If I had to pick a cult film that I’d take with me on a deserted island, it’d either be “Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!”, or Jack Hill’s “Spider-Baby.” It’d probably be the latter if I was pressed. I fondly remember being introduced to “Spider-Baby” as a child, when I used to sit down to watch “Horrible Horror” with Zacharly. I always found the scene of Jill Banner slicing and dicing poor Mantan Moreland to be one of the sickest bits of horror cinema I’d ever witnessed. Years later, I was happy to watch the film in its entirety, and thankfully Jack Hill’s dark horror comedy hasn’t aged a single bit.
Tag Archives: Thriller
Sweet Madness (2015)
Since her inception in 1992, Harley Quinn has been one of Batman’s most intriguing and alluring rogues. She’s the ultimate fan girl to the point of lunacy, and her cunning along with her ability to match wits with just about anyone make her one of the most fascinating figures of contemporary culture. It’s no shock that director Peter Dukes sought to explore the inner most psychology of Harley, as she’s titillated just about everyone. And it’s satisfying that director Dukes is able to convey Harley’s persona so well. Despite the fact that Batman never appears, “Sweet Madness” is a pretty sick and brilliant fan film that puts Harley front and center.
The Murders of Brandywine Theater (2015)
It’s refreshing in this day and age that some indie filmmakers aren’t just content with splattering the audience with red ooze and goo and calling it a horror film. There are some filmmakers that really want to convey a story, and Larry Longstreth seems to be one of those directors who aren’t happy with just grossing people out. “The Murders of Brandywine Theater” is a complex, and very unique horror film that isn’t just eerie, but it’s also damn spooky to boot. To say Moxxy is a creepy antagonist really is underplaying the top notch puppetry that’s put to work here. Moxxy seems very rigid when we first see him, but soon enough he not only begins to take on his own life, but his limited expression make him a menace to be reckoned with.
Final Girl (2015)
Abigail Breslin has really managed to leave her mark on the horror genre of late. She’s really approached the genre with respect and a lot of charisma, prompting some prime roles only she could tackle. “Final Girl” is one of those roles that seems custom fit for Breslin who uses this role to show she’s no longer the cute little girl or adorable teenager anymore. She’s a woman, and she’s making herself seen big time.
Terminator: Genysis (2015)
So this is it? This is the officially sanctioned sequel to the “Terminator” series? The sequel that says “Remember the first two movies you just saw? Well they don’t matter anymore. You wasted your time”? Because that’s what “Genysis” does. It wastes the audience’s time by creating an alternate alternate alternate timeline that doesn’t just erase the first two movies of the series, but completely muddles up the timeline even more than ever. I’m usually very good with timelines and can figure out convoluted storytelling most times, but “Genysis” gets so lost in a haze of over explanation and contradicting storylines that I just eventually gave up trying to figure out what the hell was going on.
Action Packed August 2015!
The First Step (2014)
Co-written and directed by Daniel Brown and Kate McMeans, “The First Step” displays what happens when you take simplicity and pair it with old fashioned scares. What you end up with is a damn good short horror film. I’d even venture to call “The First Step” terrifying but that’s mainly because I hate basements, attics, and old houses. But that’s my hang up.







