Category Archives: Independent film news

“Man’s Biggest Fear Has Risen Again”

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From the Master of Terror Davide Melini comes another terrifying movie called “Lion”

“Man’s Biggest Fear Has Risen Again”

Interesting news today from Italian screenwriter and director Davide Melini! Production began already on this horror film and the cast looks promising! Pedro Sánchez, Michael Segal (“Colour from the Dark”, “Anger of the Dead”), and Tania Mercader joined the cast and Luca Vannella (“Thor”, “Harry Potter”, “Apocalypto”, “Heart of the Sea”), Alexis Continente (“Thor”, “Penny Dreadful”), Vincenzo Mastrantonio (“Titanic”, “Moulin Rouge”, “The Passion of Christ”, “Romeo + Juliet”), Bobby Holland (“The Dark Knight Rises”, “Game of Thrones”, “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows”), Ferdinando Merolla (“Troy”, “Gangs of New York”, “Hannibal Rising”) and lastly Roberto Paglialunga are all producers!

Check out the plot crunch:

An isolated chalet in a snowy forest… A man blinded by alcohol… A woman unable to rebel… And an 8-year-old child troubled and dark… The silent night is broken with cries… the start of a terrible nightmare!

The film shot with the Red Epic Dragon 6K is in post-production and it’s expected to be released this Halloween.

Dig on the teaser tráiler here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-op7Ry23Unw

Official Website: davidemelini.com/LION

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Lion-Film-982262008522129

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lion_film2017

IMDB Page: www.imdb.com/title/tt5480036

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Now available today! For $13!

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Special thank you to Ed Quillin and Kyle Poling for all their help!

 

http://www.lulu.com/shop/tim-gross/gross-movie-reviews-more-massacres-more-sequels-and-more-beer/paperback/product-22853681.html

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Midnight Syndicate Releases Zombies!!! Board Game Soundtrack

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CLEVELAND, Ohio (September 8, 2016) – Award-winning composers and dark music pioneers Midnight Syndicate have released the Zombies!!! Official Board Game Soundtrack.   The new release features Midnight Syndicate’s signature blend of sound effects and instrumental music set in the modern day, post-zombie apocalypse world of the Zombies!!! board game.  “We wanted to design a soundtrack that would not only heighten the Zombies!!! game play experience, but also appeal to all fans of zombies and our friends in the haunted attraction industry,” said Edward Douglas.  “I think we were able to achieve that.”

 

“Given the character and core elements of the game, I think that both of us immediately felt that this album should focus on having a more modern, aggressive sound. In order to achieve that, we brought in a lot of electronic and percussive instruments and kept the fundamental game scenarios firmly in mind, approaching it more as an actual soundtrack than as a collection of songs built around a particular theme or setting. While there are a few tracks that are more situation or location-specific, most are intended to evoke the general feel and atmosphere of the game world, allowing you to play along without interruption,” added Gavin Goszka.

 

“The soundtrack is a perfect complement to the game,” added Twilight Creations co-founder, Kerry Breitenstein. “I couldn’t be more excited for the Zombies!!! fans to hear it, let alone the rest of the world!”  The album is available at www.MidnightSyndicate.com as well as digitally on CDBaby, iTunes, and Amazon.com.

 

Official Midnight Syndicate website: www.MidnightSyndicate.com

Official Twilight Creations website: www.TwilightCreationsInc.com

 

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Midnight Syndicate

As Midnight Syndicate, composers Edward Douglas and Gavin Goszka have been delighting fans of roleplaying games, Halloween, horror cinema, and gothic music for almost two decades.  In addition to being the first musical act to win the game industry’s Origins Award (for The 13th Hour, 2005), their previous four albums have either won or been nominated in the roleplaying game industry’s ENnie Awards. Their eighteen albums, featuring their signature blend of dark orchestral music and sound effects, have become staples of the Halloween retail and haunted attraction industry, weaving their way into the musical tapestry of the Halloween season.  Every October, their music can be heard setting the atmosphere in haunted houses, amusement parks, television and radio shows, restaurants, stores, and homes worldwide. In 2015, they were included with seminal horror music acts like Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, Bobby “Boris” Pickett, John Carpenter, and Rob Zombie in Rue Morgue Magazine’s 50 Essential Horror Albums – Discs That Created, Evolved, or Defined Genre Music Over the Decades.

 

Twilight Creations

Twilight Creations, Inc. (TLC) is an award-winning board game publisher based in the Greater Cincinnati area. Founded in 2002 by Kerry and Todd Breitenstein, the company’s best selling product is the Zombies!!! line which features 15 expansions, spin-offs and add-ons. The Zombies!!! game will be celebrating its fifteenth anniversary in 2016. Twilight Creations has also published various other horror

 

Gross Movie Reviews #386

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Gross Movie Reviews #386

 

Almost Human (DVD) – The film is based on events that happened in a small town October 1987 and again two years later almost to the date in October. The movie opens with Seth trying to convince his best friend Mark that some weird stuff is following him. Mark goes outside to investigate and he disappears. For the next two years Seth is considered an outsider in the town. Even though he was cleared of all charges some folks still believe he killed his best friend. That is until Mark suddenly reappears two years later and is on a murder spree and going all ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ on people. Weird and interesting in a ‘Fire in the Sky’ kind of way. So if you like alien abduction cinema this is the movie for you as I give it 2 stars.

