Gross Movie Reviews #711

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Gross Movie Reviews #711

Fearless Dragons (Blu-ray) – Severin Films brings a 1980 kung fu classic to new life with this special edition of an unlikely duo of con men who are accused of a robbery they did not commit. Now the two find themselves in a pickle and must work together to find who actually did commit the robbery to clear their names. The story has been used many times since but works on so many different levels in this film. The film might be an Abbott and Costello meet Lethal Weapon routine but the final fight between the unlikely duo and the real villain is pure magic choreography-wise and cinematography-wise! Raid: Redemption owes something to this martial arts project. The blu-ray also features a commentary, an interview with the director, but most importantly an interview with one of the leads in Phillip Ko looking back and speaking fondly of this project as I give it 3 stars.

Blood Sisters (DVD) – Alicia seems like a normal thirty-something woman enjoying a great time with her boyfriend Adam and looking to the future with him. But two old friends come knocking at her door as they bash her for changing as these girls want the old Alicia as they are vampires and as you know vampires are not supposed to change but Alicia has. Martin their master was killed during the 80s and since then the three drifted apart until now that there is a chance they could bring back their master. Alicia sees it as a bad idea of course especially after she has to tell her boyfriend the truth who seems to be cool with everything. They bring Martin back to the life of the undead again only to be disappointed in his assery they didn’t see the first time around. This independent vamp film is not terrible by any means and a fun premise but really lacked any punch to get you excited about the project as I could only give it 2 out of 4 stars.

The Deep Dark (Tubi) – A French creature feature of a mine where some weird stuff happened several decades ago with no answers. The mine is still open but it takes extra money to get a select group of coal miners to take a professor down a shaft to get samples from the so-called “hellhole”! The miners requested to blow a hole in the floor of the cave to go beyond the 1000 meters for the professor to get these samples. The deeper the group goes into this cave the weirder things get as they are surrounded by complete darkness but find some clues of what happened years ago. After a cave-in and the men scrambling to find a way out, that is when the hidden creature goes hunting. The film feels a bit clunky but maybe a better version of ‘The Boogens’ for some horror fans as I give it 2 ½ stars.

Sharks vs. Mermaids (Tubi) – A guy named Derek is committed to an asylum and has come home after several months as he has this strange feeling of returning to the beach his girlfriend disappeared from. When the moon goes full Derek turns full manshark and murders people on the beach aka puts on a shark mask as he runs around like a lunatic while some mermaid sings or yells in the distance. Confused Derek is saved one night by one of these mermaids from other mermaids as there really isn’t any fighting between the two which again if that is the title of your movie “WTF” are you doing but anyway… The biggest mistake from scene one of this film is it going full seriousness not even trying to give it a few laughs as it just ends up as a large boring mess I give 1 out of 4 stars too.

Horror House on Highway Five (DVD) – A super weird 1983 independent flick that has students sent out in the field to do research on scientist Fredrick Bartholomew and his hand in the work of the V2 rocket for the Nazis. What goes along with weirdness is two brothers who lay claim to Bartholomew as they say he lives in their basement and should not be disturbed. Lets not even talk about the bizarre habits of the brothers as bodies are piling up because an individual wearing a Richard Nixon mask is killing people. The movie is either gonna be seen as brilliant or one of the most incoherent things you ever watched as I just go for meh giving it 2 out of 4 stars.

Shot By Night: The Byron C. Miller Collection (Blu-ray) – This collection is eight SOV shorts from Mr. Miller’s middle and high school days he shot with friends. The short films are introduced by a guy trying to scare kids with stories about werewolves, a mummy, zombies, creatures, slashers, etc. Never heard of the dude but it is a fun look into the innocent times of an aspiring filmmaker that should be passed to others in the future to understand this can be done and for fun as I give it 3 out of 4 stars.

Demon Squad: Tooth and Claw (Tubi) – Nick Moon aka bootleg Michael Madsen is a locally known paranormal investigator with a great assistant in Daisy who has stumbled across a monster, more specifically a werewolf or Dogman. The duo is known among the humans and supernatural entities and trusted. Think of a generic Dylan Dog (which I loved). Nick gives into a fake psychic to help him track down this dogman and maybe find a relationship as I give this project 2 out of 4 stars.

Creatures of the Night (Tubi) – No not the Kiss album many of yinz don’t remember but many debate on who actually played on it? This is more of a simple film where a hitman named “Goose” is paid handsomely to show up to a mansion to protect an old man for the evening until 3 am. The crazy old man, excited by the presence of Goose, convinces him to tell stories of monsters, zombies, demons, etc., or read between the lines of the newspapers. An anthology done with a little flare than usual comes off as an old school British sequel to Tales from the Crypt of sorts. Maybe not the cream of the crop anthology but something I wouldn’t sleep on as I enjoyed the wraparound as I give this 2 ½ out of 4 stars.

