Campfire Tales (1997)

Posted on October 23, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

Urban Folklore and Legends have comprised some of the best tall tales and words of warning ever created. Often times they’re based on some grain of fact, and can serve as subtext for the dangers of premarital sex, and not talking to strangers. “Campfire Tales” from 1997 is one of the few anthology films that pulls from the catalog of urban legends and utilizes them to produce a pretty great horror film. Directed by a trio of talented filmmakers, “Campfire Tales” is one of the few anthology films that have shrunk away in to obscurity unfairly. In the gamut of anthology horror, “Campfire Tales” is a strong contender for one of the top ten. It’s shocking that the movie is barely discussed when good anthologies are discussed.

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Tales From The Crypt Presents: Bordello Of Blood (1996) – Collector’s Edition [Blu-ray]

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

If there is a movie in the attempted “Tales from the Crypt” movie anthology series that feels like an extended episode of the original series, it’s surely “Bordello of Blood.” When you get down to it, there’s just so much more substance in “Demon Knight,” but Gilbert Adler’s “Bordello of Blood” seems to capture the zaniness and inherent silliness of the original television series, while also sticking to casting a lot of C grade character actors for the films’ respective roles. That’s not intended as a slight to the cast, but compared to “Demon Knight,” the cast of “Bordello of Blood” seem like second stringers. “Bordello of Blood” will satiate those that want the dark humor and menace of the series.

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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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Tales From The Crypt Presents: Demon Knight (1995) – Collector’s Edition [Blu-ray]

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

Ernest Dickerson’s horror comedy is the start of what should have been a wonderful horror movie series with the “Tales from the Crypt” branding. Despite lacking an ironic twist in the finale, “Demon Knight” is right down the avenue of classic EC Comics. It’s filled with inadvertent heroes, garners a very unlikely villain, and has a very unique sense of humor about itself. Dickerson manages to channel “Demoni” while also pitting very morally gray characters against a force of pure evil. “Demon Knight” is a raucous and brutally entertaining horror movie that pits good against evil, and stacks the deck in the favor of evil.

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Maggie vs. Evil Dead (2015)

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

I agree with the zombies. Maggie Carr is incredibly charming, and very funny, which is a lethal combination. “Maggie vs. Evil Dead” is a hilarious and very good horror comedy starring Maggie Carr who plays herself. She is pitching herself for the new series “Ash vs. The Evil Dead” and uses this opportunity to show what she’s capable of.

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Resolution (2013)

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

One of my top ten films of 2013, it’s so refreshing to see indie filmmakers actually try to challenge the conventions of not just horror but of fiction altogether. A film like “Resolution” would easily be a terrible effort in the wrong hands, but the combined genius of Justin Benson, and Aaron Moorhead make it a success on every conceivable level. This is a more cerebral take on 2012’s “Cabin in the Woods,” where in the world visited by the viewer is very self-aware. In fact, “Resolution” is so much more aware of the audience and yet it still comes out a winner in the end.

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Contracted Phase II (2015)

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

If you needed any clarification of what the end result of “Contracted” was, then “Phase II” pretty much shows all of its cards for its audience. That may either be a plus for the audience returning to see how the narrative unfolds, or a major missed opportunity for folks that appreciate some ambiguity. True, both films are in essence body horror movies, but they also transform in to brutally creepy and unique zombie films that rely on the grotesque nature of transforming in to the undead. Basically, “Contracted” builds on a more morbid and damaging form of disease transferred through bodily fluids that begin to take massive tolls on its victims.

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