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.
Popeye IV: Resurrection
– (2026) – The survivor of a mutant killer becomes entangled with a cult that revives said killer. Most of this is a contrived drama about helping others as a means of persevering, but try not to lose track of how many times you yawn through the dull progressions. Gets slightly better when violence finally arrives, but only because there are less derivative characters to put up with. The worst entry in a series of absolute wretch.
Popeye III: Requiem
– (2026) – A drug enhanced super sailor escapes from a science facility and lays waste to anyone in his way. Barely has a plot, as this only serves to exploit a well-known IP by attempting to add comical violence to what was once considered family friendly harm. Well, I’m not laughing. I’m not cringing, either, as all of the carnage is repetitive, poorly staged, and created with feeble FX. An unoriginal waste of time and resources.
Popeye Returns
– (2026) – A sailor with mutant strength takes out his militaristic problems on the small world around him. Looking for a plot? Grab a telescope and twist the lens for miles. You won’t find one. Luckily this is short, because the scarce violence and bland characters do nothing to hold concentration. A weary void that manages to end with one credible threat: “to be continued.”
Party Night
– (2017) – Three couples decide to party at an abandoned house after the prom, but find themselves stalked by a killer. While there’s absolutely nothing new to this, the female acting isn’t bad and the script delivers some realistic lines. Sadly, the gore scenes are all but ruined by blood that has too much of an orange tint, as though vodka sauce runs through everyone’s veins. Generic, but more enjoyable than many other no-budget slashers.
Big Baby
– (2025) – A struggling writer attempts to bring life to a murderer he’s dreaming about, but said killer might already exist in reality. Aims for something unique with the narrative, but gets bogged down by moments taken so seriously they come across as camp. The lead actor’s disjointed performance doesn’t help either, since his slip into madness comes dangerously close to comical. Starts okay, but worsens as it unfolds.
– (2008) – A young girl searches for a cure to her disease while donated organs in the world around her are repossessed. A pitifully hollow story with a gimmick that desperately begs for a cult following. You’ll know in the first two minutes whether you’ll enjoy the rest or suffer through every tune and lyric.
– (1980) – Mysterious eggs arrive in New York City and quickly establish a body count. Starts well enough, but drags while the mystery of the eggs are solved. A few good scenes and explosive gore make up for much of the tedium.
– (1998) – A school teacher believes she’s seeing a child who died during her youth, while everyone around her thinks she’s nuts. Does make you wonder what’s going on, but the payoff is far more silly than intriguing. Takes too many routine turns before hitting a corny dead end.
The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
– (1977) – A family on their way to California become stranded in a desert where the hills conceal a cannibalistic clan. Involving from the start, and doesn’t wait long before becoming relentlessly violent and suspenseful. Some events border on silly, but most are raw and unforgiving.
Halloween Horror Tales
– (2018) – Anthology of four stories that focus on a killer clown, a targeted scream queen, murderous vegetation, and a small town vampire. None of the stories feature anything close to innovative, let alone anything that takes place on Halloween. A dirt cheap outing with atrocious storytelling and worse acting.
Dawn of the Mummy
– (1981) – A mummy and his zombie army terrorize treasure hunters and a group of models. Not any different than other terrible Italian zombie flicks, but just when reaching the point of sheer boredom the ending becomes gory and rather exciting.
Zombie 4: After Death
– (1988) – Zombies are on the rise thanks to voodoo and a reading from the Book of the Dead. Doesn’t make any sense, and the same gory actions repeat themselves straight to the climax where zombies standing outside a house wait to get shot. A bore.
Carnival of Souls (1998)
– (1998) – Ensuing a watery car accident, a woman has premonitions of an abusive clown… who’s dead. Tries hard to come off as weird, and certainly is, but nothing straight nor uneven has any meaning or depth. Raises curiosity, but the results are always lame.
Blades
– (1989) – A lawnmower attacks golf course personnel during a tournament. Most amusing when spoofing Jaws, but does nothing original on its own. One the dullest lead actors in horror helps this go nowhere.