Broken Innocence (DVD) – Another project from filmmaker Chase Dudley who crafts some interesting big budget ideas on a small budget with great cinematography and talented casts. This project isn’t my usual cup of tea about a teenage girl who has been sexually abused over the years by her father who still wants her to be ‘his little girl’. It’s a slow burn of the girl Lilly just not interested in her father touching her or watching her constantly but most importantly she may have broken as she practices manipulation and killing to get what she wants as it all leads up to her losing her shit on her father. Again not my usual viewing choice but impressed with Chase Dudley as he doesn’t stick to one genre, my only concern of his projects is the running time as this goes 110 minutes and in my opinion just like other projects I have watched could use editing down as I give this 2 out of 4 stars.

Popeye Returns (Tubi) – What is this? Number five, six Popeye films out in the past year or so but doesn’t matter as this tries to be a sequel? Anyhow, this time around apparently Popeye is actually a British government experiment that isn’t dead like in the last film that the experimental formula ‘SPN-X’ was used on the man to make him a mutant killer. Five years have passed since he went on a rampage and now he has escaped the black ops facility to go murder the shit out of a summer camp! The first time around was sort of fun, the second time around feels forced and eventful but don’t worry kids they did leave it open for another entry soon as I give this 1 ½ out of 4 stars.

Any comments please send to grossmoviereview@verizon.net or www.facebook.com/grossmoviereviews .

Plus you can always go to the greatest T-shirt place online or if you are in Texas visit the store of “Fast Custom Shirts” where T-shirt Joe is the only place you should purchase your horror T-shirts: Go to www.fastcustomshirts.com and support!  

Grossfest 2026 Movie Schedule is here!

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http://www.grossfest.com

Grossfest 2026 – July 31st-August 1st

Friday 4-10pm

Saturday 11-7pm

Tickets: $15 for one day or $20 for both days

Vendor tables are SOLD OUT!

And of course we have a tattoo room

13occult will be playing on the patio at 8pm

Comfort Inn Conference Center

699 Rodi Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15235

(412) 244-1600

2026 Grossfest Movie Schedule for Friday July 31st

3:15pm-4:45pm: Phil Herman’s The Actor’s Curse

4:45pm-5:50pm: Spiritboard (premiere) 

5:50pm-6:05pm: The Monsters Among Us (premiere)

6:05pm-7:35pm: Nightmares Unleashed (premiere) also MMH Productions is doing a giveaway before or after the film

7:35pm-8:45pm: Caroushell 4 (premiere) Intro from Steve and Aleen

8:45pm-10:10pm: Wolf Moon Rising

10:10pm-11:15pm: Orgy of the Dead 2

11:15pm-12:20am: Die Die Delta Pie 2 (premiere) Intro from Sean Donohue

12:20am-2:00: Special Screening of Ssssssstoner Snake

Grossfest 2026 Movie Schedule for Saturday August 1st

Special Hangover Screening

10:15am-10:45am: Hexercise

10:45am-12:35pm: Transylvania Tapes

12:35pm-12:55pm: Grossfest Lifetime Achievement Award and Maddie Deering movie fund award

12:55pm-2:05pm: I:Scream Intro from Aleen and Steve

2:05pm-3:55pm: Tromasterpiece Theatre: Poultrygeist (Blu-ray premiere)

3:55pm-5:05pm: Camp Blood Christmas

5:05pm-6:45pm: Cracula

6:45pm-8:25pm: Phil Herman’s Amityville Descendents of Darkness

(Of course movie schedule is subject to change, but we try to keep it close)

Gross Movie Reviews #710

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The Time of Their Lives (DVD) – A fun Abbott and Costello film from 1946 where they don’t play as the duo like they did in most films and also one I never had the pleasure of watching. For the duo this is an odd but interesting ghost flick as Costello plays a character who dies during the Revolutionary War who was trying to help a woman tell people about Benedict Arnold, others, and their plans. The two are shot then thrown into a well at a mansion only to be believed as traitors so their spirits won’t rest. Abbott actually plays the real traitor during the war then his great great grandson shows up again in 1946 at said mansion. The ghosts haunt and will always be considered traitors until they can prove otherwise. Wonderful paranormal film to introduce young viewers too but also the fun of Abbott and Costello as I give this piece of entertainment from yesteryear 3 stars.

On the Edge (YouTube) – Mr. Brocklehurst from across the pond is back at it again with another short film that deals with a man on the edge of sanity. As usual this short film will make you think as this kind gentleman has the ability to churn out great stuff that is outside of the box of usual short films as I give it 3 1/2 out of 4 stars.

