Horror, like any other film genre, (or any other art form for that matter), is subjective, so I am not one to post "best of" lists.  So, here are some of my favorite horror films from 2022.

I love werewolf movies, and this is a good one. Set in 19th century France, a man (Boyd Hollrbook) comes to a remote village to investigate what appears to be an attack by a wild animal. He himself has a dark past as he discovers that there's something much deeper going on that is affecting the entire town.  Kelly Reilly is excellent as a mother protecting a son who may or may not be cursed, and the cinematography perfectly captures the atmosphere of a misty, gloomy French countryside.

I am a big Ti West fan, and he came back to the big screen with a bang with this one!  A group of pornographers shows up at a remote farmhouse owned by a creepy old couple to shoot a porn and, well, to say things go off the rails is putting it mildly.  2022 was definitely the year of Mia Goth, who expertly plays a dual role in this fun ride of a film. It gives off a definite "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" vibe without feeling like a ripoff or copycat/

"Imagine John Wayne Gacy but with ghosts."  That's what my daughter said about this film, which we both liked. The story by Joe Hill (son of Stephen King) is fairly straightforward.  The Grabber is abducting and killing kids and when he abducts his latest victim, Finn, the story evokes King's clear influence by showcasing the supernatural coming into play in an otherwise "real world" scenario.  There were a couple of things that bothered me a bit, but to list them would be minor nitpicks. Ethan Hawke is extremely creepy as the villain and his performance more than made up for any shortcomings for me.

A lot of people did not like this one, and I can actually understand why. There are a few plot points that simply do not make sense no matter how hard I try to justify them. However, overall I thought the film was good enough at subverting my expectations that overall, I enjoyed it. Tess (Georgina Campbell), is just trying find a safe place to stay while she’s in Detroit for a job interview.  Let's just say that it does not go well. I love the fact that a major character makes an exit when you least expect it, and another major character makes an entrance almost halfway through the film. I also like how the film deals with a young woman being in an extremely uncomfortable situation without beating us over the head with a "Men Are Bad!" message. This was Cregger's genre debut and I am looking forward to seeing more!

People are still debating me over whether or not this is a horror film. My answer to that is, "Shut up! Cronenberg is back!" In a future where the Earth is basically ruined, Viggo Mortensen plays a man who grows extra organs while his partner, played by Lea Seydoux, removes them surgically in front of audiences who pay for the privilege of watching. It's far less gross than advertised, and I really cannot see anyone walking out in disgust (as was claimed), but Cronenberg is definitely at his body horror best with this one.  Oh, and Kristen Stewart's character is quirky and awesome and for my money, she has the best line in the film with, "Surgery is the new sex."

This Finnish film is one of the best creature features I've seen in a long time and is also an ode to old-school practical effects. The story follows Tinja (Siiri Solalinna), a young girl who desperately wants to impress her mother by becoming a premiere gymnast.  The mom, in turn, is determined to have a perfect family that she tries to show the world through her social media accounts. Things take a dark turn dark when Tinja finds an strange egg, decides to hide it in her bedroom, and it hatches into a gruesome creature that wreaks havoc on her life. It goes beyond a simple monster movie though in that it shows how a young girl's negative emotions can manifest themselves in terrible ways.

I'll just say this up front. If you're looking for a linear, easy to follow narrative, then this ain't the movie for you! It is, however, a miracle of stop-motion film making and storytelling by allegory.  Phil Tippett created a nightmarish world where a character known as "The Assassin," travels across a hellscape of monsters, cruelty and death, carrying a briefcase, in pursuit of an unknown goal. Once I realized I couldn't completely figure out what the hell was going on, I just let myself get lost in the dazzling visual imagery and then eventually I realized that the movie is about whatever you think it's about.

Well, this turned out to be a divisive film, didn't it? I had so many debates with people over this one, including Scott, co-host of our podcast "The Imaginarium With Scott and Todd," available wherever you get your podcasts. (A little shameless self-promotion never hurts!)  Anyway, this is another film that is more about metaphor and allegory than telling a straight, narrative story, and I enjoyed a film filled with visual spectacle that turned out to be about the dangers of spectacle. I thought the performances were excellent and the cinematography is top-notch. If people don't like this film that, of course, is their opinion, but no one will ever convince me that this is not a good film.

Yes, yes, yes.  I know that technically this Taiwanese film was released in Taiwan in 2021, but since it didn't have a US release until 2022, I'm including it in this list, and it's my website, so there!  Wel;, Canadian filmmaker Rob Jabbaz sure kicked us in the gut with his feature film debut! Basically, the film follows a young couple as they try to reunited in the middle of a viral outbreak that turns people into homicidal maniacs by unleashing their darkest impulses. I don't want to give anything away, so I all will say is that this is NOT your typical zombie or rage virus film. Some of the vignettes are truly sick and twisted, and I mean that in a good way!  The effects are astonishing and I cannot recommend this enough!

It's a sunny Saturday in Atlantic City, NJ.  The boardwalk and beach are crowded with people, but where am I?  I'm at the Showboat Hotel attending the inaugural Classic Rewind Weekend convention!

Created by Ryan Scott Weber, the mind behind NJ Horror Con & Film Festival, PA Horror Con and Horror Sideshow Market, Classic Rewind Weekend marks a departure from Weber's usual type of fan convention.  Instead of personalities typically associated with horror and sci-fi, I was presented with an array of TV and Film stars from the 80's and 90's, which honestly, was very refreshing!  I've been going to horror conventions for more than 20 years, and horror will always be my first love, but having the chance to meet some of the stars I grew up with was a welcome departure!
​

Let's jump right into the good stuff......the guest list!!  Ryan and his team managed to assemble an excellent mix of guests.  One of the highlights for me personally was Tracey Gold, who played Carol Seaver on "Growing Pains".  I definitely had a fan boy moment when I met her, and she was charming and gracious during our interview.  Another highlight for me was MacKenzie Phillips ("One Day at a Time", "American Graffiti").  MacKenzie was such a nice person, and was very open and forthright about her struggles with substance abuse, and how she survived to go on to help other people who are facing the same struggles.  I also had a great time speaking with Tara Reid ("American Pie", "Josie and the Pussycats").  I had met her before, but never had a chance to interview her and speak to her in detail until CRW, and she and her two little dogs were awesome!

