‘Hungry, hairy, and ready to hunt you down’

Crying Wolf is a 2015 3D comedy horror film directed by Tony Jopia (Zombie Harvest; DeadTime) from a screenplay co-written with Andy Davie and Michael Dale. It stars Caroline Munro (Dracula A.D. 1972; Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter; Howl of the Devil), Joe Egan, Kristofer Dayne, Chloe Farnworth, Gabriela Hersham, Gary Martin, Rosie Pearson, Ian Donnelly.

Plot teaser:

There are weird goings on in the little English village of Deddington. The gruesome death of local girl Charlotte by a rabid monster causes alarm and revulsion – before desperate reporters, crazy detectives and revenge seeking hunters descend on the scene…

Reviews:

‘Made over three years on a nano budget of £12,000, Crying Wolf won’t win any prizes for makeup or special effects and in places the acting is a bit creaky, but it’s a refreshingly funny movie with plenty of slapstick gore and some nice genre in-jokes.’ Simon Ball, The Spooky Isles

‘You name the scenario, cliché or effect, and it probably made an appearance in a scene from Crying Wolf. The only bit of back-story that made any sense was the Little Red Riding Hood themed analogy that is used to tell the story of the top werewolf Milly (played by the beautiful actress Gabriela Hersham). Sadly, this only manages to further derail the film.’ Cherry Bombed, Destroy the Brain

‘From the title sequence it’s already crystal clear that this b-movie was made with passion and an eye for film making, as we’re filled with some really great gory aesthetics. Crying Wolf is extremely high-paced as there’s an abundance of intertwining stories that you’ll completely miss if you aren’t giving your undivided attention. Some might find it too much hard work to watch, but I felt it brought a fresh, exciting and unique twist to the story whilst making sure the audience is fully engaged and entertained.’ London Horror Society

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Scooby-Doo! Frankencreepy is a 2014 animated comedy horror film produced and directed by Paul McEvoy from a screenplay by Jim Krieg.

It is the twenty-second film in the direct-to-video series of Scooby-Doo films. The film premiered on July 27, 2014, at San Diego Comic-Con International, and was released on Digital HD on August 5, 2014. It was released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 19, 2014.

Plot teaser:

Velma gets a call from Cuthbert Crawley, a lawyer for Velma’s family who tells her that she’s inherited her great uncle’s property and castle in Transylvania, part of Pennsylvania. Velma turns the offer down, replying she wants nothing to do with her uncle. Mr. Crawley understands, revealing the curse over the estate. He says that if anyone gets too close to the Baron legacy, then what they love the most will be destroyed. As they head outside, the Mystery Machine explodes and a mysterious character with a mask appears. It’s the ghost of the Baron, Velma’s old ancestor. The remains of the machine explode again, with words warning stay away from Transylvania…

Undaunted, the gang travel on Transylvania express. Velma reveals the truth that her real last name is Von Dinkenstein, from which her great grandparents shortened to Dinkley when they moved in from the old country. Her ancestor is Baron Von Dinkenstein, who was said to have created a monster (which inspired famous novelist Mary Shelley to write her novel Frankenstein). Velma explains that this was the reason that she started solving mysteries. All of a sudden, the train starts to pick up speed. After getting everyone to the last car, Shaggy goes to the front of the train, but finds not the conductor but the Masked Baron’s ghost. The gang just manage to save the last car, the people, and themselves as the train derails and explodes.

Arriving in town, they are greeted by Iago, a hunchbacked servant from Castle Von Dinkenstein. He takes them there, where they meet Mrs. Vanders, the housekeeper. In the Baron’s laboratory they find the monster in solid ice. As the rest of the gang leave, Mrs. Vanders shows Velma a machine that hypnotises her…

Buy on Instant Video | Blu-ray | DVD from Amazon.com

Buy on Instant Video | DVD from Amazon.co.uk

Reviews:

‘This is a movie for Scooby-Doo fans both new and established.  The opening credits list a number of catchphrases which Scooby-Doo die hards may enjoy identifying, including the old favourite, ‘I would have got away with it if it weren’t for you meddling kids’.  It is not afraid to mine the rich seams of humour which have seen it triumph in the ratings over the years, from Fred’s love of the Mystery Machine to Daphne’s love of her appearance, whilst sending up gothic films down the ages…’ What to Do with the Kids

