SeptumSin's reviews
This page showcases all reviews SeptumSin has written, sharing their detailed thoughts about movies, TV shows, and more.
96 reviews
This is my first foray into Janice. Click so I did buy a few films from them just to check them out. I admit the trailers do look interesting and they have the kind of sick humor that at some times appeals to my less civil nature. I decided though to get this film because I do like the filmmaker and I am in the film (Just to let you know).
DVD FEATURES: No special Features, I'll admit I held off on buying it because I was told that a bluray with special features may be on the horizon but Not sure about that now.
PLOT Not much is going right in Jimmy's world. He seems to mess everything up in his life and now that he's run over the neighbor's dog he's just gotten fired. Well nothing much left to do now but kill and eat people.
Well this is an interesting piece. Mostly it is about Jimmy killing people for the run time in creative ways. This has the feel of many different pieces being fit together in a way that shows the edges but still fits well enough to run. It has a straight forward beginning middle and ending with room for a sequel. I'd say that the feel it straight forward but if you are not a fan of constant kills then you may have difficulty with this.
ACTING: Tim does a good job portraying Jimmy as an unhinged individual cursing, going off and killing others. He held it together for most scenes and for those scenes where you feel he is grasping for something to say it works well enough into the character. The other people involved (mostly Tim in different outfits) work well enough. None of the acting is top notch but when it comes to SOV type films it all works out well enough. I can point out that I did act in this and a friend of mine Kyle Rappaport was involved too. You can actually see and hear Kyle in various parts of the film but with some distortion when it comes to his voice.
PRODUCTION DESIGN: Filming for this ran for a long time, from 2020-2024 and you can see the differences as the film progresses. I am fascinated by Pandemic era microbudget filmmaking as so many people tried so many different ways to make a film work. And this is the field where Creativity or circumventing the rules is king.
There is a lot of work in making the film effects truly feel like shot on video though there are a few transitions and editing effects that take you briefly out of the feel. I believe that most of this was actually shot on Video so that also helps. The gore effects look fake by high budget standards but for microbudget standards they are pretty good and for Shot on video filmmaking these effects are excellent.
I'm not much of a gore person, I've worked in a field where I got to see enough real life gore to keep me. I do, however love the creativity on display here. Not all can appreciate working within a very limited budget as much as me but those who do will have a treat here.
MUSIC: The Music works out well for the film. It is basic on many levels but you don't need anything complex for a film like this. It does its job and that's all we can hope for when it comes to music.
Overall this is a film that presents everything that it promises. Shot on Video, gore and violence. If this is the kind of thing that you want then that is the kind of thing you will get.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
-Shot on Video Fans -Fans of Low Budget Gore -Fans of Low Budget Slashers -Love of Violent films.
DVD FEATURES: No special Features, I'll admit I held off on buying it because I was told that a bluray with special features may be on the horizon but Not sure about that now.
PLOT Not much is going right in Jimmy's world. He seems to mess everything up in his life and now that he's run over the neighbor's dog he's just gotten fired. Well nothing much left to do now but kill and eat people.
Well this is an interesting piece. Mostly it is about Jimmy killing people for the run time in creative ways. This has the feel of many different pieces being fit together in a way that shows the edges but still fits well enough to run. It has a straight forward beginning middle and ending with room for a sequel. I'd say that the feel it straight forward but if you are not a fan of constant kills then you may have difficulty with this.
ACTING: Tim does a good job portraying Jimmy as an unhinged individual cursing, going off and killing others. He held it together for most scenes and for those scenes where you feel he is grasping for something to say it works well enough into the character. The other people involved (mostly Tim in different outfits) work well enough. None of the acting is top notch but when it comes to SOV type films it all works out well enough. I can point out that I did act in this and a friend of mine Kyle Rappaport was involved too. You can actually see and hear Kyle in various parts of the film but with some distortion when it comes to his voice.
PRODUCTION DESIGN: Filming for this ran for a long time, from 2020-2024 and you can see the differences as the film progresses. I am fascinated by Pandemic era microbudget filmmaking as so many people tried so many different ways to make a film work. And this is the field where Creativity or circumventing the rules is king.
There is a lot of work in making the film effects truly feel like shot on video though there are a few transitions and editing effects that take you briefly out of the feel. I believe that most of this was actually shot on Video so that also helps. The gore effects look fake by high budget standards but for microbudget standards they are pretty good and for Shot on video filmmaking these effects are excellent.
I'm not much of a gore person, I've worked in a field where I got to see enough real life gore to keep me. I do, however love the creativity on display here. Not all can appreciate working within a very limited budget as much as me but those who do will have a treat here.
MUSIC: The Music works out well for the film. It is basic on many levels but you don't need anything complex for a film like this. It does its job and that's all we can hope for when it comes to music.
Overall this is a film that presents everything that it promises. Shot on Video, gore and violence. If this is the kind of thing that you want then that is the kind of thing you will get.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
-Shot on Video Fans -Fans of Low Budget Gore -Fans of Low Budget Slashers -Love of Violent films.
Well the first film opened my eyes to what we eat in the world this was one I kind of put off because of...reasons but now I've gotten on board and its a pretty good one.
BLURAY FEATURES -Trailers
PLOT: Well this is about the monopoly that the food industry has and how big business has pretty much ruined it for most of us who have to live here.
There is a large amount of messaging and it is almost as heavy handed as the first one. Whereas the first one had been pushing hard for straight veganism this one looked at other avenues and felt a little more in touch with the general population. The main enemy was ultraprossed foods (including vegan ones) and how we can do better as well as how business practice and worker exploitation is a bad thing for the industry and for us as a society. They presented the case well and much more smoothly than the original which felt more like a fact dump.
PRODUCTION DESIGN This was something completely different. I felt that this improved markedly from the first film. The editing was much smoother the facts were more organized and this worked to help the flow of information reach us better. They definitely had more skill and money involved with this piece.
MUSIC: They had a lot of your typical documentary music but a few found pieces that made the process flow smoothly. In all a good job.
In the end this is informative and still a little scary but in a way a lot more hopeful and digestible than the original film.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
-People that want to understand our food industry -Left Leaning People -Open Minded Right Leaning People.
BLURAY FEATURES -Trailers
PLOT: Well this is about the monopoly that the food industry has and how big business has pretty much ruined it for most of us who have to live here.
There is a large amount of messaging and it is almost as heavy handed as the first one. Whereas the first one had been pushing hard for straight veganism this one looked at other avenues and felt a little more in touch with the general population. The main enemy was ultraprossed foods (including vegan ones) and how we can do better as well as how business practice and worker exploitation is a bad thing for the industry and for us as a society. They presented the case well and much more smoothly than the original which felt more like a fact dump.
PRODUCTION DESIGN This was something completely different. I felt that this improved markedly from the first film. The editing was much smoother the facts were more organized and this worked to help the flow of information reach us better. They definitely had more skill and money involved with this piece.
MUSIC: They had a lot of your typical documentary music but a few found pieces that made the process flow smoothly. In all a good job.
In the end this is informative and still a little scary but in a way a lot more hopeful and digestible than the original film.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
-People that want to understand our food industry -Left Leaning People -Open Minded Right Leaning People.
I originally backed this film a while back and supposedly have my voice featured in the film...so I guess I should rate it while I'm at it.
BLURAY FEATURES -Teaser Trailer -Trailer -Behind the Scenes Featurette -Subtitles
PLOT A Diner owner purchases a cursed waffle maker to make his restaurant more successful but things go horribly wrong.
This does very well as a plot. I feel that the setting it fun and it does a good job of being less of a horror comedy than I thought it would. I felt that the story carried itself well and was entertaining. The characters were also enjoyable to watch and root for though I would have at least had them speaking Spanish to their mother when she is in Guatemala. I would watch this again.
ACTING: The Acting in this was nothing oscar worthy but you don't expect that level from a B movie film. The acting was still pretty good and it carried over well enough that no bad performances were noticeable which is a plus for films at this level. I really enjoyed the one brother's performance when possessed he did an excellent job.
PRODUCTION DESIGN: The models were well done and the little waffle creatures were also cool to look at. I thought that they were imaginative with the creature designs here from the possessed food to the evil waffle maker body in the end. The gore effects and setting were also very good considering how things are.
MUSIC: Lots of custom tracks and songs here. I feel that these were probably done with tongue in cheek in mind. I felt that it suited the film and I could listen to the tracks again if needed.
In the End this is a fun and energetic horror romp that I'd recommend to most.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
-Fans of creature attacks horror films -Fans of off the wall horror concepts -Fans of Full Moon.
BLURAY FEATURES -Teaser Trailer -Trailer -Behind the Scenes Featurette -Subtitles
PLOT A Diner owner purchases a cursed waffle maker to make his restaurant more successful but things go horribly wrong.
This does very well as a plot. I feel that the setting it fun and it does a good job of being less of a horror comedy than I thought it would. I felt that the story carried itself well and was entertaining. The characters were also enjoyable to watch and root for though I would have at least had them speaking Spanish to their mother when she is in Guatemala. I would watch this again.
