Full Moon Reviews - Horror, Sci-Fi, Action, B-Movies

  

Obsession (2026)
DIRECTED BYCurry BarkerSTARRINGMichael Johnston - Baron "Bear" BaileyInde Navarrette - Nikki FreemanCooper Tomlinson - Ian Megan Lawless - Sarah Harper Andy Richter - Carter Harper Genre - Horror/SupernaturalRunning Time - 109 MinutesPLOTAfter breaking the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.REVIEWIf you’re a horror movie fan, then you most likely contributed to the success of OBSESSION at the box office this past weekend. But if you haven’t yet, then believe the hype for once - OBSESSION is not only a fantastic horror film, but the best horror film of 2026 so far. One of the best 2026 films of the year actually.A take on "The Monkey’s Paw" story, OBSESSION tackles the so-called “male loneliness” issue that many young men are apparently dealing with, especially since the pandemic. The main character, Bear, is so focused on his selfish need to be with a girl who has obviously friend zoned him, that he ignores all the signs around him and makes a terrible wish to get the love and attention that he wants from this girl. It doesn’t matter that he’s forcing Nikki to be with him against her will, which brings about topics of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and other icky topics involving gender dynamics and misogyny. It doesn’t matter that his best male friend, who he doesn’t seem to have the greatest bond with to begin with, is warning him to move on from Nikki. It doesn’t matter that his co-worker, Sarah, is into him and is just as lonely as he is when it comes to love. Bear makes a selfish wish about what he needs, not realizing he’s taken away all agency from Nikki without considering what she would want as part of this wish [which would most likely have nothing to do with being with Bear anyway]. Nikki’s a puppet in Bear’s fantasy, making Bear one of the more disgusting villains in horror movies this century. I think that’s what elevates OBSESSION for me. Yes, it follows the familiar tropes of “The Monkey’s Paw” narrative and provides that well-known commentary that you should be careful what you wish for if you don’t really consider the pros and cons of that very wish. But the story gives those tropes some dimension, as it brings a lot of issues involving men and women within friendships and relationships to the forefront. The movie could have been marketed as a simple “the woman is bad because she isn’t providing what the man had hoped for” sort of deal. Hell, that probably could have been the case prior to social media. But throughout the film, you’re never given the implication that Nikki is the bad person here. Yes, she does awful things but they’re all under duress, under a spell that she’s a puppet of against her will. Other characters in the film gaslight her because Bear is the “nice, quiet guy who couldn’t harm a fly”. But as the film runs along, Bear’s uneasiness with the situation becomes easier for him despite the chaos he’s created.Bear making a selfish wish doesn’t automatically make him a terrible person. He probably didn’t believe the wish would come true and felt lucky when it did. But he perpetuates the situation, especially when he learns that something that Nikki told him wasn’t actually true and he lets it slide because he finally has what he wants, despite the fact that the lie is a pretty awful one. Then he has sex with her, knowing she’s not in her right mind and has no ability to consent. That’s when he becomes the true villain of OBSESSION, revealing how ugly and self-absorbed he is despite others around him thinking otherwise. His role as villain is cemented with the moment where the real Nikki cries for help during a moment where the wish version of Nikki is asleep. Instead of doing what she asks, Bear just asks her “What’s so wrong about being with me?” There’s no redemption arc here and we know the story has to go a certain way to be completely satisfying for the audience. The marketing makes Nikki seem like the crazy one here, but it’s really Bear who is the puppeteer and refuses to see the error of his ways until he realizes the wish is more than he can handle. Again, he only makes moves when the situation affects him negatively, not when it’s affecting the woman he supposedly loves. It’s effective in turning a silly situation into something that’s both awkward and, eventually, frustrating to watch for a girl who didn’t deserve the situation she was put in.Curry Barker, alongside Mark "Markiplier" Fischbach, have proven that YouTube filmmakers are now the new “It” boys in an industry that probably despises them for not being true auteurs. But Barker has made a statement piece with OBSESSION, as he definitely has a great eye in directing horror [despite coming from a comedy background]. Lights and shadows are used brilliantly. The pacing and editing is almost pitch perfect. Lingering shots create dread and tension without the need for a jump scare to unnerve audiences. Everything on screen feels earned. I actually felt uncomfortable watching certain moments of OBSESSION, especially during the film’s second half, where all the true visual horror begins. Also the writer of the film, Barker has proven that he has a bright future in the genre by creating a project that affected a lot of people, possibly triggering something in many in terms of their own dating lives or something within themselves that connects to one of the main characters. OBSESSION cost less than a million dollars and looks better than most films made for 20x that much. I look forward to his TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE movie, hoping he works the same kind of magic on that as he does with OBSESSION.The film also wouldn’t work without the two leads. Despite watching trailers for OBSESSION, I didn’t realize Bear was portrayed by Michael Johnston, who I knew from later seasons of MTV’s Teen Wolf and from his video game voice work. He’s super good as Bear, creating a human being that becomes more unlikeable as the film runs. His good looks and quiet personality adds to the menace that Johnston provides, never coming across as sympathetic when the shit hits the fan. But the real star is actress Inde Navarrette as Nikki, who provides one of the best performances in any horror film I’ve seen. I like the fact that we never have a chance to see Navarrette as normal Nikki much, as the lack of knowing gives her more layers and beats to play with to manipulate the audience’s feelings about her. She’s sweet. She’s out of her mind. She’s scary. She’s vulnerable. She even portrays all these beats within the same scene like they’re mood swings, jarring you and making you worried what this wish has done to Nikki and what it will make her do [usually nothing good]. Despite admitting she’s not a horror fan, it’s obvious Navarrette watched certain films to gain some inspiration for her performance. Like Mia Goth in PEARL. Or Naomi Scott in SMILE 2. Or more likely, the amazing Isabelle Adjani in 1981’s POSSESSION and her extremely memorable manic performance. Whatever the case, OBSESSION has turned Navarrette into a major star, with some wanting some sort of Academy Award nomination for her performance. Both Johnston and Navarrette will get a ton of work after OBSESSION and look forward to what each does next in their careers.THE FINAL HOWLBelieve the hype. Not only is OBSESSION the best horror film released in 2026 as of this writing, but it’s one of 2026 best films, period. Despite the use of a tired “Monkey’s Paw” narrative trope, director-writer Curry Barker adds dimension by adding social commentary on sexual assault, consent, misogyny and the effects of the so-called “Male Loneliness” issue that seems to be an alleged thing amongst some younger men since the pandemic. It also provides that cliche that one should always be careful what they wish for, putting all the fault on the wish maker instead of the person under the spell of that wish, despite her manic actions and how negatively the other characters react considering they don’t know the situation. The film, with its $750,000 budget, looks fantastic with great lighting, editing, framing, and confident pacing. Hell, it looks better than horror films with much bigger budgets. Michael Johnston is great as the self-absorbed and unlikable Bear. But it’s Inde Navarrette who steals the film as Nikki, who plays the menace of Bear’s wish perfectly, going from nice and sweet to downright scary and obsessively violent and needy. You’re unnerved by Nikki, but you also feel really bad for her since none of this is her fault. Navarrette has a star making turn here and I could see her doing great things in her acting career. I was hoping OBSESSION would be good judging by the trailers and good word of mouth, but I never expected it to be this good. The highest of recommendations. SCORE3.5 Howls Outta 4(9 out of 10)

HORROR WITH DR. AC: THE BEST (AND WORST) SLASHERS OF 1981!! (Part 1 of 2) | Ep 163
The early 1980s were a golden age for horror, and by 1981, the slasher subgenre had already exploded into a full-blown phenomenon, with producers and filmmakers eager to capitalize on the success of HALLOWEEN and FRIDAY THE 13TH.While horror sequels weren’t a new concept, FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2 introduced Jason Voorhees as a full-fledged killer, creating a genre icon before our eyes, and HALLOWEEN II picked up immediately where the 1978 original left off, both pushing their respective series toward more explicit violence and expanding their internal mythologies, with impressive box office results.But there were also plenty of one-offs, from out in the wilderness (THE BURNING, JUST BEFORE DAWN) to civilization (NIGHTMARE, THE PROWLER), from exotic settings (THE FUNHOUSE, HELL NIGHT) including the Great White North (HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, MY BLOODY VALENTINE). Join this incredible panel of gorehound guests as we head back 45 years to a time of body counts, masked killers, outrageous offings, eerie atmosphere, endlessly quotable dialogue, and filmmakers throwing it all at the screen to see what would stick. THE SLASHERS OF 1981!! 