The Monsters Among Us (DVD) – A super underrated filmmaker Jason Burke is back at it again with his latest effort taking place at Halloween and horror fans this project is quite a treat! Actually a very simple premise of a couple exchanging traditions of Halloween and the repercussions of what happens when you don’t follow them. Again this project is simple, well shot, but most importantly the chemistry between the couple makes this excellent scare work as I give this short film 4 out of 4 stars.

Lifeform Phase One (Tubi) – Yes folks I was giving another Dustin Ferguson project a chance but as usual I came away disappointed. The film is set in 2030 where scientists have discovered an organism deep in space but it escapes to earth to kill people in the woods of L.A. I would be down for the creature called Violentus and all the AI if it didn’t only fill about 12 minutes of the 46 minute running time. But when most of the other time is used for credits and a beginning roll of story that tells you exactly what happens you do find yourself asking “why did I watch this?” I could be mean and I am sure many critics have been but I feel the best thing to say here is I am just disappointed in Mr. Ferguson as he claims to have all these resources to make movies now as I give it 0 stars.

Sting of Death (Tubi) – Who knew? A killer jellyfish movie made in Florida from 1966… kind of. A marine biologist is working hard on his research in Florida on jellyfish only to have his daughter showing up to have a college party at his resort. Time that with missing fishermen and an assistant who is scared but hellbent on proving everyone wrong you get a weird mix of beach party bingo meeting a creature… sort of with a wild Scooby-Doo style ending! This was a wonderful find as this feels like one those flicks that were just made for the drive-in as I give this 2 stars.

Gone with the Witch (DVD) – This Indy chaos comes from the mind of Damon Foster who has a history of making offbeat horror films if that makes sense. Twenty minutes of this would have been just fine, but 90 minutes makes you wonder if it is time to try shrooms while watching this long lost episode of Saturday morning television from the early 90s that is literally a mish mash of everything. The story is somewhat about bootleg Joan Jett aka Siouxsie Nikki Jett who is looking for a roommate. But between her getting a magical wand and her love for Turkish rip-offs it sets up for a headache of flying monkeys, bad fights in front of a green screen, random knowledge of Turkish movies, telepathic abilities, as nothing is off limits. The movie feels it beats you over the head with weirdness instead of allowing you to be invited in for the adventure as I can only give this 1 out of 4 stars.

Any comments please send to grossmoviereview@verizon.net or www.facebook.com/grossmoviereviews .

Plus you can always go to the greatest T-shirt place online or if you are in Texas visit the store of “Fast Custom Shirts” where T-shirt Joe is the only place you should purchase your horror T-shirts: Go to www.fastcustomshirts.com and support!  

Sharksquatch review

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So independent filmmaker Robert Boles dares to answer the question “what is missing from the horror/comedy creature feature genre?” And his answer was “Sharksquatch”… Half shark, half sasquatch, Mr. Boles writes and directs this feature that also features some talent behind the camera in Greg DeLiso (Hectic Knife and Psycho Ape fame) but also a small but perfect cast in front of the camera. Why do I bring this up because if anyone else was casted in these roles for the  film I feel it would be totally different and not as good of a picture. Our story is about a hybrid beast that stalks the hills of Hollywood decapitating people at a fast rate. This monster seems to be hunting not for food but possibly sport as one of its victims happens to be a mutual friend of three individuals who want to combine forces to put a stop to this massacre! Of course not understanding Sharksquatch is a massive beast that has a thirst for blood their first confrontation does not go well. But with the help of a random old dude who explains to them the creator ‘Jeff’ is who they need answers from in order to stop this genetic freak of a creature? From the first scene shot the cast, crew, and even Sharksquatch doesn’t fear the slim budget as it literally goes all in on the completely absurd and flourishes in it. To me the cast felt just as passionate as Mr. Boles did in bringing this off the wall independent creature feature to life and all should be proud of the finished product. You may have had me at the title before I watched but to actually pull this hilarious project off about half shark, half squatch has my utmost respect as this will be a film the independent community will enjoy for quite a long time as I give it 4 out of 4 stars

Gross Movie Reviews #709

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Frankenstein Island (DVD) – An oddity of a film from 1981 that have some random dudes getting lost and stranded on an island by hot air balloon. Of course the island just happens to be filled with a bunch of glorious movie troupe of Amazon women and Dr. Sheila Frankenstein. Yes, yinz heard that right! After lots of filler of these ugly dudes trying to get dates the stranded crew meets Dr. Frankenstein who has continued the experiment, to perfect it you might say? Again lots of filler, a weird ghostly image of John Carradine laughing, and the actual Frankenstein monster not showing up till the end of the movie. Literally you would say this film was made for the mere reason to exist on MST3K as I give it 1 star.

