Happy Halloween Michael: Rob Zombie's Halloween

Fourteen years. It's been fourteen years since Rob Zombie's Halloween hit theaters. I sit here thinking about it and not sure how to feel about it. 

The first thing is that I feel a bit old. I remember getting up and then driving down to my local theater. I was early and had to wait five minutes for it to open. It was the first screening as they didn't have a midnight release for it. 

I sat in my seat in the theater. I was probably five rows back. It was a good spot because could see the whole screen. I was the only one there. Within another minute, a mother and her son showed up. He didn't look to be more than eight years old. He sounded excited like his mom had let him watch the earlier films. 

Boy were they in for a surprise. The lights came down and the previews started. I forget what they even were. I just know the mom and her son were sitting two aisles ahead of me. Then the movie started...

The family breakfast moment immediately set the tone. It was nothing but pure Rob Zombie. The way the characters acted and talked to one another, it was very in the style of The Devil's Rejects. I sat back and laughed. Immediately I knew this was going to be different. 

For the mother and her son, however, it took them a little longer. After all the Michelle jokes, we had Michael being bullied in the bathroom. I kept thinking no wonder he turned out the way he did - he kept getting crapped on. I had to give some credit that when Michael finally starts pushing back, it was something to behold. And then we were introduced to Michael McDowell's Loomis. Entering stage right, full of himself with his long hippy dippy hair. Donald Pleasance Loomis this was not going to be. 

By this point, I was sold on the film. I was enjoying all the performances. Sheri Moon was doing a really fantastic job as Michael's mom. Her arc was a bit tragic to me. Because she was doing the best she could to keep things together for her family. Literally, Michael was her whole world. I didn't mind Daeg Faerch as young Michael. My only thing was that I felt he talked a little too much. If they would have him say one or two things, maybe just even to mom - it would have made things more powerful. William Forsythe was a whole nother level. The way he was just shouting and acting anyway he well pleased. It was an interesting take. 

Then the big moment happened. Michael blind sided the bully after school. It took me a few minutes before I realized that this was Daryl Sahara from Spy Kids. This was a whole new performance from him. Michael just beats the bully to death with the tree branch. 

It was at this point where I watched the mother and son get up and leave the theater. I'm guessing they were going to get their refund. I sat back in my chair and laughed. I was left watching the remainder of the film by myself. 

The film actually flew by after this. Michael's attack on Judith, Steve and Ronnie were all very powerful. Michael had finally had enough of Ronnie's crap and tied him to the chair before slitting throat. That is very brutal. The way the camera also tends to look right up into Michael's mask so creepy and unnerving. This was Michael in action. I felt a little bad for Steve. He was really in the wrong place in the wrong time. If only he hadn't came over, what would have happened to him. Plus he just really wanted a sandwich. Michael's assault on Judith was a whole nother thing. This is one part where I'd say it hurt the film. 

I understand that these scenes were a good chunk of the first half of the film. But if they would had have Michael shut the front door then we cut to Michael's mom arriving home, I don't think we wouldnt have lost anything. It may have made this whole portion stronger. 

Typically, we are then treated to scenes with Loomis and Michael. The interplay between these two in the beginning was great. We then see Michael just retreating into himself as the years go by. Thus leaving a lasting effect on Loomis. 

Loomis in this film was good. It was different from Donald Pleasance and did its own thing. It never felt like it was overstepping. Plus McDowell gets to show exactly how much of an effect everything had on him - leaving him a little jaded. 

The breakout scene. This was something that was outstanding. Yes, we got to see Bill Moseley as one of the guards transporting Michael. But we got to see Michael's brute strength as he snaps the chains off him. The jack o lantern mask that he wears is my favorite as well. It's a very iconic look. But Michael quickly makes work of the guards as the blood flies. This was everything I was hoping for. 

(Later on, I'd see the Unrated cut. I was expecting to really dig this version of the film. Previously I had kept unrated cuts as my go to versions of films. This one was a pass. I had loved the theatrical cut so much that seeing the unrated cut left a bad feeling. It was all due to a change being the omission of the asylum breakout with the guards to Michael stopping one of the workers from taking advantage of another inmate. It was the one thing that still is just too much. )

After this, then we enter familiar territory. It's a shortened version of the Carpenter film through the Rob Zombie lens. It's definitely a nice modern take. Even if some of the characters were a bit excessive. They took things a little farther. I enjoyed this second half of the film. But it partially plays things safe as events happen how we expect them to. 