Undertone (2025/2026)
DIRECTED BYIan TuasonSTARRINGNina Kiri - EvyAdam DiMarco - JustinMichèle Duquet - MamaKeana Lyn Bastidas - JessaJeff Yung - MikeGenre - Horror/SupernaturalRunning Time - 94 MinutesPLOTThe host of a popular paranormal podcast becomes haunted by terrifying recordings mysteriously sent her way.REVIEWUNDERTONE? More like UNDERWHELMED.UNDERTONE was one of my most anticipated horror films for 2026 due to a lot of positive buzz after it played in Canada last year and an interesting trailer that promised me some creepiness in podcast form. But I should have known by now that any film that’s marketed as the “scariest horror film in years” will end up disappointing me.That’s not to say that this film is terrible. In fact, it’s far from it. The sound design for UNDERTONE, considering the horror is coming through a podcast, is absolutely incredible and some of the best I’ve heard in a horror film in a very long time. The sounds and noises that come across from the audio files, especially towards the end, are pretty unnerving as you’re trying to make out what the sounds are. It’s like some evil ASMR. If you do plan on watching this, definitely see it in Dolby or with noiseless headphones when it hits streaming at home. For a film about audio horror, UNDERTONE definitely succeeds in that aspect.I also thought the cinematography was quite good as well. While there were some edit and pacing issues at times, it didn’t deter how nice the film looked. I enjoy looking at all angles of a single shot during a horror film, wondering if there’s anything dangerous lurking in the shadows. UNDERTONE makes you do that quite a lot once the audio files begin getting more demonic and strange.I also felt lead actress Nina Kiri was very good in her role of Evy. She plays all emotional beats believably as she goes from supernatural skeptic to quick believer during the film’s final act. Kiri’s character can be a bit abrasive and unlikable at times, but you’re still willing to know more about her and her family situation. Dealing with a dying mother is traumatic, especially if you’re the single caretaker. Believe me, I know from personal experience with my own mom who sadly passed away over a decade ago. So I understood the mood changes and the defense mechanism of being a non-believer. Kiri handled all that really nicely, especially when she’s mainly the only actor that appears on screen from beginning to end.I did have issues with Adam DiMarco’s portrayal of Justin, Evy’s podcast co-host. I liked him quite fine on his season of The White Lotus, but something about his voice in UNDERTONE kept rubbing me the wrong way. Maybe it was the audio mixing? Maybe it was the way he recited lines and reacted to things that were happening? It also helps that we barely know who he is, so it was really tough to care about what was going on with him over Evy.In fact, the character development in UNDERTONE is seriously lacking. Despite spending 90 minutes with Evy, I still barely scratched the surface on who she was. Her mother is dying. She has her own medical situation that occurs in the film. She seems to have a boyfriend but he refuses to help her take care of her mom. Justin seems to care a lot about Evy but she pushes him away. How did they meet anyway? Why did Evy lose her closeness to her mom? Why did she shun religion as a teenager? These things are never really explored and it hurts the film because we’re supposed to care about a main character [really our only character onscreen] that we have very little info about. I wish the horror aspect would have created an opportunity to explore her life but the film never goes there really.And I’m gonna be honest - I was drifting in and out of sleep watching this, despite a crowded theater and loud audio. Something about horror films like this one don’t do a whole lot for me unless the characters or the situation are super interesting and have a commentary that fleshes out the main narrative. This is just found footage ASMR - a film that wants to unnerve you for most of the film without showing you much, until the last 10 minutes where the shit hits the fan and the film finally becomes visually interesting. It’s the only time UNDERTONE felt alive for me because things were actually happening. Too much build up isn’t always a good thing, especially when all the real fun stuff is at the end. And is UNDERTONE an anti-abortion film? Is it a film about religious guilt and how not believing will result in terrible things? Look ladies - your body, your choice. I don’t care how a demon feels about that. You do you, ladies.THE FINAL HOWLI really wanted to like this film more than I did, but UNDERTONE is a pretty disappointing flick after all the buzz and hype for it. The sound design is fantastic and makes the film worth watching for that alone. And I liked the cinematography and the use of spacing within shots to make you peek to see if anything strange was hiding in the shadows or in corners of the room. And basically a one-woman show, Nina Kiri did quite well with what she was given as main character Evy.But the script didn’t do a whole lot for me, as there’s a lack of development and unanswered questions about all the characters involved. The audio can be unnerving, but it gets kind of old by the end. And it takes a long time to get to the good stuff [the last 10 minutes or so] before it suddenly ends. When you make me quote “Miss You Much”-era Janet Jackson and ask “Is that the end?”, there’s something not quite right. I’m not a fan of films that have a promising build up that leads to a lacking payoff. But hey - I respect the filmmakers for making a solid profit out of a $500,000 budget.If you loved UNDERTONE, then I love that for you. But for me, it’s just another overhyped horror film that didn’t reach the heights I was expecting it to. By the way, adding demonic entities to podcasts wasn’t necessary. Editing, scheduling and making sure episodes are recorded is hard enough for us already.SCORE2 Howls Outta 4(6 out of 10)

The Bride! (2026)
DIRECTED BYMaggie GyllenhaalSTARRINGJessie Buckley - Ida/Mary ShelleyChristian Bale - FrankAnnette Bening - Dr. Cornelia EuphroniousPeter Sarsgaard - Jake WilesPenélope Cruz - Myrna MalloyJake Gyllenhaal - Ronnie ReedGenre - Horror/Crime/Romance/MonstersRunning Time - 126 MinutesPLOTA lonely Frankenstein travels to 1930s Chicago to ask groundbreaking scientist Dr. Euphronious to create a companion for him. The two revive a murdered young woman and The Bride is born. But what ensues is beyond what either of them imagined.REVIEWA modern interpretation of one of the greatest Universal Monster features of all time, Maggie Gyllenhaal’s version of THE BRIDE! is inspired by 1935’s BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, 1967’s BONNIE AND CLYDE, a few Golden Age of Hollywood gangster movies, as well as a JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX vibe that can’t be ignored. Actress Gyllenhaal really swings for the fences as a director for her first big-budgeted feature, going all out and throwing so many ideas at the wall while working with what sticks. Unfortunately, this becomes troublesome for THE BRIDE! as its narrative feels all over the place throughout its runtime. Is it a monster horror film? Is it a gangster film? Is it a romantic drama? Is it a musical? Is it too message heavy on feminism and misogyny? I think if THE BRIDE! had more of a focus with its screenplay [also written by Gyllenhaal], this film would have been better received by a mainstream audience who aren’t ready or willing to accept anything this experimental. It’s tonally all over the place, which might make it tough for many to connect with.That being said, the cast is pretty great in THE BRIDE!. Future Oscar Winner Jessie Buckley is phenomenal as the title character, playing a dual role as both the victim “Ida” and author Mary Shelley, who possesses Ida’s body to experience what it would feel like to be the Bride of Frankenstein. Buckley plays both roles quite differently, sometimes at the same time, changing accents and dialects that’s both jarring and awe-inspiring all at once. She’s all in on these characters and you can tell she’s having a lot of fun playing both ladies. No matter what one might think of this film, we can all agree that Buckley is fantastic here.Same goes to Christian Bale as Frank, who plays the famous monster in a quiet manner until he’s provoked, almost childlike compared to the more adult and confident Bride. Bale gets to sing, dance, have action moments and share romantic chemistry with Buckley. It’s one of his many quirky roles that works well in his favor, as he’s fun to watch.The rest of the supporting cast is good as well. Maggie Gyllenhaal brings in her husband, Peter Sarsgaard as a detective who may be connected with Ida. She also brings in her brother Jake in a smaller role as an actor Frank is infatuated with. Penelope Cruz holds her own as Sarsgaard’s investigative assistant who seems more capable for the job than he is. And Annette Benning is wonderful as Dr. Cornelia Euphronious, a new mad scientist who brings The Bride to life.Despite the messy screenplay, Gyllenhaal does visualize a beautiful looking film that feels both retro and modern at the same time. Colors pop, the special effects and make-up are on point, and the action-oriented sequences have energy and tension. I’m not sure if any studio will give her another $90 million to play with as a filmmaker after the commercial disappointment of THE BRIDE!, but Gyllenhaal definitely has a unique voice and a clear vision of the type of movies she probably wants to continue making. So I’m very interested in what she does next.THE FINAL HOWLTHE BRIDE! isn’t for everyone and I understand why a majority of people seem to dislike it. But this is everything that JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX should have been as Gyllenhaal has the balls to make something outside the mainstream, even if it doesn’t completely work in the end. I would rather see filmmakers think outside the box and make their personal art than directors who want to play it safe for the quick cash. THE BRIDE! is the type of movie that cinema needs more of, even if audiences won’t embrace it right away. But I definitely see this becoming a cult favorite in the future.SCORE3 Howls Outta 4(7 out of 10)

