STINGER * Sweden / USA 2005 Dir: Martin Munthe. 97 mins The USS Newark is finally discovered sixty miles off the coast of California, two months after it disappeared. Dr Carly Ryan is requested to attend, due to being the head of the project that had cargo on board the Newark. Unlucky for her and the team as they discover they are not alone. A 2005 comedy horror, the effects aren’t quite up to standard and are, at times, laughable. It is pure lunacy that makes this film watchable. I’m usually not one to dislike indie comedy horrors as they…
Author: Poppy Blundell
XPIATION ** Italy 2017 Dir: Domiziano Cristopharo. 90 mins Domiziano Cristopharo creates a brutal torture horror as a naked and bound victim is tortured as a bizarre woman watches, occasionally getting the video camera out. The torture is rather relentless, although that isn’t surprising for Italian films of this nature. They are always over the top insane and filled with violence. I didn’t feel there was much of a story behind all the violence, with barely any dialogue in the feature. What little storyline there was came during a quick explanation at the end of the film. The camerawork was…
MANDRAKE *** UK 2022 Dir: Lynne Davison. 85 mins Upon her release from prison, Mary (Derbhle Crotty) is assigned social worker Cathy (Deirdre Mullins) to keep her on the straight and narrow. Mary knows too much about Cathy’s personal life and begins taunting her. Being folklore horror, there also happens to be a demon. Whilst they did begin to build tension and suspense, the reveal of the ‘monster’ comes all too quickly. They picked this up again for the second half only to forget it’s potential and gives us a half-hearted ending in which we must come to our own…
OCCURRENCE AT MILLS CREEK ** USA 2020 Dir: Don Swanson. 84 mins Based on short film Mills Creek (2019) we follow Clara (Ava Psoras) as she delves into her dark family history following the death of her sister. Don Swanson manages to create an old-school vibe with a sense of creepiness. Unfortunately, with it comes a dreary pacing that makes the film seem a lot longer than 84 minutes. A great addition to the plot would have been having the ghosts be far more menacing and active. There are plenty of horror elements, so why not add the ghosts to…
AGNES *** USA 2021 Dir: Mickey Reece. 93 mins Another religious exorcism film that has some unique qualities, especially as there is a dramatic side to the storyline. It is peculiar in many ways, with a slightly slow feel as it builds tension and suspense at the start of the film. The cinematograohy styles in the first portion of the film added to the unsettling feeling the audience face throughout. Mickey Reece and co-writer John Selvidge take a deep look into the effects beliefs can have on people. Unfortunately this felt like two entirely different films that had a minor…