Grave Robbers
– (1989) A group of twenty-somethings inadvertently unleash a satanic corpse while they’re stealing from the dead. What this lacks in story and character dynamics is made up for with grim atmosphere, lightning-bolt energy, and the perfect blend of seriousness and campiness. A little known gem that’s silly one moment and badass the next.
Cemetery of Terror
– (1985) – A wandering corpse who kills with his bare hands stalks the innocent on Halloween night. A disjointed mess with three concurrent plots: police hunting the stiff; teens partying in an abandoned house; kids trick-or-treating. All segments eventually come together, but never in an entirely meaningful way. Plot aside, the gore is okay, the scenery is stark, and the abundance of cheese is high.
Marshmallow
– (2025) – Kids at a summer camp are stalked by someone who claims them for experimentation, as foretold by legend. Explaining what this is truly about would give away too much, as the standard plot does lead to a neat twist, but the entire execution is so drab and badly acted that all the uniqueness is ruined by common formalities. Any marks of inventiveness are also swallowed whole by too many bully cliches.
Clown in a Cornfield
– (2025) – A girl who’s new to a small town contends with making new friends while fending off a cabal of killer clowns. Actually works best in the early stages when mimicking the tribulations of a TV sitcom, as the horror aspects become increasingly preposterous the longer this lingers. The violence is great and some of the humor works, but the plot certainly doesn’t get smarter as it goes.
The Return (1980)
– (1980) – A reporter and a cop investigate a wave of cattle mutilations that have ties to UFOs. While there are a lot of ridiculous moments that make for a curious watch, the scenes tying them together are painfully dull. A mostly quiet outing that could have used more cheese, a brisker pace, and at least some clarity.
Bring Her Back
– (2025) – A woman who lost her daughter takes in two orphans who recently lost their father, and all of their sadness gradually leads to strangeness. Gets off to a wonderful start with well-drawn characters facing a dire situation while getting by with strength and humility. Once the horror aspects kick in, however, you might find yourself repeatedly wondering what’s happening and why. Well made and expertly acted but… huh?
– (1992) – Two survivors from the original find passage through time to absolve their mistaken crimes. Pretty quiet overall, but piles on fun with genuine humor and a varied plot that never tires. Memorable and rousing on many subtle accounts.
– (1985) – A group of strangers with common blackmail issues gather at a mansion where mysterious murders transpire. There’s only 68-minutes of actual footage before the over-explained conclusions take over, and that scant time is wasted on cardboard characters and woefully inept comedy. Despite so much forced zaniness, this is incredibly dull.
– (1994) – A police officer with Scanner abilities investigates a hallucinogen that causes people to kill cops. Offers plenty of strange and entertaining moments, but the pace walks when it should run and none of the characters rise above stock. Not entirely bad, but not entirely good.
Return to Blood Fart Lake
– (2012) – A crew of spirit hunters travel to the spot of past killings, and eventually find the killer. Gets off to a humorous start, if you’re used to the humor of Chris Seaver. The plot isn’t much, and horror comes in dribs and drabs, but there’s often an infectious sense of fun occurring amid extreme vulgarity.
The Killer Shrews
– (1959) – Moles the size of dogs terrorize a sea captain and island inhabitants. Works best during the first half when the mystery builds during a raging storm. Once the sun rises, however, plausibility hits a sharp decline.
The Dead Next Door
– (1988) – Cops hunt zombies and seek a cure for the bitten. Basically a worthless Dawn/Day of the Dead knock off that only raises attention when featuring gore, which there’s plenty of. Only 80 minutes long, with credits, but feels much longer.
Victor Crowley
– (2017) – The survivor of Hatchet III is trapped in a downed plane with those looking to bank on the legend of Victor Crowley. Despite a few lags, this has a ton of great jokes, awesome kills, and an overall sense of fun. Doesn’t reinvent the genre, but shows how to breathe new life into a fourth entry.
Hell Fest
– (2018) – A group of friends attend a festival of fabricated frights, only to find someone authentically stalking them. The premise has the makings of a decent slasher, but the output is too irritating and dopey to hold in higher regard. Gets dimmer as it goes and becomes too predictable to offer any true frights.
Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.
– (1991) – A cop who’s possessed by the spirit of a kabuki man transforms into one to fight a prophecy-fueled crime spree. Clever in spots, but terribly lame in most others. Strives for a Toxic Avenger vibe, but lacks the Troma energy and pizzazz.