Another extreme fan boy moment came when I sat down with Aileen Quinn, who played Annie on Broadway and in the movie musical with Albert Finney and Carol Burnett.  Aileen and her mom were so sweet and funny!  It was great hearing about Aileen's experiences with the film and how her career unfolded after that.  It was great to hear that she's still making films and entertaining crowds with her band Aileen Quinn and the Leaping Lizards!

Some other fantastic meet and greets for me were Burton Gilliam ("Blazing Saddles") and Julie McCullough ("Growing Pains", "Sharknado").  Julie was the first person ever to just walk off camera during our interview, but I had to let it go when I realized she was running over the meet Burton!  They are two of the nicest people you will ever meet.

There were some many fantastic guests at this convention and, as I said, it was such a fun time meeting and interacting with "non-horror" guests.  Erin Murphy ("Bewitched"), Kate Flannery ("The Office"), Judith Hoag ("Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles") and D.B. Sweeney ("Spawn", "Fire in the Sky") are just a few more of the guests that were at the show.

Of course though, I have to mention three very special people who never fail to make me smile.  First is Diane Franklin ("Better Off Dead", "The Last American Virgin").  I have had a chance to interview Diane many times over the years, and I am proud to say that she had become a good friend to me and my daughter Olivia, who happens to have the same name as Diane's lovely daughter.  I never miss a chance to see Diane when she is in town and she is one of the friendliest people you'll ever know.

Another convention mainstay and personal friend is the lovely Felissa Rose ("Sleepaway Camp").  If left to her own devices, Felissa will chat the day away with every fan, and she is just the sweetest person.

Finally, I have to mention Dave Sheridan, another fan favorite who always goes out of this way to make sure every person who meets him walks away from the table knowing they just had a great experience.

Beyond the guest list, there was a pretty cool selection of vendors and artists on hand with all sorts of merchandise available for sale.  There was also a great schedule of Q&A panels with various guests, and some awesome photos ops such as a group photo op with the cast of "The Mighty Ducks" and an in-costume photo op with Larry "The Soup Nazi" Thomas.  

All in all, Classic Rewind Weekend was a fun time.  It really was a trip down memory lane.  As a child of the 80s, I quite literally grew up with a lot of these guests, so it was a thrill to meet them and in many cases, to sit down with them for an interview.  I always make such great memories at one of Ryan Scott Weber's shows!

A few final notes that bear mentioning.  With all the changes going on at the Showboat, the convention had to take place on the second floor of the hotel.  There's absolutely nothing Ryan and his staff can do about that, so they found a way to make it work.  For some people, it might have been a little challenging to find their way upstairs, but that's a nitpick.  Overall, the show was well run and the staff and volunteers were great.  Then again, having been to just about every one of Ryan's shows since the beginning, I have come to expect nothing less, and I am sure that any challenges they faced will be addressed for future shows.

Classic Rewind Weekend was a great time, and I truly hope that Ryan Scott Weber and team do another one!

​Visit www.classicrewindweekend.com to keep up with future shows!

"As a Prelude to Fear" is the story of Eve (Lara Lemon), an aspiring cellist who is abducted while seeking lessons from a well known music teacher.  As everyone knows, I do not like to give away a lot of plot points about the films that I review, because I encourage everyone to watch the films for themselves, so I will just give a very brief summary.

Once Eve is abducted, the local constabulary immediately assumes it's the work of in infamous serial killer known as the Pied Piper.  The Pied Piper case has haunted Detective Chief Superintendent Barnbrook (Francis Magee) for years because of his failure to capture the criminal.  He firmly believes that local music teacher Giles Corcoran is the Pier Piper but he has never been able to prove it and now that it seems he's back, Barnbrook and Detective Sergeant Dobson (Lucy Drive) are determined to solve the mystery of the Pied Piper's identity once and for all.  Can they do it before it's too late for Eve?

The film was written by Jacob Cohen, Steph Du Melo and Roger Wyatt and directed by Steph Du Melo.

So, what did I think?  Well, I'll be honest, the opening scene of the film immediately made me think, "Great, another torture porn film."  However, I had agreed to watch the film so I kept going, and I am glad I did.  It turned out to be much, much more than that.  Yes, there is some violence against women in the film, which gets a little old for me, but those brief scenes (most of which are off-screen) are integral to the story and the characters so it didn't bother me.  I did feel I should mention it though. This films is a lot more about the mystery of the identity of the Pied Piper and the effects that the investigation have on the detectives involved than it is about the violence.

The thing I liked most about this film is the acting.  Francis Magee should be recognizable to most people who watch the film.  He's played roles in "Game of Thrones", "The Witcher" and "Into the Badlands" among others, and he does an excellent job playing the tortured detective who has failed to solve the case for 14 years and, as a result, several young women have died.  The other lead players and supporting cast are excellent as well.

The films is also shot very well.  The settings are dreary and build a sense of dread throughout the film. Good use of sound as well.  As I mentioned before, a lot of the violence happens off-screen but man, the sound design really delivers a gut punch as far as making the viewer realize exactly what is happening.   I also have to give a shout out to the actors who are only heard off-screen.  ADR can be very challenging, and they did a great job.

Story wise, "As a Prelude to Fear" is a very well crafted film, with some plot turns that I admit I did not see coming.  Like I said at the beginning of the review, I thought the film was going to be one thing, and it turned out to be another.  Much more of a thrilled than a straight-up horror film.

