American Mary (2012) #413

"American Mary" is a stylish and sexy horror film staring Katherine Isabelle as Mary Mason,
a med student who begins performing extreme body modifications to pay her mounting debts. The film is directed and written by the Soska Sisters, who appear in the film as patients/customers of Mary's, spinning an interesting story that tastefully walks the line between torture porn and mad-scientist genres. Mary feels like a real character which makes it easy for the viewers to relate to her. "American Mary" keeps the audience intrigued throughout the film but feels like it sputters to an abrupt end with it's somewhat anticlimactic ending.

Mary Mason decides to become a stripper so she can keep up with her mounting bills that she is incurring while she is at med school to become a surgeon. While "interviewing" at the strip club, Mary is paid $5000.00 to save the life of a man who appears to have been tortured in the club's basement. A few days later Mary is approached by a dancer from the club who asks Mary to perform a body modification procedure on a friend of hers. Mary is reluctant but decides to accept the job and it's $10,000 offered fee. Mary soon becomes popular in the counter culture world of body modifications, meeting clients and making her art. But her actions have repercussions that come back to haunt her...

Katherine Isabelle as Mary Mason

Devil's Rejects (2005) #412

One thing that Rob Zombie is extremely gifted in is the ability to draw so many recognizable names to appear in his films; from Danny Trejo to Kane Hodder, to Ken Foress to even comic Brian Posehn. Sadly, he isn't nearly as gifted at creating a solid horror film. Granted, "The Devil's Rejects" was only his second feature film and is an obvious homage to the grindhouse films of the 1970's but it stands to argue that it is he weakest production, overly violent without a purpose, and it is simply not entertaining for the casual horror film viewer. Besides the fact that the movie stars three of the characters from Zombie's "House of 1000 Corpses", "The Devil's Rejects" barely functions as a horror movie in the first place.

Castle Freak (1995) #411

Director Stuart Gordon returns to familiar ground with his 1995 film "Castle Freak", which is inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's short story "The Outsider". "Castle Freak" sees the return of Jefferey Combs, as the character John Reilly, and Barbara Crampton as his wife Susan. All three professionals seem more mature and laid back in this film when compared to their earlier work such as "Re-Animator" and "From Beyond"; "Castle Freak" is a darker, has a a steady build of tension, and deals with themes more adult, such as the dealing with the accidental death of a child and alcoholism. Although the movie is only loosely based on Lovecraft's short story, the movie feels very much like a story he would have written. It follows themes that Lovecraft used several times including a lead character having a mysterious family past.

While the story is and performances are solid, the film quality of the movie is lacking, which is evident since this film went straight to the video shelf. My other complaint is the overly energetic score by composer Richard Band. His work for the "Re-Animator" series was perfect, matching the chaotic nature of the Dr. Herbert West and his ungodly creations, but in this film it stands out as a stark opposite of everything that is occurring on screen.

John Reilly, his wife Susan and his daughter Rebecca, arrive in Italy to take over an old family estate that he has inherited from an unknown duchess that he was related to. There is an immense amount of strain between John and Susan ever since he was responsible for a car accident in which their son was killed and Rebecca was left blind. As the family goes about their business of settling in and deciding what to do with the estate, the unknown and deformed inhabitant in the basement escapes and begins to watch the family. This "castle freak" begins to kill the locals and the deaths are blamed on John. As John tries to clear his name and prove his innocence, the freak sets his sights on Rebecca, resulting in a climatic fight with John on top of the roof in a rain storm.

Sanatorium (2013) #410

Cliches buried beneath cliches is the best way to describe 2013's "Sanatorium". It's yet another found footage movie about another group of film makers going into a closed down asylum/madhouse/hospital/haunted house to record the rumored ghosts that walk the hallways. First there's the typical "did you hear that?" or "did you feel that" moments followed by an obvious supernatural occurrences, which leads to the violent "run for your lives" panic that ends with the eventual death of everyone. There's also the young new couple that you're supposed to care about that's introduced in the beginning, the jerk, and the typical nice guy that's just there to do his job.

Chances are that you've seen this movie before even if you haven't; it feels that generic. The film "Grave Encounters" is the first film to come to mind. But even though it is that generic, I really enjoyed this film; this style really appeals to me and I could watch variations of this story line over and over. For everyone else, if this was the first time this type of film had been made, it would be great. It's a solid ghost movie with a spooky back story and a slow build of tension until thing go crazy at the end. But it's not and so I would suggest "Grave Encounters" instead, just for the freaky moments (ghost in the corner and the bath tub) that are in it.