 

The Mechanic: Resurrection (Theater) – Jason Statham is back as the character Bishop who all believes is dead and he would like it to stay that way. Bishop figured out a way to be a ghost and out of the “mechanic” business altogether and living in Brazil. While at a restaurant Bishop is approached with an offer or to expose he is still alive. After some great fight scenes Bishop travels to an island that few know about and tries to figure what his next move is? Bishop gets mixed up with a girl (Jessica Alba) he is forced to kill three of the world’s biggest drug lords and make it look like an accident or she dies. A few twists, quite a few awesome stunts, and apparently Tommy Lee Jones finds a way for his 1990 ‘Under Siege’ role to live on only a little older this time and Gary Busey or Seagal. Mom Gross enjoyed it; I enjoyed it, Statham made another solid action flick as I give it 3 stars.

 

Poolboy (DVD) – Another Saint James St. James project that has Kevin Sorbo in the lead role as the Poolboy who is trying to rid the Pool cleaning business of Mexicans. But Mexican mob leader Danny Trejo refuses to back down from Sorbo and fights back. We also get Jason Mewes and Courtney Gains in a couple funny small roles. According to Saint James St. James the project was filmed when he was 11 years old and was banned in 1990 for being racially insensitive? For those of you who don’t know this is the same filmmaker who has made ‘FDR: Badass’, ‘Helen Keller vs. Nightwolves’, and has ‘Boombox Bigfoot’ on the way. If that wasn’t enough to peak your interest this is as Kevin Sorbo’s character literally goes undercover as a clown with a van that states: “The only raping clown in town!” It has a few laughs but the real question is: “Does T-shirt Joe Garcia approve?” as I give the film 2 ½ stars.

 

Return of the Living Dead II (DVD) – The 1988 sequel was highly awaited by horror fans but disappointed many as the sequel went in a different direction than the original. The sequel maybe or maybe not picks up after the events in Louisville, KY.? But this time around a canister falls off of a military truck into a sewage tunnel where three kids discover it. Two kids come back to it after locking the smaller kid into a crypt in the local cemetery. They break open the canister and a poisonous fog is released sending the kids coughing and running home and the fog eventually awakes the dead again. Now the dead is feasting on the town and chasing James Karen and Thom Matthews again? For the time I know I was one of those disappointed horror movie fans that seen this flick in the theater. Now that many years have passed I have a different respect for it and believe it has a place in cheesy horror sequel cinema. But it still leaves me curious or what if they went into a different direction or continued the story of the first film? Feeling a little better about this sequel as I give it 2 ½ stars.

 

Morons From Outer Space (DVD) – A mid-80s British film about three aliens who have crash landed on earth and the English government believes they have found intelligent life? Problem is the aliens are the dumbest aliens earth could have ever come across. After being poked and prodded the aliens manage to escape and eventually become famous celebrities! Tried my best in keeping awake but this film was mostly a borefest as I give it 1 star.

 

Wrong Turn 6: Last Resort (DVD) – The horror film series where the cannibals have more lives than Jason Voorhees and Toulon’s puppets combined! This time around a group of twentysomethings visit the Hobb Springs Hotel in the mountains of West Virginia. One of them has just inherited the hotel and is finally learning of a family he never had as he recently tried to end his life while working with the stress on Wall Street. Slowly he comes around to the idea that his family means more than friends and he must carry on the bloodline. Which in this case means there will be another ‘Wrong Turn’ sequel that nobody knew was released? I give it 1 star.

 

Pale Blood (VHS) – A vampire (Michael Fury) visits L.A. and is paying a young investigator to investigate vampire-like murders. Mr. Fury is very interested in knowing if there is a vampire on the loose or is it some random weirdo like Wings Hauser making it look like a vampire is murdering people? ‘Pale Blood’ is one of those early 90s direct-to-video releases that flooded the video market that usually got lost in the shuffle. If you are a Wings Hauser fan like myself it’s worth the watch as I give it 2 stars.

 

Killer Holiday (DVD) – A group of kids going to party for a weekend are staying for the night next to an old amusement park and want to explore it of course. Meanwhile a lame demented killer named Melvin Holiday is on the prowl as he is tracking and killing the kids one by one. Apparently add this disappointing flick to the “adoption gone bad” section of films or “I don’t need to ever view this again” section… I give it 0 stars.

 

The Incredible Melting Man (DVD) – A lone survivor from a space mission that traveled to Saturn’s rings only to become a Goo Monster who needs human cells to survive. But with his mind turning to mush and losing melting body parts he escapes and terrorizes the countryside killing people. The flick is cheesy but fun but most remember this flick for having the effects done by the famous Rick Baker. I give the film 2 stars.