Ghostkeeper (Plex) – This little 80s slow burn disguised as a slasher film has three lost travelers on snow mobiles on New Year’s Eve getting stuck at an abandoned mountain side hotel. Getting snowed in the three decide to make the best of it but quickly feel like they are not alone and they are correct. An old caretaker of the place and her offspring decided to stay and live away from the booming cities (old lady’s words). Besides the fact they elude immediately that they are cannibals this movie suffers from pacing and has you asking what is truly going on? But doing some research the film was troubled from the beginning to disappearing budgets to many rewrites to a completely different film being made than what the actors brought there did… There was a good reason horror fans haven’t heard much about this film as I give it 1 star.

Aliens Expanded (Shudder) – Holy nerdy ballsack kids as this over 4 1/2 hour documentary of the 1986 sci-fi sequel has been unleashed on the public. Just when you thought you were such a nerd (like a lot of us) about this wonderful film that graced our presence 40 years ago they decided to tell everyone “hold my beer or in this case hold my facehugger” and just bombard the viewer with stories, discussions, interviews, and everything ‘Aliens’ including James Cameron. I loved this movie and thought I knew a lot? But wow kids this documentary goes above, beyond, and in-depth into a film that is considered maybe the most perfect sci-fi film to be released as I give this 4 stars all the way as I swear you will not get bored with this.

Spiritboard: Doorway to Death (DVD) – A newer independent filmmaker to the scene has just completed his third project that begins in 1926 where William, an evil man is ripped from his home to be lynched. William knowing what was coming performs some black magic of sorts before he is hung. Now fast forward a hundred years and his Spiritboard is found then used during a small girlfriend get together while watching ‘Revenge of the Lobster People 2’ (which by the way I wanna see that flick). The three young ladies using it believe they are all just playing around until the evil William has been conjured and possess the roommate who is literally just trying to get sleep. A small get together quickly turns into a ghastly bloody time with no escape as William wants vengeance or more than anything just fun with his new ghostly powers. Shawn Wright’s feature has a few flaws but its small cast, mostly one location, bare bones filmmaking with gory possessions, and a wonderful ending intentional or not gives a very small company 1990-1991 direct-to-video vibe that only the original ‘Witchboard’ and ‘Witchcraft’ films were able to accomplish in this genre as Shawn Wright’s career should be on the rise as I give his latest 3 out of 4 stars.

CarousHell 4 (Blu-ray) – So the talented independent filmmaker Steve Rudzinski returns to his most absurd but entertaining as hell (I say this in a good way) horror series that centers around a killer merry-go-round horse, a unicorn, whatever you or Steve’s universe considers Duke. Anyhow things seem to be going great for Duke and his offspring Robbie (by the way Robbie is magical if you haven’t watched the other films) but it has been brought to the attention of Duke that Robbie may never want to grow up? So Duke facing a challenge decides it will be good for him and Robbie to head out to the “Raimi” cabin to help sort out with Robbie that it is okay to get older, that it is a natural part of order. The duo are warned about the cabin as evil lurks there and wants released! Calmly Duke isn’t worried about it as he is a lucky guy until Robbie happens to trip over the “Nekkomeowicon” and say out loud the words inside. This causes some super terrible things to be released, mainly victims Duke has murdered in his past as Duke is faced with fighting the past in order to help save the future for Robbie. Without going into much detail Steve uses this sequel to feature all of the influences in his life to make this passion project come true. It has a bit of everything from comedic aspects to some wonderful make-up and gore to a perfect running time for the film to a magical unicorn bitching about zombie demons to an ending that only could come from the amazing mind of Steve Rudzinski (oh, you will know when you see it) to possibly having the greatest cameo and not overdone by the way of any independent horror film I have had the pleasure of watching. This project, this sequel in a series of films for over ten years is not just a work of art but a work of passion that whether you care or not or will even admit Steve Rudzinski needs to be mentioned with the others of the genre like the Polonias, Farmer, Bookwalter, Sheets, do I need to go on? Anyhow 4 out of 4 stars kids if you miss this one shame on you for claiming to be an independent horror movie fan.

The Inglorious Bastards (DVD) – No we are not talking about the one with Brad Pitt that a lot of mainstream movie viewers love, we are talking the original that starred Fred Williamson, Peter Hooten, and Bo Svenson. The original I believe gets lost among the movie going public since we got that other fun project. This one takes place in 1944 France where American misfit prisoners under the leadership of Lt. Yeager volunteer for a mission to trade for their freedom. In reality they know this is probably a death sentence but this is the first time their talents have been really used and can make a difference against the Nazis as they try to steal parts of the V2 rocket. Beyond action-packed this film literally only has a region 2 blu-ray edition but this three-disc the from Severin is wonderful that includes a documentary and the soundtrack which is 4 stars all the way.

