Shadyside, 1978. School’s out for summer and the activities at Camp Nightwing are about to begin. But when another Shadysider is possessed with the urge to kill, the fun in the sun becomes a gruesome fight for survival.
Starring: Sadie Sink, Emily Rudd, and Ryan Simpkins
Directed by: Leigh Janiak
Written by: Zak Olkewicz, Leigh Janiak, and Phil Graziadei
Check out the video below and find out how many pools of blood it received...
In this gruesome suspense film, strangers traveling in southern Italy become stranded in the woods, where they must fight desperately to get out alive.
Starring: Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Francesco Russo, and Peppino Mazzotta
Directed by: Roberto De Feo and Paolo Strippoli
Written by: Lucio Besana, Roberto De Feo, and Paolo Strippoli
Check out the video below and find out how many pools of blood it received...
After Bobby and his best friend Kevin are kidnapped and taken to a strange house in the middle of nowhere, Bobby manages to escape. But as he starts to make a break for it, he hears Kevin’s screams for help and realizes he can’t leave his friend behind.
Starring: Lonnie Chavis, Ezra Dewey, and Kristen Bauer van Straten
Directed and written by: David Charbonier and Justin Powell
“The Boy Behind the Door” is hiding and for a very good reason. Bobby (Lonnie Chavis) and Kevin (Ezra Dewey) are playing catch together in the park, and have a quick conversation about life plans. They seem a little young for that kind of talk, but make it clear they will be friends until the end. It won’t be long before their friendship is tested because they’re about to be kidnapped.
They get taken to a home where Kevin is brought inside, but Bobby is left in the trunk to suffocate. Fortunately for him, he manages to get out, but before running for his life he hears Kevin screaming. Remembering their earlier conversation, he realizes he can’t leave Kevin behind so he sneaks inside to rescue him. Of course it’s not going to be easy because the kidnappers have plans for Kevin.
Being kids, it’s easy to root for Bobby and Kevin. However in just a matter of minutes this film will seal the bond between the two, and the audience. Once Bobby decides to go in the house the audience will be right with him on his rescue mission. It’s not going to be easy, and Bobby could’ve given up several times. To their credit, they both prove what being a friend really means.
Besides bonding the friends, the film does well to maintain the realism of the situation for the boys. Both are terribly afraid the entire time, and nothing is easy for Bobby in trying to get his friend out. He stays true to his age, not knowing what to do with an old phone, or how to drive a car. He kind of lucks out with one of the kidnappers, but Ms. Burton (Kristin Bauer van Straten) has no mercy for either of them. One of the best scenes involves a foot and a finger (leaving it at that). The audience will not only be with them, they’ll feel their pain.
Kidnapping children is a serious issue, and “The Boy Behind the Door” treats it as such. Besides the few moments playing catch in the park, the film is at the house where things are dark and the tension is high. Lonnie and Ezra do a great job bringing out the true pain and emotions of their characters in this situation. Keeping with the realism of the film, the kidnappers didn’t shy away from bringing the pain either, as sad as it is to see for the boys. In the end, it’s a great story displaying the true test of a friendship. With that, I give it 3 pools of blood.
HorrO
More information at: http://promotehorror.com/2021/06/27/whats-streaming-this-july-on-shudder/
A troubled couple battles home invaders. As the night unfolds, loyalties shift, secrets spill, and lives shatter.
Starring: Joseph Carlson, Rayanne Gonzales, and Jon Hudson Odom
Directed by: Paul Awad
Written by: Paul Awad and Kathryn O’Sullivan
Check out the video below and find out how many pools of blood it received...
All the rules are broken as a sect of lawless marauders decides that the annual Purge does not stop at daybreak and instead should never end.
Starring: Ana de la Reguera, Tenoch Huerta, and Josh Lucas
Directed by: Everado Gout
Written by: James DeMonaco
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A young girl finds solace in her artist father and the ghost of her dead mother.
Starring: Rupert Friend, Violet McGraw, and Madeline Brewer
Directed by: William Brent Bell
Written by: Nick Amadeus and Josh Braun
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Deep in the woods on the 4th of July, siblings Nate and Angela must face off against the zombies of American presidents, and their worst nightmare - spending an entire evening together.