‘ …everything you love about the franchise is tossed to the curb, reworked or tinkered with for the sake of making fun of its characters. Why? Why must everything be flipped on its head? Fred can’t just be a leader, he’s a bossy jerk. Dapne can’t just be the cute chick, she has to be shallow and obsessed with her image. Velma can’t just be the bookworm, she has to erupt, go evil and turn on her friends. It’s all explained, of course. All part of the mystery. Was there ever any doubt? But it doesn’t make for a very enjoyable ride along the way.’ Kenneth Brown, Blu-ray.com

‘In the midst of Fred losing his Mystery Machine, the girl’s new outfits, and the boy’s new appetite’s, we have a psycho monster to worry about. When the hypnotic wheel is reversed, the gang is back up on their high horses/carriage (watch the film and you’ll get the reference) and ready to un-mask the evildoers. This is a classic Scooby-Doo cartoon that manages to bring all things full circle, beginning to end. Plenty of suspense, diversity, old characters, and crazy old towns. Scooby-Doo manages to make fun of itself and will leave you giggling like a child.’ Animation Insider

‘The humor itself was pretty good. I do reckon that if you are or a younger age you will find the movie is a lot funnier than it was for me. Still, it got some chuckles out of me, which was pleasant. One major downside, that or a major sign that I’m becoming old, was the fast editing. I’m all for a movie with a high tempo, but there were quite a few scenes were short images flashing on the screen, which was fun the first two times that it happened, but started to really drag after the 5^th time.’ 3rd Strike

Voice cast:

• Frank Welker as Scooby-Doo, Fred Jones
• Mindy Cohn as Velma Dinkley
• Grey DeLisle as Daphne Blake, Mama Mione
• Matthew Lillard as Shaggy Rogers
• Diedrich Bader as Mrs. Vanders
• Dee Bradley Baker as C.L Magnus, Mr. Burger
• Eric Bauza as Daphomatic, Rock Dude
• Jeff Glen Bennett as Iago, Schmidlap
• Susanne Blakeslee as Townswoman
• Corey Burton as Baron Basil, Ghost of the Baron
• Candi Milo as Gypsy, Lila
• Kevin Michael Richardson as Cuthbert Crawley, Inspector Krunch
• Fred Tatasciore as Frankencreep

Scooby-Doo! on Horrorpedia:

The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo – animated TV series

Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!

Chill Out, Scooby-Doo!

Scooby-Doo

Scooby-Doo! Abracadabra-Doo

Scooby-Doo! and the Goblin King

Scooby-Doo! and the Loch Ness Monster

Scooby-Doo! and the Witch’s Ghost

Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare

Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster

Scooby-Doo! Glow in the Dark Puzzles - toys and games

Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated - animated TV series

Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island

What’s New, Scooby-Doo?

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘Their favorite haunt is a haunted castle!’

Francis in the Haunted House is a 1956 American comedy horror film from Universal-International, produced by Robert Arthur and directed by Charles Lamont (Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man; Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy) from a screenplay by Herbert H. Margolis and William Raynor. This was the seventh and final film in Universal-International’s Francis the Talking Mule series.

The film stars Mickey Rooney (Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker; Phantom of the Megaplex; The Thirsting; Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde), Paul Frees (as The Voice of Francis), Virginia Welles, Paul Cavanagh and David Janssen (Cult of the Cobra; Moon of the Wolf).

Plot teaser:

Francis witnesses a murder and then befriends bumbling reporter David Prescott (Mickey Rooney), who may be next in line. With Francis’ help and guidance, Prescott uncovers a mystery involving murder, an inheritance, and a spooky old mansion on the edge of town…

Reviews:

The film is only available on out-of-print VHS and we can currently find no reviews online.

Cast:

• Mickey Rooney as David Prescott
• Paul Frees as The Voice of Francis
• Virginia Welles as Lorna MacLeod
• James Flavin as Police Chief Martin
• Paul Cavanagh as Neil Frazer
• Mary Ellen Kay as Lorna Ann
• David Janssen as Police Lieutenant Hopkins
• Ralph Dumke as Mayor Hargrove
• Richard Gaines as D.A. Reynolds
• Richard Deacon as Jason
• Dick Winslow as Sergeant Arnold
• Timothy Carey as Hugo

Wikipedia | IMDb

The Walking Deceased is a 2015 American comedy horror spoof of zombie films directed by Scott Dow from a screenplay by Tim Ogletree. It stars Ogletree, Joey Oglesby, Dave Sheridan, Troy Ogletree, Sophie Taylor Ali, Danielle Garcia, Andrew Pozza, and Mason Dakota Galyon.

Plot teaser:

After waking from a coma, Sheriff Lincoln realizes that he is in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. He reunites with his son Chris and joins several other survivors, including four friends who use city names as aliases and a zombie named Romeo who is looking for love, to find the Safe Haven Ranch, where they expect to be safe from the zombies.

