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Thursday, October 17, 2024
Late Night with the Devil (2024) #496
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994) #495
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
The Children (2008) #494
Monday, October 14, 2024
Salem's Lot (2024) #493
Sunday, October 13, 2024
The Endless (2017) #492
Always be aware of cults, things never end well with cults. And if you happen to be lucky enough to leave a cult, don't go back for a visit! This is the advice that was presented but not heeded in the cosmic horror instant classic "The Endless". Directed and produced by Aaron Moorehead and Justin Benson, the "The Endless" is a cautionary tale of two brothers, also played by Benson and Moorehead, who receive a video from their old cult which tempts the younger one to return to what he saw as a better life.
The movie begins by establishing what life is like for the two brothers, Justin and Aaron, first by showing the friction between the two over the purchase of a car battery. The older brother is the more grounded and responsible one while the younger is flighty and distracted. Instead of picking up a car battery, Aaron spends $20 to purchase a used camcorder so he can watch the mysterious recording that was mailed to them. The video shows Anna, a member from Camp Arcadia, telling the viewer that it's almost time for ascension, so don't be worried if they're not around, that they will be back soon. Justin is forced to acknowledge that the immediate danger that he foretold that would come to the group took longer than he estimated, ten years in fact, but it was bound to happen. He still believes that he saved his brother and himself from a dangerous UFO suicide cult, although their lives are less than ideal. They struggle with money and relationships, working as house cleaners who cook their meals of ramen while on the job. We even see two scenes where the brothers are attending Cult Deprogramming sessions, a lifelong journey to reassimilate. Justin is hopeful that things will improve while Aaron is depressed and begs to visit the camp in order to at least say a proper goodbye; Justin eventually agrees that the two can go for a single day and night.
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Hostel 2 (2007) #491
Friday, October 11, 2024
Resolution (2013) #490
For me, "Resolution" is a difficult movie to review; it encapsulates so many impressions that is hard to properly describe. It's quirky, it's thought provoking, it's confusing, and its creative. "Resolution" is also very enjoyable, rewatchable, and is a fantastic first film for Aaron Morehead and Justin Benson. The duo has garnered a respectable reputation in the independent movie scene and are held in high regard in the cosmic horror sub-genre. "Resolution" establishes a foundation that would be seen in some of their future movies.
Thursday, October 10, 2024
Strange Harvest: Occult Murder in the Inland Empire (2024) #489
The movie begins by introducing Detective Joe Kirby and his partner Detective Alexis Taylor, and their involvement in the Mr. Shiny case after the discovery of a gruesome crime scene. It soon becomes apparent that after a long hiatus, Mr. Shiny has resumed his killing spree within the San Bernardino valley. The movie then shows his first three crimes, which at first seem completely unrelated other than the extreme violence involved. After the discovery of an occult like symbol and a letter taunting the police, the come to realize that they are dealing with a serial killer.
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Hellraiser (2022) #488
After all of the fanfare, the buildup, excitement, and naysayers full of doubt, the long-awaited revival of "Hellraiser" has arrived! Now that it has had some time to be seen by the masses and picked apart by those who didn't care for it for one reason or another, I'm here to share my thoughts about the eleventh film of this beloved franchise. I enjoyed the movie and recognize that it is not a direct sequel to any of the films but rather a clever reimagining of the powers of the puzzle box and its wicked guardians.
The story then refocuses on Riley, a struggling former drug addict who is trying to balance life between her new bad influence boyfriend Trevor and her estranged brother Matt and his circle of friends. Trevor convinces Riley to help him with a heist but all they find is the strange and unassuming puzzle box within a safe. When Riley returns home, she has an argument with Matt who accuses her of using again. She leaves to a park and solves the puzzle, barely missing getting cut by a blade that springs forth from the box. Matt comes looking for her, is cut by the box, and accidently becomes the next victim and is taken as a sacrifice by the Cenobites. Matt's boyfriend Colin and his roommate Nora help Riley and Trevor search for Matt and try to solve the mystery around the puzzle box.
Riely and her friends are eventually led to Voight's abandoned mansion, itself a puzzle box of sorts that very reminiscent of the house from "Thir13en Ghosts". As they come closer to finding out the truth about the box, the Cenobites make their presence further known and try to regain the puzzle box by whatever means necessary. They demand sacrifices, even at the expense of sacrificing one of their own, and if enough tributes are offered, who will receive the "gift" and what will they choose?
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Dream Eater (2024) #487
Making it's US premiere at the 29th annual H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival, "Dream Eater" was eagerly received by those in attendance. This film shows the love that a D.I.Y independent film crew can create, where the three writers were also the directors, and two of them were the primary actors. This normally a sign for disaster but this was anything but that. "Dream Eater" is an engaging, tense film that amps up to a relentless climax. The ending may leave you with questions that you'll be kicking around long after the movie has finished, in a good way.
"Dream Eater" is about a documentary filmmaker who is recording her boyfriend's erratic and violent parasomnia. The movie is presented as a found footage film, which is perfect considering that nature of the narrative. Alex and Mallory leave the city for a vacation at a secluded cabin in the snowy mountains. Isolated, they only have each other to depend on. While loving, the relationship seems toxic with sudden outbursts from Alex whenever he is questioned about his childhood. At night, his parasomnia behavior escalates more every night, as Alex begins to claim that there is another presence there with them, hiding beneath the house. It becomes clear to Mallory that something is terribly wrong, possibly related to his childhood, possibly something supernatural, but most likely both.
"Dream Eater" is unique for a found footage film for few reasons. For one, there is a musical score, something that is noticeably absent for obvious reason. Second, there is a moment in the film where it feels like Mallory is breaking the fourth wall and speaking directly to the audience as she shows us a video clip that she discovered. This leads the viewer to entertain the idea that the movie itself is a documentary, that Mallory used this as her next project. It's an interesting concept if true, but in any case, this does not ruin or take away from the from the haunting atmosphere that is carefully crafted. And I love any movie that takes place in a snowy winter wonderland!
Jay Drakulic and Alex Lee Williams during a cosmic horror panel