Starring: Gabriel F. Bellotti, Rebecca Clendaniel, and Max Radbill
Directed by: Max Radbill
Written by: Eric Looney and Max Radbill
Check out the video below and find out how many pools of blood it received...
The film looks at what happens when a person is given unauthorized access to someone else's life, as well as the consequences of voyeurism and surveillance.
Starring: Jack Fox, Christie Russell-Brown, and Chris Miller
Directed by: Russell Miller
Written by: Craig-James Moncur, Chris Miller, and Russell Miller
“See See TV” sounds like a cool new station, but you might want to be careful if you watch unscheduled programs. This short film opens with a man getting a new security system put in. While talking with the installer, they look over to the guy’s pretty neighbor taking out the garbage. The installer notes that he put in a system for her recently, and the man thinks about that has he says hello to her.
Later on the man is looking at his system on the computer, and going through the cameras. He eventually notices the name of his neighbor on one of the files. While he resists for the moment, he can’t resist for long. Before he knows it, he becomes a full out stalker watching her home cameras at all times of day. It’s all good for him until he witnesses something very unexpected.
Outside of the opening conversation, this short film doesn’t have a lot of dialogue. Instead it’s much about keeping a nice pace, and making the audience wonder where this is going. The man here seems like an average guy, but what he starts doing makes him creepy. However, that’s nothing compared to what happens in the final moments. It ups the creep level, and leads to a surprising ending. Now it’s your turn to “See See TV” in the video below!
HorrO
On the Trail of UFOs: Dark Sky traces decades of reports of mysterious objects, creatures and enigmatic beings seemingly not of this earth. Tracking reports around the state of West Virginia, the film retraces steps taken in previous Small Town Monsters productions while digging deeper into the mysteries around us.
Starring: Shannon LeGro and Seth Breedlove
Directed by: Seth Breedlove
With all the talk recently about alien sightings by the government, it’s the perfect time for a documentary like “On the Trail of UFOs: Dark Sky” to be released. This is a follow up to the 2020 release of “On the Trail of UFOs: Season 1,” which was extremely well received. This just proves that aliens are indeed a hot topic, as people scramble for the truth. One of those people hitting the pavement in search of that truth is Shannon LeGro. For this documentary, she explores the dark sky above West Virginia.
Apparently West Virginia has seen a lot of activity in their skies. Shannon interviews a great deal of people from different parts of the state about their experiences with UFOs. The documentary gives a good amount of attention to these stories, and letting the people tell their stories clearly. None of the people look like they’re just telling stories for the hell of it, but one can never be 100% sure. What’s lacking from many of the stories is proof from the people, or a good amount of witnesses from the same so-called event.
Speaking of proof, there’s a moment when the crew seems to catch something odd in the sky above them one night. They’re certain they see a strange object in the sky, and it’s shown to the audience as well. Besides just looking for proof, they also explore a possible reason for this state having a lot of activity. They talk about the many mines around the state, and that does seem like a logical possibility.
In the end, it will be up to the audience to decide if what’s discussed here is real or not. The documentary crew does a good job of taking a state, and narrowing down on the UFO sightings there. They let the people living there make the case, and try to help recreate some of the descriptions as best they can. They explore reasons for the activity, and dive into some other interesting topics along the way. If you’re into this rebirth of UFO excitement then “On the Trail of UFOs: Dark Sky” will be for you. With that, I give it 3 pools of blood, and am glad there are no mines near here!
HorrO
More information at: http://promotehorror.com/2021/07/09/small-town-monsters-looks-to-the-final-frontier-in-on-the-trail-of-ufos-dark-sky-landing-on-vod-august-3/
It’s summer break and best friends Amélie, Bintou and Morjana hang together with other neighborhood teens. Nightly, they have fun sharing scary stories and urban legends. But when Amélie is assaulted by her ex, she remembers the story of Kandisha, a powerful and vengeful demon. Afraid and upset, Amélie summons her. The next day, her ex is found dead. The legend is true and now Kandisha is on a killing spree— and it’s up to the three girls to break the curse.