I am nothing if not honest, so I have to say that there were a few character decisions that made me smack my head.  Then again, if a character didn't make a questionable decision, most of these types of movies wouldn't happen, but there are times when I wish that the screenwriter(s) would try to find a better way to move the plot forward.  There are also a few story elements that will seem familiar, but I can forgive that because, as we know, there are only so many basic plotlines.  I'm not trying to say that this film "copied" any other film, as it definitely did not.  It just makes good use of a few things that we've seen before.

In summary, "As a Prelude to Fear" was an enjoyable indie thriller, and I can feel good about recommending it.  It's a well acted, well paced psychological thrilled with a couple of clever plot turns to keep the viewer guessing.  In a time when it seems that everyone is making films, it's nice to see a cast and crew work very hard at delivering the goods!

For more information about this film, and other titles from MeloMedia films, go to www.melomediafilms.com.

Right after I binge watched the hell out of "Squid Game" (which is amazing), I realized how much I really love Korean Horror or K-Horror, since we love to abbreviate things.  

K-Horror was a little late to the Asian horror scene here in the USA, not having really come along until the late 90's, but when it did, it did so with a bang!  Similar to Japanese horror, K-horror focuses a lot on on psychological horror and often focuses on "horror within family", as family ties are extremely important in Korean culture.  One thing I will say for sure, K-Horror directors do NOT hold back when it comes to in-your-face gore and effective scares!

I came up with a list of K-Horror films that I think are a good mix for any horror fan to check out.  These are NOT ranked nor are they listed in any particular order.  These are just some of my favorite Korean horror films.  Yes, I would probably consider them some of the "best", but it was not my intention to create a countdown of any kind.

Check 'em out and enjoy!

p.s. Where possible, I have included notes on where these films can currently be streamed.  These notes are as of the publication of this article, October 2021.

"A Tale of Two Sisters" (2003)

This film is one of the first K-Horror films I ever saw, and I had no idea what I was getting myself into! Without a doubt it is one of my K-Horror favorites, and it bacome both the highest grossing Korean horror film AND the first one to screen in US theaters, and is widely considered a horror classic.

The film is based on a Korean folk tale​ and is centered on Su-mi, who is released from a mental hospital and returns home to her father, sister and stepmother, who quite literally is the "wicked stepmother".  Supernatural mayhem ensues, leading up to one of the greatest plot twists in ANY film, horror or otherwise.  

What is truly frightening about "A Tale of Two Sisters" is that it shows us, in horrific ways, the terrible things that people, even family, are capable of doing to one another.

If you've never seen this film, I recommend that you do so right now, but don't say I didn't warn you!

Streaming on Amazon Prime and Shudder.

"The Piper" (2015)

Holy shit!  This film kicked my ass when I first watched it!  This film is a VERY dark retelling of the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin.  (For some reason, Korean horror directors love to take Western fairy takes and make them even more horrific than they already are).  Personally, I like movies based on fairy tales which was why I was drawn to "The Piper" but man it's messed up!

The story takes place in the aftermath of the Korean War.  Woo-Ryung is a flute player who is traveling with his young son, and they come across a village which is being plagued by rats that seem to have no fear of humans, and that have a knack for avoiding traps and poisons.  Oh, and by they way, they love to feast on human flesh. The village chief explains that they cannot get rid of the rats because there is no shaman to do so.  Woo-Ryung volunteers to get rid of the rats in exchange for payment that he will use for medical treatment that his son desperately needs.  Woo-Ryung keeps his part of the bargain, but the chief does not and what comes of this betrayal is, well, you just have to see it.

Like most K-Horror, "The Piper" plays heavily on family relationships and in this one, it's the love Woo-Ryung has for his son that turns him from a peaceful, loving person into the force of vengeance he becomes.

"The Piper" is streaming on Amazon Prime.

"Train to Busan" (2016)

If you haven't seen this film, then are you really a horror fan?  When I first heard about it, my initial thought was "Oh great, another zombie movie!"  Boy was I wrong to be skeptical! This was Korea's take on the zombie apocalypse genre and it pretty much catapulted K-Horror to the forefront of international horror cinema.  

The plot outline is this. Seok-woo and his young daughter Su-An are taking a bullet train to Busan to visit Su-An's mother.  An infected woman gets on the train and all hell breaks loose.  Now it's a fight for survival for the duo, and the rest of the passengers.

I loved this film for two main reasons.  It's a fresh take on the tired zombie genre, and it focuses on a dad just trying to protect his daughter under extreme circumstances.  Beyond that, the action, effects and acting are all top notch, and the films brings out a lot of emotions., all wrapped up with a lot of tension in an interesting setting.

Do yourself a favor and watch "Train to Busan" immediately.  If you've already seen it, watch it again!

Streaming on Amazon Prime, Shudder, and Tubi TV

"The Doll Master" (2004)

Anyone who knows me knows that I do NOT like dolls. They are creepy and evil and when you're sleeping them come to life and try to steal your soul.  Movies about them tend to mess me up. 

I still have no idea why I even watched this film, but someone told me about it and I was looking for something scary so I decided to give it a go, and naturally that night I kept all the lights on in the house.

In summary, a group of people is invited to a remote doll museum by the Doll Maker, with the promise that unique dolls will be made in their respective image.  Well, needless to say, things do not go well for our group.  Sinister happenings ensue, and it becomes clear that the oddball residents of the house have a lot of secrets.

The atmosphere alone in "The Doll Master" is enough to creep anyone out.  The doll museum where a big chunk of the movie takes place is lonely and surreal, and the deaths are shocking and creative, making me wonder what kind of a twisted mind thought this crap up.

Anyway, if you're into creepy dolls, I would suggest seeking professional help, and I would strongly recommend checking out "The Doll Master".

Streaming on Amazon Prime

"Bloody Reunion" (2006)

So many K-Horror (and other Asian horror flicks) have to do with ghosts or other vengeful spirits, so "Bloody Reunion" is a refreshing change from this.  It's a violent, gory slasher film that will make you look at bunnies in a whole new way!