Scream 7 (2026)
DIRECTED BYKevin WilliamsonSTARRINGNeve Campbell - Sidney Prescott-EvansIsabel May - Tatum EvansJasmin Savoy Brown - Mindy Meeks-MartinMason Gooding - Chad Meeks-MartinAnna Camp - Jessica BowdenMckenna Grace - Hannah ThurmanAsa Germann - Lucas BowdenCeleste O'Connor - Chloe ParkerSam Rechner - Ben BrownJoel McHale - Mark Evans Courteney Cox - Gale WeathersEthan Embry - Marco DavisMatthew Lillard - Stu MacherGenre - Horror/SlasherRunning Time - 114 MinutesPLOTWhen a new Ghostface killer emerges in the quiet town where Sidney Prescott has built a new life, her darkest fears are realized as her daughter becomes the next target. Determined to protect her family, Sidney must face the horrors of her past to put an end to the bloodshed once and for all.REVIEWI originally wasn’t going to review SCREAM 7. I was on such a high with 2023's SCREAM VI [my second favorite of the franchise], but then it got soured by all the behind-the-scenes drama that led into the production of this seventh installment in the most successful slasher franchise of all time. The firing of Melissa Barrera over her political views [which led to Jenna Ortega leaving with her], to Spyglass’ and Paramount’s association with the current administration in the United States, to both Radio Silence and Christopher Landon leaving directorial duties due to the drama [bringing in Kevin Williamson to direct a SCREAM film for the first time since being part of the franchise as a writer since the beginning], to finally bringing back Neve Campbell and other previous cast members [alive and dead] as some sort of desperate attempt to please the fanbase - it was very distracting and left me less excited for this sequel. The use of A.I. to market this movie? Yuck. Even the trailers looked same old, same old. But I was curious in the direction of bringing back Sidney Prescott-Evans to the franchise, so here we are.The good? The cast is solid here. Neve Campbell being back does make SCREAM 7 feel like a worthy sequel as she returns as a mother whose past is now haunting her and her oldest daughter, Tatum. Campbell can play Sidney in her sleep at this point and she’s still the same badass that many of us fell in love with back in 1996. I also appreciated that the character had stakes again, really bringing out the Final Girl protector role out of Campbell. I also liked Isabel May as Sidney’s daughter Tatum. I wasn’t sure at first, since the trailers didn’t make the character appealing to me at all. But May holds her own here, playing the total opposite of Sidney as a more naive and somewhat helpless character due to Sidney’s overprotectiveness and hiding of her past from her daughter. It’s obvious May will be the lead character in the next installment, which I’m fine with as long as the character evolves into a more self-efficient Final Girl.Courteney Cox has one of the best intro moments in the franchise as the returning Gale Weathers. She feels more like the Gale of old rather than the Gale of recent sequels, which I actually liked. Joel McHale surprised me as Sidney’s husband Mark, as he does well in the role and has some good moments against Ghostface. He fit in better than I thought he would have. McKenna Grace, Celeste O’Connor and Asa Germann don’t get a ton to do as Tatum’s friends, but do well with what they’re given. And it’s good to see Matthew Lillard back as Stu Macher, who is clearing having a blast and gets to recite some of the best dialogue in the film. He hasn’t missed a bit as the Stu character.I thought some of the kills were also pretty inventive. The one inside the school was pretty brutal and the major one inside a bar restaurant that involved a drink dispenser made my jaw drop in how well done it was. Both felt like they were leftovers from a TERRIFIER script, which isn’t a bad thing. This film needed more memorable moments like this.I also didn’t mind the opening act. Unfortunately most of it was ruined by the trailers, but I liked the tension and suspense infused throughout the first 15 minutes of the film with two characters that unfortunately didn’t mean anything at all for the rest of the film. I know some had issues that the opening didn’t involve a popular actor, but I liked that it felt ordinary and not at all distracting and predictable.It’s a shame the rest of the film is super shallow and feels like fan fiction that ChatGPT wrote. Character development is pretty much non-existent. I honestly had no idea what the names were for Tatum’s friends until I looked them up. That’s how fleshed out and memorable they were. Even Tatum’s boyfriend was as bland as a rice cake. James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick have worked on decent scripts before, which surprises me that they didn’t do more drafts to, at least, flesh some of these characters out for us to care about when Ghostface took them out. They weren’t even archetypes or caricatures. Lazy writing.Speaking of lazy writing, what was up with that awful reveal? Hell, that entire third act was just terrible from beginning to end. From the A.I. usage, to the actual Ghostface reveals, and to the motives of the reveals were just so bad, I couldn’t believe anyone in the production thought this was a good idea. I’ve been okay with the Ghostface identities until now, as it made no sense and involved characters that were barely on the canvas to really surprise the audience in a good way. What a mess.And how many men has Sidney dated with the name “Mark”? It’s confusing when Patrick Dempsey could have made an interesting pairing with Campbell. But I guess he wasn’t available? And why bring back the Meeks-Martin twins to have them do nothing special? Yes, you want to keep SCREAM (2022) and SCREAM VI canon, but having these two here felt like they were in the original Melissa Barrera script and the writers had no idea what to do with them once she was fired. I mean, it was nice to see them but they were just the comic relief and they weren’t really all that funny honestly.Also, you’re telling me that Tatum has NO IDEA who her mom was? All those STAB films? The books? No one in her town, who knew who Sidney was, gave Tatum a clue as to what she went through? Google is right there, Tatum!I also don’t need the script telling me twenty times that Sidney wasn’t in SCREAM VI and acting like it didn’t count because she wasn’t in it. It’s insulting to fans of that film, like yours truly. It was cute the first time and got grating with repeated mentions.THE FINAL HOWLAfter reading what the original SCREAM 7 could have been, it makes this version of SCREAM 7 more disappointing. There was a dark cloud over this film from the start and it lingered until the end credits concluded. Glad Neve Campbell got her bag and it was fun seeing her and some of the returning characters back again. But the script was not good and the Ghostface reveals were atrocious. It didn’t help that the killers were really obvious to begin with. Just a lazy sequel that unfortunately did so well, we’re getting another one. Hopefully they try harder with SCREAM 8 because SCREAM 7 did not make me excited for another one. Personally, I think Ghostface needs to rest for a while. But I’m not greedy Hollywood, so what does my opinion matter?SCORE2 Howls Outta 4(5 out of 10)

TC 2000 (1993) w/ The DTV Connoisseur
In this episode, I joined Matt Poirier [The DTV Connoisseur] as he introduces me to the world of Billy Blanks action movies with TC 2000. We start in the first 90 minutes or so looking at the upcoming year in movies, what ones we think will do well, what ones may struggle, and why.Then with TC 2000, we talk about Billy Blanks as an action lead, and how he does both from an acting perspective and an action perspective. We also get stuck in on the film and discuss the fun time we had watching it.

