Spider Island
– (2026) – Influencers attending a new island resort encounter a murderous breed of arachnid, which the owner finds a minor inconvenience. Takes some digs at the annoyances of online attention whores, but there’s not much actual horror taking place. The spider activity is incredibly sparse, cheap, and ineffective, while the drama can’t handle the bulk of the remaining length.
Leviticus
– (2026) – Two young men are terrorized by an apparition that appears as each other. Begins by offering insights into homosexuality and religion, but not long after becomes just another tale of who’s who among drab characters in any form. It’s well made and has spouts of violence, but the whole time I kept longing to watch It Follows instead.
Amityvillenado
– (2026) – A few who visit the site of a murder house that was wiped out by a tornado become possessed by evil forces. Has points of progression and moves relatively fast while doing as much as it can with a meager budget. Still, there’s nothing here one hasn’t seen before, aside from a guy who’s possessed with sinister Hershey squirts. Mostly easy to withstand, despite an overlength of 111-minues.
Wizard of Death: Tinman’s Rise
– (2026) – A small family is hunted by a killer who’s donned in tin and sporting an ax. An experience not unlike banging your face against concrete, since there’s virtually nothing to observe that’s meaningful or memorable. Characters often scream, a stiff villain kills them in unimaginative ways, and the credits finally roll. There’s virtually nothing of substance here.
Pinocchio Unstrung
– (2026) – An orphaned kid is introduced to a boy made of wood who hopes to become human by ingesting human flesh. A remarkably dull jaunt that asks us to either care about children we barely know over a goddamn puppet. As horror this is okay since there is a lot of bloody violence, but as a narrative drama this lacks everything that could possibly create a single emotional experience. Kudos to the practical FX, but the script is garbage.
Dream Scenario
– (2023) – Many people in a small community are dreaming about the same mild-mannered professor, which is a quirk for all until their dreams become violent. Begins as a curious comedy that darkens as it goes while consistently building sympathy for the hapless protagonist. Has some issues with pacing and tone, and the conclusion isn’t fully embraceable, but this is often humorous, sad, and surprising in all the right ways.
– (2022) – Anthology of four stories that focus on a living mummy prop, a thought-dead killer returned, pranking a disgraced teacher, and a jack-in-the-box gone rogue. It’s often hard to tell this is a collection of stories since they all look and feel the same, and none offer anything memorable. Doesn’t waste a lot of time, but serves as a reminder that this series is going nowhere fast.
– (2020) – A couple with car trouble takes shelter in the house of strange clan only to find themselves held captive by them. Seems to run a contest over which is the lesser aspect of itself, the plot or the characters (they tie for least). A resounding mess that reeks of a pretentious college project, and irritates far more than it invigorates.
– (2025) – The Warrens investigate several spirits that make trouble for various inhabitants of a particular house. An unrelenting bore that mainly consists of family drama before eventually realizing it’s an actual horror flick, and even then only provides casual frights. Wants to evoke the emotions of the first two entries, but fails in comparison by elongating the cornball theatrics. Overlong, suspense free, and relies on too many of its own wearied gimmicks.
Creepshow
– (1982) – Anthology of five stories that focus on a zombie, a meteorite, a cheated husband, a Tasmanian devil, and a plethora of cockroaches. One of horror’s best thanks largely to a fantastic cast, grotesque F/X, and a steady horror/comic mood. A masterpiece propelled to legend by “The Crate.”
Primate
– (2025) – A group of friends vacate to Hawaii in an estate where they’re stalked and slaughtered by a rabid chimp. A throwback to simple slasher times when types gather to get mauled by a killer, only now the psycho is short and hairy. Doesn’t win points for plot progression or character growth, and too much time is spent in a pool, but the violence is satisfyingly grim.
The Child
– (1977) – Suspicion is raised over an adolescent girl and her nighttime “friends.” Tries to build a mystery with each dreary scene, but nothing is ever clear or convincing. Switches from child psychology to zombie schlock in a blink.
Hoodoo for Voodoo
– (2006) – A group of friends travel to New Orleans where they fall victim to murderous possessions. Has a few inventive kills and moves relatively fast, but the humor is pitiful and the production too murky. Aims to please, but hits too many lame marks.
Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor
– (2023) – A small group of ghost hunters investigate a mansion with a checkered past. Begins with promise when setting up what should be a spooky situation, but once the back story is out of the way the real troubles start creeping in. For one, the structure is repetitive. Nothing happens until BAM! a ghost appears. Rinse and repeat. Worse are the actors/characters. Rarely is a cast as screechy, whiney and hard to root for.
Killer Yacht Party
– (2006) – A group of girls bribe their way onto a boat party where a killer lurks. No concern is raised for any character, who range from spoiled and despicable to innocent and weak. Rips off movies that aren’t great to begin with, and does nothing to elevate itself above useless (especially since every murder is so badly edited).