Late Night with the Devil
– (2023) – A multitude of depraved incidents transpire during a talk show on Halloween night, from possession to hypnosis to hysteria. While the plot doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, the style and structure are so unique that this is often hard to look away from. The gore F/X are impressive, while the humor is equally up to task. Not the easiest to describe, but a cinch to enjoy.
Imaginary
– (2024) – A young girl develops the same imaginary friend her new step-mother once had, and follows the same improbable motions of coping with a fantastical world. Begins as a common, lackluster family drama before gradually becoming a common, lackluster horror story. Humiliates itself when trying to explore the lore of imaginary friends, while in-turn making fools of a cast made to recite banal dialog. Lacks suspense, logic, and emotional depth.
Dark Harvest (2023)
– (2023) – Every year, teenagers must prevent a pumpkin-like creature from dominating their town. The few moments dedicated to horror are creative, atmospheric, and graphic. The bulk that’s dedicated to character drama, however, is trivial and dull. The ultimate twist is pretty obvious, but stands as one of the few ambitious plot moments.
Shakespeare’s Shitstorm
– (2020) – A boat loaded with raunchy patrons is destroyed by whales, forcing everyone onto an island where their debauchery worsens. A maniacal mess that whizzes through scenes without ever giving the story a chance to breathe. There’s too much to take in all at once, yet not all is lost. The horror aspects are imaginative and Lloyd Kaufman steals the show whenever he’s on screen. The music, however, is hardly memorable.
Easter Evil
– (2024) – A young woman believes the Easter Bunny is stalking her and, sure enough, she’s right. Of the scant 72-minutes, only about 2% of this is dedicated to horror. The rest is a banal comedy that focuses on two friends endlessly chatting in a hotel room. Simply horrendous.
your a-z guide to obscure & classic horror movies
– (2019) – A trio of friends are killing people in the name of religion, until their plans are thwarted by another trio of friends. Has a great first half that sets up its scenario well with solid acting, solid atmosphere, and solid twists. The second half comes close to losing its way on several occasions, yet always finds a means to steer itself back on course. Uneven, but enjoyable.
They Don’t Cut the Grass Anymore
– (1985) – Two hillbillies mutilate men and women who lead better lives than them. Complete garbage from a cinematic standpoint, but has impressive backyard gore. Ambitious in its strive to nauseate, but the story is worthless.
Shark Zone
– (2003) – A man with knowledge of underwater diamonds is heavily persuaded by the Russian mob to give up their whereabouts. Begins as a terrible-but-enjoyable bloodbath, but gradually becomes a lame crime caper. Endlessly boneheaded.
Shaun of the Dead
– (2004) – An average guy deals with the loss of his girlfriend in a world suddenly overrun with zombies. Moves at a breakneck speed while packing in humor and wit. Solid characters, bloodcurdling moments, and a genuinely touching ending make this one of the more unique horror experiences.
White Zombie
– (1932) – A couple travels to Haiti to become married, but an owner of undead slaves wants the woman for himself. Aside from expectedly lame dialog and unfortunate racism, this is a pretty creepy story that’s far ahead of its time. Dark, moody, and mostly effective.
Frightworld
– (2006) – A group of friends spend a night in a funhouse to screw and die. Pairs horrendously empty characters with one of the more pathetic villains in trash cinema. Sparse moments of over-the-top gore do nothing to help. Awful.
VHS Massacre
– (2016) – Documentary that promises to explore the rise and fall of physical media, but spends most of its time following the creators as they thrift shop for movies. Means well and provides some credible info, but lacks a narrative focus and as such is appallingly disjointed. Probably fun for those involved, but all else beware.