The Strangers: Chapter 3 (2026)
DIRECTED BYRenny HarlinSTARRINGMadelaine Petsch - MayaGabriel Basso - GregoryEma Horvath - Shelly BarnesElla Bruccoleri - JasmineRichard Brake - Sheriff RotterGenre - Horror/Survival/Thriller/SlasherRunning Time - 91 MinutesPLOTTethered by a frightening conclusion, Maya and the Strangers are locked on an unavoidable, unforgiving collision course — a showdown that proves they’re far from strangers now.REVIEWSo we’re finally here. We’re finally at the end of this terrible STRANGERS trilogy that you, the reader, know I have not been a fan of. I enjoy the original 2008 film, while thinking 2018’s THE STRANGERS: PREY AT NIGHT was a fun time. But since 2024, this franchise has been on a downward spiral even for many of its hardcore fans. CHAPTER 1 was an irritating and frustrating watch for a multitude of reasons. CHAPTER 2 was a meandering dull time, besides the appearance of a CGI boar that actually made it more memorable than the first. My expectations for CHAPTER 3 were at rock bottom; my excitement at null. But I wasted three hours of my life watching the previous two, so obviously I was going to waste another 90 minutes to see how it ended. I’m not sure what stars aligned or what voodoo my theater was having its effect on me, but I didn’t find CHAPTER 3 to be as frustrating or as meandering as the previous two films! Is it a good film? Not even close. But at least it feels like a movie everyone seemed intent on wanting to be good and interesting for the audience for a change. There are character backstories. Characters actually react to things, which is nice for once in this franchise. And there is constant movement, either on screen or narratively between characters. The script isn’t all that well written like the previous installments in this trilogy, but at least it’s trying to tie up loose ends and explain things that needed explaining in the second film.CHAPTER 3 continues right from where the last film ended, with our Final Girl Maya dealing with the trauma she has experienced for the last two films. One of the Strangers, unmasked, tells Maya that she has been the only survivor of the attacks since they started and that she’s allowed to leave the town as a reward. However, someone who knows of the Strangers’ true origins has different plans in mind, keeping Maya in town against her will until the surviving Strangers reclaim her. While the villains try and court Maya into becoming a Stranger like them due to her tenacity and willingness to survive, Maya’s sister, brother-in-law and a detective arrive in town looking for her. This causes issues with certain higher-ups in town, wanting to squash this investigation to keep the town’s violent history hidden.Just by writing this summary shows me that the writers clearly had the ending mapped out more than the beginning and [especially] the second act. Sure, they could have made all the characters smarter, or given more agency. Sure, the kills could have been more fun and memorable. The backstories, while nice to see, don’t really add a whole lot by the film’s end. So…is this why we needed three films? Also, is that a love story in our STRANGERS movie between protagonist and antagonist? And did the sheriff scare off all the other CGI animals out of this small town? Hey, at least I’m not writing a pissed off rant of a review, instead giving tolerable criticism for this trilogy for once. I consider that a win!Visually, this is Renny Harlin’s best work in this franchise. While never coming close to his 80s and 90s work, there is still a level of energy in CHAPTER 3 that wasn’t present in the previous two movies. The flow is a lot better and the tone is more consistent. Some shots are framed interestingly and show that a once-successful genre director is behind the lens. One of the best scenes, in my opinion, involve a hotel torture scene where the Strangers are trying to initiate Maya into their world. This sequence is pretty captivating because you’re wondering if Maya is going to buy in or not, considering how desensitized she’s become since her experience. There’s also another scene involving a mobile trailer where Maya’s family is hiding from the Strangers, creating a lot of tension and suspense like any good slasher film ought to do. Unfortunately, the gore is non-existent here despite some of the violence. And some questionable choices with needledrops, despite me liking the song choices used. It created a jarring experience, but maybe that was the idea. That being said, nothing visually memorable but a much needed improvement over the blandness of the previous films regardless.The acting, while nothing award worthy, is at least better than what we got in the previous films. I feel bad for Madelaine Petsch, who is definitely a capable actress with the right material. She’s been given nothing to do in this trilogy and plays a character who makes the dumbest decisions known to man, despite one thinking she would learn from previous mistakes to become a better survivor. But Petsch does get to play various emotional beats here as she plays Maya as a victim of PTSD and becoming numb to the cruel world that surrounds her. Of the three films, she’s the most believable here and I’m glad Petsch finally got to show some acting chops during her final arc. Gabriel Basso, who didn’t have much to do but be creepy in CHAPTER 2, gets to do some more in CHAPTER 3. His character still isn’t all that interesting, but I’m glad he played with some emotional beats of his own. The only other actor of note is Richard Brake, portraying a sheriff with devious intentions to keep the identities of The Strangers and their adventures hidden from the outside world. He’s not in the film a whole lot. But when he does appear, he’s pretty good despite playing a role we’ve seen him play countless times before.THE FINAL HOWLMaybe I’ve been numbed or desensitized by the crap that came before it, but I felt THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 3 is the least-worst film of this maligned trilogy. At least there seemed to be an end goal here, with things having a certain level of consistency and slight intrigue that the previous two films really lacked. I’m not saying the story is any good. The characters, both heroes and villains, do really dumb things. Most of the death sequences are off-screen or blink-or-you’ll-miss it. Some of the needledrops are jarring and ruin the serious tone of the film. And while it’s nice to have villain origins, this trilogy still makes you ask “why” by the movie’s end.But at least Renny Harlin crafts some decent moments of tension and suspense in the second half of the film that remind you that he used to be good at making genre movies like this decades ago. And the actors are given more to do this time around, allowing them to have emotional beats that feel somewhat believable. Madelaine Petsch, in particular, is given some nice emotional moments that allow her to showcase what a capable actor she is when given something to chew on. Other than that, I’m just glad this new STRANGERS trilogy is over and we can all move on with our lives. Let this franchise hibernate for a while until someone with a real plan wakes it up from its slumber to give the fans something they really want to see for a change. But at least, in my opinion, it ended better than it started. I guess that counts for something these days.SCORE1.5 Howls Outta 4(4 out of 10)

Send Help (2026)
DIRECTED BYSam Raimi STARRING Rachel McAdams - Linda Liddle Dylan O’Brien - Bradley Preston Edyll Ismail - Zuri Dennis Haysbert - Franklin Xavier Samuel - Donovan Genre - Thriller/Horror/Comedy Running Time - 113 Minutes PLOTTwo colleagues become stranded on a deserted island, the only survivors of a plane crash. On the island, they must overcome past grievances and work together to survive, but ultimately, it’s a battle of wills and wits to make it out alive. REVIEWI’m sure if you ask mainstream audiences the first thing they think of when it comes to director/producer Sam Raimi, it’s probably the mega-successful SPIDER-MAN trilogy of the 2000s. While those films are mostly great, us horror fans know the man for scaring us and/or making us laugh with his immortal THE EVIL DEAD trilogy. The same fans who recognize his work on beloved cult classics like DARKMAN, THE QUICK AND THE DEAD, THE GIFT and DRAG ME TO HELL. Raimi also brought some blood and scares to his last film, the successful DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS despite Disney fighting him on certain horror elements to please a bigger audience. So it’s nice to see Raimi back in full horror mode in 2026’s SEND HELP, a film that had me hooked the moment it was announced due to Raimi and the casting of both Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien - two actors I enjoy on screen. Having these two actors antagonize each other on a desert island in devious ways had to be a fun time at the theater. And I was right, as SEND HELP is another highlight in Raimi’s filmography.SEND HELP is pretty much a story about power dynamics between the sexes and the classes. Linda Liddle is one of the star employees at her financial management job, using her corporate strategy to keep her company successful. Due to her great work, she is promised a promotion to Vice President. Unfortunately her boss has passed away, now replaced by his frat boy and misogynist son Bradley, who has given the position to his best college friend while looking down on her for her frumpy appearance and eating habits. During a flight to Bangkok for a business meeting, the plane crashes onto a deserted island, leaving only Linda and Bradley as the flight’s sole survivors. While Bradley still attempts to order Linda around, he soon realizes that he has no survival skills on an island. However, Linda does, doing all the hunting and shelter building, proving to Bradley that they’re on her domain now. Despite attempts to get along and work together, Bradley’s ego is so bruised that he just wants to get off the island and go back to his fiancee. Linda, though, finally has control and power in her life, doing everything to make sure she stays on the island - even if she has to keep Bradley prisoner to make it happen. In a lot of ways, SEND HELP feels like MISERY but on an island. Bradley hurt his leg due to the plane crash, with Linda reluctantly helping him and making sure he heals up. But she keeps certain information from him and makes him reliant on her, keeping him as an unknowing prisoner as revenge for how he has treated her and other women at their workplace. Things become more interesting as we realize, through backstories, why the two characters feel justified in how they treat others. You start to sympathize with both Linda and Bradley and get how they got to be in their current positions to begin with. But Bradley still wants to go back to his old, upper class life while Linda, feeling she has nothing left at home, refuses to find any way of getting off the island to maintain her power over Bradley. This is where the power struggle begins for both the characters and the audience because you go back-and-forth on who to root for here. Linda is the wronged party from the start, but she becomes violently power hungry as the film rolls on. Bradley is a jerk, but it’s due to his neglectful upbringing, using his behavior as a defense mechanism. But he never really changes who he is either, despite all that. I think writers Mark Swift and Damian Shannon do a fantastic job in giving both characters depth and putting each one in a grey area. You definitely root for one character over the other, but there are times where you start questioning your opinion. It’s not a black-and-white world here, which makes the antagonistic nature between our two main characters a lot of fun to watch.Sam Raimi is in fine form here behind the lens, giving us enough Raimi-isms to make the audience aware that, visually, this is his movie. While it never goes off the rails, in terms of visuals and violence, like his EVIL DEAD films, there are definitely moments where you smile because you know Raimi is having fun. We get the classic first person point-of-view shots where the camera is just zooming all over the place. We get moments where Linda will hunt an animal for sustenance and the animal’s blood gushes on her as if she’s Ash Williams. There is quirky framing of shots that make you laugh because they’re so unserious. And there’s a torture scene that gives us extreme close-ups that raise the tension tenfold. This is a more subtle Raimi, who only brings out the goods when the story calls for it. And I thought the use of the island location was wonderful, with gorgeous shots that display both paradise and dread. Some of the CGI is spotty, especially with the animals, but it’s not a total eyesore. What really makes SEND HELP a film to watch is the chemistry between the two lead actors. I’ve been a fan of Dylan O’Brien since MTV’s Teen Wolf days and he’s only gotten better with each project he takes part of. SEND HELP is no exception, as O’Brien really brings out Bradley’s rich, frat boy persona. He’s believably misogynistic and has tantrums whenever he can’t use power on a woman. But O’Brien never goes too far with it, as he gives you glimpses that it may all be a front and he’s just really scared. There are times where you feel sorry for him, which can be challenging to play considering Bradley is a huge jerk. And O’Brien is just so likable as an actor that it almost feels a bit miscast. But he makes it work and shares a fun, frenemy chemistry with Rachel McAdams.Speaking of McAdams, I think SEND HELP may contain one of the best performances of her career. McAdams plays Linda as this meek, frumpy, insecure and totally socially awkward woman from the start. Along the way, she transforms into this confident and powerful woman, who unfortunately becomes corrupted by that power once she has a real taste of it. She goes from prey to predator throughout the film and it’s believable every step of the way because McAdams captures that change perfectly. From her body language, to the way she dresses, and to the way she speaks to Bradley [which totally evolves], McAdams becomes someone to be wary of. Considering she has the most meat to chew on here, it’s not surprising how much fun McAdams is playing every emotional beat of this character. You can tell she and O’Brien had a blast making this movie, which makes it fun for the audience too.And any film with Blondie on the soundtrack scores points with me. From “Rip Her to Shreds” to “One Way or Another”, the needledrops are pretty on point. Also, props to Danny Elfman for an engaging musical score. THE FINAL HOWLOne of my most anticipated films of 2026, Sam Raimi’s SEND HELP does not disappoint. While not Raimi’s most memorable visually, Raimi still manages to let the audience know he’s at the helm here. While most of the film is very subtle, capturing the bland office setting while later showcasing the beautiful island location to create a bleak paradise, the Raimi tropes do make their presence when the story calls for it. First person zooms. Gushing crimson that sprays on people. Extreme close ups to raise tension and terror. The Raimi horror maker is here and much welcomed.Helping the visuals are the strong performances by both Dylan O’Brien and [especially] Rachel McAdams, who have great antagonistic chemistry as the two play off each other to see who can outdo the other. The shift in power dynamics between the two is a wild ride, as you sympathize with one over the other, which will then switch vice-versa, then make you feel sorry for both characters, until it shifts right back to the start. The simple writing allows both O’Brien and McAdams to flesh out their characters through body language and facial expressions, which tells their stories more than any dialogue could. It also helps that the two are clearly having fun, which makes it fun for the audience as well.While I hope we get Raimi to making more horror films in a much crazier style like his older work [there were glimpses in DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS], SEND HELP is still a fine piece of work that I highly recommend if you’re looking for a well-made survival thriller.SCORE3 Howls Outta 4(8 out of 10)