ACTING: The Acting in this was nothing oscar worthy but you don't expect that level from a B movie film. The acting was still pretty good and it carried over well enough that no bad performances were noticeable which is a plus for films at this level. I really enjoyed the one brother's performance when possessed he did an excellent job.
PRODUCTION DESIGN: The models were well done and the little waffle creatures were also cool to look at. I thought that they were imaginative with the creature designs here from the possessed food to the evil waffle maker body in the end. The gore effects and setting were also very good considering how things are.
MUSIC: Lots of custom tracks and songs here. I feel that these were probably done with tongue in cheek in mind. I felt that it suited the film and I could listen to the tracks again if needed.
In the End this is a fun and energetic horror romp that I'd recommend to most.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
-Fans of creature attacks horror films -Fans of off the wall horror concepts -Fans of Full Moon.
Well I continue my Jacker Marathon by watching the second film for the first time.
BLRUAY FEATURES: -Both Jacker 1 & 2 -Audio Commentary -Introductions by Phil Herman and Joel Wynkoop -Phil Herman Interview -Marilyn Ghigliotti Interview -Interview with Barry Gaines -Interview with Joel Wynkoop -Interview with Dave Castigliono -Debi D Modeling tape from 1992 -Behind the Scenes Stills -Subtitles (YAY)
PLOT: The Jacker appears to have survived his encounter at the end of the first film and is back on a killing spree but demonic forces may be in play as the stakes become even higher. Is the Jacker immortal? James is about to find out.
I am of mixed feelings on this one. I feel that the first half of the film is really solid with the Jacker doing his thing and the police trying to confront the chaos from the last film while trying to catch up to Mike and end his killing spree. The second half is where things go off the track. I feel like so much of this movie was padding to get it to the 106 minute run time. This is a shame though as I feel with better editing and a few cuts (maybe down to 75 min) this would have been a solid and even better follow up to the first film. I also feel like they wasted Joel Wynkoop in this one as a showdown between him and the Jacker would hve been pretty epic.
Overall it is an entertaining enough story if you can get by a portion of the last half.
ACTING: I feel that the acting in this film has gotten better from the first. I feel that the people were giving their all for this. Though not perfect I feel it is A level on the Microbudget circuit.
PRODUCTION DESIGN This has that gritty feel that much of Phil Herman's films have but at the same time it was reduced due to better lighting, and I feel it was a little detrimental to the final product. The biggest issue was the sound. Jacker was done well enough that I felt things were ok. Here the music easily overpowers the dialogue in many scenes and without the subtitles I probably would have taken a star away as even with headphones you needed those to fully understand what was going on. As far as other effects it was good overall.
MUSIC: The Music for this film is pretty good and works well for the overall. The biggest issue with the music is that you usually will hear it and not what the characters are saying in any scenes.
In the end Jacker 2 shakes up the formula for better and for worse but it is still a fairly solid watch overall.
WHO IS THIS FOR -Phil Herman Fans -Jacker Fans -Fans of Shot on Video Films.
BLRUAY FEATURES: -Both Jacker 1 & 2 -Audio Commentary -Introductions by Phil Herman and Joel Wynkoop -Phil Herman Interview -Marilyn Ghigliotti Interview -Interview with Barry Gaines -Interview with Joel Wynkoop -Interview with Dave Castigliono -Debi D Modeling tape from 1992 -Behind the Scenes Stills -Subtitles (YAY)
PLOT: The Jacker appears to have survived his encounter at the end of the first film and is back on a killing spree but demonic forces may be in play as the stakes become even higher. Is the Jacker immortal? James is about to find out.
I am of mixed feelings on this one. I feel that the first half of the film is really solid with the Jacker doing his thing and the police trying to confront the chaos from the last film while trying to catch up to Mike and end his killing spree. The second half is where things go off the track. I feel like so much of this movie was padding to get it to the 106 minute run time. This is a shame though as I feel with better editing and a few cuts (maybe down to 75 min) this would have been a solid and even better follow up to the first film. I also feel like they wasted Joel Wynkoop in this one as a showdown between him and the Jacker would hve been pretty epic.
Overall it is an entertaining enough story if you can get by a portion of the last half.
ACTING: I feel that the acting in this film has gotten better from the first. I feel that the people were giving their all for this. Though not perfect I feel it is A level on the Microbudget circuit.
PRODUCTION DESIGN This has that gritty feel that much of Phil Herman's films have but at the same time it was reduced due to better lighting, and I feel it was a little detrimental to the final product. The biggest issue was the sound. Jacker was done well enough that I felt things were ok. Here the music easily overpowers the dialogue in many scenes and without the subtitles I probably would have taken a star away as even with headphones you needed those to fully understand what was going on. As far as other effects it was good overall.
MUSIC: The Music for this film is pretty good and works well for the overall. The biggest issue with the music is that you usually will hear it and not what the characters are saying in any scenes.
In the end Jacker 2 shakes up the formula for better and for worse but it is still a fairly solid watch overall.
WHO IS THIS FOR -Phil Herman Fans -Jacker Fans -Fans of Shot on Video Films.
I'm glad to have the Bluray release of the two Jacker films and with the release of Jacker 3 I decided to give this one another shot.
BLURAY RELEASE -Both Jacker 1 & 2 -Audio Commentary -Introductions by Phil Herman and Joel Wynkoop -Phil Herman Interview -Marilyn Ghigliotti Interview -Interview with Barry Gaines -Interview with Joel Wynkoop -Interview with Dave Castigliono -Debi D Modeling tape from 1992 -Behind the Scenes Stills -Subtitles (YAY)
PLOT A Man get fed up with living his life of stress and drama and becomes the Murderous Jacker. As his reign of Terror continues a detective goes above the law to hunt the killer down.
This is a pretty straightforward plot. I like a lot of Phil Herman's work and though he isn't the only director of this one it has the gritty feel of his older films in this. There is something about this that shows why Microbudget film making is so beloved at this time.
The film is more of a police thriller than a horror film with it being more about the hunt than the kills. I feel it is executed in a way that feels microbudget but still holds up ok if you know what you're getting into. The only issue I have with the film is the Pacing which down start to slow down after a bit and could have done with about 15 minutes cut from the film.
ACTING The acting is pretty much what you would expect from the shot on video market back in the day. It is not great and at times not even good, but it doesn't need to be. The Actors do their roles and you don't fully lose the emersion that you should have in the film and that's really all I ask for in these. It is fun to see a very young Herman and Debbi D and is fun after watching the 3rd installment of the film.
PRODUCTION DESIGN This is something that is lacking but at the same time it is microbudget filmmaking and being creative has to outweigh amazing makeup and effects. What they have works well enough and the settings are varied making it feel fresh overall. The quality of the transfer was improved on the bluray but still looks gritty overall and this helps the look. I don't know why but that shot on video look has a very good feel to it and works well with what was used.
In the end this is a classic every bit as good as Burglar form hell or Video violence. It showcases a lot of creativity and hard work that exemplify the scene.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
-People who like Gritty Police Dramas -People who love shot on Video Thrillers -People who are fans of Phil Herman's work.
BLURAY RELEASE -Both Jacker 1 & 2 -Audio Commentary -Introductions by Phil Herman and Joel Wynkoop -Phil Herman Interview -Marilyn Ghigliotti Interview -Interview with Barry Gaines -Interview with Joel Wynkoop -Interview with Dave Castigliono -Debi D Modeling tape from 1992 -Behind the Scenes Stills -Subtitles (YAY)
PLOT A Man get fed up with living his life of stress and drama and becomes the Murderous Jacker. As his reign of Terror continues a detective goes above the law to hunt the killer down.
This is a pretty straightforward plot. I like a lot of Phil Herman's work and though he isn't the only director of this one it has the gritty feel of his older films in this. There is something about this that shows why Microbudget film making is so beloved at this time.
The film is more of a police thriller than a horror film with it being more about the hunt than the kills. I feel it is executed in a way that feels microbudget but still holds up ok if you know what you're getting into. The only issue I have with the film is the Pacing which down start to slow down after a bit and could have done with about 15 minutes cut from the film.
ACTING The acting is pretty much what you would expect from the shot on video market back in the day. It is not great and at times not even good, but it doesn't need to be. The Actors do their roles and you don't fully lose the emersion that you should have in the film and that's really all I ask for in these. It is fun to see a very young Herman and Debbi D and is fun after watching the 3rd installment of the film.
PRODUCTION DESIGN This is something that is lacking but at the same time it is microbudget filmmaking and being creative has to outweigh amazing makeup and effects. What they have works well enough and the settings are varied making it feel fresh overall. The quality of the transfer was improved on the bluray but still looks gritty overall and this helps the look. I don't know why but that shot on video look has a very good feel to it and works well with what was used.
In the end this is a classic every bit as good as Burglar form hell or Video violence. It showcases a lot of creativity and hard work that exemplify the scene.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
-People who like Gritty Police Dramas -People who love shot on Video Thrillers -People who are fans of Phil Herman's work.