 

The Big Boss (DVD) – Bruce Lee goes to visit his cousins and find work. Once a few cousins are missing one evening after work Bruce Lee avenges his family by beating every damn person that is anywhere near him! Proving you don’t fuck with his family as I give 2 ½ stars.

 

The Way of the Dragon (DVD) – This flick is set in Italy where Bruce Lee is a country boy who is visiting his Uncle’s family restaurant only to find them and the restaurant in trouble. The mob wants them out whether they sell or just leave… But Bruce Lee begins to make it a little harder for the mob to move in when he takes on the whole mob and then eventually Chuck F’N Norris! The film is famous for its climatic superpower fight at the colosseum. This film is evidence of Bruce Lee really finding himself as an actor and an action star that was supposed to have much bigger things to come but was cut short. I give this Bruce Lee flick 3 stars.

 

Tenebrae (Blu-ray) – Synapse Films reaches deep into the Argento library to give this considered classic by many the all-star treatment with its dual English and Italian tracks, commentary by Maitland McDonagh, trailers from different countries, original U.S. end credits, alternate opening credits, and the interesting documentary ‘Yellow Fever: The Rise and Fall of Gallo’. These extras will leave Argento fans salivating but for those who haven’t experienced ‘Tenebrae’ it is a very bloody experience. The story is about an author named Peter Neal who is promoting his newest book in Italy. At the same time he is there a serial killer is making their mark by killing their victims in the same manner of Neal’s latest book. Neal’s booking agent (John Saxon) tries to keep Neal busy but as the letters after each murder show up and the police with no clues Neal decides he should investigate. ‘Tenebrae’ is an Argento title that isn’t talked about as much as a ‘Suspiria’ or a ‘Deep Red’ but is well worth investing your demented mind into. Synapse Films and Argento are a perfect match for the Blu-ray format and fans will want to add this to their collection also as I give it 3 out of 4 stars. For more info go to: www.synapse-films.com .

 

Buried Alive (DVD) – Another oddity of a horror film that has seemed to pop out of nowhere has an all-star cast and based on an Edgar Allen Poe story. Robert Vaughn runs a school (Ravencroft Girls School) for troubled girls who recently are starting to go missing one by one. When a new teacher arrives and the girls don’t respond to therapy they begin to disappear, transfer, etc. The new teacher begins to investigate with a local town sheriff and things get stranger from there as she has visions of people being bricked up in the walls. The cast besides Robert Vaughn includes: the talented porn star Ginger Lynn, William Butler, Arnold Vosloo, John Carradine (supposedly his last film in 1988), and the man, the myth, the legend Dr. Loomis himself Donald Pleasence! Not the best of slasher films but the names alone make this a gem a must find and watch. I give it 2 stars.

 

Blood Moon (DVD) – A werewolf film set in the Old West (Colorado 1880s) where a small stop for travelers (Pine Bluff, I believe) on the way to Denver turns into a fight of their lives. What sets the film in motion is two outlaw brothers rob a bank and take off to Pine Bluff for fresh horses for their ride south. Problem no one is there, but also the travelers come into town and when no one is found they investigate and find a body and some animal tracks. The two brothers hold the travelers up but also understand they are no longer alone as something is stalking them. Stories of “Skinwalkers” are thrown out there but some don’t believe until the blood and guts begin to pile up. A relatively low budget film with a good solid story, solid werewolf, a ton of gore, and interesting characters make this werewolf flick worth putting on the list of good werewolf films to watch… Which isn’t many as I give this 2 ½ stars.

 

Blood Sand (DVD) – The film has also been marketed as ‘The Sand’ stars Jaime Kennedy for ten minutes and about spring breakers finding an alien egg during their beach party only to wake next morning to see the egg hatched. Also very few people left in the morning or ones who didn’t fall asleep on the sand. Next thing you know a cheap version of ‘Blood Beach’ happens but then that’s why I seek random crap like this out and you don’t. I give it 1 ½ stars.

 

Rockabilly Zombie Weekend (DVD) – The mosquitoes are bad in the swamps of Florida and the West Nile Virus is running rampant. The government comes to a local airplane pilot to pay him extra if he uses their new experimental pesticide mix to kill off the West Nile mosquitoes. He sprays the local towns with the new stuff and the people who came in contact with it soon change, die, and become the undead all during a rockabilly wedding. Zombies are attacking, mothers are fighting over their kids, but all Becky and Grant want is to get married and go to Vegas to see Elvis. There isn’t anything ground breaking genre wise but if you enjoy rockabilly music, tattoos, and zombie goo and gore then you are in in for a treat as I give it 2 stars.

 

Direct Action (DVD) – I believe a Canadian film about Dolph Lundgren as a good cop who just got a new partner. Problem isn’t the partner the problem is Dolph is about to testify for the Feds against cops known as the “Direct Action Unit”. Cops who might be above the law but have help crime go down 30% in the past year. But they are all dirty and Dolph just needs to survive till 5pm to go testify in front of a jury. So its cop on cop violence as Dolph tries not die and help his partner not become another victim in this action cop flick. I give this 2004 Dolph flick 2 ½ stars.