Grace: The Possession (2014) #409

"Grace: The Possession" may seem like just another story about a sheltered naive young girl who becomes possessed by an evil demon who is eventually freed through the efforts of an exorcism, but there is more to this film than meets the eye. What sets this movie apart from films such as "The Exorcism of Emily Rose", "La Posesion de Emma Evans", and "The Last Exorcism" is how you watch the events unfold, through the eyes of Grace, the girl who is possessed. Everything in the film is seen from the point of view of Grace, giving the movie the feeling that you are watching a found footage movie, just like the recent remake of "Maniac". Beyond this clever and effective use of shaky-cam, "Grace" doesn't deliver anything new to this sub-genre. The movie hits the typical plot points that are common for this theme from the slow discovery of the possession, to the demon taking control, to the timing of the exorcism; even the "twist" ending is exactly what you expect. Alexia Fast gives a fine performance as Grace and I hope to see her in future horror films.

Come Back to Me (2014) #408

"Come Back to Me" is a clever and unique horror film that takes a few horror elements and spins them around, giving them a fresh new twist. I became very interested in seeing this film after I found out that it was based on the book "The Resurrectionist" by Wrath James White, a writer that I'm hearing a lot of good things about. The film is violent, unexpected, has a creepy character, and has a ending that is very memorable; the first half of the film is a bit slow and confusing but everything makes sense soon enough in the second half. This is another must see horror film is you like slow building tension that pays off in the end.

The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014) #407

One of the more intelligent POV films from the last few years, "The Taking of Deborah Logan" was a pleasant surprise that delivers intense thrills that involve characters that are you care about. What begins as a documentary about Deborah and the effects of Alzheimer's Diesease quickly spirals into something dark and supernatural, with the documentary crew and Deborah's daughter racing against the clock to save to her. Everything about this movie runs smoothly, from the acting to the story to the special effects; the plot twists were surprising and kept the movie felling fresh. Without giving anything away, I can say that this film is a must see for anyone who is looking for a solid horror movie.

Finders Keepers (2014) #406

"Finders Keepers" is a weak horror film that borrows heavily from both "Child's Play" and "Trilogy of Terror", where the focus of the story is about a evil, possessed doll that kills everyone. This doll, named Lilith, looks similar to the Zuni fetish doll from "Trilogy" and is just as violent. Lilith is also found and loved by a young girl, who she quickly possesses, and Lilith doesn't waste any time in her efforts to kill the people around her new friend. And like the original "Child's Play", various adults suspect that either the young girl or even her newly divorced mother is to blame for the body count. But unlike either film, the film is seriously lacking any scares or even scenes of the doll in motion killing people. The doll just sits there, the girl just screams when someone tries to take the doll away, an the girl just screams some more when someone tries to give her a new doll. My other complaint is this - why are all of the victims who are stabbed with a knife are stabbed so high in the backs; the doll is barely a 12 inches tall. The movie pushes good taste and patience and isn't worth the time to watch.

Deliver Us From Evil (2014) #405

Director Scott Derrickson is back with familiar material in his newest film, "Deliver Us From Evil". Unfortunately, this movie fails to find the nice balance between normal and supernatural that "The Exorcism of Emily Rose", or the truly frightening suspense and tension that was built up in "Sinister". I disliked the movie overall considering that the first half was much too slow. Also, the movie spends too much time in the dark with too many overwhelming shadows and sickly green backgrounds. Despite it's shortcomings,"Deliver Us From Evil" finds some interesting and entertaining moments late in the film concerning possessions and exorcisms.

Based on real experiences by New York cop Ralph Sarchie, "Deliver Us From Evil" follows his work with a castilin priest as they track down a possessed marine who is spreading his influence among others in the city.

Cabin Fever: Patient Zero (2014) #404

"Cabin Fever: Patient Zero" is another unnecessary sequel trying to capitalize on a successful, original film. Set as a prequel to the events in 2002's "Cabin Fever", "Patient Zero" fails to offer anything new the franchise and just feels like more of the same. Half of the movie follows a man named Porter (played by Sean Austin), who is immune to the infection that he is carrying. He spends most of the film locked in an unreliable quarantine system where he is able to infect others, including a mouse. During this time we still do not learn the cause of the infection (unless I missed it) but it is revealed that the doctor tending on Porter believes that he is close to coming up with a cure...which will ultimately make him rich and famous. The other half of the film focuses on a bachelor party that finds it's way onto the island where Porter is being kept. Party people and scientists are both exposed to infection and die in bloody messes, just like they do in the previous two films.

I could say that the movie's lackluster performance was due to the director, Kaare Andrews, isn't even really a filmmaker but a man who is better known for his contributions as an illustrator for Marvel Comics. But knowing that, I can't blame him because he didn't write the script or develop the concept, he was just working with what he had.