My Life with the Living Dead: The Story of John A. Russo (Blu-ray) – Talented filmmaker James Lockhart documents John Russo telling stories of the early days of filmmaking in Pittsburgh, early days hanging with George A. Romero, Night of the Living Dead, and what his friends were doing at that time. But this isn’t all about ‘NOTLD’ as Russo speaks about navigating all his projects over his 60 year career that includes the controversial mistake (my opinion, not Russo’s) 30th anniversary with the extra footage to one of the worst films ever made (my opinion not Mr. Russo’s) in ‘Children of the Living Dead’. Take out my opinion of how I feel this documentary was done with class by James Lockhart and will make ‘Living Dead’ fans happy to watch as I give the film 3 out of 4 stars. Believe me there is some actual interesting stuff that Russo did outside of the original zombie film but most will watch this for ‘NOTLD’

Any comments please send to grossmoviereview@verizon.net or www.facebook.com/grossmoviereviews .

Plus you can always go to the greatest T-shirt place online or if you are in Texas visit the store of “Fast Custom Shirts” where T-shirt Joe is the only place you should purchase your horror T-shirts: Go to www.fastcustomshirts.com and support!  

CarousHELL 4 review

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So the talented independent filmmaker Steve Rudzinski returns to his most absurd but entertaining as hell (I say this in a good way) horror series that centers around a killer merry-go-round horse, a unicorn, whatever you or Steve’s universe considers Duke. Anyhow things seem to be going great for Duke and his offspring Robbie (by the way Robbie is magical if you haven’t watched the other films) but it has been brought to the attention of Duke that Robbie may never want to grow up? So Duke facing a challenge decides it will be good for him and Robbie to head out to the “Raimi” cabin to help sort out with Robbie that it is okay to get older, that it is a natural part of order. The duo are warned about the cabin as evil lurks there and wants released! Calmly Duke isn’t worried about it as he is a lucky guy until Robbie happens to trip over the “Nekkomeowicon” and say out loud the words inside. This causes some super terrible things to be released, mainly victims Duke has murdered in his past as Duke is faced with fighting the past in order to help save the future for Robbie. Without going into much detail Steve uses this sequel to feature all of the influences in his life to make this passion project come true. It has a bit of everything from comedic aspects to some wonderful make-up and gore to a perfect running time for the film to a magical unicorn bitching about zombie demons to an ending that only could come from the amazing mind of Steve Rudzinski (oh, you will know when you see it) to possibly having the greatest cameo and not overdone by the way of any independent horror film I have had the pleasure of watching. This project, this sequel in a series of films for over ten years is not just a work of art but a work of passion that whether you care or not or will even admit Steve Rudzinski needs to be mentioned with the others of the genre like the Polonias, Farmer, Bookwalter, Sheets, do I need to go on? Anyhow 4 out of 4 stars kids if you miss this one shame on you for claiming to be an independent horror movie fan.

Gross Movie Reviews #708

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Payday (DVD) – A Chase Dudley production which means an Indie film that looks great with usually a great cast also and this one was no different as this is more of an Action/Drama Heist film that goes sideways. A restaurant manager has been doing some illegal business with some of the restaurant’s money. As Adie is being called on it she already has in play a set up of her unlikely criminal element boyfriend who believes he is helping her out of love for them to runaway together. As Ben enters the restaurant and both believe they are in the clear, the police show up with Ben not running away but staying with Adie back at the restaurant that then turns into a no win hostage problem. From the beginning Adie is manipulating everything so she comes out smelling like roses! Chase plays up the tension with the one location and with Adie clearly the villain playing everyone inside against each other just builds the tension and gives the film bite. One major flaw is running time as I believe they linger all too long in the dialogue. All the actors were great but this thing runs at a long 106 minutes. With an edit especially in some of the long drawn out dialogue scenes, you get this at 76 minutes I think this Indie project has one hell of an impact as I give the film 2 out of 4 stars.

Die You Zombie Bastards! (DVD) – One of the most bizarre low budget productions that we have been blessed with in the 2000s! This project dares to mash up several movie plots together and comes up with a wild story about a serial killer’s wife being kidnapped by an evil Baron. Red is a lovable serial killer who just killed off a bunch of hippies as this evil dude kidnaps his wife which transforms Red into a superhero who goes on a journey. This journey is to help Red fend off the zombies the Evil Baron keeps sending Red’s way so the Baron can have his way with Red’s wife. Boobs, blood, chaos, absurdity, and scenes of some of the wildest things in a horror movie are what best describes this adventure as this 2005 film deserves to be rediscovered by film fans as I give it 3 1/2 out of 4 stars.