Ms. Park is an elderly former school teacher.  Her caretaker, Mi-ja, organizes a class reunion with some of Ms. Park's former students.  It soon becomes clear that each of the students holds a grudge with Ms. Park for various reasons, and a killer wearing a bunny mask begins offing them one by one, in violent, creative ways.

This film is a loose, and very twisted retelling of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None", that amps up the torture and tosses in enough red herrings to keep you guessing, and what I feel is a very clever plot twist.  The death scenes should satisfy the gore hounds out there and as I said, if you're a little tired of Asian horror films that involve ghosts or spirits, then you should definitely check out "Bloody Reunion."

Streaming on Amazon Prime

That's it for Part I of my K-Horror picks.  I hope you enjoy them, and stay tuned for Part II!

My podcast co-host, Scott Colbert, was on my case to watch this, and I had heard a lot about it, both good and bad, so I finally went to the theater to see it.  This was only my second time in a movie theater since March of 2019, and I am glad I saw this on the big screen!  I will start of by saying that this is one of those horror movies that has it's flaws, but is a lot of damn fun!  Malignant is directed by one of my favs, James Wan, and I am glad to see a film of his that is NOT set in the "Conjuring" universe.

So, what's it about?  I'll give a brief summary because as my readers know, I don't like to spell out the entire plot in my reviews.  I encourage everyone to see the films for themselves.

The film stars Annabelle Wallis as Madison Mitchell, a woman who is married to an abusive husband Derek (played convincingly by Jake Abel).  Madison has had several miscarriages, but is pregnant with another child, and she's hopeful that this time everything will work out fine.  Alas, not so fast.... During an argument, Derek shoves her and her head cracks against the wall, hard.  That's when things start to go haywire.

Madison begins to have visions of horrific murders and slowly she begins to realize that she's somehow witnessing these killings as they happen.  This revelation leads her down a rabbit hole and towards a mysterious figure named Gabriel.  

Along the way, law enforcement gets involved but of course, Madison's story is so crazy that they do not believe her, until she leads them to the scene of one of the recently committed murders.  Naturally, Madison becomes a prime suspect because of her knowledge of the location of the crime, and things continue to unravel, as Madison, her sister Sydney (Maddie Hasson) and detectives Kekoa Shaw (George Young) and Regina Moss (Michole Briana White) race to try and stop Gabriel's rampage of murder.  All of this leads to a climax which, for lack of any better words, is completely BATSHIT INSANE!

So, what did I think of it?  Well, I agree with Scott Colbert when he said on our podcast, The Imaginarium With Scott and Todd that "Malignant" is not nearly as amazing as some people said it is, and not nearly as bad as some other people said it is.

Personally, I can agree with the positive reviews way more than I can with the negative ones.  I really do not understand some of the hate this film received, but then again, I'm going by my social media feeds, so I should probably just dismiss most of it as "I'm gonna hate this movie so I can seem cool, edgy and contrarian."

Before I go any further let me say this.  I thought both the digital and practical effects were outstanding!  This is a little hard to explain, but when Madison is experiencing her visions, and the scene transitions to the alternate reality, the effect they use to do that is fantastic.  As everyone knows, I am a big fan of "movie magic" and that effect is a great example of it.  The gore effects are also very good for the most part.  Towards the end of the film the CGI gets a little clunky, but I didn't let that get in the way of my enjoyment of the film.

I thought the acting was excellent as well.  Wallis does a great job as Madison in portraying someone who genuinely doesn't understand what is happening to them, and desperately tries to convince those around her of what's happening, knowing that it sounds completely crazy.  The supporting characters are serviceable but not great.  Specifically, the two detectives are a little generic, but it's not totally their fault.  The lines they are given don't help them, and their actions fall into "would a real cop actually do that?" territory, but again, that's a function of the writing, not of their acting ability.

As far as the plot is concerned, I kind of figured out the basic premise about 1/3 of the way through the film, BUT, I did NOT anticipate the direction in which the writers ultimately took that premise.  I thought what they did was very cool, however, I will tell you know that is does require suspension of disbelief, and THIS boys and girls, brings me to my problem with a lot of the criticisms of this film.

EVERY horror film, especially ones like this, require suspension of disbelief!  Horror fans are OK with Michael Myers and Jason being completely indestructible, but they have a problem with the plot of Malignant?  Come on!  Can't we just have fun with a movie?

The third act of this movie is completely fukkin' nuts, and I loved it!  It reminded me of a Stuart Gordon or Brian Yuzna film from the 1980's.  You have to just sit back, enjoy it, and say "Holy shit! at least a dozen times!  Horror fandom really is the worst sometimes, and not to mention inconsistent.  If this movie had been released in 1985, these same fans would be creaming themselves over it.

Like I said, my bigger problem with Malignant wasn't with the implausibility of the overall plot.  It was with the elements that are more grounded in reality, like the actions taken by the lead detective in the case.  The poor decisions really boggled my mind sometimes.  That again again, the CGI near the end is a bid dodgy, but that really is a nitpick.

Overall I really liked this movie and I highly recommend it.  Just sit back and have some fun with a movie that has a pretty cool premise, a great, unexpected antagonist and some completely insane, bloody, action set pieces.

When I heard that Jordan Peele was going to write and produce a reboot of 1992's "Candyman" I had mixed feelings.  I like Jordan Peele as a filmmaker, but I wondered why he would bother remaking an existing property, as opposed to just continuing to write, produce and direct original material.  But, I figured that with him attached, it would probably be pretty good.  I finally went to see it and well, it turned out to be a "I liked it but I didn't love it" situation.