Starring: Mathilde Lamusse, Samarcande Saadi and Suzy Bemba
Directed and written by: Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo
This group of friends will soon find saying “Kandisha” in front of a mirror is no better than saying “Candyman,” or “Bloody Mary.” With summer time in full swing, friends Amelie (Mathilde Lamusse), Bintou (Suzy Bemba), and Morjana (Samarcande Saadi) have spent their time spray painting, and hanging out. One night they end up telling some ghost stories, and talking about urban legends. Of course there’s plenty of doubt in the truth of any of the stories, including one about Kandisha.
Kandisha apparently is a great demon to summon if someone is in need of revenge. It turns out that Amelie is attacked on the way home by an ex-boyfriend. Being so upset and hurt, she wastes little time seeing if the legend of Kandisha is true. Kandisha makes an appearance and executes her level of revenge for Amelie. However, Kandisha isn’t going to stop there, as she has some more killing in store.
While there’s some set up of the legend of Kandisha, the most important thing the audience will be left with is that she’s a true killer. Once she has her potential victim in site, it’s all over for them. Some of her kills are pretty brutal assuming that’s the way to go when getting revenge. Two of the best kills don’t get much more painful, as one is twisted up, and the other is torn apart.
While Kandisha is supposed to have a seductive aspect to her, the audience probably won’t find her that way. The further away people are from her the better. Besides the great kills, one of the most interesting things about her is the way to do away with her. No spoilers here, but it’s actually a little sad, but fitting. It leads to a dramatic final act, and an interesting closing scene.
With the film being subtitled it’s a little hard to get close with this group of friends. They certainly did some interesting things while spray painting to say the least. Kandisha might not be as interesting as a character like say “Candyman,” but there’s no doubt she can hold her own when it comes to kills. She’ll be almost impossible to escape, gets creepier as the film rolls on, and is wonderfully brutal. With that, I give “Kandisha” 2.5 pools of blood, and won’t be calling her for revenge anytime soon!
HorrO
More information at: http://promotehorror.com/2021/07/12/shudder-releases-new-trailer-for-demonic-folklore-horror-kandisha-from-julien-maury-alexandre-bustillo-coming-to-shudder-july-22/
When a vampire’s child dies of old age after refusing to be turned, it drives his mother to extreme lengths to fill the void needed.
Starring: Rachel Donahue, Chloe Carroll, Wesley Holloway, and Bob Heath
Directed by: Wesley Mellott
Elysia (Rachel Donahue) seems to be in a good relationship with her vampire partner Molly (Chloe Carroll). That is until Molly’s human son comes to the end of his natural life. He didn’t want to take advantage of a vampire’s bite and live forever, so he passes away quietly. To her credit Molly respected his wish, but apparently never realized the pain that would cause her after he’s gone.
Molly hints to Elysia that she wants to have another child, but isn’t sure what she means by that. It doesn’t take long for her to figure it out, as she comes home to Molly with a little boy. The boy just wants to go home while Molly insists that he’s there to stay. Elysia tries to reason with Molly, but it might come a little too late!
This short horror film covers some of the basics of vampires, while making the audience feel for the situation at hand. Vampires get bloody, and there’s a couple of blood dripping moments to enjoy. There’s also the romantic side of vamps, and Elysia and Molly will sneak in some time together as well. However, the real difference and excitement for this film is the situation Elysia finds herself in, and her reaction to what Molly does. It also helps that Rachel and Chloe work so well together to make this film a success. Don’t miss “Elysia” on the Fear Crypt Channel!
HorrO
More information at: http://promotehorror.com/2021/07/18/fear-crypt-is-set-to-premiere-the-horror-short-elysia/
A lonely assistant finally finds love and must escape her monster of a boss before she and her new love become his next meal.
Starring: Ron Lynch, Alyssa Limperis, and Jack De Sena
Directed by: D.W. Thomas
Written by: Tom Becker
Check out the video below and find out how many pools of blood it received...
A circle of teenage friends accidentally encounter the ancient evil responsible for a series of brutal murders that have plagued their town for over 300 years. Welcome to Shadyside.