Scout Taylor Compton delivers a terrific performance as Laurie Strode. It was more believable. It was less of a goody too shoes. She had a small amount of edge to her. Danielle Harris had an outstanding performance as Annie. Yeah, she was a bit similar to the previous incarnation. However, Harris has such a likeability that you can't help but care about her. Kristina Klebe rounds the three girls as Lynda. This is definitely an improvement. She feels less ditzy. She's more believable as well. Another great inclusion to the cast is Brad Dourif as Sheriff Bracket. Seeing the care that he has for Annie, it makes a more relatable performance. He doesn't want to deal with Michael being round, he just wants things to go according to plan. To the point, it's fun seeing him butt heads with McDowell. 

Overall, I love this film. This was a take that felt familiar yet modernized. Michael was a brute force. Nothing would get in his way once he set his sights on something. Plus the showdown with Laurie at the end in the old house. It was tense and memorable. Another of my favorite moments. The way the film ends with a literal bang. It left me wanting to see where the story would go next. I was excited. It was to the point where I saw the film three times that opening weekend.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It

Earlier this year, the third Conjuring film was released in theaters and on HBO Max due to being in a pandemic and all. This was a film that I was excited for. I had seen the previous outings in the Conjuring Movie Cinematic Universe (Go check out Kinda Funny In Review where they discuss these films. They labelled it that.). I even have them on Blu ray. So it's safe to say that I am a fan. 

I have heard from a few that it was an off outing for the Warrens (go check out Essential Scares podcast). I won't lie it had me a little worried. Would the film fall into the dreaded third film problems that have befallen other franchises? 

Last night, I had the opportunity to watch the film finally. Let's get into it, shall we?

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren take on one of the most sensational cases of their careers after a cop stumbles upon a dazed and bloodied young man, Arne, walking down the road. Accused of murder, the suspect claims demonic possession as his defense, forcing the Warrens into a supernatural inquiry unlike anything they've ever seen before.

The Devil Made Me Do It, to me, doesn't feel like the third Conjuring film. This honestly feels like the fourth film - the third being Annabelle Comes Home. One could argue that film was a spin-off. However, it happens in the Warrens home and largely the daughter, Judy is a big part of the film. Therefore, it's the third Conjuring film in my eyes. 

Moving on from that, this film wasn't as bad as my mind was making it out to be. But I do understand where people are coming from. The marketing for this film was definitely off kilter compared to the other films. They were highlighting the fact that the film was inspired by the Arne Johnson case so much. It kinda ended up overshadowing the film so much. It also gave people a different idea of what the film was going to be like. In truth, they did successfully manage to get out of the Haunted House atmosphere from the first two films. However, it did feel a little more of the same and that it was playing a little safe. Plus, the whole trial aspect was something that didn't necessarily matter to the film. Whereas the marketing had it seem like there would have been more of a court procedural atmosphere. 

Now, this may seem like I'm bashing the film a lot. I'm not. I really did enjoy the film. It just felt like there were aspects that weren't necessarily utilized properly. The film has a very strong opening with the failed exorcism of young David Glatzel. It's very creepy and atmospheric. But then it goes from there and we see things with Arne Johnson. 

Specifically, I am talking about the infamous possession scene at the Dog Boarding house with his landlord, Bruno. There were things done in this scene that seem to be done just cause they could. Or that it was designed as a way of keeping us off kilter. We are stuck in Arne's mindset but then we see small glimpses of what was actually going on. Yeah, this did give an off kilter feeling to the events. But, it also kinda pushed me out of the film for a minute. 

Now, we also don't have a specific demon that's responsible for these events of this film. For the first time, we have a human presence. Yeah, she, Ilsa, just happens to be a Satan loving witch basically. But she took the time to plan out a curse and to use totems to summon a demon. That's pretty ballsy for a Conjuring film. It also added a different feeling to things as well. 

There were some scares. Not necessarily as many as I was used to in a film like this. But that made me appreciate it more. I was able to look past the jump scares for jump scare sake and let myself go along for the ride. 

Is this an amazing film? No. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga do a terrific job as the Warrens. They are the reason why some people love these films. Plus, they are so ridiculously cute together. There is a lot of heart to their performances as well. 

Ruairi O'Connor does a solid job at Arne Johnson. There is such a likeable quality to his character. Sarah Catherine Hook does a decent job as Debbie Glatzel. Honestly, the Glatzels in general felt like there wasn't more to them. And I think a large part of that is due to the way the film is structured. 

If they had structured the film differently, say we are shown more time with the Glatzels for the first half hour. We see them move in and then see the exorcism. Then transfer over to Arne's story. The film might have felt different and there would have been a bit more heart to it. But, it also could have felt very haunted house-ish that they were trying to get out from. 

Ilsa is a decent threat. It's an interesting one as we are used to more demonic presences in these films. However, it does feel a bit rushed. And that we don't necessarily get more time with her to understand her. Yeah, she's chaotic. But not helping us understand better kinda hinders things a little. John Noble does a good job as well with his performance. It's actually always nice to see him in a film or tv series. 