I've been waiting for this film quite a while. The first two Jacker films are a bit of classic indie horror that has left the scene reeling and awaiting a sequel. When I found out about the 3rd film I backed it immediately and was very much looking forward to this piece.
DVD FEATUREs -Trailers (Note Tales of the Forgotten Act 2) -Outtakes -Jacker 1 & 2 Tribute -Pictures -No Subtitles ☹
PLOT The Jacker has returned to the streets and Gloria returns with the key to end his rampage. Ace reporter Chris races against time to uncover the mysteries and the bloody legacy of the Jacker. There are also some nice call backs to the series and previous characters.
I do love to see the Jacker back behind the wheel again. To me this series is just as much a classic as Burglar from Hell. Despite some issues you could have nitpicking how the tech and room is a tad advanced for 1971 I did enjoy the setup in the beginning, it really draws you into the film. Though the film runs a little long at 108 minutes the pacing is pretty good with one killing after the other. The dream sequences and investigation fill in the other part of the story and it fills pretty well. I could have used a little more direction in that area but still it works out well and is a fitting sequel to the second film in the series. One can tell there was a lot to the writing involved and they did put thought into the film overall.
ACTING Once again we have Eddie Munster back in these films. I am starting to wonder about these cameos....that aside I thought that the acting was hit or miss. There were some really good performances especially with Phil Herman and Debbi D. Though some of the performances were a bit lower quality than others none were so bad that I felt it was taking me out of the piece and when we talk indie filmmaking that is a plus. There were of course paid parts done through the fundraiser put in and though many films use this and it causes issues with pacing and acting quality this was mostly seamless in the energy presented.
PRODUCTION DESIGN The only issue I have with the film is the lighting filter where there is a lot of glare when it comes to light and reflectivity. Other than that I would say this is one of the better films I've seen production wise in relation to this. You can tell that they took their time with makeup and costume design. The sets were varied and they made good use of what they had. It didn't feel fake most of the time and that's a real plus for most indie films. The gore effects especially worked very well here.
MUSIC The Music was very well done I love the Jacker theme that they put through here. Otherwise the music didn't stand out too much but that's also ok as it fit what was needed adding the emphasis needed to the scenes but not so much were I might go out to buy the soundtrack.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
-Fans of the Jacker Series -Fans of Phil Herman -Fans of Low and Microbudget slashers.
DVD FEATUREs -Trailers (Note Tales of the Forgotten Act 2) -Outtakes -Jacker 1 & 2 Tribute -Pictures -No Subtitles ☹
PLOT The Jacker has returned to the streets and Gloria returns with the key to end his rampage. Ace reporter Chris races against time to uncover the mysteries and the bloody legacy of the Jacker. There are also some nice call backs to the series and previous characters.
I do love to see the Jacker back behind the wheel again. To me this series is just as much a classic as Burglar from Hell. Despite some issues you could have nitpicking how the tech and room is a tad advanced for 1971 I did enjoy the setup in the beginning, it really draws you into the film. Though the film runs a little long at 108 minutes the pacing is pretty good with one killing after the other. The dream sequences and investigation fill in the other part of the story and it fills pretty well. I could have used a little more direction in that area but still it works out well and is a fitting sequel to the second film in the series. One can tell there was a lot to the writing involved and they did put thought into the film overall.
ACTING Once again we have Eddie Munster back in these films. I am starting to wonder about these cameos....that aside I thought that the acting was hit or miss. There were some really good performances especially with Phil Herman and Debbi D. Though some of the performances were a bit lower quality than others none were so bad that I felt it was taking me out of the piece and when we talk indie filmmaking that is a plus. There were of course paid parts done through the fundraiser put in and though many films use this and it causes issues with pacing and acting quality this was mostly seamless in the energy presented.
PRODUCTION DESIGN The only issue I have with the film is the lighting filter where there is a lot of glare when it comes to light and reflectivity. Other than that I would say this is one of the better films I've seen production wise in relation to this. You can tell that they took their time with makeup and costume design. The sets were varied and they made good use of what they had. It didn't feel fake most of the time and that's a real plus for most indie films. The gore effects especially worked very well here.
MUSIC The Music was very well done I love the Jacker theme that they put through here. Otherwise the music didn't stand out too much but that's also ok as it fit what was needed adding the emphasis needed to the scenes but not so much were I might go out to buy the soundtrack.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
-Fans of the Jacker Series -Fans of Phil Herman -Fans of Low and Microbudget slashers.
Amityville Apocalypse is a 2023 anthology film from retrosploitation. This film was supposed to be called Amityville: Nail in the Coffin but changed name a while back.
The films were all submitted with the idea that the end product would be the best of those turned in. This didn't quite work as planned so there are multiple submissions from the same people but still there are quite a number that stick out and I will talk about those, the rest...are there.
Amityville Toxic is a great way to end the film it was very funny and well worth the placement except
Amityville Dead End where I actually laughed aloud after seeing it.
Amityville Clerk which is a clerks reference, I love the idea but I feel it ran a little long.
Amityville Spirit box was a short I've seen before from Kyle Rappaport. I am glad this made it in. He normally does gore and not so much supernatural stuff. I would love to see more of this out of him.
Amityville Lighter: This one had the only real scare for me and I admit it did a great job. Its about people in a trailer picking up cursed Amityville items for luck.
Amityville outing: Evan Jacobs does another short film that fits really well with a lot of his others and I'll admit I would have gotten this for his short alone...may have to do an anhidenia project on this one.
Amityville Escorts: I like that this was a two parter with a commercial for the first and a reaction to the other. It was well worth the time to wait for.
Amityville Darkness: A Man sits in darkness and sees things in the shadows. I like the concept and feel it was done fairly well to be creepy.
Now I have a few I didn't mention: Amityville Axe and Amityville Estate Sale and that's because I act in and direct them. I think they are fun but I'm not the best one to judge what I create.
The last of the films have issues with them for me, they either cut off or have sound issues. The two I'm the most on the fence about was Amityville witch project where I think the short was fine but the sound really killed my ears in points and Amityville Godfather as I wanted to see mor from this.
Production Varies across the board so there isn't much to be talked about there.
In the end this sets out for the most part what it set out to do which was to have nice little films related to Amityville and at times making fun of themselves. I hope that one day we will get another project going where there are a ton of submissions and we get to see some amazing stuff. Lets hope this opens the door for more fun stuff in the future.
The films were all submitted with the idea that the end product would be the best of those turned in. This didn't quite work as planned so there are multiple submissions from the same people but still there are quite a number that stick out and I will talk about those, the rest...are there.
Amityville Toxic is a great way to end the film it was very funny and well worth the placement except
Amityville Dead End where I actually laughed aloud after seeing it.
Amityville Clerk which is a clerks reference, I love the idea but I feel it ran a little long.
Amityville Spirit box was a short I've seen before from Kyle Rappaport. I am glad this made it in. He normally does gore and not so much supernatural stuff. I would love to see more of this out of him.
Amityville Lighter: This one had the only real scare for me and I admit it did a great job. Its about people in a trailer picking up cursed Amityville items for luck.
Amityville outing: Evan Jacobs does another short film that fits really well with a lot of his others and I'll admit I would have gotten this for his short alone...may have to do an anhidenia project on this one.
Amityville Escorts: I like that this was a two parter with a commercial for the first and a reaction to the other. It was well worth the time to wait for.
Amityville Darkness: A Man sits in darkness and sees things in the shadows. I like the concept and feel it was done fairly well to be creepy.
Now I have a few I didn't mention: Amityville Axe and Amityville Estate Sale and that's because I act in and direct them. I think they are fun but I'm not the best one to judge what I create.
The last of the films have issues with them for me, they either cut off or have sound issues. The two I'm the most on the fence about was Amityville witch project where I think the short was fine but the sound really killed my ears in points and Amityville Godfather as I wanted to see mor from this.
Production Varies across the board so there isn't much to be talked about there.
In the end this sets out for the most part what it set out to do which was to have nice little films related to Amityville and at times making fun of themselves. I hope that one day we will get another project going where there are a ton of submissions and we get to see some amazing stuff. Lets hope this opens the door for more fun stuff in the future.
Cocaine Shark is a 2023 film by Mark Polonia. A Mafia Drug Lord has unleashed a new addictive stimulant made from sharks in a lab but there are monstrous side effects.
Unlike Jurassic Shark 3 where it takes a relatively normal low budget shark movie and jumps that shark this time they jumped that shark right from the beginning. This movie feels like a little bit of a disappointment with almost a bait and switch approach. I was expecting a shark high on cocaine instead I get a mutant shark movie that probably would have come out with a different name if it hadn't been for Cocaine Bear. It is also kind of sad that he monsters kind of take a back seat for the plot of the film as it revolves around the drug dealing and criminal activity far more. I think the more appropriate title would have been "shark cop" but that might have given things away.