Primate (2025/2026)
DIRECTED BYJohannes RobertsSTARRINGJohnny Sequoyah - LucyTroy Kotsur - Adam Jessica Alexander - HannahVictoria Wyant - Kate Gia Hunter - Erin Benjamin Cheng - NickGenre: Horror/Thriller/Bad AnimalsRunning Time: 89 MinutesPLOTHome from college, Lucy reunites with family including pet chimp Ben. Ben contracts rabies during a pool party and turns aggressive. Lucy and friends barricade in a pool, devising ways to survive the vicious chimp.REVIEW2026 begins just like 2025 did - highlighting apes for the first chunk of the year. Last year, we had two solid films in the Robbie Williams’ biopic BETTER MAN [in which Williams envisions himself as a CGI man-ape] and Osgood Perkins’ underrated THE MONKEY [one of my favorite horror films of 2025]. This year, the horror genre kicks off its movie year with Paramount’s PRIMATE - a film I’ve seen the trailer for countless times, with various audiences either laughing at it or groaning about the premise. I honestly wasn’t expecting much out of this film, but with a high Rotten Tomatoes score and solid word of mouth, it got me a bit excited for some chimp vs. human action. And yes, the hype is real because PRIMATE is a really fun time at the cinema.The easy way to describe PRIMATE is “CUJO but with a chimpanzee”. The inspiration is fairly obvious, as our chimp Ben gets bitten by a rabid mongoose while in his enclosure, causing Ben to lash out at his human family and terrorize them in their own home. Ben gets more violent and relentless while the human characters either make smart [or in a lot of cases, dumb] decisions in order to survive while debating how to handle an innocent, yet sick, chimp.Survival films like PRIMATE are pretty hard to mess up, as it's an easy premise that doesn’t require a whole lot of human characterization while mainly focusing on the battle between animal and human. The lack of real character development does hurt the film a bit, as you don’t really get to attach to the characters as much as one would like. The deepest we get is that eldest daughter Lucy is a bit estranged from the family due to the death of her mother. Lucy’s younger sister, Erin, is a bit upset with her while their deaf father has taken over their mother’s businesses and becomes an almost absentee dad because of it. Lucy has a supportive best friend in Hannah, while Hannah’s brother Nick is Lucy’s crush. That romance subplot is thwarted by Hannah’s friend Kate, who is kind of the mean girl of the group and doesn’t understand why Lucy would have a chimp as a pet. There are also a couple of boys that the group meets, who are just around to raise the body count. Other than that, it’s just a tale of surviving the night against a rabid chimp who has no issue hurting the family that took care of him.Johannes Roberts, probably best known as the director who gave us RESIDENT EVIL: WELCOME TO RACCOON CITY, THE STRANGERS: PREY AT NIGHT, and 47 METERS DOWN, really does a fantastic job with building tension, suspense and dread once Ben is bitten and becomes insanely vicious towards his human counterparts. While the premise may seem silly to some, Roberts really brings out the terror in many scenes, portraying events as if it’s a slasher film with Ben stalking and attacking anyone he considers a threat. The film takes place within a day and mostly at night, adding a bleak atmosphere that makes you wonder if anyone is going to get out alive. The musical score is used impressively to elevate the tension, while the gore effects [and there are a lot of them] are done through CGI but it never takes away the effect of watching Ben rip jaws from faces and bash people’s heads in without a care. Roberts reminds us that while chimps are cute creatures, they’re also extremely unpredictable and dangerous. A chunk of the film has characters stuck inside a swimming pool after a character is bitten by Ben, while the chimp sits outside the pool watching them while struggling with his disease. It could have come off boring, but Roberts keeps you invested with solid pacing and care to detail. I thought he did a great job with PRIMATE.The acting won’t win any awards, but I felt everyone did a solid job in making the situation super believable. I thought Johnny Sequoyah was a good Final Girl type as Lucy, as she’s given the most to do and has the most agency amongst the characters. She comes across as likable, caring and tough. I also liked Oscar winner Troy Kotsur as the father, Adam. He’s not in the film a whole lot but I liked how Johannes Roberts used his real-life deafness to build a ton of suspense, as Adam was unable to hear the terror that surrounded him. It made things frustrating and nail-biting at the same time, which I appreciated. Victoria Wyant stood out as mean girl Kate, having the best one-liners and just standing out from the more nicer characters. She also had one of the best horror moments in the film with Ben. Speaking of Ben, actor Miguel Torres Umba did the motion capture for the chimp and I thought he did an amazing job. While it’s obvious the cast and crew wouldn’t allow a real animal to perform the things Ben does in the film, I never questioned whether Ben was a real monkey or a human portraying him. Super impressed for sure.THE FINAL HOWL2026 is starting out in the right way as PRIMATE is a solid start to the horror genre this year. While the characters aren’t really much to discuss about, the premise of having humans try to survive against a rabid chimp makes up for it, as the film is a thrilling ride right from the opening minutes. Tense, suspenseful, gory, well acted and directed, PRIMATE may not make you go fully bananas but it’s definitely some monkey business worth checking out either in theaters or down the line on streaming. SCORE3 Howls Outta 4(7 out of 10)

Silent Night, Deadly Night (2025) & Santa's Slay (2005) w/ The DTV Connoisseur
In this episode, I joined Matt Poirier [aka The DTV Connoisseur] for our Christmas episode, as we look at the new SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT (2025) that's out in theaters now. We talked about how much fun we had and why, and how we need more movies like this in the theater.Then with 2005's SANTA SLAY, we talk about Bill Goldberg as a wrestler, and how this movie was a departure from his wrestling persona--in a good way. We also discuss what the movie theater experience was like this past year, and what we think it'll look like in 2026.