Overall, the film isn't bad in my opinion. It feels different and that they were trying to shake things up a little. There is a bit of familiarity to it, but I don't think it hinders the film. It helps make it feel like a comfort film or a nice warm blanket. Honestly, that's how I feel about these films. They are something like a warm blanket to come back to from time to time. To me, it feels the films of the 80s or late 70s (such as Phantasm, weird story but kinda comforting in a way). Yeah, the film could have been more. But I think part of it is was mismarketed. It's worth checking out though.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

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31 on 31 for Halloween Day 5: Fear, Inc.

‘What would you do if you found yourself in a horror film?’. That is the question that the 2016 film Fear, Inc. asks.

Fear, Inc. is definitely a love letter to the horror genre. It is a small indie film. One that when it was initially released it flew under the radar. It wasn’t till recently that I discovered it on Hulu.

Fear, Inc. follows a company of degenerates who can be hired for a premium to bring your greatest fears to life. But when horror junkie Joe Foster’s customized scare seemingly begins, he and his friends must decide if this company is there to scare them or make them pawns in their own sick game.

The story definitely feels fresh and original. There are homages to other films in the genre. But it never feels out of place. The opening of the film is one that sets up the world and the rules of The Company. It is a very strong opening and will not wish to spoil.

After the opening, the film spends its time introducing the characters. The stand out of the film cast is Lucas Neff’s Joe Foster. He is a bit of a lovable oaf. But he is the everyman. Ultimately, the film fell on whether or not he was relatable. And I would say that it succeeds. The rest of the cast does an outstanding job.

The film proceeds to throw Joe into the world of Fear, Inc. along with his loved one and friends. It is a bit like Alice falling down the rabbit hole. It’s something that will change the course of the film altogether. I can definitely say that I was very impressed by the film. I had it pegged that it was going to be one thing. But then, it just took a step off the path and went into an entirely different direction. And that is definitely the film’s strength – its unpredictability.

I would highly recommend this film. It is a very strong and passionate love letter to horror. It’s original and fresh. If you have a chance to see it, don’t pass it up.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

The film was directed by Vincent Mascale from a script written by Luke Barnett. Starring Lucas Neff, Caitlin Stasey, and Chris Marquette.

Fear, Inc. can be found on Hulu and available to buy from Amazon. 

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Return of the Living Dead Part II

Sometimes no matter how hard you try, you cannot have lightning strike twice.

This was my thought regarding Return of the Living Dead: Part II.

It would have been a no brainer that there would be a sequel to the cult classic Return of the Living Dead. I mean the ending of it literally was able to set the ball rolling on how a sequel could go with the rain falling after the bomb dropped. It was going to start the cycle again on a much larger scale.

Instead of picking that up, the filmmakers literally threw it away and decided to start with the corpse in a can breaking open once again. But instead it was caused by some children.

Why? Why did it have to be like this? Literally you have a great way to start the film instead of repeating what you just did. This was one of my first problems with the film.

I remembered seeing the film when I was younger late at night on a movie channel. I hadn’t seen the previous film at that point. But it just felt like something was missing.

Fast forward to today, the film still leaves me feeling that way. But now I have a better understanding of why.

While it’s nice seeing Thom Matthews returning, it feels very off. Mostly because they were trying so hard to recapture the magic they had just captured previously.

The rest of the cast felt very flat. As if they were asked to play very over the top. And ultimately they were pretty forgetable.

The zombies also seemed to limp along from the previous film. To the point where we are treated once again to zombies asking for more brains.

I was looking forward to revisiting this film. But overall just very disappointed with it overall. If you want a good zombie flick with humor, check out the vastly superior Return of the Living Dead or Shaun of the Dead.

Rating: 1 out of 5.

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Be My Witness - Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh

After the success of Candyman, the studio was quick to want to see a sequel. They asked Bernard Rose if he would be interested in returning. He ended up putting a pitch together for a Candyman set in the 1800s London. And that Candyman was the reason behind Jack the Ripper. The studio wasn't happy with that approach and decided that they would look elsewhere. 

Eventually, it all came to Bill Condon to direct. It was written by Rand Ravich and Mark Kruger. Honestly, this wasn't a loss to the film but a strength. 

Farewell to the Flesh relocates the story of the Candyman to New Orleans. This allowed the film to differentiate itself from the first film and not just rehash it. It also brought a very different take as we leave Chicago for southern gothic territory. That is definitely one of the things that I love so much. It's steeped deeply in southern gothic atmosphere. Which makes this such a perfect film for that Halloween time watch. 