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CarousHELL (YouTube/DVD) – One of my favorite independent filmmakers, the talented Steve Rudzinski has released another project and it does not disappoint at all. The hilarious horror film is about a carousel horse/unicorn named Duke who is at a small amusement park and part of the Carousel ride. Duke is disgruntled and tired of the amusement park life. Duke is the only talking carousel horse/unicorn with no one to talk too. But what has Duke the most disgruntled is chubby kids putting their unwashed hands all over him. So after Laurie and her younger brother Lunchbox visit the park and Lunchbox rides Duke, Duke has had enough and leaves the ride. His goal is to track down the fat kid and murder him. Meanwhile, Laurie and her younger brother go to a party as Duke begins his murder spree and only Cowboy Cool can help now. But by the time Cowboy Cool reaches the party the damage has been done as Duke has murdered his way to the kid named Lunchbox. And if this amazingly absurd horror movie couldn’t get any better or weirder depending on your point of view the carousel horse/unicorn has crazy animal sex with an incredibly hot tattooed woman who loves unicorns. Thank you Steve for helping me cross off something I thought I would never see in a horror movie. Don’t know if that is good or bad? ‘CarousHELL’ is absurd, absolutely unrealistic, completely ridiculous, and I LOVE IT!!! Steve made the impossible possible movie fans! And let’s not forget the great gore effects (not one but two great face smash effects). This film is easily one of the best features I have watched this year and will be on my “Best of 2016” list. I give this Rudzinski creation 4 out of 4 stars and you can find more or purchase it at: www.CarousHELL.com or www.silverspotlightfilms.com .

 

Any comments or questions please send to grossmoviereview@verizon.net or www.facebook.com/grossmoviereviews . Remember folks always support your local independent movie theater, independent video store, and independent filmmakers! It will keep horror alive………

You can always visit and see some past reviews, independent film news, or me ranting at: www.grossmoviereviews.com !!!

Don’t forget you can also hear Kyle Poling and me talking about horror flicks on a weekly basis on the Bloodbaths and Boomsticks podcast at: www.bloodbathspodcast.blogspot.com/

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 for details.

Gross Movie Reviews: More Massacres, More Sequels, More Beer! comes out September 15th!

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It took awhile but it is almost here folks… “Gross Movie Reviews: More Massacres, More Sequels, More Beer!” will be released September 15, 2016 at the price of $13. Thank you to Ed Quillin and Kyle Poling for their help on the new book. I will have the new book with me also at Cinema Wasteland and the Too Groovy Toy Show a week later!

 

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Thank you to Ed Quillin

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TERROR FILMS ANNOUNCES RELEASE DATE & SNEAK PEEK CLIP FOR THE HOUSE ON PINE STREET

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Los Angeles, California – August 22nd, 2016: TERROR FILMS starts to unleash its slate of 2016 titles, beginning with the award winning and critically acclaimed film, THE HOUSE ON PINE STREET.

The first phase of the release will begin on September 30th, 2016 on the following TVOD platforms: iTunes, Amazon Instant, Google Play, Vudu, Xbox and PlayStation. Pre-Order is now available on iTunes: http://geni.us/jaXlG7l.

The company hopes to expand the release in the coming months on platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, YouTube, Fullscreen and Vimeo On Demand as well as major VOD and DVD retailers. Those dates will be announced once they have secured placement. The film is also set to debut theatrically in at least two cities, which have yet to be finalized.

The story revolves around Jennifer (Emily Goss). She is seven months pregnant and reluctantly returning to her hometown in Kansas, after an unexpected mental breakdown. Coping with her fears of motherhood, a strained relationship with her husband, Luke (Taylor Bottles), and the overbearing presence of her own mother, Meredith (Cathy Barnett), Jennifer struggles to regain control of her life. But when strange things start happening in their new rental home, Jennifer begins to fear that it may be haunted. Alone in her convictions, Jennifer is forced to question her sanity as she attempts to find out what, if anything, is plaguing the house.

The House On Pine Street was directed by Aaron and Austin Keeling. The directors co-wrote the film along with: Natalie Jones. All three of them produced the film along with: Monique Thomas. The film was an official selection at 14 domestic and international film festivals including – the New Orleans Horror Film Festival. Here, it won the Best Feature award, Nocturna Madrid International Fantastic Film Festival, Molins Horror Film Festival, and the Kansas International Film Festival.

As part of the marketing efforts Terror Films will release a new clip every week leading up to the film’s release, starting with this first sneak peek. Be sure to check out the film that critics are calling: “Creepy” – Variety/ “Disturbing…This movie had me so on edge.” – Horrornews.net / “A classic supernatural story” -Horrorhomeroom.com.

