Category: Reviews

When the Devil Goes on Vacation to Jakarta Every now and then, a horror film comes along that doesn’t just knock politely on Hell’s door—it kicks it open, throws a Molotov cocktail inside, and dares Satan to come out and play. May the Devil Take You (Indonesian: Sebelum Iblis Menjemput) is that film. Directed by … Read More “May the Devil Take You (2018): Indonesia’s Answer to Evil Dead—Only Meaner, Louder, and Way More Fun” »

Nightmare on Bland Street There are bad horror movies, and then there’s Mara — a film so lethargic it could put Freddy Krueger to sleep. Directed by Clive Tonge in his feature debut (and possibly his last if there’s any justice in cinema), Mara attempts to turn sleep paralysis into the next great supernatural terror. … Read More “Mara (2018): When Sleep Paralysis Is the Audience’s Only Escape” »

When the Devil Goes to Art School If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if The Exorcist were remade by an experimental German film student armed with a VHS camcorder, a crate of cigarettes, and a deep love of analog synths, congratulations — your unholy wish has been granted. Luz (2018), the debut feature by … Read More “Luz (2018): A Possession Film Possessed by Style” »

The Undead Have Never Looked So Sleep-Deprived Some films resurrect the vampire genre. Others drive a stake right through its heart and then ask you to pay for the privilege of watching it happen. Living Among Us (2018), written, directed, and produced by Brian Metcalf, belongs firmly in the latter category — a cinematic séance … Read More “Living Among Us (2018): The Documentary Nobody Asked For” »

When Franchises Refuse to Die Let’s face it — by the time a Lake Placid movie hits part six, the only real horror is that someone greenlit it. Lake Placid: Legacy (2018) tries to reboot the franchise with new characters, new lore, and a monster that’s allegedly “30 feet of pure terror.” What we get … Read More “Lake Placid: Legacy (2018): When the Crocodile Isn’t the Only Thing Dead in the Water” »

Apocalypse Now—Brought to You by Amazon Prime There are cinematic endings, and then there are cinematic autopsies. Kamen Rider Amazons the Movie: The Last Judgement belongs to the latter. After two seasons of blood, philosophy, and man-eating melodrama, the film attempts to tie it all together with a bow made of entrails and regret. This … Read More “Kamen Rider Amazons: The Last Judgement (2018): The Final Misfire” »

The Funeral of Coherent Filmmaking Every once in a while, a movie arrives that makes you question not only its existence but your own life choices. The Incantation (2018), Jude S. Walko’s directorial debut, is one of those cinematic experiences—a paranormal horror film that manages to summon neither fear nor coherence. It’s as if someone … Read More “The Incantation (2018): A Hex of a Film That Should’ve Stayed Buried” »

The Monster at the Door Might Be Boredom There’s a monster in After Midnight, and it’s not the one clawing at the door—it’s the yawning void of nothing happening for 80 straight minutes. Jeremy Gardner directs, writes, and stars as Hank, a man whose girlfriend leaves him after ten years, presumably because she saw the … Read More “After Midnight (2019) — Love Hurts, and So Does Watching This Movie” »

Here’s Danny… and He’s Tired If The Shining was a masterpiece of dread — a fever dream painted in Kubrickian precision — then Doctor Sleep is what happens when someone wakes up from that dream, makes coffee, and starts rambling about therapy. Mike Flanagan’s 2019 sequel is less “redrum” and more “read-room-temperature.” It’s beautifully shot, … Read More ““Doctor Sleep” — The Shining Sequel That Hits the Snooze Button” »

A Doll, a Curse, and a Whole Lot of Gothic Ambition Lawrie Brewster’s The Devil’s Machine (2019) is what happens when someone watches one too many Mario Bava films, drinks a gallon of black coffee, and says, “You know what this needs? An ancient cursed doll and a Scottish castle full of trauma.” It’s moody, … Read More ““The Devil’s Machine” — Wind It Up and Watch It Haunt You” »