We are taken on a journey of Annie (Kelly Rowan) as she finds herself pulled into the story of the Candyman by her brother (William O'Leary), Ethan. Ethan had been out the night before and what a wild night it was. He drank and then accosted Phillip Purcell (Michael Culkin), who returns from the first film - the dinner scene with Helen and Trevor. Then Ethan found himself arrested after Phillip was found murdered.

However, this family is far deeper down the rabbit hole than they realize. It's safe to say that eventually it's uncovered that this family are related to Daniel Robitaille (Tony Todd) and his love, Caroline. This dark secret ended up costing their father his life. 

This film is a bit of a rollercoaster. It follows somewhat of a slasher pattern, moreso than the first film. The gore in this film has been amped up compared to the first. However, some may see this as a bad film. I can understand why that is so. For me, this is kind of a comfort movie for me. Growing up, I got to watch horror films at early age. Well, out of all the Candyman films - this was the one I watched so much. 

Upon revisiting the film this time, I found myself still enraptured by the story. It's solid. And a very large part of that is the cast.Tony Todd delivers another great performance. This time, he definitely had more to work with. We are able to dive deeper into Robitaille's tragic story. Even so far as witnessing those events. Kelly Rowan is great as Annie. She is very likeable in this role. Especially as the layers peel back and she finally discovers who her family is. 

There are some people that have said that this feels like a rehash of the first film. I will have to disagree on that. Yes, Annie's circumstances and luck in this film lead her to follow a parallel trajectory as Helen did in the first film. The fact that there is that family connection to Candyman. That helps a lot to set it a apart. And honestly it doesn't feel as awkward as the daughter reveal did in Freddy's Dead. The change in location also helps reflect what kind of film this is. Old southern gothic tale compared to the first film's urban legend feel. 

In the end, I do recommend this film. It adds another layer to the lore of this franchise. It respects the Candyman character itself. A quick cash grab this is not. If you want a good followup to the first film, you honestly can't go wrong with this one. However, stay away from the third film. 

Rating: 4 out of 5. 

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31 on 31 for Halloween Day 4: Brutal Massacre A Comedy

Welcome back to 31 on 31 for Halloween. Last time, we took a look at Spookies. Such a film that is so absolutely bonkers you don't know what's going to happen next. Well, it left me thinking what film do I look at next. 

Today, I am here to talk about Brutal Massacre A Comedy. It was written and directed by Stevan Mena. You'll remember Stevan from the Malevolence films. 

Sypnosis:

Harry Penderecki, a once heralded horror auteur, finds himself on the outside looking in at Hollywood. He hasn't had a hit film in years, and most in the industry, including his close friends, think he's washed up. 

Harry is given one last chance to redeem himself with what could be his best or last picture. Brutal Massacre becomes just that, as the cast and crew find themselves battling one mishap after another as Harry struggles to keep his sanity against overwhelming resistance to finish the picture and find himself at the top once again.

This film is a bit of an underrated gem. It has a similar flair as Clerks, in my opinion. It probably helps that we have Brian O'Halloran in the film. Actually this film does have quite the cast. We have David Naughton (of American Werewolf in London fame) as the infamous Harry Penderecki. Gerry Bednob, Gunnar Hansen, Ken Foree and Ellen Sandweiss as members of Penderecki's production crew. Everyone delivers such a solid performance in this film. Is it gonna win awards? No. But the point is it's not supposed to. 

The key to this whole film is it doesn't take it seriously. It's shot in a mockumentary style. Kinda like Clerks meets Office meets a horror film production. Some of the things that happen in this film are very outlandish. However, there are some things that wouldn't be wrong seeing happen during production. And truth be told, there were some things that did happen during production of some of Stevan Mena's other films.  Well in Malevolence's production anyway. 

Overall, if you enjoy Clerks - you may find yourself liking this one too. I enjoyed it a lot. And a bit upset that waited this long to see it. 

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Brutal Massacre can be found on Tubi and available to buy from Amazon. 

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Say His Name...If You Dare: Candyman (1992)

Helen Lyle is a student who decides to write a thesis about local legends and myths. She visits a part of the town, where she learns about the legend of the Candyman, a one-armed man who appears when you say his name five times, in front of a mirror. 

Of course, Helen doesn't believe all this stuff, but the people of the area are really afraid. When she ignores their warnings and begins her investigation in the places that he is rumored to appear, a series of horrible murders begins. Could the legend be true?

This is the story of 1992's Candyman. It was written and directed by Bernard Rose. The big thing to take away is that it was adapted from "The Forbidden" from Clive Barker. It starred Virginia Madsen, Xander Berkeley and Tony Todd. 