Reviews:

‘Dow and Ogletree simply recycle the same zombie shtick from one unfunny scene to another as if they were going down a zombie movie checklist.’ Kiko Martinez, San Antonio Current

‘ …lame satire of zombie movies, whose shelf life expired even before it was made.’ Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter

‘Believe it or not, this witless spoof has even less brainpower than the gray-matter-starved creatures it’s ridiculing.’ Ethan Alter, Film Journal International

‘There’s no more disposable type of comedy than the genre spoof, and no greater example of its general creative worthlessness than The Walking Deceased’ Nick Schager, The Village Voice

‘Less a send-up of The Walking Dead than a misfired potshot at various zombie productions from Dawn of the Dead to Warm Bodies, it’s a slop bucket of lazy writing and uninspired jokes.’ Cary Darling, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Cast:

• Dave Sheridan as Sheriff Lincoln, a parody of Rick Grimes
• Tim Ogletree as Green Bay, a reference to Zombieland
• Joey Oglesby as Chicago, another reference to Zombieland
• Sophie Taylor Ali as Brooklyn
• Danielle Garcia as Harlem
• Troy Ogletree as Romeo, a reference to Warm Bodies and George A. Romero
• Andrew Pozza as Darnell
• Mason Dakota Galyon as Chris

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘Prepare for the ultimate trip!’

Evil Bong 420 is a 2015 comedy horror movie directed by Charles Band. It features franchise regulars Sarah Leigh (Robin Sydney), Larnell (John Patrick Jordan), Rabbit (Sonny Carl Davis), Velicity (Amy Paffrath), Hambo, Gingerdead Man and Ooga Booga.

The film will receive a worldwide streaming premiere on April 20^th (4.20, get it?) via Hulu, VUTOPIA, iTunes, FullMoonStreaming.com, Amazon, Google, ConTV and other streaming platforms.

Official plot teaser:

Rabbit has escaped the Evil Bong’s World of Weed, and has opened a topless bowling alley. It’s the Grand Opening and the balls are rolling, the boobs are bouncing and the weed is plentiful. When his old friends, Larnell and Sarah Leigh stop by to help him celebrate his wacky new business venture, things are finally looking up for Rabbit, right? Wrong! Evil Bong is hot on Rabbit’s trail. With the help of the murderous Gingerdead Man, they crash the most balls out party of the century. But Gingerdead Man has plans of his own when he learns that the secret to becoming a real man is getting his cookies off…

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‘First bite gives you focus, third bite gives you pleasure, fifth bite – Cannibal Fog.’

Cannibal Fog is a 2015 Swedish comedy horror film directed by Jonas Wolcher and starring Malte Aronsson, Linus Karlgren, Kim Sonderholm and Vargman Bjarsborn.

Plot teaser:

Michael (Karlgren) wastes his days away watching porn and searching for easy lays. A chance encounter with tainted food at a local cafe sets him off on a search for an addictive new taste. Meanwhile middle-aged man Albin (Aronsson) who lives in the same city as Michael is a clandestine cannibal serial killer who serves his refined meat dishes up for food connoisseurs. Inevitably the paths of Michael and Albin intertwine…

Cannibal Fog was completed on a budget of only €1,000. Large parts of the film were recorded in Malte’s private home, in March through May 2014. Scenes were also filmed on location in Mindanao, Philippines: Camiguin Island, Balingasag and Carmen.

Reviews:

‘Cannibal Fog is a finely mixed, jangling masterpiece of humanity masquerading as merry mayhem. Everything from the mise-en-scène through to the camera motion underpins its metaphors and while it has extremely strange cinematic flavours, there’s definitely room for more.’ Starburst

‘ …there is a nice blend of humor and levity to break up the seriousness which at times impede the progress, and if you’re willing to overlook the sometimes atrocious acting and scenarios, then you can enjoy the display that Wolcher has laid out in front of you. His double-duty of directing and writing shows his versatility, and while this movie certainly won’t set off any “wow-factor” alarms, it will please the inner savage.” Dread Central

“If you’re after mild art house and a strange time then Cannibal Fog might be right up your alley, for me though I just could not get into it until far too late when it had all but wrapped up.” The Rotting Zombie

IMDb

WH

Gremlins is a forthcoming American comedy horror Warner Bros remake of the original 1984 hit that is currently back in development after a long period of gestation. No director has been assigned to the project – although fans will probably still hope that Joe Dante will make a return.