I kind of feel bad for Kyle Rappaport in this one, he had been climbing the Polonia ladder with him being in most of the length of Jurassic Shark 3 but not making it past the opening credits here, he does multitask in this one, however so one could say that he has a much bigger role as its 4 small ones and it can be fun to try and spot where he shows up. Much the same it is good to see him in the field and hope to see him utilized in more fun and entertaining ways. I've come to look for Polonia in his films, no matter the film he is always fun to spot. I'm glad to see Titus Himmelberger in the Staring role, he handles the role fairly well and I've enjoyed what I've seen him in thus far. Most of the acting is in the typical Microbudget quality but never so bad that it destroys emersion or becomes comically bad. I do really like the setting, it was nice on Jurassic Shark and pretty good here as well.
I really like some of the effects with stop motion or the odd creations and mutations for creatures. When it comes to Polonia shark movies I really enjoy a lot of the practical effects but I don't feel I get to enjoy them long enough here the Cheesy effects are on full display and utilized pretty well. I do hope to see more stop motion from Polonia in the future.
Music wise it isn't terrible, the music works, though isn't particularly good or bad.
Cocaine shark has a lot of potential to it. I do feel with a different title expectations would be a bit better. I went in looking for a shark High on Cocaine and came out with a movie about a human high on shark. If you are looking for a lower budget police thriller with shark monsters you are in the right place. If you are looking for a movie like Cocaine Bear, don't bother.
Unlike Jurassic Shark 3 where it takes a relatively normal low budget shark movie and jumps that shark this time they jumped that shark right from the beginning. This movie feels like a little bit of a disappointment with almost a bait and switch approach. I was expecting a shark high on cocaine instead I get a mutant shark movie that probably would have come out with a different name if it hadn't been for Cocaine Bear. It is also kind of sad that he monsters kind of take a back seat for the plot of the film as it revolves around the drug dealing and criminal activity far more. I think the more appropriate title would have been "shark cop" but that might have given things away.
I kind of feel bad for Kyle Rappaport in this one, he had been climbing the Polonia ladder with him being in most of the length of Jurassic Shark 3 but not making it past the opening credits here, he does multitask in this one, however so one could say that he has a much bigger role as its 4 small ones and it can be fun to try and spot where he shows up. Much the same it is good to see him in the field and hope to see him utilized in more fun and entertaining ways. I've come to look for Polonia in his films, no matter the film he is always fun to spot. I'm glad to see Titus Himmelberger in the Staring role, he handles the role fairly well and I've enjoyed what I've seen him in thus far. Most of the acting is in the typical Microbudget quality but never so bad that it destroys emersion or becomes comically bad. I do really like the setting, it was nice on Jurassic Shark and pretty good here as well.
I really like some of the effects with stop motion or the odd creations and mutations for creatures. When it comes to Polonia shark movies I really enjoy a lot of the practical effects but I don't feel I get to enjoy them long enough here the Cheesy effects are on full display and utilized pretty well. I do hope to see more stop motion from Polonia in the future.
Music wise it isn't terrible, the music works, though isn't particularly good or bad.
Cocaine shark has a lot of potential to it. I do feel with a different title expectations would be a bit better. I went in looking for a shark High on Cocaine and came out with a movie about a human high on shark. If you are looking for a lower budget police thriller with shark monsters you are in the right place. If you are looking for a movie like Cocaine Bear, don't bother.
Jurassic Shark 3: Seavenge is a 2023 film directed by Mark Polonia. A Bunch of people are stranded out in the ocean and a giant shark prevents them from fully reaching their freedom.
I swear this paining is the main through line in all the films but for the first time we find out what the painting is and that at least is good. The film is mostly held together well but having a full story wide recollection towards the end was a big much and clearly done to pad the run time. Then of course at the end they literally jump the shark and go in an entirely new direction falling apart at the end.
I love the fact that Titus Himmelberger survived into this film. He is great every time I see him on film. Mark Polonia is also quite fun to watch in his role as the camera man. Jada Sanchez is also pretty good at playing the bimboish model Bree was quite surprised at the level of performance. Kyle Rappaport joins the cast as one od the two criminals for the movie and rounds out the three with is antics.
The Fin returns yet again! They stepped up their CG game a little with the shark looking a little better and only utilizing some of the previous CG work from the last film. There was a scene in particular about the shark swimming past a boat that I thought looked pretty good overall. Though not perfect I would say that the production here was better than the other two Jurassic Shark Movies. The shark puppet utilized at the end was entertaining and I think I would rather have had the movie revolve around it instead of come in last minute at the end.
I really like the main theme better in this one than I did Jurassic park 2. It isn't the best theme in the world but does fit the source material well enough.
Thought he film started out as a better one that 1 or 2 the disjointed narrative, padding and strange switch up with he plot drag the film down a pace. I do think if you are a huge Polonia fan you may enjoy it as the gang is all here and doing an ok job and if you liked the first two films in the series you should find the same stuff you enjoy here. For anyone else looking for a good shark film your time may be suited elsewhere.
I swear this paining is the main through line in all the films but for the first time we find out what the painting is and that at least is good. The film is mostly held together well but having a full story wide recollection towards the end was a big much and clearly done to pad the run time. Then of course at the end they literally jump the shark and go in an entirely new direction falling apart at the end.
I love the fact that Titus Himmelberger survived into this film. He is great every time I see him on film. Mark Polonia is also quite fun to watch in his role as the camera man. Jada Sanchez is also pretty good at playing the bimboish model Bree was quite surprised at the level of performance. Kyle Rappaport joins the cast as one od the two criminals for the movie and rounds out the three with is antics.
The Fin returns yet again! They stepped up their CG game a little with the shark looking a little better and only utilizing some of the previous CG work from the last film. There was a scene in particular about the shark swimming past a boat that I thought looked pretty good overall. Though not perfect I would say that the production here was better than the other two Jurassic Shark Movies. The shark puppet utilized at the end was entertaining and I think I would rather have had the movie revolve around it instead of come in last minute at the end.
I really like the main theme better in this one than I did Jurassic park 2. It isn't the best theme in the world but does fit the source material well enough.
Thought he film started out as a better one that 1 or 2 the disjointed narrative, padding and strange switch up with he plot drag the film down a pace. I do think if you are a huge Polonia fan you may enjoy it as the gang is all here and doing an ok job and if you liked the first two films in the series you should find the same stuff you enjoy here. For anyone else looking for a good shark film your time may be suited elsewhere.
Jurassic Shark 2: Aquapocalypse is a 2021 film by Mark Polonia. Those crazy drilling people are at it again and the child of the Megalodon is out and killing once again with a whole new crop of people in its jaws.
That weird scene at the beginning of the film where the shark eats the T-Rex is one that was in the Sharksploitation documentary. It is so off the wall bad that it is actually quite funny and probably my favorite scene in the film. Of course this is only the biggest shark in the world and most agile as it is adept in swimming in like 5 ft of water. I also liked that the shark kind of roared at the end which could be an homage to the Jaws sequels. The plot isn't too bad, I enjoyed the characters and it moved along at an ok pace with a few hangups, not unlike the original film. I felt overall the plot was ok
Titus Himmelberger does an excellent job playing the Marina Owner, I don't know what it is about his portrayal but it cracks me up each time. Jamie Morgan also does a pretty convincing job as Agent Parks playing it cool. Can't help but love Polonia's cameo in this one giving the finger to the Marina guy. In the end the actors did their jobs and played their parts enough to get the point across without totally ruining emersion.
There is a copious amount of CG in this one with our shark continuing its CG reign of terror. I swear Polonia takes stock footage from other things and puts it into his films, that's the only way I can find that you have so many high quality video images of so many bikini class women where as the camera quality for the main film is of lower quality. In this film (unlike Sharkula) I'd say that the camera quality is almost on par with the bikini material. Of course we also see that crazy little shark fin, that is at least two films I'm now wondering if it was in Amityville Island as well.
That weird vacation theme for the music so does not fit with the theme here. The rest of the music in the background does its job and isn't too jarring. I feel if it felt more like a tropical beach and not like...say a lake things would be 100% on.
In the end Jurassic Shark 2 kind of goes bigger than the original while at the same time keeping up with the same level of quality. I feel if you were big into the original film you will likely enjoy this one.
That weird scene at the beginning of the film where the shark eats the T-Rex is one that was in the Sharksploitation documentary. It is so off the wall bad that it is actually quite funny and probably my favorite scene in the film. Of course this is only the biggest shark in the world and most agile as it is adept in swimming in like 5 ft of water. I also liked that the shark kind of roared at the end which could be an homage to the Jaws sequels. The plot isn't too bad, I enjoyed the characters and it moved along at an ok pace with a few hangups, not unlike the original film. I felt overall the plot was ok
Titus Himmelberger does an excellent job playing the Marina Owner, I don't know what it is about his portrayal but it cracks me up each time. Jamie Morgan also does a pretty convincing job as Agent Parks playing it cool. Can't help but love Polonia's cameo in this one giving the finger to the Marina guy. In the end the actors did their jobs and played their parts enough to get the point across without totally ruining emersion.