I remember when this film first came out. I was four years old. My mother was still around and was big into horror films. She wanted to watch it with my Dad. Of course, I got to watch but was told to close my eyes when something gorey or spooky happened. So it was a very tame version of the film for me. 

However, the thing that struck me the most was Tony Todd. His performance is so incredible in this film. Whenever he's on the screen, he just emits such a presence that it's understandable why this film has become a cult classic. Being so young at the time, I also thought he was in the film a lot more than he actually is. This is also a testament to what an incredible actor Tony Todd is that he creates so much in the amount of time he was in the film.

Virginia Madsen's performance is equally amazing in this film. She's so sure of herself and what she's doing is the right thing. However, the deeper she goes into the hive - it's becoming clear that she's so selfish. She's not trying to help anybody out but make a name for herself. And that's something that Candyman takes advantage of. But the beautiful thing is that the crazier life gets, the more she begins to care for others. To the point where she sacrifices herself to save baby Anthony.  It really is a huge arc as we see everything in the film from Helen's perspective. 

Then we have Xander Berkeley. The man was so good on the show 24. Here, he delivers such a performance that just exudes douchebagness. If douchebag was a disease, this performance proves there's no cure. He goes so far to just make Helen think she's going crazy. And when she needs his help, he turns on her and hands her over freely. It's very clear that he's just trying to use her. And justice is definitely served at the end of the film. 

There are a few moments in this film where it has a very dreamlike quality. One of them being the discovery of the lair. Should we call it that? Candyman's home.  Another is when Helen is locked away in the Doctor's office, the imagery that happens in this scene. It is so visually striking and comes out of left field that it left me wondering if this was truly happening or if it was in Helen's mind. 

There is some gore in this film. It is nothing too over the top. Seriously nothing like we would see in today's film scape. However, that works to the film's strength. It allows the film to reach audiences that it may not otherwise. It definitely can appeal to those that are new comers to the horror genre. 

Ultimately this film is wonderfully tragic. It could also be a fairy tale. A ghost story. It is clear why it has withstood the test of time. 

Check out where the legend began before seeing the new film.

Come on, say it with me...

Candyman. Candyman. Candyman. Candyman. Candyman.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

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Time to Hunt Some Xenos: ALIENS: FIRETEAM ELITE

Back in 2013, Gearbox released Aliens Colonial Marines. It was a day that lives on in infamy for fans of the franchise. That game was bad. It was everything that could be wrong with a game based off the film Aliens. It was mishandled terribly. It was to the point where later on a mod fixed a script in the game to make the xenos handle properly. No longer would they blindly rush at you. However, the technology wasn't there yet. 

Yes, there are some that still accept Colonial Marines and just use it to shoot some Xenos. The multiplayer was kinda unique as you could play as a marine or a Xeno. But it was just a cash grab that was utilized to just further Borderlands 2 funds. 

Now, we have seen the release of Aliens: Fireteam Elite. I picked it up on the first day because I love this franchise. I have the Blu rays, the novels and the Legendary Card game and it's expansions. Though, the Predator one has eluded me..someday it will be mine. 

I have to say that I love Fireteam Elite. Cold Iron Studios understands this franchise very well. This isn't a repeat of Colonial Marines. 

Cold Iron Studios took the formula that was used for Left 4 Dead, another fantastic game, and applied it to the Alien franchise. This is a game that has replayability to it. This is a game that also is awesome because it can be played offline single player. In this day and age, this is something that means something to those of us who don't have the greatest internet (Hughesnet here). I'm able to just hop onto the game and within a minute or two start shooting some Xenos. 

You are part of a squad of Marines that go through four different campaigns, comprised of three missions each. The length of each mission could last to a half hour. 

So far, I'm on the second campaign. I have gone through a ship looking for a Doctor. And boy was that such a trip. At every corner, the xenos come out of the wood work. And it's like the film. Cold Iron Studios has done it. They made the xenos like the film xenos. And it's beautiful seeing them run on the ground then leap to the wall. Or they will be scurrying across the ceiling towards you. And there's a lot of them. 

The common xeno is a runner, similar to the AvP Alien or the one from Alien 3. It runs on all fours as it speeds towards you. The light shining off the top of the head. It's awesome. 

The next one I encountered is called the Prowler Alien. It's black with red webbing all over it. It hides in the shadows and waits for the right opportunity to pounce on its prey.  Before I patched the game, I had the pleasure of it just chilling up above when I entered the room. It allowed me to just take in the sight of this creature and see how awesome it looks. Currently, it's my favorite design from the game. 

There is also the Warrior. Now, this is the Xeno from Aliens. It runs on two feet at you. It's ridged head positioned just right where it feels like it's staring you down as it charges at you. It gives me goosebumps. 