The writer of the original, Christopher Columbus, is producing and Carl Ellsworth (Disturbia, The Last House on the Left remake, Goosebumps) has recently been announced as handling the screenplay. Steven Spielberg is executive producing.

Updates to follow…

Buy The Goonies + Gremlins + Gremlins 2 on Blu-ray from Amazon.com 

Goosebumps is a 2015 American comedy horror film directed by Rob Letterman (Lake Placid; Shark Tale; Monsters vs. Aliens) from a screenplay by Mike White and Darren Lemke (Jack the Giant Slayer), based on the children’s book series of the same name by R. L. Stine. It stars Jack Black (King Kong), Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush, Amy Ryan, Jillian Bell and Ryan Lee. R. L. Stine has a cameo role.

On July 25, 2014, at Comic-Con it was confirmed that Slappy the Dummy, The Executioner from A Night in Terror Tower, the giant praying mantises from A Shocker on Shock Street, Murder the Clown from When Ghost Dogs Howl and The Horror at Chiller House, The Mummy from Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb and Return of the Mummy, and The Scarecrow from The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight would all appear in the movie.

The filmmakers had to cut some of the books monsters for budget reasons, but director Rob Letterman stated that the crew tried to choose the monsters most appropriate to the story.

Goosebumps is scheduled to be released on October 16, 2015, by Columbia Pictures.

Plot teaser:

After moving into a small town, a teenage boy named Zach Cooper (Dylan Minnette) meets Hannah (Odeya Rush), his new neighbour. Hannah’s father, R. L. Stine (Jack Black), who writes the Goosebumps stories, keeps all the ghosts and monsters in the series locked up in his books. When Zach unintentionally releases the ghouls and the monsters from the storybooks, Zach, Hannah, and Stine team up in order to put the monsters back where they came from, before it’s too late…

Wikipedia | IMDb

Chocolate Strawberry Vanilla is a 2014 Australian comedy horror film directed by Stuart Simpson and starring Glenn Maynard, Kyrie Capri and Aston Eliot.

Plot teaser:

Warren (Glenn Maynard) is a lonely ice cream man. Following on from the accidental death of his pet cat, Warren, who keeps a daily video diary to record his thoughts on his favourite TV show ‘Round the Block’, becomes more and more isolated and angry at the world around him. Through these video diaries, it becomes apparent that Warren’s sanity is beginning to deteriorate and his obsession with ‘Round the Block’ star Katey George (Kyrie Capri) threatens to cloud his judgement even further…

Buy Chocolate Strawberry Vanilla on Blu-ray from Amazon.co.uk

Reviews:

‘The film is not perfect. A lot of the editing choices, especially the use of flash-forwards in the opening scenes, I did not enjoy. And some of the video diary scenes seemed unnecessary. But my complaints are insignificant. Chocolate Strawberry Vanilla had a far stronger emotional resonance than I expected, and it features one of the most impressive lead performances seen in Aussie cinema for some time.’ Mondo Exploito

‘… it’s a rather plodding affair – less slow burn and more just slow – that has an uneasy mix of comedy and pathos, and Maynard’s performance, far from a moving portrayal of a vulnerable man on the edge of sanity, all too often seems overly exaggerated in its pathos for comic effect.’ David Flint, Strange Things Are Happening

‘Ultimately Chocolate Strawberry Vanilla is an interesting film rather than a compelling one. A victim sometimes of its own influences, its overly predictable second half is a disappointment after the careful emotional beats of the first. Glenn Maynard gives an excellent performance as Warren Thompson and saves the film from completely folding in on itself.’ UK Horror Scene

IMDb | Website | Related: Ice Cream Man

WH

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse is a 1947 American one-reel MGM animated cartoon and is the 30th Tom and Jerry short. The cartoon was released on 14 June 1947, and was directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera produced by Fred Quimby and animated by Ed Barge, Michael Lah, Kenneth Muse and Al Grandmain. The episode is a parody of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Hanna Barbera also created Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! and subsequent series; The Funky Phantom; Goober and the Ghost Chasers; Valley of the Dinosaurs; The Addams Family cartoons; Godzilla animated series; Drak Pack and Gravedale High.

Plot teaser:

Tiring of Jerry stealing the milk out of his bowl, Tom poisons it. Instead of killing the mouse, the potion transforms him into a muscular beast…

Wikipedia | IMDb

Suck is a 2009 Canadian rock-and-roll vampire black comedy film starring, written and directed by Rob Stefaniuk. Stefaniuk stars alongside Canadian actress Jessica Paré, Nicole de Boer, Malcolm McDowell and rock legends Alice Cooper (Prince of Darkness; Bigfoot; Dark Shadows), Iggy Pop (Hardware; The Sandman), Henry Rollins and Alex Lifeson of Rush. Production took place in and around Toronto in late 2008.