There is a copious amount of CG in this one with our shark continuing its CG reign of terror. I swear Polonia takes stock footage from other things and puts it into his films, that's the only way I can find that you have so many high quality video images of so many bikini class women where as the camera quality for the main film is of lower quality. In this film (unlike Sharkula) I'd say that the camera quality is almost on par with the bikini material. Of course we also see that crazy little shark fin, that is at least two films I'm now wondering if it was in Amityville Island as well.
That weird vacation theme for the music so does not fit with the theme here. The rest of the music in the background does its job and isn't too jarring. I feel if it felt more like a tropical beach and not like...say a lake things would be 100% on.
In the end Jurassic Shark 2 kind of goes bigger than the original while at the same time keeping up with the same level of quality. I feel if you were big into the original film you will likely enjoy this one.
Jurassic Shark is a 2012 film directed by Brett Kelly This is about a Megalodon released by a drilling company in a lake, a group of criminals plot to leave, but the shark has other ideas.
The movie is very campy in the typical microbudget way. I do like that they don't waste time getting to the shark munching action with exposition. I admit I only lost attention for a small section or two of the film (which is good considering other shark films).
The acting is...ok. For the budget level this film is in the actors carry the film in an appropriate way. There were no performances that said to me "ugh this is a crappy film".
The CGI for the shark was bad but I've seen much worse. There was a scene where a girl is bitten in half and though it looks fake it also looked a little cool at the same time. To me the set location is cool and somewhat varied. I feel that the effects are appropriate for the microbudget film they are doing. Also that scene with the shark flying through the air is classic cheese.
The Music in this is what you expect from a shark film. The music works but isn't really all that interesting in a stand alone since.
In the end Jurassic Shark is your typical low budget shark film with campy flair that is enjoyable yet at the same time nothing spectacular. If you are a big shark movie fan and love super campy ones you'll not go wrong with this.
The movie is very campy in the typical microbudget way. I do like that they don't waste time getting to the shark munching action with exposition. I admit I only lost attention for a small section or two of the film (which is good considering other shark films).
The acting is...ok. For the budget level this film is in the actors carry the film in an appropriate way. There were no performances that said to me "ugh this is a crappy film".
The CGI for the shark was bad but I've seen much worse. There was a scene where a girl is bitten in half and though it looks fake it also looked a little cool at the same time. To me the set location is cool and somewhat varied. I feel that the effects are appropriate for the microbudget film they are doing. Also that scene with the shark flying through the air is classic cheese.
The Music in this is what you expect from a shark film. The music works but isn't really all that interesting in a stand alone since.
In the end Jurassic Shark is your typical low budget shark film with campy flair that is enjoyable yet at the same time nothing spectacular. If you are a big shark movie fan and love super campy ones you'll not go wrong with this.
House of Wrathiticus is a short film Directed by Douglas Godino and featuring Kyle Rappaport and Marc Chindemi. Carl is a Creature effects artist that makes masks for movies, he one day finds a book reads the lines and brings one of his masks to life...and it craves blood!
The plot of this short film is a fun one right out of Evil Dead. I really like the idea of having a monster mask come to life and though it has been used in the past it is not often and not quite like it is here. Like the other short films done by Doug and Kyle this gets right to the point very quickly and leaves a mark that even years later I still enjoy and remember.
The acting in this film is...ok. This is a microbudget short film done by several teens and for that the acting is quite good. Kyle Doug and Mark work well together and their chemistry holds as it does with many other projects.
The Special effects blew me away when I first saw this. Of course I've seen better special effects before, but in a film of this size and budget? It is far above most others of its type. I give nothing but praise to the work and creation of these monsters.
House of Wrathiticus was well worth the watch. It is quick and easy to catch on to and is well worth your 25 minutes if you like microbudget pictures at all.
The plot of this short film is a fun one right out of Evil Dead. I really like the idea of having a monster mask come to life and though it has been used in the past it is not often and not quite like it is here. Like the other short films done by Doug and Kyle this gets right to the point very quickly and leaves a mark that even years later I still enjoy and remember.
The acting in this film is...ok. This is a microbudget short film done by several teens and for that the acting is quite good. Kyle Doug and Mark work well together and their chemistry holds as it does with many other projects.
The Special effects blew me away when I first saw this. Of course I've seen better special effects before, but in a film of this size and budget? It is far above most others of its type. I give nothing but praise to the work and creation of these monsters.
House of Wrathiticus was well worth the watch. It is quick and easy to catch on to and is well worth your 25 minutes if you like microbudget pictures at all.
Camp murder is a 2021 film directed by Mark Polonia. It follows a group of people with some sort of wrestling background out in the woods when a masked killer starts slaughtering everyone.
The plot in this film is not original but then again, how original can you really get when it comes to masked camp murder type movies. The only thing that I feel is original in this plot is the strange wrestling related love triangle and murder plot involving Kyle Rappaport and Jamie Morgan. Now this is not to say that movies like this are not entertaining by any means, I'm a big fan of the Friday the 13th and Camp Blood Series after all, just not original. The plot flows well and does not drag which is a plus considering the types of movies I've watched in the past.
The acting in this film was at the standard Microbudget Grade. Though not quite at the big budget standard the acting is passable and there is nothing that would take you out of the film. It is fun seeing Kyle playing the bad guy and not just another murder victim so that gives the film a few pluses.
The production design was pretty good in this film. I really like the killer mask in this one it comes across as very intimidating. The effects on the kills come across well with a lot of practical effects thrown in. I feel as Polonia Movies go this one comes across quite well and not rushed in the slightest.
Camp Murder is an ambitious project, trying to stick out in a sea of similar films. While I don't feel the movie rises above the rest, it most certainly treads water with other solid movies of its time and is far from the bottom. You could do worse on a slasher movie night than to put this one in place.
The plot in this film is not original but then again, how original can you really get when it comes to masked camp murder type movies. The only thing that I feel is original in this plot is the strange wrestling related love triangle and murder plot involving Kyle Rappaport and Jamie Morgan. Now this is not to say that movies like this are not entertaining by any means, I'm a big fan of the Friday the 13th and Camp Blood Series after all, just not original. The plot flows well and does not drag which is a plus considering the types of movies I've watched in the past.
The acting in this film was at the standard Microbudget Grade. Though not quite at the big budget standard the acting is passable and there is nothing that would take you out of the film. It is fun seeing Kyle playing the bad guy and not just another murder victim so that gives the film a few pluses.
The production design was pretty good in this film. I really like the killer mask in this one it comes across as very intimidating. The effects on the kills come across well with a lot of practical effects thrown in. I feel as Polonia Movies go this one comes across quite well and not rushed in the slightest.
Camp Murder is an ambitious project, trying to stick out in a sea of similar films. While I don't feel the movie rises above the rest, it most certainly treads water with other solid movies of its time and is far from the bottom. You could do worse on a slasher movie night than to put this one in place.
The Craiglon Incident III Annihilation is a 2022 film Directed By Joel D Wynkoop and is the third and final in the Trilogy.
The film follows the continued adventure of Parsons Cooper (Wynkoop) and his friends Emile (Shawn C. Phillips) and Dawes (Phil Herman) as they combat the evil Craiglon Aliens who are trying to take over earth. The fight spans multiple dimensions over multiple time periods but will they prevail?
I've covered this in a greater deep dive on my channel Septumsin vs. The World so you can check that out if you really want to see how I feel on this. The plot is pretty straight forward when it comes to aliens taking over the world and three people have to get together and stop it. Much like the other two films in the trilogy I feel that the movie kind of works a bit too hard to fit that 2 hour run time and could be paced better to make the cut. Still I think that it is the best of the three when it comes down to structure and flow, wrapping up plot points and moving forward quickly.
The Acting in this varies across the whole of it. Joel Wynkoop is on top of things as usual and teaming up with Phil Herman and Shawn C Phillips takes for good chemistry overall. I would love to see these characters return in future films. I also enjoyed a lot of the cameos like the one with Kyle Rappaport in the beginning. I had found out when interviewing Joel in the past that he was supposed to have a larger role but things ended up not working out.
The production design really falls around the COVID protocols of the time it was made. They had a little more freedom than they did for the first two films and that showed here. Still there were a lot of clips sent by people to contribute and sometimes you can't get them all to fit in as well as you might like. Still the effects were fun in the B Movie sense and worked out quite well for the film.
The trilogy was a great thing to pull out of a bad time in our lives. Though I don't know how this movie would have been received prior to 2020 it really has a deeper meaning as a trilogy marked by major events gripping the world.
The film follows the continued adventure of Parsons Cooper (Wynkoop) and his friends Emile (Shawn C. Phillips) and Dawes (Phil Herman) as they combat the evil Craiglon Aliens who are trying to take over earth. The fight spans multiple dimensions over multiple time periods but will they prevail?