There are the drone xenomorphs. These are the iconic ones that we have come to love in the first film. Stompy as it was referred to as by fans in Alien Isolation. It lumbers out of the vents and charges at you. Quickly it will attack, but the first sign of trouble - it hoofs it out of there for a vent to crawl into. 

We also have the burster xenos and the spitters. Both of these variants were featured in Colonial Marines. The bursters have green lights to them and will explode in a shower of acid. The spitters will stay back and snipe from afar. They spit acid from their mouths - so watch out. 

These so far have been the variety I have seen. Again, I am not too terribly far into the game. But it has been quite a variety into the ways missions play out. I slowly moved through the levels, looking at every spot a Xeno could come out of. Usually, it was the last place I looked. Then when I replayed the mission, a different outcome would happen as the way the enemies appeared changed.

There is a decent amount of customization. I won't say that it's completely terrible as some have said. It's not. What we have is a start. It's a solid base to build upon. You are able to customize the color of your weapons, add some decals, or add some attachments that will make them stronger. The weapons themselves could use some more variety. I wish there were a few more hand guns to use as I'm a technician. But again, it's a start.

The classes themselves for our characters are simple. There's gunner, doctor, technician and eventually recon. Not much there, but I feel like over time we will see Cold Iron Studios expand upon the classes and open them up. For me, I'd love to eventually be able to dual wield two hand guns. Why? Cause it'd be badass. It may not be effective but it'd be cool. The perks for each class is a separate beast than other shooter games. It's a grid that you fill up with the different talents. So you have a set amount of space, but with time youll be able to expand your loadout and then it's like playing Tetris as you figure out that special build. Again, it's a solid start.

Overall, I would recommend Fire Team Elite. It just gives off that great feeling of experiencing the dread and combat that made Aliens such a classic today. It's a beautiful counterpart to Alien Isolation as well. Especially since Isolation emulates everything that made the first film so special. Here I am holding out hope that we may get a game someday that gives the Alien 3 Assembly Cut vibe. 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

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Tiny Terrors Day 9: Puppet Master Origins (Retro and 3)

Back when I first began Tiny Terrors, I had the idea of covering the Puppet Master films in chronological order instead of release order. This was a new way to view the franchise. It would have been a good one. However, looking back now I realize that viewing the films in themes, that's another solid way of doing it. It allows one to treat the films as an anthological approach. It also helps with the later films as Puppet Master 4 and 5 feel vastly different than 1 and 2. 

So join me today as I take a look at the franchise's beginnings - Retro Puppet Master and Puppet Master 3.

Retro Puppet Master was released back in 1999. It was something that I hadn't even heard of back then. The only thing that I had seen was the lineup of figures that were being released by Full Moon Direct. It just felt like an offshoot toy lineup as the 90s had been known to produce. 

It wasn't till about 2001 that I had finally discovered it was a film. My Dad and I were having family dinner at my Aunt's. We were just waiting for dinner to be ready and we're browsing through channels. We stopped on the Sci-Fi channel and lo and behold, a Puppet Master marathon was on. The last ten minutes of 3 were running and the coming up next display showed Retro was on next. My Dad and I looked at each other and were like Huh, a new movie. Safe to say, we kept watching.

Retro Puppet Master is a different kind of film. It's a more fantasy feel to it. By this point, we had seen the Puppets as the good guys in 4 and 5. And here again, we see them as heroes. 

But this time it was much different. There was hardly any gore to the film. And if there was, it was like a green to achieve the PG-13 rating. 

Retro opens with Andre Toulon and his large chest full of the usual lineup of Puppets. They were waiting for an opening in the morning to pass into Switzerland, I believe. So they were staying at a rundown house. 

Guy Rolfe returned as the older Toulon. He always delivered a very heart felt performance, similar to how Donald Pleasance as Dr. Loomis. He became a bit of the face of the franchise for a little while. And I believe that this is the last time he would play the role. In the wraparound story, Toulon is reflecting on his journey to his puppets. 

It's 1892 and Sutekh (demon from 4 and 5) is hopping mad. It seems a 3,000 year old Egyptian sorcerer has stolen one of the God's secrets of life - that of instilling the souls of the dying into inanimate things. 

Sutekh raises three mummified former high priests, led by the villainous "First Servant", and charges them with recovering both the Sorceror and his secret. There is no lack of victims for the 3 high-faluting, stylish villains as they pursue their prey to 19th century Paris, and the very young puppeteer, Andre Toulon (Greg Sestero). 

Toulon runs a puppet theatre in the heart of Paris, and meets the sorcerer (the mysterious Afzel) when he is found by the lovely Swiss Ambassador's daughter Ilsa, after being nearly killed. 

