Q&A w/ Andre Gower + Ryan Lambert of "The Monster Squad"

On Friday, April 28th, Popcorn Frights hosted a special screening of “The Monster Squad.” After the screening, Marc Ferman from Popcorn Frights held a Skype Q&A with two of the stars of the movie, Andre Gower, and Ryan Lambert. Check out the Q&A below…

INVOKE REVIEW

A young woman unwittingly unleashes an evil spirit in her house. 

Starring: Debbi Jones, Brett DeJager, Joie Bauer, and Shirley Hoesing

Directed by: Carlos Omar De Leon

Written by: Vorasine Vince Phrommany and Carlos Omar De Leon

  After bringing horror fans “Killer Date” and “Kal - The Clown,” Carlos Omar De Leon is back with a new film, “Invoke.” It’s getting late, and a young woman (Debbi Jones) is tired of working on her research as her boyfriend (Brett DeJager) watches a movie. She sends him home and prepares for bed, but not before listening to an audio file she receives from her cousin. The audio tells the story of Eliza Braum, a murderer who vowed to return one day! 

  Too bad for the young woman because that day has come. She doesn’t know it, but she summons the spirit to her house. Once again Carlos does a good job of setting a creepy atmosphere. The house is silent, and the young woman moves right into the dark spots of the house leaving her clueless to what’s lurking about. Eliza makes her presence known in a big way, and the film ends in frighting fashion. With strong performances, a somewhat familiar story, and a creepy spirit, I give “Invoke” 2.5 pools of blood.

  HorrO

PUPPET REVIEW

An infection spreads among a group of friends that turns them into violent killers.

Starring: Tara Cardinal, Leah Ann Cevoli, Ryan Demarest, Matt Jayson, Jeffery Potts, and Berna Roberts

Directed by: Joseph R. Davis & Brian Gerson (DaG)

Written by: Jeffery Potts

  Emery (Tara Cardinal) finally gives in and decides to hang out with her sister, and her sister’s friends. However, they’re not there to just hang out, but also there for Bible study. Emery isn’t into that, and becomes upset when they try to force the religious talk on her. Emmett (Matt Jayson) goes to check on her after she locked herself in a room, and tells her a very personal story just before everything changes.

  In “Puppet,” they do a good job of setting up the Emery’s character, and getting the audience to feel bad for her situation. They also do an equally good job getting the audience to feel bad for Emmett after the story he tells. What’s really great about that scene is just as the audience digests his story chaos breaks out. Blood starts spilling all over the place as true horror takes over. And in the mist of it, the sisters find one more surprising thing to fight over. Will their faith in God be enough to save them? Find out by watching the film I give 2.5 pools of blood to.

  HorrO

*Watch “Puppet” at: http://www.procoproductioncompany.com/pages/Puppet.html

THE VOID REVIEW

Shortly after delivering a patient to an understaffed hospital, a police officer experiences strange and violent occurrences seemingly linked to a group of mysterious hooded figures.

Starring: Ellen Wong, Kathleen Munroe, and Kenneth Welsh

Directed and written by: Jeremy Gillespie and Steven Kostanski

  Watching the trailer to a movie can make you want to see it, or pass on it. It can also make you so curious about something that you need to know what’s happening. There’s a lot going on in the trailer for “The Void,” but those hooded guys with the triangles where their faces should be had me hooked. Who are they, what’s with the triangles, and what are they up to? 

  Before the appearance of the hooded guys, the audience gets thrown right in the middle of a scene of chaos resulting in a girl getting burned alive. It then moves away from that scene and to police officer Daniel Carter (Aaron Poole). It seems like another slow night for him until a bleeding guy stumbles out of the woods. Daniel takes him to the hospital and the madness begin!

  One of the many good things about this movie is the pace, and how all the strangeness unfolds. The few hospital staff members help Daniel get the guy to a room, and just when things are about to settle down Daniel has a run in with the hooded guys. There is no shortage of creepiness in them, but they aren’t the scariest thing around. Soon enough, the first of several disgusting looking creatures are introduced in a crazy, and bloody scene. 

  With hooded guys surrounding the hospital and creatures inside, Daniel along with others have to figure a way out. Unfortunately after his wife Allison (Kathleen Munroe) goes missing, he has no choice but to go looking for her. As Daniel and some strangers begin the search, the mystery begins to unfold. With some surprises and more creatures, Daniel finally finds out what they have been facing this entire time.

  To put it simply, “The Void” ends up being a wonderfully bizarre story. As crazy as the hooded guys may seem, they are only the beginning. The story unfolds at a perfect pace with twists and turns, as it has the audience waiting to enter the Void. If you’re a fan of say, “The Thing,” then the disgusting looking creatures should be to your liking. The movie might even be for fans of Lovecraft. Regardless of what you want to compare it to, this is definitely a must see worthy of 4 pools of blood.

  HorrO