It’s not exactly a secret that I just didn’t think much of Aaron Koontz’s 2019 horror comedy anthology “Scare Package.” Despite its best intentions and love for the genre, as a horror anthology I just wanted something new and just more. The horror anthology is a difficult platform for a lot of filmmakers, and “Scare Package II” doesn’t re-invent the wheel at any turn. As a horror comedy that spoofs “Saw” (and a slew of other horror movies) wholesale, it’s a solid film. As an anthology, the wrap around narrative does little to compliment the four mixed bag horror segments.
Yearly Archives: 2023
When Evil Lurks (Cuando Acecha la Maldad) (2023)
I think over time Demián Rugna’s horror film “When Evil Lurks” will become a monstrous classic that will be explored by a lot of the horror fandom. A lot like Lucio Fulci, and or Mario Bava, Rugna’s film is dependent a lot on striking, often disturbing imagery. Said imagery tends to compensate for a lot of the film’s incoherence and ability to leave us absolutely confused and dumbfounded. I’d be hard pressed to call “When Evil Lurks” a masterpiece, but it sure is a great horror film. Director Rugna, like the aforementioned directors, is big on mounting terror and suspense, leading us in to a pacing that is slow in the beginning but throws us head first in to explosive twists and violence.
My Best Friend is a Vampire (1987)
It’s interesting that Jimmy Huston’s horror comedy has managed to rise above the rest of the teen horror comedies over the years. Even something like “Once Bitten” which had a young Jim Carrey, isn’t nearly as popular as “My Best Friend is a Vampire.” Despite being insanely silly, and features one of the most lackluster romantic interests of the eighties, “My Best Friend is a Vampire” (aka “I Was a Teenage Vampire”) has survived mainly for its very vocal LGBTQ overtones, and a soundtrack that’s better than it has any right to be.
Ranking “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” Movies from Best to Worst
“Who Will Survive and What Will be Left of Them?”
It’s been an interesting year for “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” fans as the movie series has finally been adapted in to what is, by all accounts, a popular survival video game. It’s also incidentally the twenty year anniversary of the shockingly popular Marcus Nispel remake, which continues to win new fans. With that said, I gave my personal ranking to all of the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” films in the series. As always feel free to offer your own rankings or rebuttals the comments.
Teen Vamp (1988)
“Teen Witch” came in to existence from a studio’s desires to create a “Teen” monster franchise. “Teen Wolf” would give way to “Teen Witch,” and there was supposed to be “Teen Vampire.” Director Samuel Bradford’s super low budget “Teen Vamp” seems to aim to unofficially complete the trinity amounting to a bizarre eighties teen horror series. Although, you could ague “Love at First Bite,” “The Vampire’s Kiss,” and or “Vamp” completed the trilogy; I’d be more hard pressed to argue that “My Best Friend is a Vampire” feels so much more like a natural end to the desired gimmick. “Teen Vamp” is best left in the heap of obscure eighties video store shelf warmers.
Boudica: Queen of War (2023)
After the killing of her family by the enemy in an effort to leave her land without a male heir, Boudica is taken in by group of people who nurse her back to health and help her train to become the legend we now know.
Ride On (2023)
As debt accumulates and collectors come knocking, a washed-up stuntman trains with his horse for one last hurrah.