Horror 101 w/ Dr. AC Ep 141 - HAMMER IN 1960: BRIDES OF DRACULA, TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL, HELL IS A CITY, AND MORE!!
BRIDES OF DRACULA (1960) d. Terence Fisher (UK)THE TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL (1960) d. Terence Fisher (UK)NEVER TAKE SWEETS FROM A STRANGER (1960) d. Cyril Frankel (UK)HELL IS A CITY (1960) d. Val Guest (UK)Celebrated for its distinctive brand of horror and suspense, Hammer Films has left an indelible mark on British cinema and influencing filmmakers around the world.The year 1960 was especially significant for Hammer, as it was a time when the studio was solidifying its identity as a horror juggernaut, but also experimenting with genres, and pushing the boundaries of storytelling, atmosphere, and visual style. This episode focuses on four films from that year: BRIDES OF DRACULA, THE TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL, NEVER TAKE SWEETS FROM A STRANGER, and HELL IS A CITY. Each representing a different facet of Hammer’s evolving approach, from Gothic horror and psychological thrillers to socially conscious drama and gritty crime narratives.Join AC and his incredible panel of guests (Troy Howarth, Stan Hyde, Barry Kaufman, Lin Morris, and yours truly) as we look back at HAMMER IN 1960!!

Maniac Cop (1988) w/ The DTV Connoisseur
In this episode, I joined Matt Poirier (the DTV Connoisseur) for our Halloween episode as we look at the action/horror classic MANIAC COP. Before that though, we talked about 2025 in film so far, especially the experience of seeing films in the theater, and which of the major studios came out winners and losers. Then with MANIAC COP, we get stuck in on some of the elements around policing that this touches on, and how relevant they still are today; also the imagery of the Twin Towers in a film and what that means. Finally, we look at some of the movie's highlights and our favorite moments.

Lunar Cycle - September 2025
Since I don’t have as much time to write longer reviews than I used to, I figured I would just post shorter reviews for horror/cult films that I feel deserve your attention.Director: Francis Lawrence Starring: Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Judy Greer, Mark HamillGenre: Horror/Science Fiction/ThrillerRun Time: 108 MinutesPlot: In a dystopian, alternate-America ruled by a totalitarian regime, 50 teenage boys take part in a deadly annual walking contest, forced to maintain a minimum pace or be executed, until only one survivor remains.Review: Based on a 1979 Stephen King novel of the same name [under his pseudonym Richard Bachman], THE LONG WALK was passed around for a long time before this film adaptation was actually filmed and released. From George A. Romero in 1988, to Frank Darabont in the 2000s, to both New Line Cinema and then eventually Lionsgate for the actual release, this adaptation for such a simple story took its sweet time getting its moment in the spotlight. And it was definitely worth the wait, as THE LONG WALK is one of 2025’s best horror films.There’s not much to say about the film without really spoiling what happens [for those who didn’t read the novel, which I’m sure is quite a few], but THE LONG WALK is very well-made visually and tightly structured from a narrative standpoint. It’s a simple story with a group of young men walking for their survival in order to gain money and a single wish. And Francis Lawrence’s direction captures that really well, as the film isn’t all that stylish or distracting with unnecessary visual effects. From what I understand, the film was shot chronologically meaning the day scenes and the night scenes were all environmentally legit - which is a great touch and convincingly showcases the characters’ struggle to keep going during each day of the walk. While the death scenes are shot well and are visceral, considering how close we get to the characters and their stories, that wouldn’t happen if Lawrence just lets the story and the actors do most of the work for him, elevating a pretty simple point-and-shoot affair.And boy - are the actors really great here. While each of the young men contribute something to the narrative, whether we grow to love them or despise them, the film is strongly carried by the central duo of Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson. Considering his father has passed away in the story, it’s easy to see Hoffman using the pain of his own paternal loss [the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman] as a catalyst for Ray’s motivations to win the walk. And Jonsson has become a young actor I’ve been really enjoying onscreen lately, carrying himself with the charisma and confidence of someone beyond his years. And an unrecognizable Mark Hamill as The Major adds some ironic humor to a serious story, bringing much needed levity.I wish THE LONG WALK had done better at the box office. But considering how non-flashy it is, it’s easy to see why many would probably wait until digital or streaming to check it out. And I hope audiences do when the time comes because it’s a super solid Stephen King adaptation that deserves a cult status in years to come. THE LONG WALK has the endurance to be in my Top 10 of 2025 Horror Films for sure.SCORE3.5 Howls Outta 4(9 out of 10)Director: Justin TippingStarring: Tyriq Withers, Marlon Fox, Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker, Jim JefferiesGenre: Horror/Mystery/Supernatural/SportsRun Time: 96 MinutesPlot:After suffering a potentially career-ending brain trauma, Cameron Cade receives a lifeline when his hero, legendary eight-time Championship quarterback and cultural megastar Isaiah White, offers to train Cam at Isaiah’s isolated compound that he shares with his celebrity influencer wife. But as Cam’s training accelerates, Isaiah’s charisma begins to curdle into something darker.Review: Maybe besides TRON: ARES, no other trailer really got me hyped for a film like 2025’s HIM. For one, it was produced by Jordan Peele, who has had a great track record since joining the horror genre. Two, we rarely get horror films involving sports, making it stand out. Plus, a bonkers Marlon Wayans in a serious role? Sign me up as this couldn’t fail.Yeah… about that. Man, talk about cinema disappointments of the year but HIM is definitely Him when it comes to that description. HIM is a film with so many ideas and so many things it wants to be and wants to say that it ends up saying not much at all. Watching this with one of my best friends who is more of a football fan than I am [even though I do watch and follow], I feel he got more of a commentary than I did. Yet, he felt the same disappointment that I did. What is this film about? CTE? Drug use in sports and how hard men have to live up to a certain status as they get older? Daddy issues and the shadow of the patriarchy? The rumors that the Illuminati controls how the sport is run with a cult-like mentality? There’s so much going on that I was pretty overwhelmed and underwhelmed at the same time watching this. I felt the first half of the film was the more interesting portion, as it seemed to focus on Cade’s struggle to live up to who his late father wanted him to be. He sacrifices his individuality and his own health to achieve his [and/or his father’s dream] to be a pro football player. Cade even gets to train with Isaiah, who is his hero - yet, at the same time, his rival and the man he’s supposed to replace because of Isaiah’s age catching up with him. There seems to be a slight tug-and-war in how the two interact. It looks friendly on the surface, but Isaiah obviously has nefarious plans for Cade with randomly taking blood from him, giving him mystery drugs and even strange training where other players are brutally punished for missing plays. You start to feel for Cade a bit because you realize this isn’t exactly what he signed up for.But then it starts becoming more supernatural and the film goes into a tired direction I had expected and was really disappointed by. Let’s say it goes from grounded to BLACK SWAN or a mixture of THE SUBSTANCE with MIDSOMMAR. The film becomes so surreal that it just loses its way towards a predictable ending. What do these random images mean? Why is the pacing so weird? And is that really the answer to the mystery [which I pretty much predicted]? I was more frustrated than entertained.What saves HIM is that Justin Tipping directs a beautiful film that makes interesting and sometimes breathtaking visual choices. A lot of the film feels like a Jordan Peele homage in terms of framing, editing and sound choices. But Tipping lacks the restraint and voice that Peele does, making the film kind of a visual mess as it goes along. With so many random images popping up, you’re just wondering what they have to do with anything. I don’t think even Peele could have saved this visually, as the script feels like a first draft that needed another edit.The cast is probably the highlight of HIM. Tyriq Withers holds his own in the lead role, making the best of whatever’s thrown at him. Julia Fox and Jim Jefferies add some quirkiness and humor to the surrealism. But Marlon Wayans is the standout here, stealing the spotlight from Withers in every scene. I like seeing Wayans in serious roles because he obviously has range, which HIM definitely proves. He’s sympathetic. He’s manic and out-of-control. He’s sometimes terrifying. And he’s great.If you’re a Marlon Wayans fan, then HIM may be worth checking out. He’s really the only reason to see this, despite a game cast and interesting visuals that fall apart due to a script that needed more edits and doctoring. It’s nice seeing more sports-centric horror films though, as HIM shows a lot of promise but never lives up to its Game Day potential. SCORE2 Howls Outta 4(5 out of 10)Director: Renny HarlinStarring: Madelaine Petsch, Richard Brake, Rachel Shelton, Gabriel Basso, Froy Gutierrez, Brooke Lena JohnsonGenre: Horror/Thriller/SlasherRun Time: 96 MinutesPlot:When The Strangers learn that one of their victims, Maya, is still alive, they return to finish what they’ve started.Review:For those who read my review for THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 1 last year, you knew how much I hated the reboot for a franchise that didn’t even warrant one. The characters had no agency. The lead characters were two of the dumbest, most useless protagonists I’ve seen in a horror film in a very long time. And even when action happened, it wasn’t all that exciting. CHAPTER 1 felt like a weaker retread of the 2008 film. In fact, CHAPTER 1 was my Worst Film of 2024 in any genre.So of course, I watched THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2 because I was so excited for it.Yes, that was sarcasm if you couldn’t tell.I will say this for THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2: the trailer gave me slightly more optimism than CHAPTER 1’s trailer did. I knew CHAPTER 1 would be terrible from the trailer, but at least CHAPTER 2 seemed to have more action, stalk-and-slash and an interesting side story that hadn’t been done in the franchise yet. I wasn’t expecting greatness but even a sequel that ended up being “mid” would have been enough for me. Calling THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2 “mid” would be extremely generous, as this sequel is just an extension of last year’s garbage. Our Final Girl still lacks a bit of agency, despite what happened to her and knowing the threat that’s coming for her. The new characters add absolutely nothing to the movie, with some not even getting more than a single scene before they’re taken out. The backstory for two of the Strangers, while welcome, still manages to be fairly generic and done better in many other movies. And the script tosses so much random and weird stuff for our leading lady that I’m wondering if anyone read the script before thinking it was okay to fund and film this. Like seriously… who are these movies for?That being said, CHAPTER 2 at least tries to be better than CHAPTER 1. The opening hospital sequence, while not HALLOWEEN II, is at least an attempt to create tension and thrills as the Strangers chase Maya within the building. Yes, Maya still makes really dumb choices or doesn’t react to much at all at times. But at least she’s fighting back stuff and taking some control of the situation whenever the film sees it fit. There’s also a random scene in the middle of the film involving a CGI wild boar that attacks Maya for, like, five minutes that had the entire audience laughing at how ridiculous it all was. This scene honestly should have made me walk out of the theater and demand a refund on my AMC A-List Membership. But it was so random and so bizarre that I wish more of CHAPTER 2 was this weird. At least it would have shown that Renny Harlin and/or whoever had a say in this project was willing to take wild chances that would have given CHAPTER 2 a reason to exist and be memorable. This is, without a doubt, the thing I will take away from this movie and I can’t hate this sequel for that.While Renny Harlin does infuse the film with more tension, action and strange CGI animals, nothing Harlin does visually can save an awful and sloppy screenplay. The film looks polished and the opening sequence has promise. But Harlin has directed so many better films than this and there’s nothing stylish about this film that makes it stand apart from any other horror film of this kind. The actors really try here and I feel bad that they’re in this movie. Madelaine Petsch is way better here than she was in the previous movie. But the script makes her character so dumb and frustrating that I keep wishing for the Strangers to end her journey sooner than later. Richard Brake gets nothing really to do as a shady sheriff [his role seems bigger in, sigh, CHAPTER 3] and Gabriel Bosso is creepy but it never really goes anywhere. Like, at all. These actors could have had interesting characters. But I couldn’t tell you what made any of them sign up for this besides a nice paycheck. Saying CHAPTER 2 is better than CHAPTER 1 is like saying that Chlamydia is better than Herpes. While just a tiny bit better, it’s still an awful sequel that only fans of this franchise or anyone who has to see every horror film ever made [like me] should give any attention to. And yes, I’ll be there to suffer through, sigh, CHAPTER 3. I’m hoping the third time’s the charm, but I’m not holding my breath.SCORE1 Howl Outta 4(3 out of 10)Director: Mercedes Bryce MorganStarring: Maddie Hasson, Alex Roe, Marco Pigossi, Andra NechitaGenre: Horror/Thriller/Comedy/MysteryRun Time: 94 MinutesPlot: A couple’s romantic vacation at a secluded lakeside estate is upended when they are forced to share the mansion with a mysterious and attractive couple. In this darkly hilarious and seductive horror story, a dream getaway spirals into a nightmarish maze of sex, lies, and manipulation, bringing terrifying secrets to light and triggering a bloody battle for survival.Review:With a title like BONE LAKE, you’re expecting a horror film involving a lot of sex. Or at least, a film sort of making fun of sexual exploits in a horror-comedy fashion. The trailer, which would play every time during the previews for the past month or so, had me intrigued with its teases of salacious manipulation and promise of some sort of sex-thriller that we’ve haven’t really seen much of in mainstream horror since the 1990s really. Luckily, I was able to see this before its wide release date to see if the film lived up to what the trailer promised.Unfortunately like most trailers, they swerve the audience in presenting one thing but giving you another. BONE LAKE is no exception, as it’s a film that’s not the sex-thriller romp I was expecting. While the opening scene does have both male and female nudity and there are sexual scenes once every blue moon, BONE LAKE is pretty conservative for the story it wants to visually tell, making it somewhat of a disappointment of something more interesting. It’s not unlike anything you could watch on a Lifetime or on a Tubi - a messed up game involving two random couples who just end up at the same lakeside estate due to a double booking. But as the film rolls along, one of the couples seems to be much more than they appear, making their own rules and manipulating the other couple for reasons that are revealed in the final act. The revelation, which I was indifferent to, will probably divide audiences - although I did feel like it made one of the couple’s motivations to be at the estate interesting enough.So while the story is pretty basic and predictable, I did think Mercedes Bryce Morgan’s direction had some style to it, while the visuals popped with vibrant colors [even at night] and with, of course, some nice eye candy for everyone. The use of special effects for the horror elements and gore are done surprisingly well for an independent flick. There’s an opening kill involving an arrow through someone’s testicles as they escape [the audience popped for that one] and there are a bunch of amputations during the film’s final act involving an axe and a chainsaw [a bit of an EVIL DEAD tribute in particular moment]. Not a bad looking nor badly paced feature.The actors are fine. Maddie Hasson looks like Florence Pugh and is quite good as the more conservative Sage. She has nice flirtatious chemistry with all of her co-stars, regardless of gender. Alex Roe plays the attractive and manipulative bad boy, Will, having the film’s more humorous moments. Andra Nechita brings sex appeal as the seductive Cin, while Marco Pigossi plays, what some may call the Beta Male, Diego perfectly. Since the film focuses on such a small cast, I thought these four actors did what they could with the simple and expected material to not make it boring. So kudos to them.Honestly, I was expecting BONE LAKE to be more provocative and sleazy considering what the trailer teases. But it’s just a predictable and fairly conservative mystery that’s not all that sexy, scary or laughs-out funny. But it entertained me for 94 minutes and I was along the ride to see how it would all end. A theatrical watch could be a tough one, but definitely a good time on streaming.SCORE2.5 Howls Outta 4(6 out of 10)