I've covered this in a greater deep dive on my channel Septumsin vs. The World so you can check that out if you really want to see how I feel on this. The plot is pretty straight forward when it comes to aliens taking over the world and three people have to get together and stop it. Much like the other two films in the trilogy I feel that the movie kind of works a bit too hard to fit that 2 hour run time and could be paced better to make the cut. Still I think that it is the best of the three when it comes down to structure and flow, wrapping up plot points and moving forward quickly.
The Acting in this varies across the whole of it. Joel Wynkoop is on top of things as usual and teaming up with Phil Herman and Shawn C Phillips takes for good chemistry overall. I would love to see these characters return in future films. I also enjoyed a lot of the cameos like the one with Kyle Rappaport in the beginning. I had found out when interviewing Joel in the past that he was supposed to have a larger role but things ended up not working out.
The production design really falls around the COVID protocols of the time it was made. They had a little more freedom than they did for the first two films and that showed here. Still there were a lot of clips sent by people to contribute and sometimes you can't get them all to fit in as well as you might like. Still the effects were fun in the B Movie sense and worked out quite well for the film.
The trilogy was a great thing to pull out of a bad time in our lives. Though I don't know how this movie would have been received prior to 2020 it really has a deeper meaning as a trilogy marked by major events gripping the world.
Splatter House is a 2009 short feature Directed by Kyle Rappaport and featuring Douglas Godino. Two friends are renting this house but apparently it is already occupied with flesh eating monsters.
This film is pretty simplistic in its nature as many have been from that time. Pretty much the plot is "kids get eaten". The big difference between this and something like House of Wrathiticus or The Botanist is that this film drags out a little bit longer than it probably needed to. The ending point is almost comical in nature and it kind of takes you out of the film.
The acting is fairly decent for your microbudget film. It isn't AAA movie style acting but it doesn't have to be. It gets across everything that is needed and does the job. With Doug and Kyle doubling up as monsters it does double the work load and they handle it ok.
The visual effects again are very well done. I felt that it was another great work by Doug who does a lot of the gore effects in these things. I feel that many of these are better than a lot of B-Movies released at the time. I would have loved to see what he could have done with other microbudget films back in the day.
In the End Splatter house is a decent overall feature where you get to see people slaughtered. Though it drags a little it is still a good film worth checking out on the Vimeo Splatter Film account.
This film is pretty simplistic in its nature as many have been from that time. Pretty much the plot is "kids get eaten". The big difference between this and something like House of Wrathiticus or The Botanist is that this film drags out a little bit longer than it probably needed to. The ending point is almost comical in nature and it kind of takes you out of the film.
The acting is fairly decent for your microbudget film. It isn't AAA movie style acting but it doesn't have to be. It gets across everything that is needed and does the job. With Doug and Kyle doubling up as monsters it does double the work load and they handle it ok.
The visual effects again are very well done. I felt that it was another great work by Doug who does a lot of the gore effects in these things. I feel that many of these are better than a lot of B-Movies released at the time. I would have loved to see what he could have done with other microbudget films back in the day.
In the End Splatter house is a decent overall feature where you get to see people slaughtered. Though it drags a little it is still a good film worth checking out on the Vimeo Splatter Film account.
The botanist is a 2009 short film directed by Douglas Godino starting him and Kyle Rappaort. This is a film about two brothers finding a secret trap door in one of their rooms that leads to a lab where a mad scientist has turned himself into a monster.
The plot is pretty simple. You have a person becoming a monster and then have that monster terrorize two people. It gets to the point right away with the transformation scene right at the beginning. The plot does not drag and if you really like your horror films to get right to the killing this is the one for you. Pacing is fast with no time to get bored or slow down.
The Acting is not too bad when it comes to microbudget films. Kyle and Doug are pretty good at acting scared (see Shackled Demon Project) and with Doug playing the monster you get to see a pretty good horror movie monster performance.
The effects are where this movie shines. I have talked about Doug's effects before and plan to again in the future. He does an amazing job showing the Botonist melting in the beginning with shots very reminiscent of slime city. The monster was also very well done with the mask covered in what appears to be slime and other stuff. Add that to the fairly realistic gore it amazes me that two teens did this one.
The Botonist is a rather interesting horror short that we can all sink our teeth into if you like your horror straight to the point. I feel it is well deserving of my rating and hope to see more like this down the line.
You can watch this for free now on the Splatter Films production page on Vimeo.
The plot is pretty simple. You have a person becoming a monster and then have that monster terrorize two people. It gets to the point right away with the transformation scene right at the beginning. The plot does not drag and if you really like your horror films to get right to the killing this is the one for you. Pacing is fast with no time to get bored or slow down.
The Acting is not too bad when it comes to microbudget films. Kyle and Doug are pretty good at acting scared (see Shackled Demon Project) and with Doug playing the monster you get to see a pretty good horror movie monster performance.
The effects are where this movie shines. I have talked about Doug's effects before and plan to again in the future. He does an amazing job showing the Botonist melting in the beginning with shots very reminiscent of slime city. The monster was also very well done with the mask covered in what appears to be slime and other stuff. Add that to the fairly realistic gore it amazes me that two teens did this one.
The Botonist is a rather interesting horror short that we can all sink our teeth into if you like your horror straight to the point. I feel it is well deserving of my rating and hope to see more like this down the line.
You can watch this for free now on the Splatter Films production page on Vimeo.
Hell Van is a 2022 film by Director Jorge Delarosa where a demonic ceremony ends up possessing a van so that they can open the gates of hell.
This plot is quite simple really but is executed in a flawless way that really brings credit to the microbudget genre. I admit there are many points where I had thought the film was much higher budget than it really was. The only issue I had was with the 2 hour run time. I felt that the movie had a few slow parts that could have been cut to tighten it up but this is a minor gripe as I enjoyed most of the film.
The acting is very good for a microbudget piece. I didn't see any forced dialogue, the characters were believable and there was not a moment where I felt I was removed from the story by wooden or terrible acting quality.
The effects are where this movie shines the most. The camerawork is really good and works well for the film. The gore effects are particularly impressive with my favorite being the death scene where Kyle Rappaport makes an appearance. This really works well showing that practical effects in microbudget films are not dead.
The Music is where this film is particularly good by the late Sean Carlin and Billy Farkas. This haunting theme is very solid and there is a reason why it is up for a Vs award this year. There are a few times when a soundtrack is just good on its own and I would give it to this film.
Overall Hell Van is a crazy ride with demons and death that I would recommend to both microbudget and big budget horror fans alike. I wouldn't sleep on this one.
This plot is quite simple really but is executed in a flawless way that really brings credit to the microbudget genre. I admit there are many points where I had thought the film was much higher budget than it really was. The only issue I had was with the 2 hour run time. I felt that the movie had a few slow parts that could have been cut to tighten it up but this is a minor gripe as I enjoyed most of the film.
The acting is very good for a microbudget piece. I didn't see any forced dialogue, the characters were believable and there was not a moment where I felt I was removed from the story by wooden or terrible acting quality.
The effects are where this movie shines the most. The camerawork is really good and works well for the film. The gore effects are particularly impressive with my favorite being the death scene where Kyle Rappaport makes an appearance. This really works well showing that practical effects in microbudget films are not dead.
The Music is where this film is particularly good by the late Sean Carlin and Billy Farkas. This haunting theme is very solid and there is a reason why it is up for a Vs award this year. There are a few times when a soundtrack is just good on its own and I would give it to this film.
Overall Hell Van is a crazy ride with demons and death that I would recommend to both microbudget and big budget horror fans alike. I wouldn't sleep on this one.
Sharkula is a film about a shark bitten by Dracula that becomes a Vampire shark. In current day a few people come to work for Dracula in his docks in an oceanfront town only to discover something more sinister under the waves.
Sharkula is an interesting concept for a film, I can't say there have been any times where I would have seen something with a vampire shark quite like this one. For that the film is pretty fun in concept. In execution the film is nowhere near as good at it should be ("good" being a relative term). The movie drags a lot at points showing really bad pacing issues. I feel that this is mainly to drag out the film's run time which I feel could have been cut down to about 45 min and become a more solid piece. This is one time where the concept itself and the setting really sell the film.
Sharkula has some conflicting feeling for me when it comes to acting. I felt that a lot of it was unenergetic and took me a little out of the film but there are exceptions to the rule. Jeff Kirkendall was amazing as Dracula, I loved how he played the main as a powerful vampire but one that was wrought with insecurities, especially when dealing with his bride played by Jamie Morgan. I also would say that a surprising star of the Show is Kyle Rappaport who plays Renfield. His portrayal of the character is probably one of my favorites when it comes to vampire films. He has the right level of creepy detachment that it makes his performance almost as memorable as Torgo in Manos: The hands of fate, and he didn't even have to be high out of his mind to play this. I would say if there is anything that would bring you to watch this film it would be these two actors.
