten as Joe
• Steve Zahn as Eric
• Summer Glau as Gwen
• Peter Dinklage as Hung
• Margarita Levieva as Beth / Succubus
• Jimmi Simpson as Ronnie
• Brett Gipson as Gunther
• Danny Pudi as Lando
• Douglas Tait as Abominog
• Brian Posehn as Gilberto
• Khanh Doan as Andie

Filming Locations:

Spokane, Washington, USA

Trailer:

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘Fearless! Unstoppable! Ready for his close-up!’

My Name Is Bruce is a 2007 American comedy supernatural horror film, directed, co-produced by and starring cult actor Bruce Campbell. The film was written by Mark Verheiden (The Mask; Timecop).

Plot:

In the mining town of Gold Lick, Oregon, Jeff (Taylor Sharpe), a young fan of B movie actor Bruce Campbell, and his friend Clayton (Logan Martin) go out to a cemetery to meet two girls, Big Debbie (Ariel Badenhop) and Little Debbie (Ali Akay). Jeff removes a medallion off the mausoleum, unleashing the Chinese god of the dead, Guan Di (James Peck), who kills Clayton and both Debbie’s while Jeff flees.

Meanwhile, Bruce Campbell is finishing filming for the fictional Cave Alien II, and is promised a birthday surprise from his agent, Mills Toddner (Ted Raimi). Bruce meets Jeff, who kidnaps Campbell and takes him to Gold Lick in hopes that his hero can save the town from Guan-Di. Upon arrival, Bruce assumes it’s his birthday surprise from Mills, and thinks it’s all a movie, despite a lack of cameras and a script, and agrees to “help”.

Reviews:

“You’d think that all those years hanging out with Sam Raimi would have rubbed off on him, but Campbell doesn’t cut it as a director, turning in a clumsy comedy-horror, packed with gags both racist and creaking, that squeaks through on the force of his personality alone. For Deadheads only.” Tom Ambrose, Empire

“Fans will embrace Bruce for the lovable genre hero he is; others may wonder whether the godawful ghost of Troma hasn’t risen from the grave. Yet ask yourself – would you rather have Jean-Claude Van Damme moaning about how hard it is to be himself in JCVD or Bruce Campbell merrily celebrating his own chainsaw-wielding ridiculousness? No contest!” Mark Kermode, The Guardian

” … irrepressible, cheap-as-chips spoof that is the very thing it’s lampooning: a late night picture show, straight-to-DVD fun-fest with special FX so cheesy they make Bubba Ho-tep‘s look like Weta on Berocca. But, littered with clever in-jokes and daft slapstick, this is honestly the most fun you can have on a Friday night and I just loved it.” Film Reviews by Elaine MacIntryre [“the most fun on a Friday night” C’mon, Elaine? Horrorpedia staff]

“The script, by Mark Verheiden (who wrote Timecop and multiple episodes of the television series Smallville, the revived Battlestar Galactica, and Heroes, among other things), has its moments, but it’s just too dang dumb. I did laugh a few times, but not often, and sometimes I cringed.” D Gary Grady

“My Name is Bruce is a self-deprecating film made by and starring Bruce Campbell, B-movie icon. For what it is, it’s a really funny movie that makes fun of Campbell’s entire career — save for, perhaps, his cameos in the Spider-man films. It borrows plot elements from a lot of movies he was in previously, and it makes more references than it could if it wanted to include anyone not in the know.” Marter, The Escapist

“The script by Verheiden is quirky, fast-paced, and loaded with quotable dialogue mostly given to Campbell because let’s face it, just about every line of dialogue the Mighty Chin speaks these days usually ends up being quoted for the rest of time. There are also a lot of choice quips aimed in the direction of some of Campbell’s more questionable career decisions.” Geeks of Doom

Trailer:

Wikipedia | IMDb

Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The Mystery Map is a direct-to-video production of Scooby-Doo, this time featuring puppets. It premiered on July 21, 2013 at San Diego Comic-Con International, and was released on July 23, 2013 as a digital download and as a Walmart-exclusive DVD.