Plot teaser:

A down and out rock’n’roll band, The Winners, who will do anything for a record deal. Their luck suddenly changes when Jennifer the bass player, disappears one night with a vampire and emerges with a sexually charged charisma that drives the audiences wild. As the band members succumb, one by one, to blood lust, their “gimmick” launches them into the limelight…

Various shots in the movie are meant to evoke classic rock album covers. Some examples: A shot of the band crossing the street is an homage to The Beatles “Abbey Road.” Another shot of the band using a Union Jack flag as a blanket is based on The Who’s “The Kids Are Alright.” In the border station, the first shot is a nod to Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In The USA”.

Buy Suck on Blu-ray from Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

Reviews:

“Stefaniuk keeps the energy level high and wisely blends in music liberally with the vampire action. Suck is a rock movie at its heart and Stefaniuk and crew embrace this fact; the bass player’s metal-infused transformation sequence is a stand-out. The story isn’t held back either, as the progression from “bizarre rock band underdog movie” to full-on “vampire hunting spoof” moves along nicely and features some satisfying beats. Staking a vamp with an electric guitar? Genius.” DVD Verdict

“Suck is a movie that doesn’t really have any surprises, take one look at the fangs on the poster and read the corny title and you’ll know pretty much what you are in store for. But that doesn’t mean Suck isn’t actually quite funny and weirdly appealing despite its low-budget origins.” Eye For Film

Wikipedia | IMDb

WH

‘What doesn’t kill you makes your richer’

Cheap Thrills is a 2013 American black comedy thriller horror film, directed by E. L. Katz in his directorial debut and starring Pat Healy (Starry Eyes), Sara Paxton (The Innkeepers), Ethan Embry and David Koechner. It premiered at South by Southwest (SXSW) on March 8, 2013, and was acquired by Drafthouse Films and Snoot Entertainment. Cheap Thrills was released on March 24, 2014, in the United States.

Plot teaser:

Craig (Pat Healy,) is a struggling family man who loses his low-wage job and is threatened with eviction. In an effort to delay facing the music at home, he heads to a local bar and encounters an old friend (Ethan Embry). The two friends are roped into a round of drinks by a charismatic and obscenely wealthy stranger (David Koechner) along with his mysterious wife (Sara Paxton). The couple engage the two friends in a series of innocent dares in exchange for money over the course of the evening, with each challenge upping the ante in both reward and boundaries. It seems like easy and much needed money, but the couple’s twisted sense of humor pushes just how far Craig and his friend are willing to go for money and cheap thrills…

Buy Cheap Thrills on Blu-ray from Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

Reviews:

“It’s about as subtle as a massive brick to the head, but that doesn’t stop it being joyously entertaining in a thoroughly mean-spirited fashion. Cheap Thrills is like the younger, punk rock second-cousin to the likes of Haneke and von Trier and it leaves no holds barred, so be prepared…” Brutal as Hell 

“E.L. Katz’s Cheap Thrills is a very effective piece of body horror, teasing in its attempts to keep the audience guessing, but the cruel irresistibility of its premise wears itself out before the film’s final minutes.” Slant Magazine

“Cheap Thrills is everything you’d want out of a satirical thriller and more; it’s also a remarkable directorial debut by Katz, who delivers one hell of a story that was continuously surprising, shocking and visceral with wildly unexpected events that were often played out with a quiet restraint.” Dread Central

Wikipedia | IMDb

WH

‘They Do NOT Come In Peace!’

Zombies from Outer Space is a 2012 German sci-fi comedy horror film directed by Martin Faltermeier and starring Judith Gorgass, Siegfried Foster and Florian Kiml.

Plot teaser:

Rural Bavaria. The late 1950’s. Something very strange is taking place. When Maria (Judith Gorgrass) happens upon the dead body of a woman, little does she realize the terror that will unleashed. Noted scientist Dr. Robert Hoelzlein (Florian Kiml) and American Army Captain John Welles (Siegfried Foster), both brought in to investigate the crime, soon butt heads over the case and their mutual attraction to Maria. Romance takes a back seat when more bodies are discovered. Who or what has caused these mysterious deaths?

The following bands appear on the soundtrack; Biermösl Blosn, The Meteors, Cherry Casino and the Gamblers, The Bricats, and Mars Attacks.