Annabelle (2014) #403

Taking inspiration from the real life files of Ed and Loraine Warren and the commercial success of "The Conjuring", 2014's "Annabelle" is a prequel/spin-off combination film that is entertaining and yet misses the (perhaps unfair) expectations set by the original film in this franchise. This film creates a back story for the possessed doll that was locked away in the Warrens basement collection room in "The Conjuring". I'm not a fan of over explaining scary or evil things but this is exactly why "Annabelle" was made. At times the story feels a little predictable and some of the visual effects reminded me of other movies I had recently seen. The movie did have some tense and scary moments so I would recommend this film to those who have not see "The Conjuring" already.


Inspired by Ed and Lorraine Warren's invesigations into the supernatural and paranormal, "Annabelle" is a story about a doll that becomes possessed by a Satan worshiper. The young family that owned the doll becomes haunted by it and their attempts to rid themselves of it prove nearly impossible.

Mercy (2014) #402

"Mercy" is another film that has been adapted from a short story by Stephen King originally titled "Gramma" ; these little gems will be coming to light for many more years to come. It has his feel about it, from the names of the characters to their familiar relationships. The movie stars Chandler Riggs (Carl from "The Walking Dead") as George, a young boy who is close with his grandmother Mercy. Chandler delivers a fine performance and carries the movie well while supported by Dylan McDermott and Frances O'Connor. What I liked most about this film is that it embraced the fact that it was dealing with supernatural elements unlike other movies in recent years that seem to through supernatural aspects into the plot for a surprise twist or for an easy ending.

George is the only relative that seems to love and get a long with his grandmother Mercy. George enjoys spending time with her and listening to her stories and advice, and then teasing his older brother with the stories that haunt their family history. After Mercy has a stroke and is forced out of the nursing home, George's mother brings George and his brother with her back to her childhood home to take care of Mercy. Strange events begin to take place that directly affect George's mother and her two siblings, as well as George's brother and even an old flame of his mom's. George discovers that witchcraft, spirits, and even a spell book are all apart of Mercy's past. But what will this mean for him and his family?

Author's Note - Films of 2014

2013 was a stellar year for horror movies, both mainstream and direct to video. So this week I'm focusing on seeing what 2014 has to offer, taking on such films as "Tusk", "Deliver Us From Evil", and a handful of films currently found on Netflix.

Tusk (2014) #401

"Tusk" is a difficult film to like but it does have some positive aspects to it.

1. It's better than "The Human Centipede".
2. Fleetwood Mac's song "Tusk" was played at the perfect time in the film.
3. This is the first time that I've enjoyed seeing Justin Long in a movie.
4. The end result of the transformation is gruesome and freaky.

That being said, "Tusk" is a train wreck of a movie that starts off fine, losing a bit of steam, finds a little steam, and then goes completely off the rails when Johnny Depp's character is introduced. Considering that the premise of the movie was derived from a joke during one of Kevin Smith's own podcasts, I can see how he didn't even take the concept seriously from beginning to end. It's a shame because the concept had potential and I enjoyed the steady line between comedy and horror that the film had during the first hour.

Rabid (1977) #400

"Rabid" is a thrilling and an unexpected surprise from writer/director David Cronenberg. As Mr. Cronenberg's fourth feature film, "Rabid" crosses genres and themes seamlessly, giving the viewer brief glimpses of material that the director would delve deeper into in the coming years. Elements of sexuality, unique violence, and general WTF moments fill this film in some of the most entertaining ways. It could be said that this film laid the groundwork for such films as "28 Days Later" and "REC", films that wouldn't grace the silver screen for more than twenty years later.

I was bracing myself for some particular cheesy acting and visuals because the film was produced in the late 1970's but my fears were quickly abated once the action began, mere minutes after the credits finished rolling. I love this movie because it IS so unique; the reasons and the way that one person makes another "rabid" is clever and completely original. The fact that all of the victims, including the host, never had any recollection of the horror that they experienced until they feel the thirst for blood and further spread the disease themselves.

Rose is severely burned after she and her boyfriend have a terrible accident on their motorcycle. Rose is rushed to a nearby plastic surgery clinic where the lead doctor tends to her wounds, using unusual techniques that have an unexpected side effects. The transplants and skin grafts take, but Rose is left with an unconscious thirst for blood and a new appendage from to which to feed. Each victim that falls prey to Rose soon becomes infected with rabies like symptoms as well as a similar thirst for blood. As the search for Rose by her boyfriend continues, the city slowly falls into chaos as more and more people become "Rabid".

Favorite moment - When the doctor that treated Rose begins to suffer is rabid tendencies while in the middle of an operation.

Author's Note - ONCE AGAIN, MORE HORROR MOVIES YOU MUST SEE! And my 400th review

It's been a long time due but I've finally written my 400th horror movie review, and as I do with every 100 reviews, I've picked out a handful of movies that really stuck out and that I think that every fan of horror should see, or see again, if they haven't already. I have noticed that each film was released between 2009 to 2013, which means that the horror movie industry is still going strong! I'm excited to see what comes out during the new year but I'm also going to continue to delve deep into horror films from the 1970's,1980's, and 1990's to find what gems may be lurking there.