SpookT (Blu-ray) – One of the few paranormal films that I found interesting as Rachel and Claire show up in small town, Pa., for different reasons to investigate a haunted house called ‘The Gibson House’. This house has been considered off limits because of Dr. Byler and his odd behavior several years ago but also the girl that went missing on a dare to go in the haunted house. One looking to debunk the legend, the other trying to prove the legend and possibly find the real reason the little girl disappeared. The investigators team up as they do not play this supernatural thriller for laughs as it dials up the creepy factor with its old school style of scares. Again not a huge fan of this genre but I do believe fans of 70s old school scares but get a nice kick out of what they did with this movie as I give it 2 1/2 out 4 stars.

Blown (Blu-ray) – This forgotten wild gem from 2005 reminds you immediately you are in for a treat when it begins with something called “Mastercrap Theater”. Right out of the gate there are three friends hitting the porn store to “find things to throw around during a bachelor party”. The trio finds the ultimate party favor for Bobby’s party… the blow up doll! Unbeknownst to the boys this ultimate sex doll isn’t your ordinary blow up doll. Once the stripper shows up that is when the fun begins as she is strangled by the blow up doll as the doll has a bloody rampage through the party. Is it disgusting, raunchy, and way beyond good taste… yes! But I laughed my ass throughout the film especially when its revealed its all because of voodoo as I give this project 3 out of 4 stars.

Blood Orgy of the Damned (Blu-ray) – This is a 2001 project from Abnormal Entertainment that I truly thought they may have kept to themselves as it is supposedly a lost film with no soundtrack? So the cast of the film do a riff track about a couple vampires brought back to life looking for a virgin. There are a few laughs at the beginning but for me this got old quick as there was some inside jokes and sometimes when you think a project is a great idea? Sometimes it is not in my opinion and should not put out there for public consumption as I give this project 1 out of 4 stars.

UFO: The Otis Files (Blu-ray) – A more recent project from Abnormal Entertainment that is a mockumentary about a man named Otis who has seen aliens in his small town Michigan. But locals are not so keen when Otis is getting the spotlight treatment talking up aliens even though they are actually trying to cover the whole thing up. A weird little project that may interest Indie alien project fans as some of these can test your patients on what you consider is an actual movie as I give this 2 out of 4 stars.

The Beast of Yucca Flats (Blu-ray) – A bad public domain film from 1961 that deals with a Soviet scientist on U.S. soil who is exploded to to a nuclear explosion that changes him into a beast that roams the desert. When the beast isn’t attacking random victims the movie moves at a snail’s pace to fill time as I give it 1 out of 4 stars.

Return to Yucca Flats: Desert Man-Beast (Blu-ray) – So in 2010 there was an Indie sequel to the horrible early 60s film where the beast survives? But which film is worse is entirely up to you? Not a whole lot going in this sequel as the man-beast continues his terror of roaming around ripping body parts off. Its meh to say at best as I give it 1 out of 4 stars.

Undone (Blu-Ray) – This 2008 twenty minutes short deals with a serious matter of a man in a very drunken state because of family tragedy asking for some alone time with a criminal. So an officer makes Travis’ wish come true by dropping off said prisoner to him as he has 24 hours to do whatever he wants just don’t kill him. Travis slowly tortures him but the criminal claims innocence as he laughs at Travis’ attempt to torture him. Then that’s when it gets a little intense with an ending that forces you to think ” How far would you go if put into this?” The short film project builds and builds into something quite disturbing and interesting as I give it 3 out of 4 stars.

Evil Flows Within (DVD) – This was Lisa Neeld’s first project as a director after working the Indie scene as an actor for the past several years. She goes the way of the silent film to tell the story of a vampire visiting her one evening. Using just music and actions of your cast to tell the story is always a tough and interesting choice for your first directorial project. Lisa also plays Marian in the film as everything is hunky dory in her life until a mysterious vampire visits her and changes her. Marian struggles with the concept of being a part of the undead but is it a horrific dream she had or did it all already happen as she dreams of being in a different world. Kudos to Lisa going for something different as it for sure will stand out when showing it at festivals as I give it 2 1/2 out of 4 stars.

One Too Many (DVD) – This 2024 short film stars Lisa Neeld as a woman who shows up to a bar one stormy night for a few drinks. But Lisa is pushed out of the bar because it closes at midnight. Drunk and sick she manages to make it to the boccie court out back only to puke then have a mishap. Waking after 3am she is witness to some ghostly weirdness learning nothing good happens after midnight but a lot of us already know that as I give this project 2 out of 4 stars.

Come see us at the last Living Dead Weekend June 12-14th, 2026

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Its hilarious I post about this book as it was my ultimate goal of making a coffee table book as it’s only available through me at the Grossfest table at conventions! Available for $20 and can be found at our table at Living Dead Weekend at Monroeville Mall June 12th-14th, 2026. The book has found new life recently as the best way to describe it is imagine if “Stephen King lived in Pittsburgh and wrote the Night Shift Collection” . The book contains 47 short stories written over a four year period that has already inspired a movie adaption along with several other possible projects coming in the future with several other filmmakers (whether any of that happens, who in the bleep knows?) Point is for whatever reason people are discovering something I wrote a few years back and yes I am super proud of what I wrote.