Plot:

The Scooby Gang is little and hanging out in their tree house. Fred is lifting weights talking to himself in the mirror, Velma is using her computer, and Daphne is looking at her shoes and orders them to be lined up. Then Shaggy orders a pizza. The gang denies eating the pizza when it arrives. Then Scooby finds a rolled up map in his slice of pizza. The gang sets out to find the treasure of Gnarlybeard the Pirate. On the adventure they encounter Phantom Parrot and Gnarlybeard the Pirate, among others…

Reviews:

“Pirate and parrot puppets make this an oddball Scooby offshoot. Ultimately it doesn’t hold up well next to even the weaker animated Scooby series, but for those five and under it might prove enticing.” Chaz Lipp, The Morton Report

“I asked Gammon if he minded it being with puppets rather than his usual cartoon. He said ‘no’, and he must have been telling the truth, because he asked me to put it on for him every afternoon for a week after school while he sat down ready to eat his snack. Four year old praise indeed!” Gammon & Chips

Having previously assumed that Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! was the lowest of the low when it comes to Scooby and the gang’s antics (so, clearly, I had consigned A Pup Named Scooby-Doo to a part of my brain that refuses to remember such abominations), I am sorry to report that this puppet ‘mare is extraordinarily awful. Even without the fact that the puppets look nothing like their animated antecedents, the script is insultingly idiotic and the apparent intention of aiming this at very young kids is even more insulting. Let them watch the real cartoon deal when they are old enough not to be scared! And I thought I’d seen it all when I encountered the XXX Scooby scuzz.

Adrian J Smith, Horrorpedia

Cast and characters:

• Frank Welker as Scooby-Doo, Fred Jones (voices)
• Matthew Lillard as Shaggy Rogers (voice)
• Stephanie D’Abruzzo as Velma Dinkley, Shirley (voices)
• Grey DeLisle Griffin as Daphne, Dr. Escobar (voices)
• John Rhys-Davies as Gnarlybeard (voice)
• Dee Bradley Baker as Ye Phantom Parrot, Stu (voices)
• Jeff Bennett as Lighthouse Lou, Hot Dog Vendor (voices)

Clip:

Wikipedia | IMDb

Scherzo Diabolico is a 2015 Mexican-American comedy horror thriller film written and directed by Adrián García Bogliano (The ABCs of Death: “B Is for Bigfoot”; Penumbra; Cold Sweat; Here Comes the Devil; Late Phases).

The title refers to a musical piece which is is the third of the Études in the minor keys, for solo piano by the French composer Charles-Valentin Alkan.

The film is released in the US by Dark Sky Films on DVD and VOD on May 3, 2016.

Main cast:

Francisco Barreiro (We Are What We Are, Here Comes the Devil), , Vita Vargas, Evan Alducin, Pau Alva, Tito Guillén, Pablo Guisa Koestinger.

Plot:

Mexico City: Aram (Francisco Barreiro) is a low-paid accountant living an unbearably dull existence. With a nagging wife who berates him for not being assertive enough, he quietly suffers while awaiting a long-deserved promotion. But there’s more to Aram than his quiet demeanor lets on. In fact, he has been secretly devising a scheme to finally get what he feels he is owed.

“Scherzo Diabolico’s third act takes a welcome turn into black comedy, and its unexpected moments of violence will likely inspire huzzahs from midnight audiences. One particular image of gore is basically abstract expressionism. Yet these moments of dark fun are wildly at odds with the psycho-sexual torture of the earlier scenes.” Jordan Hoffman, The Guardian

“It’s interesting and meaty stuff that Bogliano address in a subtle and polished way. Through all of the vivid flashes of violence and pitch-black humor, Scherzo Diabolico feels like his most personal and entertaining work yet. There’s a meanness and bleakness to the film that may turn off some viewers…” Patrick Cooper, Bloody Disgusting

“There’s a fine line between being darkly humorous and downright disturbing, and Scherzo Diabolico tiptoes along it like a tightrope. Viewers with leanings toward the sadistic side of cinema might find themselves laughing out loud (full disclosure: I did), but most probably won’t find much of the film to be a humorous matter; it gets dark. Very, very dark.” Madeleine Koestner, Fangoria

Filming locations:

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

IMDb | Facebook

Buppha Ratree: Haunting in Japan is a 2016 Thai comedy horror film written and directed by Yuthlert Sippapak (Rahtree: Flower of the Night; Buppah Rahtree Phase 2: Rahtree Returns; Rahtree Reborn and Rahtree Revenge).

Plot:

A Thai rock band travel to Japan to shoot a new snow-bound music video. Unfortunately, the band discover that the house they have rented for the shoot is haunted by a female ghost. So, they call in an exorcist…

Trailer:

Source: Twitch