The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)
DIRECTED BYMichael ChavesSTARRINGVera Farmiga - Lorraine Warren Patrick Wilson - Ed Warren Mia Tomlinson - Judy Warren Ben Hardy - Tony Spera Rebecca Calder - Janet Smurl Elliot Cowan - Jack Smurl Shannon Kook - Drew Thomas Steve Coulter - Father Gordon Genre: Horror/Supernatural/DemonsRunning Time: 135 MinutesPLOTParanormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren take on one last terrifying case involving mysterious entities, from their past, they must confront.REVIEWFor 12 years, THE CONJURING franchise has thrived through 4 main films and 6 spinoffs to varying degrees of quality. Despite the controversies behind the real life personas, the film characters of Ed and Lorraine Warren have become beloved figures in the horror genre this century. I also enjoyed watching Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga play these characters, as they bring a lot of heart into their performances by keeping things grounded within a supernatural world.However, the last CONJURING installment [THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT] really soured me on this franchise. It was boring. The premise felt tired. Turning The Warrens into the Benson and Stabler of the series took away what made the characters endearing to begin with. To say that I wasn’t excited about a new CONJURING film was an understatement. But here I am, discussing what’s being sold as the “final” installment of the main series - THE CONJURING: LAST RITES. Never believe anything studios sell you when it comes to horror that uses the words “last” or “final” because they don’t mean a damn thing. And considering that LAST RITES has become one of the most successful horror films in recent memory, almost breaking records at the box office, I doubt this will be the last we’ll see of the Warrens.But is the film any good?LAST RITES begins in the 1960s as a young Ed and pregnant Lorraine take on a case involving a cursed mirror. The mirror messes with Lorraine so badly that she ends up going into labor. At first, the baby is stillborn. But once Lorraine begins to pray for the baby to come back, the baby cries and Judy is officially here.The film moves 20 years into the 1980s, where an adult Judy is starting to have her own premonitions that worry Lorraine. Meanwhile, the Smurl family from Pennsylvania buy a gift for one of their daughters who just completed her confirmation ceremony. The gift happens to be the cursed mirror from decades ago, now ready to terrorize a new family as well as lure the Warrens to finish what it started years ago.The positives:Despite what I think of any of the main CONJURING films, you can’t go wrong with the strong cast. Both Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga can play Ed & Lorraine Warren in their sleep at this point, maintaining their incredibly strong chemistry and grounding the film with their charisma and heart into their roles. I liked that the two actors got to play more familial roles this time around, allowing Wilson and Farmiga to portray concerned parents and spouses. Lorraine’s worry about losing her only daughter to evil, while also juggling concern for Ed’s heart condition allows both to play different beats from the other three installments. There seems to be actual stakes this time around, which strengthened their performances I felt.The addition of Mia Tomlinson as an older Judy Warren is a great casting choice, as she carries the role with the right amount of depth the screenplay allows her to have. She has nice chemistry with Wilson and Farmiga, while playing so many different emotional beats - from fear, to passion, and to a certain amount of malice towards the end of the film. Ben Hardy gets less to do as Judy’s boyfriend Tony, but he carries his own against the other three main actors. He plays the role of the audience very well, learning about what the Warrens have been doing for decades and slowly helping them in the family business.The actors who play the Smurl Family do a nice job as well, but they’re not given a ton other than arguing with each other and/or reacting to the supernatural stuff around them. But they’re fine. And it’s always nice to see returning actors like Steve Coulter, John Brotherton, Shannon Kook and other familiar faces from previous films in this “last” installment. I appreciate it as a fan of continuity.I also felt that this is Michael Chaves’ best film as a director, as he seems to finally have the confidence to make some bold choices and visualizes the groundedness and the scares equally well. The special effects look good and the pacing is better here than it was in THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT. I feel like Chaves took the criticism of the last installment and turned it around by making LAST RITES feel more in tone with the first and best CONJURING film. If you’re going to be James Wan-lite, you could do a lot worse than Chaves’ visual presentation here.And as an 80s fanatic, I loved the soundtrack and needledrops here. Negatives:Even though I do believe there will be another CONJURING installment despite the title, considering how much money it has made already, let’s be honest: this main series feels tired after four movies. It feels like the same film as the first one, but less quality each time. Same beats, similar threats with a predictable conclusion - do we really need to see more of these? Say what you want about slasher films. But I can tell you the difference between SCREAM and SCREAM 2 or A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET from A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3: DREAM WARRIORS. Same beats and formulaic, sure. But slasher sequels usually bring something new to each installment. Besides a different cursed object or villain, what’s the difference in terms on how these movies are presented? Yes, LAST RITES is a better movie than THE DEVIL MAY ME DO IT because it feels more in line with the first two films. But that’s kind of the issue here. It feels like something I’ve seen before but in “light flavor”.I also couldn’t really connect or care about the supporting characters in this film. This refers mainly to the Smurl Family, who just feel like a Temu version of the family in the first CONJURING. The two older daughters are pretty interchangeable. Same goes to the two younger daughters. The father and mother aren’t all that interesting or charismatic. The grandparents are just there to be fodder later on. I knew nothing of these people other than that they were being messed with by whatever demon was possessing that mirror.And as much as I like Tomlinson’s and Hardy’s performances, their characters could have used more depth as well. While better than the Smurls, I think I needed more time to see their love story and their connection to Ed and Lorraine. It’s obvious Judy and Tony are being propped up to become the new main characters in the franchise going forward if there are more, Maybe we’ll get more personality and depth for them whenever that happens. But as of now, I don’t really need to follow these two new characters in more installments even though it could work if done right.And while Michael Chaves does a better job here, the film does have some pacing issues. When the film doesn’t focus on the Warrens, which is more than you think, LAST RITES becomes less interesting to watch. And the film isn’t remotely scary or creepy. I still think THE CONJURING 2 is tops with that due to the presence of The Nun. Having Chaves direct this film as if it were a James Wan film just makes you realize how much better Wan is at creating this kind of film. And out of the four threats, this cursed mirror is probably the least threatening honestly. Yes, it hurts some people and even emotionally traumatizes the Warrens due to Judy’s troubled birth during their first encounter with the object. And yes, the idea of having an evil version of your reflection attack you can be creepy. But it doesn’t do a whole lot until the last act of the film and is solved pretty easily by the end, all things considered. I think the lamp in AMITYVILLE 4: THE EVIL ESCAPES is more threatening.THE FINAL HOWLThe best thing I can say about THE CONJURING: LAST RITES is that it’s at least better than the last installment, THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT by a good amount. LAST RITES is a more cohesive film with stronger performances by Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga and the rest of the cast. Wilson and Farmiga can play these roles in their sleep and they’re wonderful in this sequel. Michael Graves’ direction is light years better than the previous sequel, giving us James Wan-lite for the most part. And if it’s, indeed, the final installment of the main series, the film wraps things up nicely. But I felt the supporting characters [other than The Warrens] weren’t all that interesting enough to care about, the scares are barely there and it just feels like the same ol’, same ol’ with this franchise by this point. And considering how much money this movie has already made [and good for horror for raking in that box office cash this year], let’s be honest with ourselves - nothing about THE CONJURING: LAST RITES will be the “last” for this main series, as I can see Judy Warren and her partner Tony Spera becoming the main focus going forward. It’s a fine enough sequel but there will most likely be more. If you don’t believe that, I have a cursed mirror I’d like to sell you for cheap.SCORE2.5 Howls Outta 4(6 out of 10)