Buy Zombies from Outer Space on DVD from Amazon.com

Reviews:

“The story works (quite) well and it delivers entertainment in good doses, even if I wished for more graphic gore and less talk. It’s already a bit too long, so I – if I was a producer – would have demanded some cuts, maybe to get it down to 85 minutes. Then it would have been perfect, cheesy entertainment. Now it’s a ambitious, good, crazy and very well-made oddity that deserves a bigger audience!” Fred Anderson

“If you have a soft spot for the classic horror films of the 50’s and 60’s this could well work for you. Slightly more splatter would however have been welcome. All in all, not a knockout but  still a remarkable debut film “Made ​​in Germany”. Watch the Shit

“Pure entertainment value is high, especially in light of the available funds and resources.” Scary Movies

Official website | IMDb

WH

‘Disco isn’t dead, but you just might be’

Discopath (in French: Discopathe) is a 2013 Canadian film directed by Renaud Gauthier, and starring Jérémie Earp-Lavergne, Sandrine Bisson, and Ivan Freud.

Plot teaser:

Set in the mid-1970s, Discopath is a slasher about Duane Lewis, a man who transforms into a crazed serial killer whenever he catches the relentless rhythm of disco! As Duane flees New York, desperate to escape the disco craze, his murderous tendencies explode again in a whirlwind of bloody violence and groovy beats…

Buy Discopath on DVD from Amazon.co.uk

Reviews:

“The gore effects are excessive and over the top, but the film as a whole is never as shower-inducingly off putting as the movies Gauthier is trying to emulate. It’s a love letter to the kind of trash cinema young cinephiles in the VHS era often grew up with, with sharp, consistently funny writing and a game cast who aren’t afraid to come across as goofy. It’s a great bit of fun.” Dork Shelf

“In spite of its flaws, Discopath still manages to be an extremely cool little movie. It is impossible for me not to like with its irresistible nostalgic genre charm aping the early 80’s golden age of the slasher sub-genre with much genuine love for it rather than coming off as something just faux lacking the authenticity that some so called love letters do with no passion for the material.” Cinematic Shocks

“Perhaps writer-director Renaud Gauthier – who clearly has a lot of affection for his inspiration – could have sacrificed some of the super-styled slo-mo sequences in favour of characterisation. Or story. Or intentional humour. Or anything to distinguish his production beyond the flares and hair and boring gore.” Rock n Reel

Wikipedia | IMDb

WH

‘The most depraved film of the 21st century’

Someone’s Knocking at the Door is a 2009 American dark comedy horror film co-written and directed by Chad Ferrin (Easter Bunny Kill! Kill!). It stars Noah Segan, Andrea Rueda, Ezra Buzzington, Elina Madison, Jon Budinoff, Ricardo Gray, Lew Temple, and Vernon Wells.

Plot teaser:

Returning to the medical school where they were test subjects decades ago, a pair of outrageously twisted serial killers use shockingly brutal sex acts to start killing off a group of drugged-out med students…

Buy Someone’s Knocking at the Door on DVD from Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Reviews:

” It’s 50% the craziest sh*t you’ve ever seen on film and 50% regular, kind of boring low budget horror stuff. But still. Man. You’ve got to see it to understand how crazy it is. I wish it would have been crazier all throughout. Then it would be a damn masterpiece.” Film School Rejects

“The film does an excellent job of selling a typical horror movie premise – a psychokiller back from beyond the grave – but when you get inside it you discover it’s something even more twisted, and begs a second watch to see if it all fits as well as the ending wants you to believe.” Flash Bang

“It’s a film that tried too hard to be different and just doesn’t quite get there. It is certainly interesting, offensive, sick and funny, but sadly all those elements don’t always work together here.” Horror Cult Films

Wikipedia | IMDb

WH

 ‘They’re cute. They’re cuddly. They’re out for blood.’

Munchies is a 1987 comedy horror film produced by Roger Corman and starring Harvey Korman, Charlie Stratton, and Nadine Van der Velde. Clearly inspired by the success of Gremlins, and directed by that film’s editor, Bettina Hirsch, the film features a remarkably similar plot line. Robert Short created the Munchies creature effects.

The film spawned two sequels, Munchie and Munchie Strikes Back, both of which are family fare and possess no relation to the original save the title.

Plot teaser:

Space archaeologist Simon Watterman, discovers a fossilized “Munchie” in a cave in Peru. Bringing the specimen back to the United States, Watterman’s son and girlfriend accidentally reanimate it and name it Arnold. Cecil Watterman, Simon’s evil twin brother and snack food entrepreneur, kidnaps Arnold while Cindy and Paul are enjoying sex.