Starring: Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, and Benjamin Flores Jr.
Directed by: Leigh Janiak
Written by: R.L. Stine, Kyle Killen, and Phil Graziadei
Check out the video below and find out how many pools of blood it received...
In the fall of 1987, a group of small-town friends must survive the night in the home of a sinister couple after a tragic accident brings them to the couple’s door.
Starring: Lin Shaye, Tobin Bell, and Chester Rushing
Directed by: Timothy Woodward Jr.
Written by: Patrick Stibbs
This is “The Call” you don’t want to make! Chris (Chester Rushing) is the new kid in school, and quickly befriends Tonya (Erin Sanders). She seems nice at first, as she’s tasked with showing him around the school. Later she introduces him to her friends Zack (Mike Manning) and Brett (Sloane Morgan Siegel), and they all share a story with him. A story about how Tonya’s sister died under the care of a woman named Edith Cranston (Lin Shaye).
The group has done their best to make Edith’s life miserable like throwing rocks at her house. Edith confronts the teens including Chris, and makes it clear she will never back down from them. Unfortunately, later that night death comes for her, but this is only the beginning. Her husband, Edward (Tobin Bell), invites the group over a few days later with promises of money if they make a simple phone call. A call that might end up being their last!
Having Lin Shaye’s and Tobin Bell’s names attached to this film will have horror fans gravitating to it. They are a big part of the film, but probably don’t get as much screen time as fans would want. However, they do make the most of it. Tobin sets up the rules for their calls in the way horror fans loving hearing him do. Lin gets a little more down and dirty looking especially frightful later on. Just think of her like the operator from hell.
The fun here obviously comes when the teens make their call. Each call leads to them revisiting some dark moments in their past. The audience will find out why they are so quick to do bad things in their current lives. The audience will also find that some of the teens have a much darker past then expected. The interesting thing this story does is make the audience question who the bad people really are. Is it the teens, or the elderly couple?
“The Call” sets up some teens with an interesting opportunity. Make a phone call, stay on the line for a minute, and receive $100,000. Of course it’s not going to be that simple when a Tobin Bell character introduces the game, and a Lin Shaye character is on the other end of the call. The past definitely comes back to haunt all of them leaving the audience to wonder who they should really feel sorry for. With that, I give it 2.5 pools of blood.
HorrO
More information at: http://promotehorror.com/2021/06/27/whats-streaming-this-july-on-shudder/
A fun filled flight to a remote atoll turns into a nightmare for five passengers when their seaplane is destroyed in a freak accident and they are trapped on a raft, 100 miles from ashore with man-eating sharks lurking beneath the surface.
Starring: Katrina Bowden, Aaron Jakubenko, and Kimie Tsukakoshi
Directed by: Martin Wilson
Written by: Michael Boughen
The “Great White” is fantastic to watch on Shark Week, and even more deadly here. Kaz (Katrina Bowden) and Charlie (Aaron Jakubenko) are looking forward to expanding their family and business. Kaz is pregnant and their tour business has just booked another flight. This flight is for another couple, Michelle (Kimie Tsukakoshi) and Joji (Tim Kano). Michelle is looking for some time not only for the couple, but also to honor her grandfather.
The trip starts off fine, as they find a nice place to land, and take in the view. Unfortunately this view comes with a dead body that has washed ashore. This puts an end to the trip, but they can’t leave without finding out what might have happened to this person. They soon will find what happened to this person could very likely happen to themselves when a Great White shark leaves them stranded in the ocean.
It’s a shark movie so lets start with the sharks. They use a combination of shark footage, CGI, and animatronics to make their sharks work, and do a pretty good job of it. It never looks overly fake, but those experienced watching these kinds of shark movies will generally know what to expect and when. There’s actually a really good attack while the survivors are in the raft at night because it’s not too obvious and happens quickly. Unfortunately there’s not enough blood to be seen, as most of the victims are taken underwater.