The 2021 version of "Candyman" is NOT a remake.  It's a direct sequel to the original film, ignoring the the two mediocre sequels that were released in 1995 and 1999 respectively.  I don't like to give away too many plot points, so I will just provide a brief summary.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen stars as Anthony McCoy, a visual artist living in Chicago with his girlfriend, gallery director Brianna Cartwright (Teyonah Parris).  McCoy has been struggling creatively, and then he hears about the legend of Candyman from Brianna's brother Troy (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett).  He goes exploring around the site of the old Cabrini Green housing projects, where he meets Billy Burke (Colman Domingo) who owns a local laundromat.  Burke tells him the details of the Candyman story and how to summon the spirit by saying his name five times while looking in a mirror.  Inspired by the legend, Anthony creates an art exhibit based on the horrific tale, along with some social commentary, and the piece is exhibited at Brianna's art gallery, where it is not exactly well received.

Of course, on of Brianna's co-workers and his girlfriend decide to test the Candyman legend by saying his name three times in the mirror that forms the basis of the exhibit and, well, let's just say that it turns out to be a bad idea, and mayhem ensues.

As the film progresses, McCoy finds himself increasingly drawn into the world of Candyman, and as art and reality begin to blur, he finds that he has a connection to the story that he never could have imagined. 

So, what did I think of the film?  Overall, I liked it.  The acting is very good, as are the gore effects and I liked the 'cutout' type effects that they use to tell parts of the story.  I thought that was a pretty cool storytelling tool and adding an interesting visual element to the film.

Let me address one thing right away.  Some of the reviews I've read and some of the opinions expressed on social media seemed to focus too much on the "message" of the film.  Yes, the film does address the experiences of Black people in America, but I never felt that it was too heavy-handed.  It's simply a part of the story and it reflects the characters, and the circumstances in which some of them lived.  It also deals with class and how it is woven into the art world.  Again, I never felt that I was being beaten over the head with "the message".  Yes, it's noticeable but again, it's just a part of the story.  After all, this is a horror film, and we see plenty of people meeting horrific ends.  Much as also been made of the fact that only white people are slaughtered in the film.  Umm, so fucking what?  How many times have we dealt with the cliche' of the "Black Dude" dying first in the film?  No one seems to complain about that?  I get a little tired of people looking for problems where there are none.

I think my biggest problem with the film is that, like many sequels are remakes, it just wasn't necessary.  I am not nearly as militant about this as some people though, and I really didn't mind that Peele decided to revisit "Candyman".  

Another problem that I had is that none of the people who end up getting slaughtered by Candyman are particularly likeable, so there's no real emotional response to their killings.  There is one character in particular that is so irritating I was thinking that if Candyman didn't get him, someone else would eventually take in out just for being a colossal dick.

I found it to be an enjoyable slasher film that had some social commentary thrown in.  I really did like the way the writers connected this film with the 1992 film.  The way they brought back Tony Todd and Virginia Madsen was very clever and well done in the sense that they did NOT make it a Tony Todd or Virginia Madsen film.  They are just two threads that connect the films, and it was cool.

My final thoughts are these.  I think too many people assume that Jordan Peele directed this film.  He did NOT.  It was directed by Nia DaCosta, who co-wrote the screenplay with Peele and Win Rosenfeld.  It irks me that so many people make this assumption.  I do admit that I was not familiar with her, but I was aware that she, and not Jordan Peele, directed this film.  Personally, I think the studio didn't push this fact because she is a relative unknown, and Peele has made his mark with two successful horror films under his belt, and it's a shame.  DaCosta is directing "The Marvels" for Marvel/Disney which is due in 2022, so it's nice to see her get to direct a higher profile film.

Speaking of Jordan Peele, I really do like him as a filmmaker.  I think he is incredibly talented and I was such a fan of his brilliant comedy that I never saw it coming when he emerged as a horror director.  I enjoyed both "Get Out" and "Us" and I can't wait to see what he does next.

Having said that, I hope he doesn't drift into Eli Roth territory, where he gets anointed as this modern master, only to get eclipsed by his own hype.  It made me crazy when Fangoria magazine gave Roth an lifetime achievement award after only three films.  That's not his fault, and I hope the same thing doesn't happen to Peele.

Overall I thought "Candyman" was a good film, and I encourage you to see it and judge for yourself.  It might not have been "necessary", but it's far better than most of the endless stream of sequels, prequels and remakes we've been fed for the last two decades.

Yours truly, The Horror Nerd has not written a film review in quite some time, which is a shame, because I have neglected this site for too long.  So, when  actress/writer/producer Chloe Carroll asked me to check out her new short film, "Elysia" (now showing on Fear Crypt's YouTube channel), I jumped at the chance.  I love a good vampire flick, and this one does not disappoint!

Now, those of you who have read my reviews know that I don't like to give away too many plot details.  The whole point is to get you to watch this excellent film, so I'm going to paint this with broad strokes.

Molly (played by the aforementioned Chloe Carroll) and Elysia (played by the equally lovely and talented Rachel Donahue) are immortal vampires who have been in a relationship for decades (or perhaps longer, the film is does not specify).  Immortality has its price though, and while Molly and Elysia remain young and beautiful forever, it's not so for those they love.  Molly's son is dying from old age, and the trauma sends Molly down a dark path that both she and Elysia must deal with.  This path leads them both to a shattering climax.  There, that's all I am going to give you!  You'll just have to watch the film for yourself.  Now, what did I think of it?

Let's face it.  There are a LOT of vampire flicks out there, and it's hard to come up with something new.  "Elysia" does have some similarities to vampire tales that have come before.  There's no way around that, but it's the strength of the performances of the two leads that really carries this one.  Carroll and Donahue do a great job of conveying what it must be like to remain youthful forever, while watching your loved ones age and die.  I also liked the fact that while the main characters a mythical creatures, their relationship is based very much in reality in the sense that they have to deal with the same emotions as 'normal' people.

I also loved that it's a tight, compact story that was not dragged on.  The writers (Chloe Carroll & Brittany Snyman) and director (Wesley Mellott) could have easily gone on and on, padding out the run time like so many short films do.  I'm glad they were able to tell a complete story in the efficient ten-minute run time.
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On a technical level, the film is very well done.  It's well shot and I particularly loved the color palette that was chosen.   

