STAR LIGHT REVIEW

A teen’s life is turned upside down when he helps a world-famous pop star on the run to escape her violent pursuers.

Starring: Scout Taylor-Compton, Rahart Adams, and Cameron Johnson

Directed by: Mitchell Altieri, and Lee Cummings

Written by: Mitchell Altieri, Jamal M. Jennings, and Adam Weis

  Whether it’s a movie, or music star most of us have had a crush on a few of them. We’ve seen all their movies, or listened to their songs all day long. Most of us will never meet that person, but what if you did. What if the universe actually gave you that opportunity? Would it be everything you thought it would be? 

  Well a young teen named Dylan (Cameron Johnson) is about to find out. He’s a big fan of a music star named Bebe (Scout Taylor-Compton), who he has listened to all her songs and watched her videos. While she fills his dreams he’s stuck in the reality of an average teen boy. He’s not exactly getting along with his mom’s new boyfriend, and is still finding his place among his friends. He leaves a party early to have some time alone only to have the woman of his dreams literally crash into him. 

  Bebe crashes her car, and then crashes into Dylan while trying to run away from the scene. She gets knocked out so Dylan takes her back to his friend's house, and they decide what to do next. Unknown to them is that Anton (Bret Roberts) is on the lookout for her, and has already killed several people during his search. Things have already gotten a little weird at the house, but when Anton shows up things begin to go bad.

  What’s interesting here is that while this story is supposed to be about Dylan and Bebe somehow Anton steals the show. Early on he just plays along with people before eventually doing away with them. Then he just gets creepy with the teens showing up in windows, and whispering in their ears. He does a lot without having to do too much. On top of that he has something in the trunk of his car that will leave the audience dying to see. 

  Instead of going in the house after the teens, Anton gets in their heads. That doesn’t mean damage won’t be done because the first death inside the house is a lot more brutal than expected. Actually there’s a decent amount blood spilled once the teens start turning on each other in their attempts to leave. Of course everything comes back to Bebe and what’s going on with her. Without giving too much away, lets just say singing isn’t her only talent. She has a few more tricks up her sleeve because of where she comes from. 

  Dylan probably never thought he would meet Bebe, and things certainly didn’t go the way he expected once he did. He lost some friends, but established a unique bond with Bebe in their short time together. Yes, this is a good, but strange story. A lot is revealed in the final act, but it feels like they needed to go a little further. They do go far enough with the deaths in the house making it nice and bloody. Again, the star is supposed to be Bebe, but Anton really takes over the movie. With that, I give “Star Light” 2.5 pools of blood.

  HorrO

More info about this film at: http://promotehorror.com/2020/07/27/star-light-out-on-digital-and-on-demand-8-4/

SHE DIES TOMORROW REVIEW

Amy thinks she’s dying tomorrow…and it’s contagious.

Starring: Kate Lyn Sheil, Jane Adams, and Kentucker Audley 

Directed and written by: Amy Seimetz

  When we think about things that are contagious usually the flu is at the top of the list. Nowadays that’s probably been replaced by COVID-19, as people are masked-up and socially distant. However, there are other things that can be contagious like emotions. Imagine being sad and having the happiest person you know talk to you, and without noticing your sadness goes away. Perhaps that person’s happiness wore off on you without noticing. Now imagine someone spreads an idea that's a little darker like dying tomorrow!

  Amy (Kate Lyn Sheil) is acting a little strange because she absolutely believes that she’s going to die tomorrow. She does random stuff around her house, and starts preparing for her death. Her friend Jane (Jane Adams) calls her only to end up talking about death. Jane doesn’t believe Amy’s crazy talk of dying tomorrow, and insists that she’s going to be fine. Soon enough Jane starts acting weird as well. Yes, she now believes that she’s going to die tomorrow.

  It’s almost as this needs to be passed on because Jane and her strange behavior rushes over to her brother’s (Chris Messina) house where a party is happening. It seemed like it was going well, but it all changes when Jane starts talking about her death coming tomorrow. Of course the party goers are thrown off by this, and the birthday girl is left extremely upset. Well the audience can guess what’s going to happen to this group of people once Jane leaves. 

  As these events and a few more play out, the audience is left to wonder what’s really happening here. Well, this isn’t a movie with a whole lot of explanations. They’re just going to have to watch and put a few of the pieces together. One of the most interesting things that happens with some of the characters is how honest they become when they believe they’re going to die. It’s a little shocking how some of them feel especially about the people around them. Is their new belief in death tied with their guilt? Just one of maybe a few theories the audience can play with.

  Really, the movie wants the audience to get more caught up with the imaginary, and the performances. As one might expect, there are some unusual scenes and awkward conversations to go along with them. One of those conversations is about a special leather jacket that Amy wants made, and another is an amusing scene where Jane enters a house and ends up going for a swim. The performances are really good especially from the characters who have the further mood swings. The ones who seem the happiest, but end up just dreading where they are in life as it nears an end.

  Over the course of quarantine, audiences have seen several films that were made before quarantine but oddly fit their current reality in some way. “She Dies Tomorrow” kind of exercises the contagion theme that many of us find ourselves in these days. People are interacting with family and friends, and without noticing it become infected. Not with a virus, but a message that their lives are over. Each person reacts differently as they come to terms with it creating an effective, but strange movie. There are no clear answers, but plenty to absorb from the interesting scenes to the strong performances. With that said, I give it 2.5 pools of blood, and hope not to die tomorrow!

  HorrO

More info about this film at: http://promotehorror.com/2020/07/31/she-dies-tomorrow-in-drive-in-theaters-today-on-demand-august-7th/

HOST REVIEW

Host is the story of six friends who hire a medium to hold a séance over Zoom during lockdown, but they get far more than they bargain for as things quickly go wrong. When an evil spirit starts invading their homes, they begin to realize they might not survive the night.