“It’s Just a House Jennifer” movieclip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_0ZRycb8w0

The official trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3uT_-EhK3U

For more information on Terror Films, go to: www.terrorfilms.net

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Gross Movie Reviews #385

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Gross Movie Reviews #385

 

Navy Seals vs. Zombies (DVD) – Michael Dudikoff heads a team of special Navy Seals that are ready for anything. A zombie outbreak traps the vice president in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the Navy Seals are sent in to rescue him. Once finished they must head to a different location in the city looking for scientists at a classified CIA lab to extract them for the possible cure to the outbreak. Along the way the Seals are being filmed by a reporter who is looking for her big break. For the most part horror fans the box art is better than the film as it’s just another cookie cutout zombie flick that the only reason to watch is for the “Dudikoff”. I give this lame zombie film 1 ½ stars.

 

Freaks of Nature (DVD) – It amazes me the crap that makes the theater and then the random unbelievable awesome horror films that just show up on cable, On Demand, etc. This flick is the latter as aliens attack the small town of Dillford. The town has its issues as humans, vampires, and zombies are finding it very hard to coexist these days and the alien invasion gives them a reason to fight each other. Meanwhile, during the alien invasion and the war between Dillford residents, three teenagers (a human, a vampire, and a zombie) all must get over their everyday hang-ups of being teenagers. If they do not the world is surely going to die. The film has a great dialogue, great effects, but it all doesn’t work without these three: Mackenzie Davis, Nicholas Braun, and Josh Fadem. Without them this movie is nothing but because of them the film has that allure of a ‘Weird Science’ or ‘The Monster Squad’ or ‘Popcorn’ where movie fans will want to watch it over and over again. An amazing masterpiece in my eyes as I give it 4 stars and surely it will be on my “Best of 2016 list”.

Knuckle Bones

Knucklebones (DVD/Vimeo) – Here’s a little unknown horror film from Mitch Wilson and Midnight Releasing about some weird demon shit going down at a dry cleaner in Texas, 1976. 40 years we are introduced to a cute college girl named Neesa who gets dumped by her long time cute boyfriend. Neesa goes with the next step of trying to commit suicide but does not succeed. So when released, friends try to help and get her out of her funk by taking her along with two dudes to the supposedly haunted dry cleaner that has been closed since that faithful day in 1976. They find a box that has dice/bones/summoning stones (take your pick) and it has written instructions. So of course let’s summon demons and get our young nubile bodies sliced and diced! But it does not stop there as the demon “Knucklebones” they bring to life survives on death and gore but also does a horrible Freddy Kruger impression. After killing several people and the dice being crushed Neesa goes completely batshit crazy bad ass and cuts off her hand! Only to burn the flesh off the hand and send old Knucklebones away. What looked like a boring independent horror film not worth talking about turned into a gorefest where demons use chainsaws and women go Bruce Campbell to save the fucking world! My only complaint of the whole film is the decision of Knucklebones cracking shitty jokes the whole way. Outside of that little complaint this movie is bad ass with its demon, its gore, and just a bad ass character in Neesa. Thank you Midnight Releasing for putting this wonderful horror film out there as I give it 3 out of 4 stars. You can find out more about it at: www.braindamagefilms.com or www.midnightreleasing.com .

 

Green Room (DVD) – So Patrick Stewart runs a club for Nazi punks… that’s normal. Honestly fun thriller as an underground punk band finds a gig in the middle of the woods in skinhead country. They play a bad ass gig, get paid, grab their shit, and witness a murder. Bad news you cannot leave because Patrick Stewart gotta take care of things. So it’s up to the trapped band members to fight their way through killer dogs, skinheads, and just Nazi punks wanting to prove themselves. It gets pretty graphic and only bad thing I can say is I felt like I seen this movie before but don’t let that stop you from watching this non-stop onslaught of craziness. I give the film 3 stars.

 

The Demented (DVD) – Six partying college friends just happen to be at a cabin where a dirty bomb goes off nearby and zombies happen because of the bio-chemical fallout. They must fight their way out of the cabin and the small nearby town just to get some help. I felt like the film ‘Chemical Peel’ may have done this a little better but they don’t have zombies as I give this 2 stars.

Auto Shop of Horrors

Auto Shop of Horrors (DVD/YouTube) – When Glen Berggoetz contacts me about a new flick he has done I know it’s gonna be a good day and it was with his latest project that he co-produced, co-written, co-directed, and of course starred in. Glen’s character is Randy. Randy happens to be a mechanic at the local auto shop who is very interested in the ancient Aztecs. As you know “the ancient Aztecs use to eat people’s eyeballs so they can see in the future.” Randy doesn’t question it at all and just goes with it as the auto shop now turns into ‘Blood Diner’. With each new client having engine trouble, Randy traps them, kills them, eats their eyeballs, and pushes them off a cliff in their car (or the same car in every scene.) Even when a detective begins questioning Randy that doesn’t stop Randy from being obsessed with eating eyeballs and seeing in the future. The highlights are licking eyeball scene which may be the most disturbing thing I have ever seen, his visions of ‘Midget Zombie Takeover, and what looks like twizzlers hanging from the eyeballs once removed. Glen has produced another classic independent horror film that is worthy of its title and to be watch by many as I give it 3 out of 4 stars. Find out more about the film or Glen’s other worthy projects go here: www.facebook.com/glenn.berggoetz or www.facebook.com/AutoShopOfHorrors .