Overall, this film is very well done, and I recommend "Elysia" without reservation.  You can watch it on YouTube, and you should do it RIGHT NOW!

The horror move remake....or reboot, or "re-imagining" or whatever you want to call it.  Some people absolutely loathe them, some people simply tolerate them, and others like me, view a remake just like any other film. It will either be good or it won't.  I think there are many remakes that were done right, and (GASP) some that were better than the original!

I will admit that many times I just don't see the point of a remake, especially when the original still holds up over time. Having said that, there are many times where I am pleasantly surprised, and other times I want to puke in my suit. 

For this article, I'm going to throw out a mix of horror remakes that I liked, along with a few I thought were putrid.

Side note before we get started. Whenever someone screams "REMAKES SUCK!" someone else will say, "What about 'The Fly' and 'The Thing'?", and the first person will inevitably agree, which immediately destroys the REMAKES SUCK! argument. The reason I bring it up is....because The Fly/Thing argument has been made so often, I am going to leave those two films off this list.

So, enough rambling.....onto the list!

William Lustig's 1981 film "Maniac" starring the late, great Joe Spinell, is one of my favorite films. It's gritty, nasty and unrelenting. Who would have thought a remake would be any good?  Yet it is!  Elijah Wood, in his creepiest role bay far, does a great job, and the conceit of the film, in that it's shown entirely from the perspective of the killer, is a gimmick that completely works! I thought it was a good choice to move the setting to LA and I like the sort of "neon" styling to the film. This is a remake that, while it can never surpass the original, comes very close to matching it.

What is the point of doing a remake if you're not even going to attempt to bring anything new to the table? This effort (if you can call it that) by director Gus Van Sant is a complete waste of time. The only reason I saw it is because I wanted to see if it really was as bad as I had heard.  Well, it's wasn't.  It was actually worse.  It's almost a shot for shot remake, and copies most of Hitchcock's camera angles and editing.  Hell, they even re-used most of the original score (though with a new arrangement by Danny Elfman and Steve Bartek). Vince Vaughn gives a performance worse than a plank of wood, and the movie is a complete failure. If you're going to try and remake a horror classic, by one of cinema's greatest directors, at least try to put your own stamp on it. Skip this one at all costs!

I am definitely a fan of George Romero's 1973 original, but I think that this remake is the rare type that actually surpasses the original, even if it's just by a small margin. For those who are unfamiliar with the plot, a biological weapon, the Trixie virus, is accidentally released in a small town, turning some of them into, you guessed it, "crazed" killers who go about picking off their neighbors one-by-one.  I think what makes this one good is that each member of the requisite group of survivors is actually likeable. There are a lot of great set pieces, and the only real negative I can think of is that the film might be a bit too long, but I think the ending definitely makes up for that!  

There are decent remakes.  There are bad remakes, and then there's this steaming pile of garbage. It seems that all John Carpenter films are destined to be remade, and John Carpenter himself has said that he doesn't mind the checks, so we're stuck with dreck like this. The 1980 original, is a creepy and atmospheric ghost story that has since reached classic status. The original cast has been de-aged to the point where they seem like a bunch of college students stumbling around after a drunken frat party, and the original films gloom has been replaced with shitty CGI fog.  I'll also never understand the decision to toss some nonsense about reincarnation into the relatively simple plot of ghostly pirates seeking bloody vengeance.  "The Fog" is one of those films where you kind of just have to nod your head when people say, "Remakes suck!"

This is another film that is often mentioned as one of the best remakes of all time, and rightfully so.  It has a great cast, including Donald Sutherland, Leonard Nimoy, Jeff Goldblum and Brooke Adams.  It's a tense, anxiety-filled thriller that is expertly directed by Phil Kaufman. The film does a great job of moving the story from the original McCarthy era setting to post-Vietnam, and the cinematography, with a ton of great closeups and low-angle shots, adds to the sense of paranoia that pervades the film.  Not to mention that, for my money, this film has one of the greatest endings of any horror film.  The next time someone tells you that remakes suck, instead of mentioning "The Fly" again, throw this one at them!

Let's face it, the 1979 original is not exactly great, but it definitely has a lot of charm and it's generally well regarded by horror fans, mostly because of Carol Kane's convincing performance.  Come on, we all thought the idea that the calls were coming from inside the house was pretty cool!  In this pointless remake, director Simon West thinks that if he just makes the soundtrack boom with loud noises, people will be scared. Somehow, close-ups on phones that aren't even ringing and violently shaking bushes as star Camilla Belle runs past them are supposed to be frightening. The original is tame by today's "gore" standards, but it achieved it's goal of creeping us out.  The remake does nothing except make us wish it would just be over.

Wes Craven's 1977 original is considered one of the most relentlessly brutal horror films, especially of that era.  Well, Alexandre Aja's remake takes that brutality to a whole new level.  The raw depravity of it surprised even The Horror Nerd a bit when I saw it in the theater, but I have to say, the extreme violence and horror made sense in the context of the story.  The cringe inducing set pieces weren't just there "to be there". There are fantastic performances throughout the film, and the cinematography is outstanding.  I think what makes it particularly unbearable is that the victims are actually likeable, and they do not deserve the fate that befalls them. Basically, this film is an endurance test for all but the most jaded and desensitized film-goer.

I'm pretty sure that the only reason this waste of celluloid was made was because some studio executive realized that the could build a marketing campaign around the fact that they could release the film on 6/6/2006 (6/6/6, get it? So cool!) Star Liev Schreiber does his best to carry this film, but it's just too much weight.  It just plods along, and it's incredibly boring.  Richard Donner's 1976 original slowly builds a sense of dread and every so often, a shocking death scene comes along. Gregory Peck also does a fantastic job of making us think that maybe, just maybe, his kid is not the son of the devil, but that he might just be going crazy and it's all in his head. Somehow, director John Moore took a story about the Son of Satan and made it completely tiresome.  Do yourself a favor, stick to the original where the haunting score alone puts this entire remake to shame.

