The Exorcist: Believer (2023)

It’s been pretty much the consensus that “The Exorcist” is one of those rare lightning in the bottle cinematic achievements that has yet to find a contemporary in its massive sub-genre. Over the years, studios have fought to build a classic in the same vein, and now Blumhouse has tried their hand at continuing the cinematic adaptation of “The Exorcist.” While its arrival has pretty much squashed any and all attempts at forward momentum that the “Halloween” movies had, “Believer” actually ends up as a pretty okay reboot. It’s by no means as terrible as “The Heretic” but David Gordon Green has a lot to do if he hopes to achieve any kind of success with the next two films in his series.

At this point whether or not there will be a follow up remains to be seen.

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Margaux (2022)

It is unbelievable how ridiculous “Margaux” is. When you approach a movie about a technologically advanced house that decides to off the residents, you can expect some level of absurdity but Steven C. Miller really goes for the throat, here. “Margaux” watches like a feature length approach of “The Ultrahouse 3000” sketch from “The Simpsons”; except it’s not as funny and ten times as idiotic. At least “The Ultrahouse 3000” was a satire and dark comedy, but “Margaux” plays everything deadpan. Director Miller plays so much of what unfolds with such a straight face, you have to eventually wonder if he’s just jerking the audience around.

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Benny Loves You (2019)

If you invest in a ride that’s more about senseless gore and grue with a killer doll on a rampage that feels like a long, internet comedy skit, Karl Holt’s “Benny Loves You” might just satisfy your appetite. I’m not one that ever really turns down a movie about killer dolls or puppets, so “Benny Loves You” kept my attention most times. It’s weird, and bizarre, and gloriously deadpan. Plus, Benny is such an interesting and menacing monster, that I bought his ability to inflict sheer chaos on anything with a pulse.

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Scare Package II: Rad Chad’s Revenge (2022)

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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