The effects work does shine through in many areas with this film, I really like the hybrid vampire shark look as well as the puppet used for the lead villain. Costume design and makeup as a whole was good and I'd expect nothing less from Mark Polonia. One of my favorites was the cultist costumes and masks making them look particularly creepy. The camera work sadly takes away from this. The movie as a whole is a very blurry, foggy mess and that is very sad. The exceptions are the scenes of the dancing flame woman and I don't know exactly where this footage was filmed but it is a jarring difference to what the rest of the movie holds.
Finally the music. I really enjoy most of the soundtrack as it does its job. The Sharkula theme is by far one of my favorite movie themes of the year. It is a catchy toon that really works its way into your head where you'll likely be singing a long.
Sharkula is a great example of a great concept done half-heartedly. If feel that there are some good moments, such as seeing Kyle and Jeff perform and the fun costume design but for the film as a whole I'm not sure I would watch it unless you are a fan of the actors or Mark Polonia, and for Polonia you have your pick of shark movies if this is not your jam.
Sharkula is an interesting concept for a film, I can't say there have been any times where I would have seen something with a vampire shark quite like this one. For that the film is pretty fun in concept. In execution the film is nowhere near as good at it should be ("good" being a relative term). The movie drags a lot at points showing really bad pacing issues. I feel that this is mainly to drag out the film's run time which I feel could have been cut down to about 45 min and become a more solid piece. This is one time where the concept itself and the setting really sell the film.
Sharkula has some conflicting feeling for me when it comes to acting. I felt that a lot of it was unenergetic and took me a little out of the film but there are exceptions to the rule. Jeff Kirkendall was amazing as Dracula, I loved how he played the main as a powerful vampire but one that was wrought with insecurities, especially when dealing with his bride played by Jamie Morgan. I also would say that a surprising star of the Show is Kyle Rappaport who plays Renfield. His portrayal of the character is probably one of my favorites when it comes to vampire films. He has the right level of creepy detachment that it makes his performance almost as memorable as Torgo in Manos: The hands of fate, and he didn't even have to be high out of his mind to play this. I would say if there is anything that would bring you to watch this film it would be these two actors.
The effects work does shine through in many areas with this film, I really like the hybrid vampire shark look as well as the puppet used for the lead villain. Costume design and makeup as a whole was good and I'd expect nothing less from Mark Polonia. One of my favorites was the cultist costumes and masks making them look particularly creepy. The camera work sadly takes away from this. The movie as a whole is a very blurry, foggy mess and that is very sad. The exceptions are the scenes of the dancing flame woman and I don't know exactly where this footage was filmed but it is a jarring difference to what the rest of the movie holds.
Finally the music. I really enjoy most of the soundtrack as it does its job. The Sharkula theme is by far one of my favorite movie themes of the year. It is a catchy toon that really works its way into your head where you'll likely be singing a long.
Sharkula is a great example of a great concept done half-heartedly. If feel that there are some good moments, such as seeing Kyle and Jeff perform and the fun costume design but for the film as a whole I'm not sure I would watch it unless you are a fan of the actors or Mark Polonia, and for Polonia you have your pick of shark movies if this is not your jam.
I am a fan of the Camp Blood Franchise and I can say that with the series going into the double digits (if you count spinoffs like this) it surprisingly has more hits than misses....sadly this falls into the miss category.
This is a film that kind of follows up on the original Camp Blood 666 with a possessed mask and some supernatural elements thrown in. In this film we seen Camp Blood is under new management and of course the killer clown cult has returned so you know you are going to have some Clown Killing action.
The plot is not a hard one to do when it comes to killer clown slasher films. You have a camp with people in it and you have them all get killed. I can say that the worst thing about this for me is that I was bored. Though I would not put this film up to the level of Camp Blood 4 and 5 (still by far the worst in the franchise) I will say that this is right in there with Camp Blood 3: First Slaughter where I kind of felt there wasn't much that caught my attention for long.
The acting in this was fair when it comes to microbudget films ($10,000 budget). I do feel that many of these actors have done much better work than was seen here. I will point out a few people that made brief appearances that I enjoyed seeing and wanted to bring to light. Kyle Rappaport had a bit at the end that was very fun and I enjoyed looking for Tim Hatch,. Cody Tudor, John Ward and Forrest Bennett in the scenes which gave me something to do during the film's run time.
The effects were kind of poor if you compare it to some of the newer Sterling Run (3-8) but especially fall short of the original Sykes trilogy. I feel that anyone directing this series should sit down and watch the Sykes Trilogy and get back to basics or at least take some inspiration from the Axegrinder series that feels much more like a successor to those films than this did. In the end the clown mask is the best part of this film for me.
The Music was for the most part forgettable. It did what it needed to do and didn't step on any feet.
I feel that the camp blood series has been a roller coaster over the years with the highs being in the original Sykes trilogy then the lows of the new #3 through the lowest point of part 5 to the newer highs of the classic 666. The series had been mostly doing fair to good since that time, finding its stride and moving forward. With this movie I feel that new lows are coming and this brings concern with Director Will Colazo Jr. Taking the wheel for the 9th installment.
Still, in the end this is a franchise that will rise again in time so it is well worth sticking by and seeing where it goes next.
This is a film that kind of follows up on the original Camp Blood 666 with a possessed mask and some supernatural elements thrown in. In this film we seen Camp Blood is under new management and of course the killer clown cult has returned so you know you are going to have some Clown Killing action.
The plot is not a hard one to do when it comes to killer clown slasher films. You have a camp with people in it and you have them all get killed. I can say that the worst thing about this for me is that I was bored. Though I would not put this film up to the level of Camp Blood 4 and 5 (still by far the worst in the franchise) I will say that this is right in there with Camp Blood 3: First Slaughter where I kind of felt there wasn't much that caught my attention for long.
The acting in this was fair when it comes to microbudget films ($10,000 budget). I do feel that many of these actors have done much better work than was seen here. I will point out a few people that made brief appearances that I enjoyed seeing and wanted to bring to light. Kyle Rappaport had a bit at the end that was very fun and I enjoyed looking for Tim Hatch,. Cody Tudor, John Ward and Forrest Bennett in the scenes which gave me something to do during the film's run time.
The effects were kind of poor if you compare it to some of the newer Sterling Run (3-8) but especially fall short of the original Sykes trilogy. I feel that anyone directing this series should sit down and watch the Sykes Trilogy and get back to basics or at least take some inspiration from the Axegrinder series that feels much more like a successor to those films than this did. In the end the clown mask is the best part of this film for me.
The Music was for the most part forgettable. It did what it needed to do and didn't step on any feet.
I feel that the camp blood series has been a roller coaster over the years with the highs being in the original Sykes trilogy then the lows of the new #3 through the lowest point of part 5 to the newer highs of the classic 666. The series had been mostly doing fair to good since that time, finding its stride and moving forward. With this movie I feel that new lows are coming and this brings concern with Director Will Colazo Jr. Taking the wheel for the 9th installment.
Still, in the end this is a franchise that will rise again in time so it is well worth sticking by and seeing where it goes next.
There are a number of fan films for the horror genre out there. You can barely walk 5 feet without tripping over a new Friday the 13th fan project or an Amityville movie. Of course one type of fan film you don't get is Night of the Living Dead fan films, especially when those films largely play off the original film.
This story follows Kyle and Doug and they hide out due to a strange zombie invasion of their neighborhood. The plot is straight forward and has a few little flourishes that come back to the original but you have to pay attention at times to catch them. Otherwise there are a few little twist that are different from others in the genre which is great as it kind of reflects the original's ambiguity.
The acting was ok both main actors did fair and that is good by any microbudget standard. The zombies were fun to watch though I would have like to have seen a shirt change for Kyle when he was a zombie vs. Being a survivor as Kyle zombie was not actually supposed to be the same person. I would also have liked to see the stabbing motion for one of the kills be a bit more jerky and realistic as it does look like the zombie is stabbing air.
The production value here is pretty decent. Doug is a master at special effects though I do feel a lot of the makeup was minimal and that could be to reflect how things were in the film it is working off of. They do the black and white and this works out pretty nicely and together with the makeup it feels very much like the original Night of the Living Dead.
I feel that as fan films go, this fills a niche that was largely absent in the genre. For the most part this was a solid piece as far as short films go and I look forward to seeing what else comes from these three in the future.
This story follows Kyle and Doug and they hide out due to a strange zombie invasion of their neighborhood. The plot is straight forward and has a few little flourishes that come back to the original but you have to pay attention at times to catch them. Otherwise there are a few little twist that are different from others in the genre which is great as it kind of reflects the original's ambiguity.
The acting was ok both main actors did fair and that is good by any microbudget standard. The zombies were fun to watch though I would have like to have seen a shirt change for Kyle when he was a zombie vs. Being a survivor as Kyle zombie was not actually supposed to be the same person. I would also have liked to see the stabbing motion for one of the kills be a bit more jerky and realistic as it does look like the zombie is stabbing air.
The production value here is pretty decent. Doug is a master at special effects though I do feel a lot of the makeup was minimal and that could be to reflect how things were in the film it is working off of. They do the black and white and this works out pretty nicely and together with the makeup it feels very much like the original Night of the Living Dead.