I always take a lot of heat for this one, and I get it, I really do. I understand the reverence for Sam Raimi's original "The Evil Dead" and I am well aware of it's importance in horror film history.  However, I do not revere it the way many horror fans do, and I will always maintain that the sequel is far superior. But, we're talking about Fede Alvarez's remake here, which I feel is one of the best horror remakes to ever come along. I like the sub-plot that our group of future victims is helping one of their own overcome a heroin addiction. Well, of course, Deadite mayhem ensues, and the blood flows, quite liberally I might add.  There is none of the absurd humor or overacting that makes the original so charming. This is one of the bloodiest, most visceral horror films of the 21st century so far, and it's unrelenting.  This is a great example of what a filmmaker can do when they take the original, and build upon it to turn it into something new.  Trust me horror fans, it's totally OK to love the original and enjoy the remake at the same time!

 I saved this one for last because it always gets me in trouble. There are a LOT of people who like this film.  There are some who even say that it's better than John Carpenter's original. Well, they're wrong. I get why they might say that though.  Director Rob Zombie amps up the violence and gore in his waste of time remake, and that's what 21st century horror audiences seem to want. They can't deal with tension or a slow burn.  They just want to see gore and violence.  While that has it's place to be sure, it doesn't "make" a movie.  I just don't see why so many people love this movie.  Rob Zombie has a good eye for cinematography, I'll give him that, but I'm sorry (not) folks, but he is a terrible writer.  He took everything that made the original good, and bastardized it, including giving Michael Myers some lame backstory about being a sad kid who had a shitty childhood.  WHAT?  Michael Myers used to be a symbol of evil.  A seemingly normal person from a suburban family who becomes a killer.  Now he's just another troubled kid lashing out at the world? Fuck outta' here!  We're not supposed to feel sorry for Michael Myers!  Oh, and what the hell is that scene where Michael holds up a photo of one of the characters like he's a detective asking someone, "Have you seen this person?"  I could go on and on, but I feel my blood pressure going up. Stop, just stop.  Please stop pretending that this is a good movie just because you are a fan of Rob Zombie.  
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ps: I wonder if Malcolm McDowell regrets taking on the iconic role of Dr. Loomis. I know I would.

Well, there you have it folks.  Five remakes I liked, and five, well, not so much.  What do you think?  Do you agree? Disagree? Think I should quit giving my opinion?  

I hope you enjoyed my choices in any case, and I am already thinking about some more remakes I'd like to write about.

Thanks for reading!

​The Horror Nerd

Halloween is coming, and it's time to watch our favorite horror films. Rather than re-hash the same "classics" that everyone has seen a thousand times, I though I would focus on some films that I feel are a bit more obscure or underrated. Let's jump right in!

This is one of my all time favorite "hidden" gems, and it still creeps me out! The story of how an anatomical dummy from a medical office slowly takes over the lives of a mentally ill man and his sister (with whom he has a very unhealthy relationship) is relatively simple. Many people complain that the film is slow, and it can be, but I still maintain that Pin, the doll, is extremely creepy and for some people, it will be nightmare fuel. I still have this on on VHS, and if you have a chance to see it, check it out!

This is one of my favorite haunted house films of all time. Whenever you have Bette Davis as the one sane person (we think) in the film, you've got something! Oliver Reed is awesome as always as he seems to hallucinate a creepy chauffer (tied to some childhood trauma), and the ever-amazing Karen Black makes us question our own sanity as she becomes completely obsessed with a never-seen old lady upstairs. This is a slow burn for sure, but you have to stick with it because the fear and anxiety definitely build, and the ending makes the journey worth it!

I saw "The Hamiltons" as part of After Dark Horrorfest, and it became on of my favorites of that event. I think that the less I actually say about the movie, the better it is, as I don't want to risk any spoilers. At it's core though, it's a horror film about a family of siblings just trying to get along without their recently deceased parents. Of course, there's a lot more to it than that. This one was written and directed by The Butcher Brothers and I have to say that it was one of the best entries in the After Dark Horrorfest series. It should be on anyone's Halloween viewing list.

Of course everyone remembers the original, starring Claude Raines, but the highly underrated follow up often goes unnoticed, and it's probably one of the best of the Universal Classic horror sequels. This time, Vincent Price stars as the Invisible Man. The plot is basically a continuation of the first film. Geoffrey Radcliffe is sentenced to death for the murder of his brother, which he did not commit. His jail cell is found empty, with only clothes left behind, and chaos ensues. Price is great as the protagonist, with the invisibility serum slowly driving him insane as it did the first Invisible Man. This time around though, the Invisible Man is a more tragic, sympathetic figure, and Price does a fantastic job conveying this. If you've never seen this film, you should immediately do so.

I am an unabashed fan of black and white horror films from the 1930's and 1940's, and this is one of my favorites. Bela Lugosi is back doing what he does best, which is being Bela Lugosi. In this "non-Dracula" vampire tale, Lugosi stars as a bloodsucker who is revived when a Nazi bomb uncovers his tomb, and an unwitting (or just dumb) gravedigger removes the stake from his heart. He then sets about getting his revenge on the family who stakes him years earlier. If you love classic vampire action as much as I do, then this one is a must see.

Sticking with the 1940's for now, this list could never be complete without "The Lodger", starring Laird Cregar as the titular character. It's London, and Jack the Ripper is terrorizing the streets. The Burton family takes in a mysterious lodger, and Mrs. Burton slowly begins to suspect that their tenant might actually be the Ripper, and he might be targeting her niece. The performances are gripping, and the entire film is gloomy and atmospheric. (Side note: Many people do not realize that this is a remake of the 1927 Hitchcock silent film, "The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog")

Thankfully, the entire film is available for viewing on YouTube. Watch it now!