 

Isle of the Dead (DVD/SyFy Channel) – Joey Lawrence is a part of a Navy Seal team going to an island that is infested with zombies. The island became infested after a military experiment went wrong ten years ago so now the government sends in a team to extract information before nuking the island. I am sorry you are still processing I said Joey Lawrence but either way just move along because you are not missing much in this latest entry to the zombie genre as I give it maybe 1 star …

 

Venomous (DVD) – A 2002 flick about Treat Williams playing a doctor in the desert town of Santa Mira where rattlesnakes just happen to be carrying a new strain of “Ebola”. These rattlesnakes just happen to be a mutation of an experiment during the Iraq war that disappeared or the building blew up. Long buried but now rearing its ugly head in this small town some military types want everyone to go away permanently as they try to convince Andrew Stevens to nuke the town. But Treat Williams and his cute ex-wife finally come up with antidote and get on TV to stop the nukes! Treat Williams always makes “when animal goes bad” flicks so much fun as I give this snake flick 2 ½ stars.

 

Terrordactyl (DVD) – A generic “Tucker and Dale” hook up with a cute bartender to fight space dinosaurs and there wasn’t even an Eric Roberts cameo. Count me out as I give this flick 1 star.

 

Any comments or questions please send to grossmoviereview@verizon.net or www.facebook.com/grossmoviereviews . Remember folks always support your local independent movie theater, independent video store, and independent filmmakers! It will keep horror alive………

You can always visit and see some past reviews, independent film news, or me ranting at: www.grossmoviereviews.com !!!

Don’t forget you can also hear Kyle Poling and me talking about horror flicks on a weekly basis on the Bloodbaths and Boomsticks podcast at: www.bloodbathspodcast.blogspot.com/

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 for details.

Knucklebones Available September 13th, 2016

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Knuckle Bones

Knucklebones Available September 13th, 2016

 

When college student Neesa and a group of friends stumble across an ancient dice game their first instinct is to roll them bones. Their second instinct is to run for their lives when the demon they summon starts killing them off one by one.

www.midnightreleasing.com and www.braindamagefilms.com

 

Gross Movie Reviews #384

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Gross Movie Reviews #384

 

Full Eclipse (DVD) – Oh the glory of random HBO original movies… This lesser known werewolf film if you can classify it as that was released in 1993 starring Bruce Payne, Mario Van Peebles, Patsy Kensit, Dean Norris, Jennifer Rubin, and Paula Marshall. Max is a young cop who just lost his partner in a chaotic hostage takeover of a nightclub. Some time passes and his partner is back and good as new or so it seems. Meanwhile a man named Adam Garou wants Max to be part of his “special forces unit” within the police department. They help reduce crime drastically where ever Garou goes. Max not being a team player thinks something is weird and sees it in person when he is invited to a raid of a mob party where this group turns monstrous and kills all! Garou injects the team with a serum of his making that makes the team impervious to pain or being killed. One problem you are part werewolf and could go mad or become disfigured if you do not take the serum on a regular basis. ‘Full Eclipse’ is a very different twist on the werewolf genre that not many horror fans talk about plus added bonus debating if it was influenced by the ‘Wolverine’ character, just sayin? I give the werewolf film 3 stars.

 

Helen Keller vs. Nightwolves (DVD) – Let that title sink in for a minute as it is totally based on an accurate account of Alabama in 1910… Helen and family are attacked by these vicious creatures known as Nightwolves which causes her to be deaf and blind. So Helen takes upon herself to defend her small town and family against the evil creatures with some help from Barry Bostwick. The film also includes a hilarious line when Helen first meets Barry Bostwick’s character and feels his face and says, “It feels like Bruce Campbell”. This movie had me laughing from the time it began to after the credits as it takes nothing serious and that’s good in my book as I give it 3 stars.

 

Ozark Sharks (DVD/SyFy Channel) – Sharks have infested a Colorado lake and there is a dude with a Jeep Cherokee Truck that has a harpoon gun attached to it just because. Okay I will watch but I didn’t say it was good as I give it 1 star.

 

Shark Killer (DVD) – Arnold Vosloo is an unstoppable bad ass who likes diamonds and lives in South Africa. Someone screws over Vosloo and the biggest diamond on earth has been swallowed by a great white shark. The only one that can help is bootleg Chris Pratt aka Chase Walker who makes his living with sharks, sort of. His brother is the one that screwed over Vosloo and Vosloo has been shot, burned, and attacked by sharks but keeps coming. A wonderful overlooked B-movie worth watching with friends and enjoy the cheese but be entertained also as I give the flick 2 ½ stars.