When Arnold is hurt by his kidnappers, it becomes aggressive and attacks Cecil’s adopted son. Attempting to kill Arnold, they chop him into quarters, but instead of dying, Arnold multiplies into four new munchies. The quartet of creatures develop a love of women, beer, attacking people, and junk food in the process…

Reviews:

“The obnoxious characters are matched with obnoxious jokes. The amount of groans that Munchies spawns in only eighty minutes is quite spectacular. Whether it be one of Paul’s bad lines or a goofy exchange between the father and son cop team, Munchies is a king of bad comedy. But it’s the film’s poorly executed moments of slapstick actions – dripping with tacky dubbing – that illicit the truly gut grumbling winces.” Dave Jackson, Mondo Exploito

“Harvey Korman is extremely over the top as the uncle, playing a villain who you would swear is from a Saturday morning cartoon that Hanna-Barbera made. The other actors all…are there. Really, there are no real stand-out performances from anyone, unless you count the humourous scenes with Picardo. There is clearly a reason this is a mostly forgotten film…” Batman’s Got a Nosebleed

“This rank imitation of Gremlins has nothing to recommend it – not even deep philosophical values … the creatures are unconvincing, and so the film doesn’t even work as high camp.” John Stanley, Creature Features

Buy Munchies on DVD from Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

Cast:

• Harvey Korman as Cecil Watterman and Simon Watterman
• Hardy Rawls as Big Ed
• Robert Picardo as Bob Marvalle
• Wendy Schaal as Marge Marvalle
• Paul Bartel as Dr. Crowder
• Ellen Albertini Dow as Little Old Lady
• Steven Bernstein as Dean
• Frank Welker as the voice of Munchie
• Fred Newman as the voice of Munchie

Wikipedia | IMDb

New and Upcoming Horror Releases

‘Coming soon after your pussy’

Bunny the Killer Thing is a 2015 Finnish comedy horror film written, edited and directed by Joonas Makkonen from a story co-developed with producer Miika J. Norvanto.

Cast:

Enni Ojutkangas, Veera W. Vilo,Orwi Imanuel Ameh, Jari Manninen, Marcus Massey, Roope Olenius, Vincent Tsang, Olli Saarenpaa, Matti Kiviniemi, Katja Jaskari, Hiski Hamalainen, Gareth Lawrence.

Raven Banner Entertainment (WolfCop; The Demon’s Rook; Muck) have now obtained the worldwide rights.

Plot teaser:

In the dark winter woods of Finland, a group of Finnish and British holiday makers are stuck in a cabin where they are terrorised by a creature which is half human, half rabbit. The creature is Bunny the Killer Thing, who is after anything that resembles the female genitals…

Trailer (NSFW):

IMDb | Official website | Facebook

‘She’ll love you to death.’

Vamp is a 1986 American comedy horror film directed by Richard Wenk (Dracula Bites the Big Apple; Wishcraft), from a screenplay co-written with Donald P. Borchers (producer of Children of the Corn; Leprechaun 2; Voodoo).

Cast: 

Chris Makepeace, Sandy Baron, Robert Rusler, Dedee Pfeiffer, Gedde Watanabe, Grace Jones, Billy Drago.

Plot teaser:

Two college students, Keith and AJ want to hire a stripper to buy their way into a campus fraternity. They borrow a Cadillac from lonely rich Oriental student Duncan, who insists on coming with them to scope out strip clubs in a nearby city. The three boys find themselves at a club in a shady party of town and, after being impressed by an surreally artistic stripper Queen Katrina, AJ visits her dressing room to convince her to come strip for their college party. Katrina seduces AJ, then pins him down, killing him with a bite to the neck…

Reviews:

This is a vapid American Werewolf-influenced frat humour-filled time-waster that did well on VHS in the mid-1980s. Grace Jones featured extensively in the sales imagery but her role is minimal. The overt green/blue/red lighting was stylish when Dario Argento defined it well in Inferno (1980) but six years later it was passé and now makes Vamp seem very dated. Making the combo of vampires and strippers dull would seen to be impossible but, alas, Wenk and his cohorts manage it.