As much as the audience would love to see sharks circling their prey for an hour an and half, they know by now that’s not happening. The film does spend some time highlighting the relationships of the couples. There’s constant reminders that Kaz is pregnant making Charlie even more over protective of her. On the other side, Joji is easily made out to be the bad guy here. Michelle continually has to calm him down, but in a way that shows he’s still the one in charge. No tears will be shed if he falls overboard. Benny (Te Kohe Tuhaka), who accompanies the group as the cook and assistant, is a welcomed addition for his comedic moments and egging Joji on.
In the end, “Great White” presents everything one would expect from a serious shark movie. It opens with a good kill, and then dives into character introductions. Eventually the group will get stranded left at the mercy of the shark. The death scenes are pulled off nicely, but just a little light on blood. There’s a twist in the final act that helps build the excitement in the group’s fight to survive. With that, I give it 3 pools of blood.
Great White is available in Theaters, On Demand and Digital July 16
HorrO
More information at: http://promotehorror.com/2021/06/14/official-trailer-poster-for-great-white-in-theaters-and-on-demand-digital-july-16/
A family man is drafted to fight in a future war where the fate of humanity relies on his ability to confront the past.
Starring: Chriss Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski, and J.K. Simmons
Directed by: Chris McKay
Written by: Zach Dean
Check out the video below and find out how many pools of blood it received...
Following the events at home, the Abbott family now face the terrors of the outside world. Forced to venture into the unknown, they realize the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats lurking beyond the sand path.
Starring: Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Cillian Murphy
Directed by: John Krasinski
Written by: John Krasinski, Scott Beck, and Bryan Woods
Check out the video below and find out how many pools of blood it received...
Joel, a caustic 1980s film critic for a national horror magazine, finds himself unwittingly trapped in a self-help group for serial killers. With no other choice, Joel attempts to blend in or risk becoming the next victim.
Starring: Evan Marsh, Amber Goldfarb, and Ari Millen
Directed by: Cody Calahan
Written by: Cody Calahan and James Villeneuve
Horror fans will have some seriously “Vicious Fun” watching this film. Joel (Evan Marsh) writes for a horror magazine so he’s plenty versed in what to expect in a horror movie. Soon enough, he’s going to get a chance to put his knowledge to the test all because of his roommate Sarah (Alexa Rose Steele). She’s just been dropped off by her boyfriend, Bob (Ari Millen), which makes Joel jealous. Yes, Sarah is his roommate, but it seems Joel has developed some feelings for her that aren’t mutual.
When Sarah decides to make her own plans for the rest of the night, Joel makes it appear he has a big night still to come. Instead of partying the night away, he follows Bob to a bar. He tries to learn a little about Bob, but ends up getting drunk when Bob leaves him behind. He’s so drunk that he passes out while the bar closes, and wakes up in time for the alcoholics anonymous meeting. Actually, no…not the AA meeting, but a meeting of serial killers!
So first the ‘fun!’ Joel’s awkwardness is a big driver of the fun, and laughs. He’s constantly trying to be someone he’s not, and isn’t good at it. He can’t fool Sarah into thinking he’s going on a hot date, and is terrible at trying to befriend Bob. Only because the serial killers aren’t as sharp as some of the weapons they carry is he able to fool them into thinking he’s one of them. Now that would have been a great direction for the film to continue in, but Bob returns to blow Joel’s secret.
That doesn’t mean the fun is over, as he actually gets help from Carrie, one of the serial killers. To Joel’s surprise, she actually tries to save him along with killing off the rest of the group. Joel continues his goofs by getting in her way, and his reactions to the carnage around him. Ah yes, to the ‘vicious’ part. The carnage is definitely vicious, and how can it not be with a bunch of serial killers. Throats will be cut, fingers will be lost, and blood will be spilled. A true eye popping experience in the end.
“Vicious Fun,” you bet! There’s plenty to laugh at, especially at Joel’s expense. Carrie matches his awkwardness with being a kickass serial killer. There will be no mercy for her fellow killers, as she fights her way through them. Evan and Amber turn out to make a great pair along with some other good performances. Ari is definitely creepy as Bob, and David Koechner is clueless as usual (in a good way). With that, I give it 3.5 pools of blood.
HorrO