 

Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens (DVD/SyFy Channel) – It’s been five years since the last known Sharknado has hit anywhere in the world. Ian Ziering as Finn has been resting comfortable at home with his and April’s son and decides to go to Las Vegas. There is the epicenter of Tommy Davidson’s invention of a weather destabilizer and many located around the world stop the Sharknados before they ever get started until now. This time around the Sharknados get started on land and cannot be stopped as there is a snownado, firenado, radioactive Sharknado, you name the nado! Finn rushes back to Kansas to save his son but must help everyone along the way. Tara Reid returns from the aid of her father Gary Busey. David Hasselhoff returns, Lloyd Kaufman makes an appearance, horror fans get Caroline Williams from ‘TCM 2’ fame to make not one but two references to ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’, and if that wasn’t enough Steve Guttenberg shows up with a Stephen King ‘Christine’ reference! The series is fun but as I said last time out I believe the series needs to end as I give it 2 stars.

 

2 Lava 2 Lantula (DVD/SyFy Channel) – I believe I have finally broken the computer’s spellcheck with that title? Steve Guttenberg is back as Colton and this time he has to go save his college-aged daughter in Florida as the lava spiders are attacking again. With the help of his partner Michael Winslow, Colton leaves his latest film project to find his daughter, throw out I believe a very random ‘Cocoon’ reference, and fight with Martin Kove about not waking the queen lava spider and long enough for Kove to say “sweep the leg”. The sequel still has the magic of the first film but like ‘Sharknado’ kill off the series before it becomes a shell of itself and where in the hell is the real star Michael Varrati? I give the sequel that had some awesome trailers 3 stars.

 

Spectre (DVD) – James Bond faces his own extinction and must make a choice as the demise of the “007” program is about to be finalized but for the wrong reasons. With no one to trust and being tracked by his own government James must find out why the program is about to go away but why one man is about to be given all the power of most of the world’s securities and be able to track and see anything and everything. I really enjoyed the Bond film as I thought it was a spectacular ending to the recent stretch of Daniel Craig entries. Will it be his last remains to be seen but if there is one more this has made sure we will get finally a stand-alone Bond film that has no connection to the past films. This film presents a case that Bond is still relevant as I give it 3 stars.

 

Outlaw of Gor (VHS/Comet TV) – The Professor Cabot once again returns to the world of Gor where the place he once saved is in trouble as a high priest and a cheating queen cause issues in the kingdom. The high priest is played by Jack Palance and this 1988 film has made it on many bad film lists over the years and one of the more popular episodes of MST3K among fans. For me it’s a sequel and I seen the first fantasy film so of course I needed to see this oddity as I give it 2 stars.

 

Frontier Marshal (YouTube) – As a request from a friend I watched this western to review it and glad I did. The 1939 film is all about Wyatt Earp and the O.K. Coral and put it simply influences the modern day film ‘Tombstone’ that stars Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer. It’s wild as we get to see a young John Carradine, a young Cesar Romero play Doc Holliday, and the Wolfman himself Lon Chaney Jr. playing a henchmen/paid gunman. Enough violence to make it stand out from the usual westerns of the day but its portrayal of the O.K. Coral is amazing and you understand why so many kids of that era wanted to be cowboys. I give this oldie but goodie 3 ½ stars.

Creature Feature

Creature Feature (DVD/Vimeo) – Filmmaker Chase Smith presents to you an anthology of scary stories that are being told by a group of friends trying to scare each other at a Halloween party. We have clown statues, revenge zombies, witches, scarecrow/pumpkin man, and a haunted house with a baby killer/werewolf who lives there. The group is trying to scare the shit out of each other with each story as drink more and more but who ends up scaring who is the twist. The 80s inspired anthology screams fun with its short quick stories, nudity, and gore and gives horror/Halloween themed film fans something else to look forward to watch for the upcoming Halloween holiday as I give the film 2 ½ out of 4 stars. You can found out more about the film at www.braindamagefilms.com and www.midnightreleasing.com .

 

Batman: The Killing Joke (DVD) – The comic book story of Batman and Joker of where Joker crossing the line comes to animation film land. Batman has been training Batgirl/Barbara Gordon for a few years now and things have become different at least for Batgirl. Frustrated, she goes out on her own to fight a mob boss’ son who wants to get in the head of Batgirl. Once resolved and the relationship has changed between Batman and Batgirl, The Joker has found his way out of the asylum and has big plans for Commissioner Gordon and his daughter. I enjoyed the film till the end where Batman and the Joker just laugh together instead of killing each other. I am sure there is some comic book nerds that will explain this to me but I thought someone die after Barbara Gordon was raped at gun point. I give the film 2 stars.

Hollywood Nightmare

Hollywood Nightmare (DVD/Vimeo) – Another Chase Smith film that stars Zoe Meyers as a stuck up actress Kendall Summers who thinks she is a movie star before she has become one. Kendall walks off her latest project for the weekend to get together with friends and show off her new million dollar home she just signed the papers to lease. Once there her two friends have better plans as their boyfriends show up and Kendall is forced to go to bed alone and drunk. Annoyed, Kendall keeps hearing noises all night. Next morning Kendall practicing lines for Monday’s scenes notices a shadow/a dark figure while studying the tape of her lines. When the leasing agent Sam keeps showing up unexpected, Kendall begins to question Sam about the history of the home. Sam is vague about everything as Kendall continues to hear noises, have dreams, and see a dark figure. The film is a fun thriller that runs a little longer than I like but the performance of Zoe Meyers is what makes this story work as I give the film 3 out of 4 stars. You can find out more at: www.braindamagefilms.com and www.midnightreleasing.com .