This is another one from After Dark Horrorfest, and again, it's one of the better ones (in my no-so-humble opinion). Four friends set off in search of the supposedly extinct Tasmanian Tiger. Mayhem ensues. At it's core, this is a basic "people go into the woods and get slaughtered" movie, but it's bleak, nasty and gruesome and the writing and acting are far better than most films of this type. My only gripe is that some of the effects are a bit rough around the edges, but I can forgive that in light of the good story and acting, and that fact that the film is just unrelenting in its bleakness.

I only found out about this film a couple of years ago, and I'm glad I did! Usually when a film is "presented" by Guillermo Del Toro, it can be very hit-or-miss but that is definitely NOT the case here. This is a very creepy and atmospheric thriller, with a distinct giallo feel to it. The Julia of the title is losing her eyesight due to a disease that also affected her sister, who committed suicide rather than face blindness. Julia doesn't believe that her sister kills herself, so she goes about trying to prove it, despite her failing eyesight. I love the premise, AND the creepy characters she encounters along the way. You owe it to yourself to track this one down and watch it.

Let's go back to my favorite decade, the 1940's, for this next one. Dorothy McGuire plays a mute servant who works in a vast, creepy mansion. A killer is targeting girls who have physical deformities or other "abnormalities" and McGuire may be his next victim. I love this film for its gothic atmosphere, and the acting and cinematography are fantastic. If you like horror films from this era as much as I do, you're going to love this one.

To round out this list, I'm going with a lesser-known J-Horror film that came out back in 2005. It's one of the rate films that actually does found footage right. It can be a little hard to follow, and the conclusion is a bit convoluted, but it's got some genuinely good jump scares and a truly fantastic demon. The film is in the form of a documentary by a paranormal investigator who goes looking for a demonic entity known as Kagutaba and disappears. What starts with simple strange noises builds to what I believe is an awesome finale. Definitely give this one a try.

Well, there you have it folks! Take it from The Horror Nerd. Instead of watching "Halloween" or "Friday the 13th" for the 300th time, give these hidden gems a try, and let me know what you think!

I love horror, and I love trivia, so I figured, why not share some interesting horror film facts that I've come across over the years. Some of these you may know, some you may not, but I hope you enjoy these ten horror tidbits either way!

Fay Wray thought she would be starring with Cary Grant in "King Kong". While trying to convince her to star in the film, director Merian C. Cooper promised Wray "You're going to have the tallest, darkest leading man in Hollywood".  Wray later recalled, "While my thoughts were flying towards the hope that Cooper might be waiting for Cary's arrival just as I was, Cooper went on to point at the giant ape and say, again, 'The tallest, darkest leading man in Hollywood.'"

Sissy Spacek was not the first choice to play "Carrie".  Brian De Palma was a fan of Sissy Spacek’s work, but already had actress Betty Slade in mind as his Carrie. His decision to let Spacek audition at all was mostly out of courtesy to her husband, Jack Fisk, the film’s art director. Spacek showed up at her audition in with her hair slicked back with Vaseline and wearing an old sailor dress her mother had made for her. When she was done, she waited in the parking lot while her husband reviewed her audition with the rest of the production team. After Fisk came out to tell her that the part was hers, “We sped off before anybody could change his mind,” Spacek later told Rolling Stone magazine.  (Side note: Pamela Sue Martin, Jill Clayburgh, Linda Blair and Glenn Close also auditioned for the role.)

The Creature From the Black Lagoon was modeled after the Oscar statuette. Universal had managed to snag up and coming filmmaker Jack Arnold to direct. Arnold's documentary "With These Hands" had received an Academy Award nomination and Arnold kept the souvenir certificate that the Academy sent to all nominees. Arnold told Cinefantastique magazine in 1975, "There was a picture of the Oscar statuette on it and I said, 'If we put a gilled hand on the figurine, plus fins and scales, that would look pretty much like the kind of creature we're trying to get.'"  They made a mold out of rubber. Gradually the costume took shape, and the rest is cinema history!

An actual witch was hired to make "The Craft" more authentic. To ensure that the depiction of Wicca in the film was as realistic as possible, Sony hired Pat Devin as a consultant. Devin is a member of Covenant of the Goddess, one of the oldest and largest Wiccan religious organizations in the United States. At the time, she was First Officer of the group's Southern California Local Council. Devin played a big part in the production process and, at time, worked directly with the actresses. She later recalled, "A lot of my suggestions were acted upon and virtually all of my suggestions were given careful consideration, even if they didn't all end up in the final version of the film." (Source: An interview with John Brightshadow Yohalem, CoG, 1998).

Child's Play was inspired by (allegedly) real events.  Robert the doll, which was once owned by a Florida painter named Robert Eugene Otto, was supposedly cursed by a female servant who worked for Robert's parents. Apparently, the servant was the victim of abuse by the parents which led her to place a Voodoo curse on the doll. Like Chucky, Robert the Doll supposedly had the ability to speak, and the parents would hear there child having conversations with someone who would answer in a different voice. According to various other reports, the doll would sometimes blink and move on its own.  Today, the doll is on display at the Key West Martello Museum.

When filming "The Blair Witch Project", the actors received their instructions each day via way points, directed by GPS. Each of them had to locate their respective canister, read notes on where their character's story was going, and jump into filming. They were also instructed not to reveal their notes to the other actors.

Oh, and the bundle of sticks that Heather finds contained real hair and teeth. The hair came from co-star Joshua Leonard and the teeth were provided by Eduardo Sanchez's dentist.

Finally, because the actors were kept away from the press, and the marketing tactics used by the filmmakers, people actually thought that actress Heather Donahue was dead. Her mother even received sympathy cards!

There you go! Ten creepy trivia tidbits about some of your favorite horror films. I hoped you enjoyed these. I'll be back with more!