rivertam26

This film is a well made but slightly confused survival horror film. It centers on a young American couple who go skiing in Russia and end up being hunted by a psycho on a snowmobile. The movie doesn't really bring anything new to the genre and to it's own detriment it takes itself way too seriously. That being said there is alot of great stuff here it just never really gets to where it's going until the final scene leaving the audience with cinematic blue balls.

***/5

Fangoria and Full Moon tackle the remake of Stuart Gordon's nasty classic. Most remakes are unnecessary although they can be entertaining but in this case it's almost an entirely different film and if you thought the original was mean spirited you're in for a gory, old school practical effects treat that has fun paying homage to the italian horror of the 80s mixed with the universe of lovecraft. This time around a young blind orphan woman discovers that she's inheriting a castle from her mother who just passed. She travels to the location with her slimy but sexy boyfriend with the intention of discovering more about her family and selling. They are joined by their trashy friends and one by one they start getting horribly mutilated by the "freak" in the castle. And trust their demises are incredibly shocking. There's more to it than that and the film is surprisingly complex. I wouldn't say it's a great movie. But I applaud it's ambition and the sheer amount of horror love that went into it. So if you're a genre fan of particularly this type of film you're in for a weird, twisted, treat. All others beware.

***.5/5

Originally a festival fave in 2018, this film became a sizable success during the pandemic benefitting from great reviews ( 94% RT) and a solid audience score. The film is an intense, sometimes frustrating, simplistic theater that focuses on a young woman moving cross country who comes up against as serial killer. It's a survival thriller that takes a bit to find it's stride but when it does is quite impressive. Filmed beautifully with a solid lead performance this stylish horror flick is slick, escapist entertainment. I expect great things from the director and actress moving forward.

***.5/5