Once again, I want to say thank you to everyone who has read this blog and supports it. Thank you to my friends who I get to bounce ideas off of and who give me great movie recommendations in return. And thank you to everyone who has told a friend about my reviews!

1. "Bad Milo" - One of the best horror/comedies I've ever seen, "Bad Milo" is crude, disgusting, and absolutely hilarious.                                 http://hauntingchillingthrilling.blogspot.com/2014/03/bad-milo-2013.html
2. "Kill Theory" - A group of friends are forced to kill each other or else they'll be killed by their captor.                                                             http://hauntingchillingthrilling.blogspot.com/2014/04/kill-theory-2009.html
3. "Frankenstein's Army" - A non-stop thrill ride of bizzare machine-men hybrids terrorizing a Russian squad during WWII.                   http://hauntingchillingthrilling.blogspot.com/2014/04/frankensteins-army-2013-366.html
4. "Contracted" - Gruesome, well paced film about the physical and emotional deterioration of a young woman infected with an unknown disease.    http://hauntingchillingthrilling.blogspot.com/2014/04/contracted-2013-367.html
5. "Jug Face" - Refreshing tale about a young woman trying to avoid her destiny in a close knit community that worships a demon that lives in a swampy pit.   http://hauntingchillingthrilling.blogspot.com/2014/06/jug-face-2013-377.html
6. "The Returned" - Exploring the possibility of trying to cure those people who were infected during the last zombie epidemic.                      http://hauntingchillingthrilling.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-returned-2013-376.html
7. "You're Next" - Home invasion movie that includes one the most kick ass heroines as well as one of the best scenes in recent memory. 

"Bad Milo"

"Kill Theory"

"Frankenstein's Army"

"Contracted"

"Jug Face"

 "The Returned"

"You're Next"

13 Sins (2014) #399

To what length would you go if you were offered greatly increased amounts of money, deposited directly into your bank account, to perform various tasks from an unknown voice on the other end of a phone? Elliot needs money desperately after he loses his job because he has a pregnant fiancee, mentally handicapped brother, and an angry and abusive father to take care of. His luck changes with a phone call; Elliot thinks that he is blessed after he is asked to kill a fly and is awarded $1000 for his efforts. Slowly the requests grow more uncomfortable as the cash reward grows. From making a child cry to taking a corpse out to coffee to unspeakable deeds, Elliot finds himself forced into completing 13 tasks that will ultimately change his life and the lives of the people he loves the most. The movie is quick paced, beginning violently and never letting up.

Deadgirl (2008) #398

"Deadgirl" is a difficult film to watch due to the depraved nature of the story; two high school boys find a girl, who happens to be a zombie, tied up in an abandoned psychiatric hospital. The depravity comes in when one of the boys decides to have his way with the captive zombie, while the other boy decides to end their friendship when he decides that he doesn't want to sexually violate the living dead. While I can appreciate the fact that the director and producers of this film decided to explore this aspect of the zombie movie sub-genre and dared to be bold and different, I strongly feel that this story would be best served as a short story rather than as a movie. It may be deemed artistic by some but I was not entertained by this movie nor did I find it scary as a horror film. I did enjoy the secondary story between Rickie and Joann and I wish more time was spent on this dynamic and having the story about the "deadgirl" accent their relationship, opposite of what actually takes place precedent.

House of the Devil (2009) #397

The only real way to enjoy director Ti West is 1) watch his films with an open mind and 2) watch more than one of his films. While I appreciate his efforts in the 2013 film "Sacrament", I was ultimately disappointed with the final product. So when I watched and finished "House of the Devil", I felt almost the same way. Both films offer the viewer a very, very slow "burn" before the films reach their climax, and when the big reveal or plot tilt occurs, it doesn't feel like it's enough. But when I sat down to write this review for "House of the Devil", I found myself looking back at both films rather fondly. These are the kind of films that require multiple viewings perhaps; both offer enough substance and tension to chew on for a while and so maybe with a second viewing, both movies might prove to be more rewarding. Having said this, I do prefer "Sacrament" over "House of the Devil" at the moment although the latter is worth checking out. I confess that I'm excited to watch both movies again in the few days!

"House of the Devil" is set, and filmed as if was made, during the early 1980's. The music style, the clothing, the angles that the camera is used to film the movie, and other techniques are all expertly applied. Even the opening and closing credits show traits that were popular during the horror films of the 70's and 80's. The movie itself is about a satanic cult, a lunar eclipse, and a college student in need of cash; all elements that were popular in the 1980's. The way that the story plays out is simple and obvious, playing on the fear of satanic cults in a subtle way. When the action takes place on screen, it's quick and brutal, unlike other horror movies currently that try to drown the viewers with gore and violence.