I feel that as fan films go, this fills a niche that was largely absent in the genre. For the most part this was a solid piece as far as short films go and I look forward to seeing what else comes from these three in the future.
We all got into the found footage genre during the time of the Blair Witch Project and horror creators never looked back.
The Shackled Demon Project is definitely inspired by these films as it was originally filmed back in 2008 by two young actors trying to make a name for themselves.
The film Stars Kyle Rappaport and Douglas Godino where Kyle is staying over at Doug's house due to him hearing some strange noises and seeing strange things happen. Doug hopes to get video evidence of the strange stuff so he can show that he isn't crazy. Little do they realize there is a demon in the house and it wants their souls.
The plot itself gets rolling pretty fast and this is actually very different from many found footage films of the time (they start VERY SLOW) and this is a good thing. You never really have time to get bored because the action is going strong most of the film. There are some issues with pacing here and there but for a film made by two teens it was done very well.
Acting in the film was ok, though it can get a little over the top with all the screaming going on. I am not as much a fan of the constant screaming at things but they do appear frightened and overwhelmed a lot of the time. This, to me does make things a little more real and as far as microbudget films go the acting is solid.
Makeup and effects is where this film shines. You would never believe that the film was done without any budget by two teenagers. Doug is very gifted when it comes to his talents with makeup work and crafting monster masks. The demon at the end of the movie in particular is quite scary and is featured on the original poster for the work. Very scary.
The music was at some points utilized from other genres but there were a few original pieces like the one at the end of the film. The theme was creepy, and while I feel music could have been utilized better it is a fun film.
In the end this is a solid microbudget experience and for those that love the genre you will not miss catching this film.
The Shackled Demon Project is definitely inspired by these films as it was originally filmed back in 2008 by two young actors trying to make a name for themselves.
The film Stars Kyle Rappaport and Douglas Godino where Kyle is staying over at Doug's house due to him hearing some strange noises and seeing strange things happen. Doug hopes to get video evidence of the strange stuff so he can show that he isn't crazy. Little do they realize there is a demon in the house and it wants their souls.
The plot itself gets rolling pretty fast and this is actually very different from many found footage films of the time (they start VERY SLOW) and this is a good thing. You never really have time to get bored because the action is going strong most of the film. There are some issues with pacing here and there but for a film made by two teens it was done very well.
Acting in the film was ok, though it can get a little over the top with all the screaming going on. I am not as much a fan of the constant screaming at things but they do appear frightened and overwhelmed a lot of the time. This, to me does make things a little more real and as far as microbudget films go the acting is solid.
Makeup and effects is where this film shines. You would never believe that the film was done without any budget by two teenagers. Doug is very gifted when it comes to his talents with makeup work and crafting monster masks. The demon at the end of the movie in particular is quite scary and is featured on the original poster for the work. Very scary.
The music was at some points utilized from other genres but there were a few original pieces like the one at the end of the film. The theme was creepy, and while I feel music could have been utilized better it is a fun film.
In the end this is a solid microbudget experience and for those that love the genre you will not miss catching this film.
Cowboy bebop is perhaps one of the best anime series that I have seen and below I will explain why.
The Series is about a group of bounty hunters traveling in space through a sci-fi world getting into trouble and for the most part having fun most of the way.
The first plus about this series is in the title which is the music. It has a blues style that is a mix of cultural work with a sound that most can enjoy. If you enjoy good music then you will like this series.
The second is the animation. I really feel that this is a point that should be expressed not necessarily the beauty of the art involved but the fluid nature of the animation that brings your eyes to the screen.
The Third is the story. The characters all have a decent amount of depth and even the dog has personality. The overall story is gripping and works to be truly enjoyable in the end.
Overall this series is truly a masterpiece and I would recommend it to anyone in the end.
The Series is about a group of bounty hunters traveling in space through a sci-fi world getting into trouble and for the most part having fun most of the way.
The first plus about this series is in the title which is the music. It has a blues style that is a mix of cultural work with a sound that most can enjoy. If you enjoy good music then you will like this series.
The second is the animation. I really feel that this is a point that should be expressed not necessarily the beauty of the art involved but the fluid nature of the animation that brings your eyes to the screen.
The Third is the story. The characters all have a decent amount of depth and even the dog has personality. The overall story is gripping and works to be truly enjoyable in the end.
Overall this series is truly a masterpiece and I would recommend it to anyone in the end.
If you want the good points of this then you should see my review of the series. This movie is very good for a fan of the series. Again to review the pluses fall under music, animation and story.
The animation and music are actually even better than in the series and though the only drawback is that it pretty much is one drawn out episode this movie is still worth your viewing if you like the series or would like to enjoy that Bebop feeling again or if you are just looking for a stand alone movie.
For those of you unfamiliar with the series this film makes a good action flick with a compelling story that will have you watching.
The animation and music are actually even better than in the series and though the only drawback is that it pretty much is one drawn out episode this movie is still worth your viewing if you like the series or would like to enjoy that Bebop feeling again or if you are just looking for a stand alone movie.
For those of you unfamiliar with the series this film makes a good action flick with a compelling story that will have you watching.
Well now we have a film that tends to capture some of the child's mind qualities of "stand by me" mixed creatively with some creative cinematic and an interesting plot line.
The story follows four friends going to a catholic school and getting together causing trouble drawing comics and otherwise being boys. The main story starts when Jenna Malone's character comes in and turns some of the relationships on their heads. There is a lot to be said about the dynamics of growing up and coming to terms with life.
This story is quite dark and goes through a different line than many movies of it's type and therefore is not quite as viewer friendly as stand by me. The ending may also be debatable but I will let you as the viewer decide.
The story cuts into animated scenes to illustrate the imagination of the main character and does a fair job conveying the emotions and relationships throughout the plot. These scenes are of course brought to you by Todd McFarlane himself and again isn't exactly child friendly.
In the end this is a movie for adults but does a good job moving the message it goes about trying to convey. It is creative and draws you in. The plot is a bit dark and it does have some issues that may not sit with many viewers. All in all I believe this is a good film.
The story follows four friends going to a catholic school and getting together causing trouble drawing comics and otherwise being boys. The main story starts when Jenna Malone's character comes in and turns some of the relationships on their heads. There is a lot to be said about the dynamics of growing up and coming to terms with life.
This story is quite dark and goes through a different line than many movies of it's type and therefore is not quite as viewer friendly as stand by me. The ending may also be debatable but I will let you as the viewer decide.
The story cuts into animated scenes to illustrate the imagination of the main character and does a fair job conveying the emotions and relationships throughout the plot. These scenes are of course brought to you by Todd McFarlane himself and again isn't exactly child friendly.
In the end this is a movie for adults but does a good job moving the message it goes about trying to convey. It is creative and draws you in. The plot is a bit dark and it does have some issues that may not sit with many viewers. All in all I believe this is a good film.
Well there are many documentaries out about pretty much everything in this day and age. Pinguins, mafia hit-man your neighbor's mop... but of course now they have gone to the gaming industry.
Let me warn you first before I give my review. I am a gamer and this will therefore effect my rating. I am also a table top gamer and this will also effect my rating.
Let me start with the plus side of this film. It was very good for what it covered and managed to show off not only the less offensive aspects of gaming but also try and sate many of the critics of gaming calling it satanic. For those aspects it is a good movie for trying to debunk your relatives that think gamers go off and sacrifice a goat every Friday night.
On the down side the movie tends to cater more to the live action and war gaming crowd almost totally leaving out the table top and card players which make up the vast majority. It still kind of paints gamers as a bit off form mentally but live action does this occasionally. For a non gamer this movie leaves one with more questions than answers. In a way this is good as it gets people asking but it is bad if watched alone.
In the end I believe Uber Goober is a fairly good film about live action and war gamers as well as a good game to try and dispel some of the negativity around gaming but without someone to explain it I would not recommend this to non-gamers.
If you are looking to understand what your child does every Friday night then you need to ask them and don't bother with this film.
Let me warn you first before I give my review. I am a gamer and this will therefore effect my rating. I am also a table top gamer and this will also effect my rating.
Let me start with the plus side of this film. It was very good for what it covered and managed to show off not only the less offensive aspects of gaming but also try and sate many of the critics of gaming calling it satanic. For those aspects it is a good movie for trying to debunk your relatives that think gamers go off and sacrifice a goat every Friday night.
On the down side the movie tends to cater more to the live action and war gaming crowd almost totally leaving out the table top and card players which make up the vast majority. It still kind of paints gamers as a bit off form mentally but live action does this occasionally. For a non gamer this movie leaves one with more questions than answers. In a way this is good as it gets people asking but it is bad if watched alone.
In the end I believe Uber Goober is a fairly good film about live action and war gamers as well as a good game to try and dispel some of the negativity around gaming but without someone to explain it I would not recommend this to non-gamers.
If you are looking to understand what your child does every Friday night then you need to ask them and don't bother with this film.