 

Reviled: Ep. 2 (Vimeo) – Filmmaker Jim Stramel continues his zombie saga that revolves around zombie pit fighting in the south. The events happen after the zombie apocalypse has come and gone and were a blimp on the social radar screen. Frank and his zombie daughter travel in their dirty van killing or crippling zombies in the illegal sport for money. But the real story is how Frank is still attached to his undead daughter and refuses to let go. This episode continues to introduce some new characters and expand the universe of this unique idea. Its dirty, has a lot of grime, a little gory, and absolutely beautiful zombie universe. My favorite part of this episode might be the kids selling bug spray for 25 cents as it is a little thing that makes it known to me that Jim Stramel takes this project seriously and make me wanting more! I give it 3 ½ out of 4 stars. Wanna check it out or maybe throw a few dollars Stramel and company’s way to help fund future episodes go to: www.reviledzombieseries.com .

 

Vile Prey (DVD) – Independent filmmaker Tim Novotny has a new sick horror project out there. It begins with three men doing a blood ritual of sorts but we are quickly thrown into a scene of brutality as the three men are torturing a couple during a house invasion. Credits roll… with news clips on television about murders, serial killer, and the local authorities being baffled but determined in solving these small county murders. But the three men are getting sloppy with their work and what seems just another torture movie takes a left turn when Marcus, the leader’s van has engine trouble on a dark back road. Soon they are being watched by someone with a night vision gun scope who captures Marcus. Beats him up a little, drugs him, and explains it is time for a hunt as Marcus is left disoriented in the middle of the woods. The man is named Max and he captures Marcus’ two cohorts to torture and maim them. The weird thing is Max’s brother is Dan head of the police department who knows all about what Max is doing in the middle of the dark woods. They believe in justice and covering it up so the feds believe the killer or killers are dead or captures. Novotny does a balancing act between thriller and just another torture revenge flick with ‘Vile Prey’. The film could have gone in many directions and I would not be surprised if there were several revisions of the script from Novotny as I can easily see the talented filmmaker revisiting this material again for another twisted project. ‘Vile Prey’ is somewhat brutal and interesting and shows Novotny is just getting started writing and directing wise as I give the flick 2 ½ out of 4 stars. For more info and to see the trailer check out: www.facebook.com/VilePrey .

 

Legendary (DVD) – The film is also known as ‘Tomb of the Dragon’ and stars Scott Adkins as Dr. Preston who is a cryptozoologist who is tracks down strange creatures to see if they exist or they are just mere myth. On his latest expedition one of his young assistants is killed when they find a prehistoric bear and Dolph Lundgren as Harker shoots at it wanting another trophy on his wall. Months have pass and lawsuits are piling up from Harker until a mysterious lawyer comes by the office to have Dr. Preston look into a dragon/giant lizard/croc-like creature attacking in China. The creature keeps attacking a facility that has already hired Harker to kill the creature. This is a Saturday night SyFy Channel film if I ever seen one and with Adkins and Lundgren starring in it this film was a blast as I give it 3 stars.

 

Dead Rising: Endgame (On Demand) – Jesse Metcalfe is back as Chase Carter the reporter who broke the story about Zombrex and the military and based on the video game. Two years have passed and Chase has entered the East Mission Quarantine Zone tracking his story still about the military and the zombies. The military has expanded to using drug dealers in and out of the quarantined zone in exchange for fresh subjects for experimentation. Chase gets the footage but starts the clock on the “Afterlife Project”. A fail safe for the military to kill all 1.5 million people who are infected and have the tracking devices implanted in them at the same time. Ultimately the military will release another zombie virus into the population for them to keep the experiment going. Chase with the help of his news team and his gun nut friend go through the infected city to get to the V.A. hospital to shut down the Afterlife Project from its source. Plus what is a zombie without Billy Zane as a crazy doctor experimenting on humans and zombies? A fun zombie video game adaption that goes unnoticed because it’s not called ‘Resident Evil’. I enjoyed both games but feel ‘Dead Rising’ is the superior zombie movie series thus far or until ‘Resident Evil’ gets rebooted as it needs to be? Zombie fans stop waiting for the next lame season of ‘The Walking Dead’ and live or die a little and take a chance watching these entertaining zombie flicks as I give this sequel 3 stars.

 

Alien Uprising (Blu-ray) – An alien film that is British, has Jean-Claude Van Damme for twenty minutes, and the aliens win? Okay you got my attention! Once all the power goes out and the military is fighting a losing battle against aliens a group of friends fight to survive and go visit Uncle JCVD… A little different and worth the watch for weird people like me and Jon Cross as I give it 2 ½ stars.

 

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