TapeHead - The Return of Jacob Cobb

I always say if youre going to make a slasher, your number one priority should be to make your slasher/killer unique. Well Jacob Cobb/Tapehead is a very unique killer with a great look. The backstory comes together nicely. Just a giant monster dude. The makeup work is commendable. A noticable shift from the comedy of the short film to the more serious route in this movie. The colors are vibrant and the whole movie is enganced by a pretty great score/soundtrack. The general aesthetuc just works well for what this is.

If you like a good slasher i would definitely recommend checking this out. Cant wait for the next one.

And if you haven't seen the short, check it out, it's free on youtube!

Tapehead is sort of a throwback slasher film, very clearly inspired by many late nights its creators had watching class '80s slasher films on VHS. However, it does something I've been wanting to see more of in these throwback slasher films, which is why I say "sort of" - a lot of modern throwback slashers try to pretend that they're a "lost film" from the 80s, making a period piece set back then with costumes, hair, set dressing, etc that try (and typically fail) to make themselves appear like they really were filmed in the 80s.

Tapehead, on the other hand, wears its heart on its sleeve as being a love letter to those movies that was clearly not just made in the 2020s but also set in the present day. VHS tapes play a central role in the film, and they aren't the hot new technology, they're antiques, objects of nostalgia. There's discussion of the difficulty of getting VHS tapes to play on modern televisions. There's a conversation that reminds me of ones I listened to in the early days of the vinyl revival, discussing whether there really is a merit to the quirks and foibles of older media that isn't just nostalgia.

The film itself is a lot of fun (though thinking about physical media, this isn't actually a "film" since it was recorded on digital - just like many old VHS movies weren't "films" because they were recorded on video). The movie isn't bogged down with references to older movies or trying to be too clever, and instead just gives us fun, original characters, some great kills, and some really enjoyable camerawork.

If you like obscure old slashers like Slaughterhouse (1987), crazy lighting like Creepshow (1982), or love letters to classic horror movies like the V/H/S series, you owe it to yourself to check this out. The one caveat I would give is that this is very much a sequel, so watch the short film first. Which is actually a good thing - you can figure out if you like it before buying the full movie! The full movie is a step up in quality in nearly every way over the short film, yet they are similar enough that I confidently assert that if you like one you'll like the other.

This was a fun indie movie with all practical effects. The antagonist of Jacob Cobb has a great look and presence about him. The sounds track is catchy and great including the opening credit song. It definitely has an interesting visual style reminiscent of Creepshow. Some of the actors stand out more than others, it's still an enjoyable film. Tyson did a great job in his role and was very genuine. There's a good mix of humor and gore that should please any 80s horror fan. The kills are all practical and fun, you could tell the cast and crew had a good time making this. I would recommend this movie to anyone that is a fan of the genre.

The love and care taken to make the film feel like an old school slasher movie was noted. It features fun, practical effects they look great. Faith and Corey were stand out characters to me, but Pappas was my personal favorite, he was hilarious. There were alot fun gags and nods to classic moments of slasher lore. Jacob Cobb is a great character, and they blew away what they did with the first short film (which I also liked, but wow, yall killed the sequel). Get that film. It's alot of fun. You can definitely feel the friday the 13th the final chapter vibes and I love that, that being the best film in that series.

This movie was a great twist of goofy characters, comedy and scary theme! I love that it gives a nostalgic feeling. I couldn't rate this more than 10, so it gets a 10! The hard work and dedication to the film, SHOWS. This truly is a movie that needs to be watched. The makeup was incredible, as well as the stunts and actors. We need more nostalgic movies, like this. The directors definitely knew what they were doing, making this film. The writing of the movie, was well thought out. The movie seems to reach the right amount of entertainment, making it feel exciting to watch. I can't compliment this movie enough. Very well done!