This show should be huge horror fans… We won’t just have my Tales from the Gross Side books but of course our $5 movies as usual along with our 2 for $30 VHS sale , but we will have a special guest at the Grossfest table and that is Ed Demko! He is keeping a lid on what horror stuff he is bringing but you will wanna get there early and often to see what Mr. Demko will have at the Grossfest table. Plus you never know what the Gross Brothers have brought out of the magical basement… So Indie horror fans come visit us and all the other cool vendors that will be there to celebrate one last time one of the greatest locations for a horror movie to ever exist!

Gross Movie Reviews #707

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Tales from the Quadead Zone (DVD) – This was one of the most notorious VHS movies that horror fans seeked out for years as copies were going at cheap “$750” each as the film feel out of print quickly and became thing of legend among independent movie collectors. This project is a SOV anthology from Charles N. Turner who unleashed this project on the world in 1987. As it fell out of print it apparently made an imprint on Louis Justin of Massacre Video as a few years back he tracked the rights and Charles to give us a DVD we all could appreciate. Was supposedly going to be three stories with a wraparound but never worked out as Charles explains in an interview on the disc. It ended up just being two stories with a long wraparound. The two short stories are weird about hunger and revenge on a brother after death with the long wraparound being about a woman telling her dead ghost son Bobby stories from the book called “Tales from the Quadead Zone”. This is a very inventive wild anthology that has a certain charm that I can see why some collectors truly loved the movie. No matter what just glad this exists on some kind of physical media as I give it 2 1/2 out of 4 stars.

Subhuman: The Amityville Experiment (Fawesome) – Hello kids, we have entry #82 as I knew this project existed for a bit of time but was almost impossible to track down until recently when it finally hit streaming. This little project has a scientific experiment from someone’s basement escape into the world or town known as Amityville. Subject 19 is a flesh eating blob with one eye that is growing as it feeds outside of its cage! Its a hilarious creature feature that runs 45 minutes and claymation as I give this entry 2 out of 4 stars.

555 (Blu-ray) – Again Massacre Video does their best to dig up the obscure and this slasher/serial killer film that was no different from the likes of a ‘Tales from the Quadead Zone’ in its uniqueness as this title was sought after feverishly for years. A DVD appeared a few years back then Massacre Video up their game by releasing a special edition blu-ray with a newly mastered print that also included interviews with cast and crew. This almost unknown slasher from 1988 goes out of its way to be unique as the killer kills for five nights in a row as the killer will have five victims then disappears for five years to a different city. This time around two detectives are making it their life’s work to catch this sicko in this brutally wild and bloody SOV slasher! This is a great grab for physical media collectors as I give it 3 1/2 out of 4 stars.

Screw Years Eve (Blu-ray) – This project from Gatorblade Films has Richard Tanner directing a Sean Donohue script that grabs for nostalgia from frame one and heads to present day day quickly. The duo drops a late 80s slasher formula into a present day independent horror project that is harder to pull off than you think… Over the years in this small town people die who celebrate New Years after the tragic death of a young man at a party. But a group of young people are going to go against the norm for nostalgia to celebrate the new years again! The story takes a bit of time to develop but it all makes sense once the killing starts. Lots of 80s references peppered in there, a pink gorilla, and the most crucial but small part belongs to Angel Bradford as Jamie the bartender. She is the right person for the right character to help pull together which I believe is a tough formula for present day horror. The cast is great through and through and I did hope for a different ending but this will satisfy the independent horror film community looking for another holiday horror as the project is something to behold as I give it 3 out of 4 stars.

Shrubs (YouTube) – A short film from a filmmaker in my neck of the woods in Pittsburgh who got a talented group of people together to make a 26 or so minute film about killer shrubs. Yes folks its Arbor Day weekend festival in this small modest town as they been celebrating Arbor Day for a hundred years. But tragedy strikes quick in Mount Evergreen when a young man smoking the devil’s lettuce then takes an ax to a tree! That is when the woods fights to the death to kill the community in this hilarious attempt in making the ultimate Arbor Day horror holiday film. This short has it all including a 70s TV movie ending intentionally or not all involved should be proud of this film. David Dietz and Ben Dietels are stand outs as usual as I give the short film 3 1/2 out of 4 stars.

