Many zombie fans will be quick to compare David J. Francis and Mike Masters’ mock documentary set amidst the zombie apocalypse to “Diary of the Dead.” Truth be told, I was prepared to consider it a knock off during the first twenty minutes, but that would be a disservice to “Reel Zombies.” Directors Francis and Masters don’t offer any pretension about their film and are pretty straight forward in its premise and how they’re not even remotely trying to offer social commentary. There’s no message about racism, or sexuality, or the government, it’s just a straight forward horror comedy. “Reel Zombies” won’t be accused of re-inventing the wheel, but even with its flaws, it’s a damn good horror comedy.
Tag Archives: Horror
A Woman Scorned (2014)
Hell hath no fury, as the saying goes, and the poor sap that crossed his woman, endures some of the worst punishment imaginable. Soon to be included as a compilation in a film called “World of Death,” Jeff Thompson’s horror film is a short but sweet tale of revenge through the classic voodoo doll.
Haunter (2014) [Blu-Ray]
Director Vincenzo Natali’s “Haunter” is a major departure from his 2010 hyper sexual science fiction monster movie “Splice.” It’s in many ways much more tame, and occasionally can feel like a PG-13 outing. It’s still a pretty grim and occasionally creepy horror film, but it can also be an interesting fantasy film that works in twisting the conventions of the ghost tale to, for once, make the victim of the movie monster the heroine.
Return to Nuke ‘Em High Volume 1 (2013)
Any movie that begins with inexplicable opening narration from Stan Lee is an automatic win in my book. From the opening exposition from Stan “The Man,” to clips from the previous “Nuke ‘Em High” series, “Return Vol. 1” is really a return to form for people that appreciated the punk rock trash “Class of Nuke Em High” series that had no limits in bad taste and grue. It’s an entirely new generation with an entirely new subtext, and Lloyd Kaufman embraces those themes head on and without fear of controversy.
The Walking Dead Season 4 Episode 9: After
As much as I adore “The Walking Dead,” it’s always so much better when it focuses on silence and quiet dread. Scenes of Carl walking through a deserted suburb, or Michonne walking camouflaged within a herd are some of the most uneasy moments of the new episode. Much to my surprise, the series has been veering much closer to the comic books than it has been for the last four years, and it’s borrowed some of the best and most compelling story lines involving the aftermath of the prison invasion. There are a lot of callbacks to the first season. There’s a mention of Shane teaching Carl to tie knots, there’s a top down zoom in of a military tank like the final scene of the pilot, and now Rick and Carl have holed up in a house together exactly like Morgan and Duane did in the pilot.
The PC Thug: You Can’t Keep a Good Zombie Down
Okay, so I know not everyone enjoyed “Land of the Dead.”
Many people I spoke to during the time of its release seemed to hate it, though I persisted in my thoughts that it would eventually gain appreciation, much like “Day of the Dead” eventually did. I fondly remember many people telling me that “Day of the Dead” was a terrible film back in the early nineties, and now it’s considered a classic. Even director George Romero considers it his favorite.
Nurse 3D (2013)
If there’s anything really good I can say about “Nurse 3D” is that you certainly won’t be bored. Will you be entertained? Well, that’s debatable, but bored? Likely not. I certainly wasn’t bored through “Nurse 3D.” Granted, it’s one of those so bad it’s good exploitation horror movies, but it’s definitely a good time, and kept me watching from minute one. It also has its fair share of gorgeous women including Paz De La Huerta, and Katrina Bowden. Broken down objectively, director Douglas Aarniokoski’s “Nurse 3D” is simply just another obsession horror film, but takes the formula and completely drops it on its head. Director Douglas Aarniokoski films the story in a pulpy glossy lens, that makes the film feel like a neo-noir horror comedy very detracted from reality.