LIVING WITH CHUCKY **** USA 2022 Dir: Kyra Elise Gardner. 105 mins A pint-sized killer who has become infamous for his murderous antics is well worth celebrating and who better to tell this story than the daughter of one of the creators of Chucky. Thanks to the family connection, I found the documentary delved further into who the crew were and how the Chucky franchise affected them, hence the title. This sets the content apart from other documentaries of horror franchises. Spanning over three decades, the creative team became one big family during long hours over months away from home.…
Author: Poppy Blundell
VIDEO SHOP TALES OF TERROR **** UK 2023 Dir: Alexander Churchyard, Max Davenport, Mj Dixon, Andrew Elias, Michael Fausti, Geoff Harmer, Tony Mardon, Sam Mason-Bell and Thomas Lee Rutter. 116 mins VIDEO SHOP TALES OF TERROR is an anthology horror that delves into the dark corners of a sinister video rental store that is a portal to six hellish tales. “Fleurs du Mal” is a tale cut short that focuses on a 19th century asylum where a patient believes she is a time traveller. I did find this a little too short as extra time would have allowed for a…
YELLOW **** UK 2023 Dir: Darren James King. 12 mins At just under 12 minutes, Darren James King’s Yellow packs a punch in this disturbing tale with a twist. Producer Cameron Bell takes a turn in front of the camera as Caisson, who gives off Jeffrey Dahmer vibes thanks to Bell’s on-screen demeanor. His acting abilities allow him to portray a disturbing and socially awkward man. He does so alongside the brilliant Ayvianna Snow, who portrays a prostitute he invites into his home, with unexpected results… I’d love to see a feature following the life of Caisson as I believe…
RETURN TO THE THEATRE OF TERROR *** USA 2023 Dir: Tom Ryan. 149 mins Tom Ryan returns to the supposedly abandoned movie palace for another horror anthology, which is a major improvement on The Theatre Of Terror (2019). Of course, with a bigger budget, the effects, scenery and talent are brilliant, especially for an indie horror. One of my favourite segments was ‘Splinter’, mostly due to the storyline but the effects had a strong influence on this too. Tree branches growing out of fingernails isn’t something I ever expected to see, yet I absolutely loved it. Even before this scene,…
RUIN *** UK 2022 Dir: Philip Martin. 19 mins Philip Martin brings a tale of guilt and despair after Sam (Darren James King) makes a horrific life-altering mistake, causing him to venture down the path of alcohol and drugs. Adding some social commentary into the short film, Martin shows how mental health can spiral due to one moment and the drug use that is often used to mask memories and feelings. Sam lives with the guilt following a horrifying moment, leading to a very dark short story. The darkness is kept at a watchable level thanks to some great accompanying…