The Barn III (Theater) – Justin Seaman returns once again to tell the story of a town where past sins of Halloween have been forgotten as the film picks up in 1998 with returning characters. The story then flashes forward to 2025 where Josh is now much older and a preacher who every Halloween is checking barns for the demons or his best friend Sam. Nothing happens and Josh’s sister Heather convinces him to take a year off but his nephew and best friend find the book Josh has been hiding and the harvest is on again. Without giving too much away the film goes big and over the top and rightfully so with the characters, the creatures, and the gore. I may always believe the first film is the best of the trilogy, this entry declares we will be seeing Justin in Hollywood soon as his vision has the chance to be the next big thing among horror movie collectors as I see this being Justin’s ‘Terrifer’??? Horror fans take that whatever way you want point is no matter what I think Justin Seaman may have just put the horror community on notice as I give this latest entry into the series 3 out of 4 stars.

Dr, Cyclops (DVD) – An older 40s flick I don’t remember ever seeing so I knew I should take a crack at reviewing it. We have a great biologist who isolates himself in the Amazon for unknown experiments for two years until he has a breakthrough. The good doctor is very secretive but sends for a highly regarded scientist to check his work? Dr. Cyclops is happy with what he hears and attempts to send them away shortly after they arrive. Refusing these other scientists meddle in the secretive doctors work to find out the hard way they get shrunk. For the time this film has some great set design and special effects worth seeking out to see how this idea has been done over dozens of times since the 40s as I give this film 2 out of 4 stars.

Recorded 2 (YouTube) – A found footage film independently shot in Bulgaria where a young woman from a film crew and her driver go missing! Friends attempt to investigate not understanding how she would disappear without a trace as they film their travels along with a superfan who is concerned. As friends find the car and believe they might have a clue about Georgina someone comes hacking and slashing away. Good solid concept for a found footage flick that doesn’t overstay its welcome in the running time department but have a feeling American audiences will not enjoy the simple but effective story telling with this feature as most mainstream found footage projects in the states will spoon feed the audience… Ever notice some of the worthy found footage projects come from outside the states as I give this project 2 1/2 out of 4 stars.

Any comments please send to grossmoviereview@verizon.net or www.facebook.com/grossmoviereviews .

Plus you can always go to the greatest T-shirt place online or if you are in Texas visit the store of “Fast Custom Shirts” where T-shirt Joe is the only place you should purchase your horror T-shirts: Go to www.fastcustomshirts.com and support!  

Gross Movie Reviews #706

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Amityville Descendants of Darkness (DVD) – Well kids welcome to entry #80 into this long running series as this time around Phil Herman and friends decide to go with the anthology route as the theme here is: some evils never die they evolve. The project opens up with a gooey adventure of three individuals looking to dig up a pile of cash that was buried under a shed after a robbery. With it being Amityville these three don’t have a chance. The second story goes international that involves a cursed rocking chair that is a gateway to ruining a couple’s loving partnership. Our third part of the anthology deals with a retired detective who never got passed his last case as it continues to haunt him. The last case just doesn’t disturb the retiree but consumes him as evil tends to do. Our final tale deals with a house that has trouble keeping its occupants according to the weird ass neighbors as the structure was built on the original foundation of the legendary haunted house. All in all this was a solid effort from beginning to end that didn’t rely on comedy but old school story telling as this anthology is set up it for each story ramping up the creep factor trying to surpass the last. Even though this is an entry into the Amityville series with a few slight dialogue changes this could have been a great standalone independent anthology with some talented people involved as for that I give this entertaining entry 3 out of 4 stars.

Amityville Rex (DVD) – So Mark Polonia has given us entry #81 and this feels like the old bar joke in some form of: a priest, a detective, a young lady with a bag full of cash, and T-rex walk into a bar as Mr. Polonia just ran with it. T-Rex bones have been recently discovered under the streets of Amityville and have recently been put up for display for the community to enjoy but a priest is getting terrible visions of it and what is to come next? Meanwhile a perfectly casted Tim Hatch with mustache (folks, this thing steals the movie) as the hard-nosed detective is trying to lean on a suspect as she has hidden a mob connected guy’s $300,000. A lot of garble and gab about a “dark one” somehow resurrecting a dinosaur gets all of our characters in a building where the building caretaker (Mark Polonia) meets a terrible end as “the dark one” brings to life, evil! The folks run for their lives but cannot escape the building unless they defeat this evil dinosaur as only in Amityville would this whole storyline would be acceptable. Is this entry into the series crazy, absurd, and feel like I said before a bar joke gone too far, of course but once again Mark Polonia figures out a way to entertain you with an Amityville entry as I give it 2 ½ out of 4 stars. There is a director’s commentary on the DVD but for some reason it refused to work on mine but hey at least I got to watch the film.

Any comments please send to grossmoviereview@verizon.net or www.facebook.com/grossmoviereviews .

Plus you can always go to the greatest T-shirt place online or if you are in Texas visit the store of “Fast Custom Shirts” where T-shirt Joe is the only place you should purchase your horror T-shirts: Go to www.fastcustomshirts.com and support!