Dangerous Animals (2025)
DIRECTED BYSean ByrneSTARRINGHassie Harrison - ZephyrJai Courtney - Bruce TuckerJosh Heuston - Moses MarkleyElla Newton - HeatherGenre: Thriller/Horror/Serial Killers/Killer AnimalsRunning Time: 93 MinutesPLOTA savvy and free-spirited surfer is abducted by a shark-obsessed serial killer. Held captive on his boat, she must figure out how to escape before he carries out a ritualistic feeding to the sharks below.REVIEWMany, many years ago, I would host an annual “Animal Summer” on this blog - highlighting some films that focused on animals doing some dastardly things. Besides October, it was probably my favorite part of the year for reviews because I’m such a sucker for animals-run-amok movies. But I’ve gotten away from it for a long while now, as I seem to only sporadically be reviewing things these days. But 2025’s DANGEROUS ANIMALS makes me want to reconsider, because this movie was more fun and sinister than I was expecting.Jai Courtney [in probably what may be my favorite role of his] plays an Australian shark tour guide who, due to childhood trauma from surviving a shark attack, lures tourists in the middle of the ocean to murder them and feed them to sharks while videotaping the entire thing. One night, he kidnaps a young surfer [a game Hassie Harrison] who he plans on videotaping her murder. But she proves to be his biggest challenge yet, since she’s more predator than prey. While DANGEROUS ANIMALS may be marketed as somewhat of a shark movie, the title really refers to Courtney’s Tucker and Harrison’s Zephyr - two people who may be playing the predator and prey roles respectively, but are truly a match for one another in ways that they’re just as much sharks as the animals swimming in the ocean. Courtney steals every scene as the film’s dynamic and sinister villain. While good-looking and charming, the actor gives off right away that something is quite not right with Tucker. And the film wastes no time showing what a psycho he is, killing people on his boat and then putting a harness on certain victims to lower them with the sharks to see them get chewed up while he records it all on a camcorder. Tucker even watches the murders during breakfast, admiring his work as if he was Steven Spielberg. Courtney also has a memorable dance scene that I’m sure will be GIF’d to death.Harrison holds her own against Courtney, playing a strong-willed young woman who refuses to be a victim. While a standoffish and kind of emotionally cold character, Harrison still manages to make Zephyr likable due to her intuition and willingness to do anything to survive. The moment Zephyr realizes she’s in a death trap, she does anything and everything she can to figure out her escape. Harrison gives Zephyr a lot of strength and manages to be as large of a personality as Courtney’s Tucker, despite the size difference. The two actors play perfect foils for one another.I also liked the romance angle, as it actually enhanced the tension in the film. Zephyr’s one-night-stand [a charming Josh Heuston] is the only character who realizes she’s missing and uses detective skills to figure out her whereabouts before it’s too late. The discovery leads to a thrilling third act, which makes you root for the protagonists more than you probably already had.DANGEROUS ANIMALS is directed by Sean Byrne, the man responsible for two awesome movies - 2009’s THE LOVED ONES and 2015’s THE DEVIL’S CANDY. Byrne shoots a beautiful film that’s dark, even if the cinematography is bright and colorful. Every frame, every character interaction, every chess move Tucker and Zephyr make against each other - they all matter and you’re rewarded at the end for how it all comes together. The sharks look great and the gore is pretty gnarly when it does occur. I appreciated the serious tone [for the most part], as a lot of modern shark films come across as silly or unrealistic. Byrne seems to have a lot of respect for these beautiful creatures and I appreciated it.All in all, DANGEROUS ANIMALS is one of my favorite horror films of 2025 at the moment. It’s a simple, yet engaging thriller that focuses on the true crime aspect of the human cat-and-mouse game of survival, with sharks used as a plot device and murder weapon of choice. Hassie Harrison makes for a great Final Girl, while Jai Courtney is at his best here as a charming, yet demented villain that will probably gain some sort of cult status. SCORE3 Howls Outta 4(8 out of 10)