(Jackson Stewart, 2016)
Two estranged brothers cleaning out their father's video store stumble onto a VHS/board game that might hold their dad's soul. This took itself way too seriously, and should have been a fun throwback to the 80's heyday of VHS horror. I think my favorite parts were in the video store (shocker!), though I found it odd that many of the rentals looked to be blank tapes with white labels on them. Wut?!? Barbara Crampton was fun as the game host, and her scenes were probably the strongest. GRADE: C
(Tyler Perry, 2016)
This is my first Tyler Perry film and it's probably my last! I've seen bits and pieces of his films and I'm always struck at just how amateur they look. After a decade of making films, this is as good as it gets? There are scenes in here that feel like they run 30 minutes long, and everyone is just so sloppy. So Madea's niece is invited to a frat party but her family doesn't want her to go and that's the plot. THAT'S THE PLOT. This isn't a movie, it's an episode of a TGIF sitcom from 1994. The best part was looking at Brock O'Hurn. At least Tyler is smart enough to give that stud work. GRADE: D
(Mike Flanagan, 2017)
Netflix original movie based on Stephen King's story about a woman handcuffed to a bed after her husband has a heart attack during sex. I was really disappointed with this one because I had heard such good things but it just didn't work for me. (The gore towards the end delivered.) Carla Gugino's performance definitely lived up to the hype, and what a body Bruce Greenwood has for being 61. I'm still fully Team Mike Flanagan. GRADE: C+
(Mike Flanagan, 2016)
This is more like it. Imagine The Strangers, but Liv Tyler's character is deaf. Clever twist on the classic home invasion scenario, I'd probably compare it to Wait Until Dark but the killer is never really given a motive. Very suspenseful, and the Final Girl is a smart one. Kate Siegel is very good, and John Gallagher Jr (10 Cloverfield Lane, Short Term 12) makes a creepy intruder. I might have considered taking the film a step further and have it be a silent film with just a score. GRADE: B+
(Olivier Assayas, 2017)
Kristen Stewart plays a personal shopper coping with the death of her twin brother several months prior. She's determined to make contact with him after the two - both claimed to have medium abilities - made a deal that whoever died first would come through from the other side. Stewart continues to do strong work with Assayas, and despite the very modern European setting, this has a very old fashioned feel. Those looking for simple conclusions and answers will be disappointed with this more metaphysical drama. The spookier moments worked very well. GRADE: B+
(John Erick Dowdle, 2007)
This movie has been unreleased for almost a decade and finally made it to home viewing thanks to Scream Factory. It's a nasty and unpleasant experience, poorly acted and written. Police discover hundreds of a video tapes of a serial killer serial killing. It's commitment to the faux-cumentary format is admirable, but the parts that aren't laughably bad are just nihilistic. And not that the fun kind of nihilism! GRADE: D
(Various, 2015)
Ten tales of Halloween horror, in the tradition of anthology horror like Creepshow and Campfire Tales. Despite being from different filmmakers, most of them have the same feel. It would've been better to give this similar concept to more high profile filmmakers as most of these directors have only done direct to home video stuff. The exceptions are Neil Marshall, Lucky McKee and Darren Lynn Bousman. The best part was Adrienne Barbeau narrating as a radio DJ, bringing back pleasant memories of her iconic work as Stevie Wayne in The Fog. GRADE: C-
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