13th Child: Legend of the Jersey Devil
MTI - US Indie Horror - Review By Allen F.
This legend from the New Jersey Pine Barrens in South NJ comes to us on DVD again in time for Halloween 2005. A dramatic and horrific look at the monster that has plagued the area for hundreds of years. The film is a bit changed from the original legend yet is much better than the "way off" X-Files episode a few years back. Looking at the creation and monster of legend this is a fun film. The monster effects are strange yet the Jersey Devil has been described in various different forms over the years. This DVD is a great Halloween fun film and also a must see for fans of both Jersey oddities and US monster legends. The film is a good take on the legend. Of interest also is the Asylum locations shot in the infamous Gothic PA prison Eastern State Penitentiary. Spooky!

Larva
First Look - US Indie Horror - Review By Allen F.
Larva stars recent "Devil's Rejects" star and Kyonsi favorite William Forsythe. The film is a story about corporate corruption and cover up in the meat packing industry. The good old don't mess with mother nature or shall I say "DNA" story is in full play here. Upon eating some tainted meat from infected cattle there seems to be some serious health problems in a small town thats just hired an outsider as the new veterinarian. He must then investigate the odd cattle of the areas infestation problems. It is very evident that the cows have most all picked up a parasite consisting of a mutating monster insect larva. This larva is in turn being introduced to human hosts as they consume meats from the crooked Host Tender Meats corporation. Full of Larva, bug monsters and redneck antics, Pass on the Burgers!

MosquitoMan
First Look - US Indie Horror - Review By Allen F.
I am a sucker (no pun intended) for bug man monster movies ever since seeing "The Fly" with Vincent Price as a kid. I was also a big fan of the film "Tarantula" when I was young. So when "Mansquito" title changed to MosquitoMan for DVD came out I was eager too see it. The film is entertaining and has some really cool creature effects. I had seen this on the Sci-Fi Channel but was very happy to see it on DVD from First Look. I then was able to enjoy the scenes and carnage again and again. The story's good the acting is good and again I really like the creature and the effects in this flick. This is good enough to purchase not just rent and I recommended the movie for giant bug monster films fans and fans of higher end B movies also. So sit back put it in and watch out for the West Nile virus.

The Hollow
First Look - US Indie Horror - Review By Allen F.
This movie showed last year on TV but this year came out in a less trimmed version for horror fans, the good bits cut from the TV version are intact on this new release DVD from First Look Home Entertainment. A more or less modern re-telling of the famous Sleepy Hollow Legend by Washington Irving. The DVD is the never before seen R rated version. The film tells the story of the last blood relative of the famous school teacher Ichabod Crane and the resurgence of horrific murders again in the small town. Kevin Zegers (Wrong Turn, Dawn of the Dead) stars along with Stacy (Sgt. Stadanko) Keach and various other teens in peril. Nice to see the DVD come out as R rated and not the tamer TV version. Alot of films have been made about this place and the Kyonsi staff has gone there. Link

Blue Demon
First Look - US Indie Horror - Review By Allen F.
I really like the catch cover they did for Blue Demon. Can you say "Open Water"? Now that is good marketing art. This blue sea thriller looks at secret missions and classified experiments. Of course thrillers its all goes sour and some innocent people end up biting the dust. Monster sharks, cover ups, disobedient military officials. Blue Demon has that all and more. I did like some of the shark effects and always have been a fan of films like Jaws and The Deep. A good rental if your in the mood for a shark tale. The DVD is rated PG-13 and has spanish subtitles. The only other extras seem to be Scene Selections and Previews. Those don't really count as extras though. I wish they would have had a little "sharkumentary" or something.

Ice Queen
MTI - US Indie Horror - Review By Allen F.
Good frozen fun awaits on this DVD from MTI as a monstrous gal is awakened from her sub zero slumber. A plane crash drops the monster into a ski area that's inhabited by some cute gals and other folks. B Movie fun with a cool monster and some very good avalanche effects. The monster then stalks its victims in the ruined chalet and gets her cold hearted revenge against the modern day semi scientists that woke her up. Cool sets and a subplot about a possibly cheating guy, did he do anything with that fine babe that wants a job at the resort? Who cares just look out for the well costumed monster girl, and prepare for some unintentional laughs and in jokes. A good friday night party movie. I actually am curious to see what this director does next.

Raging Sharks
MTI - US Indie Horror - Review By Allen F.
This flick is a dozy. A entertaining hodgepodge of science fiction elements. We have the alien ship crashing in the Bermuda triangle causing some deadly serious shark infestation attacks. Yes that's correct I did laugh out loud (in a good way) at the mixture of elements from this freaky flick. Only in this film will you get ingredients from Jaws, The Deadly Triangle, and Mission from Mars all rolled up in one. Even of watched for pure entertainment this movie will deliver as all these topics come into one story. A fun twist on drab shark attack movies Raging Sharks ups the ante and ads some spice. I am sure the screenwriter of this film has some imagination. Another cool but weird Indie from MTI.

Legion of the Dead
The Asylum- US Indie Horror - Review By Allen F.
Resurrection of Ancient egyptian goddesses can be a deadly thing. This film awakes a very sexy Egyptian High-Priestess Aneh-Tet, played by the alluring Claudia Lynx. Actually the Iranian born Lynx is the best thing this film has going for it. She looks the part and walks thru the easy role with no problem. There are some cool make-up effects and specials effects. The sets are cut rate and not as elaborate as I expected them to be. The DVD cover art is well done horror art. The mummy genre comes and goes and sometimes just stays buried. Pick this up too see Claudia Lynx if anything, do see the comments on the IMDB before purchasing this one though. Sexy and Hot actress yet the rest is ancient history. On the comical side the working title for this film was "Unravelled".

