DRACULA UNTOLD: RESHAPING THE LEGEND IN A TAPESTRY OF DARK FANTASY AND HISTORY
A Tale of Blood and Shadow: The Review of Dracula Untold “Men do not fear swords, they fear monsters.” Enshrouded in the ominous darkness of both folklore and history, ‘Dracula Untold’ (2014) navigates the mythos of the man who would become the legendary vampire. Directed by Gary Shore in a bold cinematic debut, this iteration…
SEPTIC MAN: DESCENT INTO THE FILTHY ABYSS OF BODY HORROR
Plunging into the Depths of Despair: “Septic Man” Unveiled “Do you know what fear smells like?” This jarring line encapsulates the grim atmosphere of “Septic Man,” a 2013 horror film directed by Jesse Thomas Cook, a venture into the grotesque and macabre. Starting as a gritty survival thriller, it hauls us down the drain into…
HONEYMOON: ERODING SANCTITY IN THE ECHOES OF SILENT TERROR
A Honeymoon You Wouldn’t Want To Extend Imagine this: the perfect start to marital bliss turns into an unforeseen nightmare. This is the disturbing reality in “Honeymoon” (2014), a film that brilliantly marries romantic joy with creeping dread. Director Leigh Janiak, in her feature debut, weaves a chilling narrative that begins with newlyweds Paul (Harry…
DØD SNØ 2: NAZI ZOMBIES REIGN IN A BLOODY SNOWSCAPE OF GORE AND GUFFAWS
Reanimating the Undead: Død Snø 2’s Twisted Adventures Invoking the ominous chill of the Nordic winters and the grotesque charm of zombie cinema, “Død Snø 2” rises from the icy graves of its prequel to offer a chilling and humor-laced continuation. Directed by Tommy Wirkola, this 2014 Norwegian horror-comedy flick resurrects the terror of its…
JESSABELLE: SIFTING THROUGH THE SOUTHERN GOTHIC SHADOWS OF SPIRITED SORROW
Whispers from the Bayou: Delving into “Jessabelle” In the murky waters of the Southern Gothic genre, “Jessabelle” emerges, wrapped in the dense humidity of Louisiana’s bayou. Directed by Kevin Greutert and released in 2014, the film weaves a haunting tale of a young woman grappling with her past and a malevolent spirit lurking in the…
ALYCE KILLS: SPIRALING DEEP INTO THE ABYSS OF PSYCHIC TORMENT
“Down the Rabbit Hole with Alyce” When the seemingly mundane transforms into the macabre, there’s a certain kind of descent that’s both fascinating and horrific. This is the descent we witness in “Alyce Kills,” a film directed by Jay Lee in 2012 that snakes its way into the dark recesses of guilt and psychological unraveling.…
HELLMOUTH: DESCENDING INTO THE ABYSS OF A STYLIZED UNDERWORLD NIGHTMARE
A Portal to Darkness: “Hellmouth” Unveiled As one character grimly states, “We’re all waiting to get sucked into the darkness eventually,” and so begins our descent into the eerie world of “Hellmouth.” Directed by John Geddes and released in 2013, “Hellmouth” tells the tale of a gravekeeper named Charlie Baker, tasked with an unnerving quest…
WHERE THE DEVIL HIDES: PLOTTING THE PARAMETERS OF PERDITION IN A SMALL-TOWN SINISTER
Devil in the Details: “Where the Devil Hides” Unveiled “The eyes are the window to the soul… and what I see in yours is very dark.” This chilling line from Christian E. Christiansen’s Where the Devil Hides (also known as The Devil’s Hand), released in 2013, encapsulates the film’s haunting endeavor to blend religious fanaticism…
HATCHET III: SLICING INTO THE SWAMPLANDS OF GORE AND FINALITY
Blood-drenched Bayou: Welcome to Hatchet III “In the swamp, no one can hear you scream… unless it’s too late.” This chilling line could serve as an unofficial tag for “Hatchet III,” a film that drenches its audience in the murky waters of horror. Released in 2013 and helmed by director BJ McDonnell, this installment promises…
THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL: EMBRACING THE SLOW BURN OF SATANIC SUSPENSE
Whispers of Dread: “The House of the Devil” “Pizza? I hear you guys like pizza.” Whispered amidst the unnerving calm, this line from Ti West’s “The House of the Novil,” sums up the film’s eerie juxtaposition of the mundane and the macabre. Released in 2009, the director harkens back to the horror filmmaking of the…