Category: Shudder

7.5

It’s certainly violent, and the is definitely a lot of nature. Delivers on both in bulk.

There were a couple of times it seemed to drag like a log through the woods by way of the logging chains our killer seems to prefer, but most of these served to stretch the tension to a breaking point, which was so opposite of most of todays movies. It was comfortable doing uncomfortable things. “Pull your head out of your ass” will never be the same for me now.

A very creative, brutal, risk taking endeavor that really paid off by the time the credits rolled. Ignore the fact it’s basically a “Friday the 13th” ripoff and enjoy the return of the stomach churning slasher to the multiplex.

8.2

I didn’t have Bohemian Grove connected death cult on my bingo card for 2024, but here we are.

David Dastmalchian and Ingrid Torelli steal the show, but that’s not to take away from anyone in this one. Everyone plays their parts to perfection, as we’re transported back to the days of the original late night wars and their attempts to distract us from a world seemingly coming apart at the seams. Behind a thin veil is a grappling with the price of fame and the lengths one will go to to achieve it. Front and center is one of the better demonic possession found footage films on the silver screen in quite some time. What I was most taken by was the world building done in such a short time. I’m not typically a fan of an exposition dump monologue to start a film, but found this one perfectly teed up what was to come. They use the late night talk show structure to build momentum towards a finale that gives the V/H/S series a run for its money. As you know, I judge a horror movie by its finale, and this one swung for the fences and connected with a fast ball right down the middle to destroy a windshield in deep left field. There wasn’t a wasted frame in the entire runtime, leaving everyone in the theater in disbelief of where they went with this one.

So lace up your robe, sharpen your ancient dagger, and get ready for a wild ride!

7.2

As found footage horror goes, this is one of the best. The way they leverage the camcorder’s limitations both in recording and view is exceptionally well done. The relationship between the main cast is well built so that there’s meaningful stakes as the horrors befall them one by one. It also feels incredibly realistic throughout. Close enough to be realistic, but far enough out that it’s still a movie. Still not one you’re going to love to watch in the dark. The “it’s not part of the act” cliche will never get old.