Adrian J Smith, Horrorpedia

“There are some funny lines, and the relationship between the human kid and his best pal the vampire is handled with a lot of original twists. But the movie finally descends, as so many films do these days, to one of those assembly-line endings made up of fights and chases.” Roger Ebert

” … a fun vampire movie with that undeniable 80’s movie feel. It plays with that delicate balance between comedy and horror. Not every movie is successful in this merging of genres. Vampire in Brooklyn (1995) for example failed horribly at it. The comedy in Vamp falls a little on the silly side; it has the kind of humor you’d find in films like Revenge of the Nerds (1984) or Porky’s (1982).” The Film Connossieur

“Director Richard Wenk slathers the film in 80’s purple and green lighting through almost the entire run time. I would say this looks like crap if I saw it in a modern movie but this is an 80’s movie and for whatever reason it seems to work. Wenk seems to know how to set up some interesting ideas and visuals and they do mostly work for the film.” Rogue’s Hollow

In the UK, Vamp was released as a Blu-ray + DVD by Arrow Video on July 14, 2014 with the following features:

• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentation of the feature and extras [1 Blu-ray, 2 DVDs]
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Original uncompressed mono PCM audio
• Audio commentary with star Robert Rusler, moderated by Calum Waddell
• Introduction by Robert Rusler
• Vamp it Up An interview with star Dedee Pfeiffer
• Vamp Stripped Bare An interview with director Richard Wenk
• Back to the 80s Producing a campy cult classic
• Scrapbook of scares Richard Wenk looks over his collection of Vamp memorabilia
• Behind the Scenes rehearsals
• Blooper Reel
• Dracula Bites the Big Apple (1979) A short film by Richard Wenk
• Original Trailer
• Easter Egg
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tom The Dude Designs Hodge
• Booklet featuring writing on the film by Jay Slater

Buy via Amazon.co.uk

Choice dialogue:

“They’re boring creeps. They don’t call them walking dead for nothing.”

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘You don’t want to be on his list.’

Krampus is a 2015 American comedy horror film directed by Michael Dougherty (Trick ‘r Treat) from a screenplay co-written with Todd Casey and Zach Shields.

Cast:

David Koechner, Adam Scott, Conchata Ferrell, Stefania Owen, Maverick Flack, Lolo Owens, Queenie Samuel,Emjay Anthony, Allison Tolman,Leith Towers, Krista Stadler.

This Legendary Pictures production is scheduled to be released around the world late November/early December by Universal Pictures. It should not be confused with the 2013 film Krampus: The Christmas Devil.

Plot teaser:

When his dysfunctional family clashes over the holidays, young Max (Emjay Anthony) is disillusioned and turns his back on Christmas. Little does he know, this lack of festive spirit has unleashed the wrath of Krampus: a demonic force of ancient evil intent on punishing non-believers.

All hell breaks loose as beloved holiday icons take on a monstrous life of their own, laying siege to the fractured family’s home and forcing them to fight for each other if they hope to survive…

Wikipedia | IMDb

WH

‘Hell has frozen over!!’

Wendigo is a 1988 American comedy horror film written and directed by Tom Chaney (cinematographer on Mosquito and Legion of the Night). It stars Ron Asheton (guitarist with The Stooges, also in The Carrier; Hellmaster and Mosquito), Lori Baker, Devlin Burton, John Bussard, Patrick Butler and Alan Madlane.

Ron Asheton is scared

The film was released on VHS by Troma Entertainment in 1996 with a cover retitle of Frostbiter: Wrath of the Wendigo. Owing a large debt to Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead films with its mix of horror and comedy, the film features a torn Evil Dead II poster in much the same way The Evil Dead features a torn The Hills Have Eyes poster. It features stop-motion effects.

Plot teaser:

Two friends go hunting on Manitou Island in Northern Michigan. While wandering the woods, they accidentally break a sacred circle, releasing a terrible monster: the Wendigo. The Wendigo goes on a terrible killing spree, leaving a gun-toting hero and his female love-interest to destroy the monster…

Reviews:

“This movie is insane, and nothing I type here will do that insanity justice. Let’s start with the old man character, who is actually just some guy in an old man mask for no other reason than I guess there were no seniors willing to work in this mess? There’s killer monster puppets birthed from chili who attack while a theme song about chili plays on the soundtrack. A crazy dragon-bat that eats a pilot’s head through a plane window in mid-flight. A topless succubus woman ripped from the pages of a porno magazine who turns into a classic Raimi-style horror hag.” Digital Confederacy

” … it hardly even shows any technical finesse let alone creative promise. But as said before, such a lack of anything resembling filmic capabilities can result in an entertaining film, something that Frostbiter sometimes even approaches being – had it only not pumped up the fucking volume of its soundtrack. It seriously ruins what might have been a good – or at least decently passable – bad-film experience.” A Wasted LIfe

Wikipedia | IMDb