Occupants (2015)

Posted on February 4, 2016 by Felix Vasquez

For anyone like me who take interest in the concept of parallel worlds, director Russell Emanuel embraces the found footage sub-genre while also dodging the gimmicky trappings in favor of a much more intelligent genre title involving the scientific idea. “Occupants” explores the theory of parallel realities, and how it’s theorized our lives can align with alternate versions of ourselves. Much like “Paranormal Activity,” Emanuel sets his film primarily in one setting, but the similarities end there. Emanuel has his finger on the pulse of science fiction, exploring a realm where every movement is intricate and our characters begin to dabble in the God Complex resulting in some absolutely horrendous consequences.

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Avenged (2015)

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Felix Vasquez

I wish “The Crow” sequels took as much of an advantage with a creative premise as director Michael S. Ojeda does with “Avenged.” While his film isn’t exactly a revenge masterpiece, it’s a strong contender for one of the finer revenge films of the past five years, working as a tragic love story, and a vicious horror themed tale of vengeance. Amanda Adrienne Smith is rather compelling as the victimized Zoe, a deaf mute who ends up at the wrong place at the wrong time.

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World of Tomorrow (2015)

Posted on January 14, 2016 by Felix Vasquez

The crude animation for “World of Tomorrow” seems like something that would distract from the overall experience, but thankfully Don Hertzfeldt’s short is still very powerful. The impact of the message and the ideas about time travel and unchangeable destiny still resonate, and the crude animation and simplistic voice work almost seem to compliment the abstract ideas presented here.

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Caesar and Otto’s Paranormal Halloween (2015)

Posted on December 21, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

I admit I’ve always enjoyed Dave Campfield’s horror series “Caesar and Otto” despite the duo delivering hit or miss adventures. Every film since their introduction has been one self contained ode to some facet of horror, and Campfield has a surefire love for the genre of horror and comedy that he tries to bring to the forefront with his characters of Caesar and Otto. With “Paranormal Halloween” I think Campfield is at his best, because with the misadventures of Caesar and Otto comes bit of scorn that emanates through every moment of the film. Campfield is always self aware but in “Paranormal Halloween,” Campfield seems to have reached the point where he’s delivering his own idea of great horror, and is trying to figure out how to hit the right note and deliver something for a wider audience.

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Tickle (2014)

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

Corey Norman’s “Tickle” watches a lot like an episode of “Tales from the Darkside.” It seeps with eighties aesthetic, unfolds like a classic campfire tale, and has a great novelty about it that will go over well with horror fans. It’s also a hell of a good Halloween yarn that I expect will really click with fans of the holiday.

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Prank (2014)

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

If there’s ever a testament to the supernatural element of Halloween, it’s Alex Weight’s “Prank.” Set on Halloween night, director Weight examines what happens when a prank goes one step too far. And when evil plays a hand in pure utter revenge. Three trick or treaters dressed as a clown, a skull, and a devil meet up to go trick or treating for the night, and decide to pay an old friend named Jerry a visit.

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Mean Teddies (2015)

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

I’m still waiting for someone to deliver on an epic fantasy horror movie where teddy bears defend their masters against monsters under the bed, or from the closet. Tyler Novo’s two minute short comes painfully close to the premise and I’d love to see more of it down the road.

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