Amityville: Where the Echo Lives
– (2024) – A young woman who lost her father investigates his death through psychics. Has nothing to do with Amityville, and even less to do with horror. The overabundance of surreal imagery (green screen nonsense) only renders this an art house flop or a failed film school product. The lead actress is game, but the pace is so slow the movie sometimes feels as though it’s moving backwards.
Camp Blood: Clown Shark
– (2024) – The severed head of a killer clown conjoins with a fish in a lake and becomes a murderous shark. There’s sort of a story involving the girl who killed that clown and the town that’s grateful for his demise, but that’s the only progression provided. Almost has a great homage to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre III trailer, but the overall cheapness sours that aspect as well.
He Sees You When You’re Sleeping
– (2024) – A kid who once saw Santa butcher his family is later tricked by his relatives to garner his inheritance, but nothing goes according to their plans. This looks professional, and the drama isn’t the worst, but only one character isn’t an unbearable louse, and she’s just a supporting role. Also suffers from tonal shifts, as the family plights and the slasher plot don’t perfectly gel. Means well, but misfires.
Krampus: The Return
– (2022) – A young woman who recently lost her brother to alleged suicide travels with her friends to the terrain of a monstrous killer. Moves slower than a loaded dump truck sliding uphill, but somewhere along the line we’re met with some decent acting, good-enough drama, and a nifty creature design. The murders aren’t very rewarding, and the conclusion isn’t very fulfilling, but there’s much worse in the Christmas/horror subgenre. (A.K.A. Return of Krampus.)
Santastein
– (2023) – Santa, who’s accidentally killed by a child on Christmas, is resurrected with an affinity to kill. A tongue-in-cheek slasher that focuses more on comedy than terror, but as such results in a goofy good time. The pace is brisk, the characters are distinctive, and the preposterous plot never overstays it welcome.
your a-z guide to obscure & classic horror movies
Terror at Blood Fart Lake
– (2009) – A group of friends vacate to a wooded cabin where a masked killer lurks. Amusing early on, but the characters and jokes quickly beat themselves to death. Sometimes funny and creative, but mostly annoying.
Shark Zone
– (2003) – A man with knowledge of underwater diamonds is heavily persuaded by the Russian mob to give up their whereabouts. Begins as a terrible-but-enjoyable bloodbath, but gradually becomes a lame crime caper. Endlessly boneheaded.
Nightmare City
– (1980) – People infected with radioactivity butcher civilians and drink their blood. Features the worst looking mutant killers in cinema history, and the actions they commit are too repetitive. However, the pace is fast, chaos is rampant, and the gore is plentiful.
Tales from the Crypt Presents Ritual
– (2001) – A doctor who travels to Jamaica to care for a zombie discovers voodoo. Doesn’t have much of a plot, and the horror is lacking, but it’s full of fun characters and scenarios. Gets slower as it nears the end, but always provides enjoyment.
Camp Blood 7: It Kills
– (2017) – A group of friends and a hiker tread upon a camp (someone’s backyard) where a killer is lurking. A paint-by-numbers no-budget effort that’s been seen a thousand times before and will be seen a thousand times again. Only runs an hour, and does have a few unintentionally funny moments.
Sucker
– (1998) – A vampire with AIDS deals with monster hunters and his necrophiliac assistant. Pretty useless in all, but has some humorous moments and ideas. Horror aspects are cheap, though some of the nudity is noteworthy.