We see Greg Sestero as young Toulon. Sestero does a decent job in this role. His accent feels a little over the top, but it does feel a bit like a younger version of Guy Rolfe's Toulon. And Sestero does a good job of making the character likeable.

Fun Fact: James Franco had originally auditioned to play the young version of Toulon. This is a huge thing as one can imagine what that would have been like. Actually it'd probably been like his performance in Oz the Great and Powerful. 

This film is actually interesting. We see the beginning of the franchise - especially as Toulon's young friends end up becoming the retro puppets. The downside of the retro puppets are that this the only time we see them. It would have been awesome to see them later on as well. All the retro versions are interesting. I think the biggest one being Dr. Death. Visually this is the Puppet with the strongest appearance. Cyclops is also pretty cool. And yes, we have prototypes of the fan favorites from the previous lineup, Pinhead, Six Shooter, Drill Sergeant (Tunneler) and Six Shooter. These are also interesting takes on the characters. The coolest of these probably being Pinhead. 

Again, the film is light on gore. It's more toned down. Probably as an attempt to appeal to a much broader audience. And for the most part, it works. 

To me, I appreciate what they were going for with Retro. They were attempting to showcase a prequel film, maybe to jump start the franchise again. But unfortunately, most people tend to overlook this one. I would say this is the most underappreciated of the franchise. Which is saying something since we later got The Legacy. 

I would recommend checking this one out. 

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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Next up, we have the film that's probably considered to be the best of the franchise, Puppet Master 3: Toulon's Revenge.

Puppet Master 3 was released in 1991. 

Set in Berlin during WWII, the Nazi regime is attempting to develop a drug that will animate the dead, in order to use in the war effort. Toulon arouses suspicion as a Nazi dissident, and his secret is discovered. 

During a Nazi raid on his home, Toulon's beautiful wife is murdered. Toulon vows revenge, with the help of his animated puppets. This movie gives a new perspective on Toulon and his "friends".

Now, this was a major change in the franchise when this was released. By this point, we were used to seeing the Puppets acting in the force of evil. This was the turning corner stone as it established that they could also be used for good.  It really establishes that what decides how they act is the Puppet Master themselves. If they are a good person, then the puppets tend to act in the service of good. If they bad, well then we get Puppet Masters 1 and 2. 

Another huge point for this film was that it was the first to feature the World War setting. This was huge as it gave us a whole new perspective to see the Puppets in. Plus who doesn't like seeing the Puppets go up against the Nazis. At first, I was going to lump this film with the Axis Trilogy. However, placing it with Retro it provides even more context to that film. 

Both of these films were used to establish the beginning of the franchise in a way. There's also some interesting parallels. The biggest parallel being Toulon using his friend's essences for the Puppets. Both films utilized this approach and helped the puppets find their justice. 

Guy Rolfe is also incredible. He is the heart to Toulon. It's his heartbreak for his beloved Ilsa that fuels the film. He wants justice for his friends. And he will do what it takes to ensure that. 

Plus, we get to see the origins of Leech Woman and Six Shooter. Now looking back on things, it makes sense with Toulon's interactions with Leech Woman. It's also a very tragic love story. And sad that we don't see Leech Woman interact with Decapitron. I would say that the biggest fact was discovering who Blade is based off of. And then seeing Blade enact justice on that person. That was pretty incredible. 

Its safe to say that I think this film is among the best in the franchise. It's also one that I highly recommend. Plus, it's fantastic to see the techniques used to bring the Puppets to life. 

Rating: 5 out of 5. 

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31 on 31 For Halloween Day 3: Spookies

Welcome to Day 3 of our 31 on 31 for Halloween. It's been interesting so far. There will be quite a few first time watches in this lineup. 

Now, we come to Spookies. It was released in 1988 after having tons of behind the scenes issues. It's been even documented on the blu ray of the film. I mean the film was cobbled together from two different films from two different directors. It's amazing how this could have happened. 

I watched The Last Drive-In version of the film on Shudder. I wanted the whole experience with this first time viewing. And it was an experience.

The first thing that I applaud are the opening credits music. Typically, the credits music tends to not stand out so much. However, this music reminded me of Night of the Demons. And it just filled me with that Halloween season nostalgia. 

As the film went on, I got to witness how much of a creative trainwreck this film is. There's a guy underneath a crypt that's trying to bring back his beloved. Okay, I can understand that. Though his acting is far below any average you could expect. Next up, we have a kid named Billy. It's his 13th birthday. He's out and about after running away from home cause he thought everybody forgot his birthday. Billy meets some creepy guy in the woods that asks for a light. Then, he comes across the house or crypt to find it is filled with birthday party stuff. What's the first thing Billy thinks? Oh, boy they did remember my birthday after all. What?!? 