Intermedio
The Asylum- US Indie Horror - Review By Allen F.
A very good higher end of the B scale from Asylum this film has a cool legend and some spooky subterranean settings. We get a role from Steve Railsback (Devils Rejects) and also the film stars Edward Furlong as a burn out called Malik. Him and his friends go investigate some bizarre caves by the Mexican border that are full of evil demonic spirits controlled by a sinister spell held by the "Old Man" Railsback. A cool flick and I was impressed with it being a higher end of the B Movie scale. Also stars from Cabin Fever the cute Cerina Vincent and that adds some interest to the movie as well. She is actually getting a few genre films under her belt recently. Pick this one up...

War of the Worlds
The Asylum- US Indie Horror - Review By Allen F.
Three people closely related to this web site saw this film and liked it. I am one of them as well as a co writer and friend of the family. The budget is of course no where near that of the recently also released Tom Cruise film (That was very good.) Also this film is fairly good and I was surprised that on a budget the story could be told in an interesting way. I liked the effects although they were not high end CGI they did do the job and were adequate for a lower budget science fiction film. The film was sparsely populated in some scenes (not a cast of hundreds or thousands) yet the story was told and was 100% watchable. This is a good film for fans of the SF genre and SF films collectors also, Cool!

The Cat and the Canary
Image Entertainment - Classic Horror (1927) - DVD Review By Allen F.
This recent release from Image Entertainment is really a treat. The classic (as well as one of the first) "Old Dark House" type horror films from 1927 is very entertaining. The film is color tinted and has been restored to look fairly good. I can not say enough about the new score that has been added its sound is great. The film is silent yet the score takes you successfully thru the up and downs in the suspenseful plot. A spooky film and one I had been searching for. Image did a great job with the Original 35mm re master and the film although weathered from time looks good and is watchable by all means. The silent horror films of the past are rare as many no longer are available and have been lost forever but I hope more companies follow the footsteps of Image and release more horror oldies.

Splatter University
Elite Entertainment - US Horror/Splatter - DVD Review By Allen F.
Back in the good old '80's there was an abundance of dead teenager US splatter flicks like this released. These films were not always good but they were a real part of theater going in my later high school years. Back then the drive-in's still existed in my area (back then the East SF Bay area). I actually remember this film from video as well and we used to watch these splatter flicks by the stack from the mom and pop video shops in the area. Now past the year 2000 these films are coming back on DVD with the help of companies like Elite Entertainment. Splatter University is a good psycho splatter outing that is bloody and intense. A great film for a party or get together when you need a golden oldie to pop in the DVD player. The packaging and presentation of this 1984 flick are good and look much better than the old VHS version we had long ago. Thanks to Elite for resurrecting this eighties college slash and dash for the DVD collecting masses. Cutting classes has a new meaning. Recommended for cult film collectors and slasher film fans.

Killer Barbys Vs. Dracula
Image Entertainment - Euro Horror- DVD Review By Allen F.
This new film from cult film icon Jess Franco is alot of b-grade fun. Starring busty blonde bombshell Silvia Superstar (from spanish punk band called Killer Barbys) the film tells the story of the band and the singers quest to tease the count. The count awakes from his coffin and alot of ghastly (and quite humorous) antics follow. The film is a must for fans of Franco's style and films. The movie is b-grade and almost looks like it was filmed at one of the famous western towns (or sets) used for spaghetti westerns. The film is not as strong as Franco's older horror efforts. The horror comedy is a fun b-movie for his fans though. I like his older horror films a bit better than this newer outing. This DVD is un rated and runs 86 min. Almost like a modern drive in style movie. Franco fans Only?

Flesh Eating Mothers
Elite Entertainment - US Cult Horror - DVD Review By Allen F.
This film is what I call "Harper Valley PTA" meets "Night of the Living Dead". This gorefest is a fun lower budget out also from the cult horror purveyors at Elite Entertainment. Your Mom was never as horrifying as the cannibalistic soccer moms of this un rated splatterfest. The DVD looks great in a new screen transfer that is accompanied by the original theatrical trailer. Elite brings this cult classic to us for the first time on DVD. This film will make you wish these horrible homemakers were all on the Jenny C. no kids for lunch diet. This is a film along the lines of other cult favorite "Rabid Grannies". May be a bit gory for younger viewers but its all done in a fun and campy way. What's for lunch Mom?

Shadows of the Dead
First Look - US Indie Horror - Review By Allen F.
This film directed by Carl Lindbergh should be an example of how to make a decent and watchable limited budget horror film. I really enjoyed this film with a small but effective cast and the film kept me interested. This low budget film has effective makeup effects as well and the filming is well done. This is an interesting story about two lovers that are slowly mutating onto the realm of the undead after a run in with a zombie of sorts. Shadows is a entertaining outing from the folks at First Look. The director gets points for a job well done and we will be looking forward to his future genre projects. This is a grim film that is actually somewhat sad in the sense that the lovers are faced with the impending doom of becoming members of an undead legion. What will they choose life as zombies or death before its too late.