Starring: Haley Bishop, Radina Drandova, Edward Linard, Jemma Moore, Caroline Ward, and Emma Louise Webb

Directed by: Rob Savage

Written by: Rob Savage, Gemma Hurley, and Jed Shepherd

  COVID-19 has taken lives, and changed the world we live in. Obviously it has created a lot of bad, but it has also given a chance for creators to do what they do best. In this case, it gave filmmaker Rob Savage, and this cast and crew the opportunity to make a film within the limits of quarantine. A big credit to them for taking the risk, and making a film that many in quarantine will be able to relate to until the horror begins to set in, and boy does it set in!

  So one of the things that has become quite common in quarantine is the use of Zoom. Many have used it for work, some for podcasts, and others to talk with friends. However, there are probably very few who have used it to hold a séance. Any horror fan can tell you that’s a horrible idea, but this group of friends do it anyway. Yes, some of them have a little fear in what could happen, but overall they don’t take it too seriously. 

  The audience gets to watch the movie as if they’re in a Zoom meeting. This meeting has been created by Haley (Haley Bishop), who has invited five of her friends to join her. As each of them enter the room, the audience gets to learn a little about them, and possibly get tipped off at what’s in store for them. Then comes the introduction of Seylan (Seylan Baxter), who’s the medium that’s going to be running the séance. Things start off in a casual manner, but quickly turn dark.

  An evil spirit begins to haunt this group of friends, and things spin out of control. No more joking around, as each will experience fear like they never have before. Of course this is the fun part for horror fans. There are all kinds of scares from some that are just plain old creepy to those that will get them jumping out of their seats. Not all of them will be new to fans, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be effective. There will be no spoiling of what happens to each of these friends, but it’s not going to be a happy ending.

  What really works for the film and helps drive home the scares is how real it seems with obviously excluding the paranormal happenings. It will probably be particularly real for those who have used Zoom, or anything like it. They also don’t ignore some of the Zoom and computer options that are available. One of the girls uses a popular Zoom option that turns out to help make a very good scare. Another girl uses an option that adds a little humor at such a bad time for her. And because it’s a chat the audience gets to see each character right in front of their faces from each of their homes. This formula of realism and the paranormal worked for movies like “Paranormal Activity” and “Unfriended” so why not this one?

  Some of the scariest horror films come from situations that appear all too real. In an unfortunate sign of the times, Zoom meetings are becoming part of the routine for many people, and now horror has used it to freak out audiences. This group of friends enter one of the most unforgettable Zoom meetings of all time. The film makes the most out of technology to combine some new scares with familiar ones. “Host” is dark, creepy, and will definitely leave audiences thinking twice about entering a Zoom meeting! Because I will now remember this film every time we record a podcast on Zoom, I give it 4 pools of blood!

  HorrO

More about this film at: http://promotehorror.com/2020/07/29/shudders-new-zoom-based-horror-film-host-from-award-winning-filmmaker-rob-savage-premieres-july-30/

WE WANT TO BELIEVE REVIEW

We Want to Believe is a paranormal reality show that takes an un-Hollywood approach to the pseudo science of paranormal investigation. Episodes chronicle investigations by writer/director/investigator Jason Hewlett, paranormal investigator Peter Renn and their team as they tackle hauntings, spectral encounters, Bigfoot, UFO sightings, and other high strangeness, no false evidence, no camera tricks or special effects — this is the real deal; what you see is raw and intact. 

  The world seems divided between believers and non-believers. No, not religious believers, but believers in the paranormal. Maybe non-believers just need that ultimate piece of evidence that would make them believe, and probably scare the hell out of them. That’s one of the reasons audiences continue to see the growing number of paranormal shows. Shows that basically want you to believe!

   “We Want to Believe” definitely wants you to believe as well, but wants to bring fans a show that’s not trying to trick you into believing. The first few episodes definitely display that. Episode 1 is very much an introduction to the crew, and what’s to come. Jason Hewlett is the lead guide on this journey along with paranormal investigator Peter Renn. You hear about their experience with the paranormal, and what they hope to bring in the series. 

  As it moves to episode 2, the investigation is about to begin in a hotel in British Colombia. An old hotel seems like a great place for an investigation, as they tell the audience some of the stories and hauntings that have reportedly come from this hotel. The team splits up, and begins their investigation is different areas of the hotel. Episode 3 finally gets to the fun part, as each group encounter their own strange happenings. Is it what they’ve been looking for? Is it solid proof? You’ll have to see for yourself!

  This is only a review of the first three episodes of “We Want to Believe” because I want you to jump in now, and join them on the investigation. They seem like a group who’s just after the truth, and not looking to make this a dramatic show. When evidence is presented, they give the audience a chance to review it just like them, and draw your conclusions. They picked a great place to start, and I can’t wait to see what happens next. Will they find the ultimate piece of evidence…you’ll never know if unless your watching!

  HorrO

More info about this series at:

http://promotehorror.com/2020/06/10/we-want-to-believe/

WHERE THE SCARY THINGS ARE EPISODE 56

Where The Scary Things Are Episode 56: PERIPHERAL with Paul Hyett

In this Episode we speak to Paul Hyett Director of Peripheral. A great film that is a must watch. Muse talks about great horror novel turned into films. HorrO talks the Crazies remakes. Chris gives another stellar review of Peripheral and MonsterMash talks a little unsolved mysteries.

Listen Here

wherethescarythingsare.com

Apple apple.co/3g87Y6e

IHeart ihr.fm/3g4ji2Z

Spotify spoti.fi/2DdYQ1m