Then we are introduced to our main group of characters. There's Duke and...Duke....and umm...Duke and the puppet man. Honestly I don't know names for the characters. It wasn't really well developed and said what their names are. However, one of them looks like he's 45 and is with an 18 year old. It's so beyond weird.

The whole film is a massive drug trip of a movie. Almost as if they had a whole edible or series of edibles when making this film. It just continuously left me just thinking WTF!!! 

I have never felt this way about a film before. It is mind-blowing. I cannot tell you what the plot of it is. Because there really is no plot to the film. It's just characters going around and then random monsters. Maybe that's part of the charm of the film. 

This is one that I don't know if I'll ever understand. But somehow it managed to get a cult following. 

It's worth checking it out to see what it is. Not sure if you'll get much out of it. But if you do, let me know. 

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Spookies can be seen on Shudder as well as purchased from Amazon.

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Tiny Terrors Day 8: Leprechaun 3 and Leprechaun 4

Hello everyone, welcome back to Tiny Terrors. For those tuning in, we are on Day 8. We have managed to pass the halfway mark of this series now. I would say that is a pretty big feat. 

Today, let's take a look at Leprechaun 3 and 4. Shall we?

Leprechaun 3 was the first installment of the Leprechaun franchise to be released straight to video. It was released in 1995. At this point in time, Leprechaun was doing very well. People had enjoyed the first two films. And Warwick Davis was a much bigger name as well. 

The Leprechaun arrives at a Las Vegas pawn shop after having been turned into a statue via a medallion. The pawn shop owner removes the medallion freeing the Leprechaun. He's quick to express his 'gratitude' by way of axe. The Leprechaun then sets out on the town. He's seeking out a gold wish coin that was taken from him. It's been passing from person to person. A college boy, Scott, is caught up in all of this along with his girlfriend, Tammy. 

Okay. So I remember when this was released asking my Dad if could rent it on pay per view. He just said sure. But I can remember he didn't watch it with me. However, upon this rewatch - it had me wondering what was my Dad thinking. 

I know I ragged on Leprechaun 2 a little bit. It was a bit slow paced. It felt corny. It felt like a quick script over. Which yes, there was all that. 

This film however felt fast paced. It didn't lag really. Warwick Davis was able to fully embrace and go balls to the wall crazy with his performance. And he does so with a smile on his face. I mean, come on. This is probably my favorite performance in the franchise. 

The fun thing about this film is that we had Caroline Williams from Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. It was fun seeing her in this. She plays a magician assistant, if I recall correctly. She just has a harsh view on how she looks. Which doesn't help that the Magician is a total douchebag. So, I would consider her death to be the big one of the film. It's definitely the most memorable and the biggest standout. She just wanted to look nice. That was her wish. However, Leprechaun twists like Wishmaster would do kills her by exploding her. 

It's interesting this film. I've seen it a few times. However when it comes to the acting, it's clear that outside of the Leprechaun is a bit of window dressing if you will. These are Warwick's films. So, yeah...outside of him and Caroline there wasn't much more memorable in terms of performances. 

I feel like covering that big death. Everything else seemed a bit less. Like this one was the big standout and everything else was like eh.

Overall, this is a fun film. It's a bit of a popcorn horror film. I would say that this franchise fits that category. It's a nice watch whenever need something to just throw on. 

Rating: 3 out of 5. 

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Further we go into the Leprechaun franchise. Let's go into Leprechaun 4.

So, they needed to shake things up. Leprechaun had gone to the country side in the first film. Then he went to Las Vegas in the last film. Where else could he go next?

At this point, I honestly feel like they had the white board from Cabin In The Woods and were throwing darts at it. Like, oh we did Vegas. Now we gotta do Space. Or people like Alien - so let's do a film like Alien but instead put the Leprechaun in it.

Joking aside, how does this film fare? 

This film is hugely disappointing. It's just an abomination of a film. It's a stupid concept. I understand that this potentially could be a hot take. And I apologize if I may offend. But it's a stupid concept. 

This could have been a quick cash grab for a film. That honestly would explain things so much. But okay, I'm gonna try and sum things up.

On a distant planet in the hear 2096, the Leprechaun has been courting a Princess. (Massive respect here, we have our guy finally finding a girl. Good for him.) However, both of them are planning to try to kill the other to consummate their marriage. 

Space Marines (cause we gotta have those. It's not space without them) arrive. One of them attempts to steal gold..but killed by a Leprechaun lightsaber (oh my goodness). The Leprechaun is killed by a grenade. However, his spirit hides in one of the marine's penis and poses as gonorrhea. I kid you not. This is what happens. How artsy of them. 

Marines return to the spaceship with the Princess. The Cyborg Captain sees the Princess blood has regenerative abilities and yeah, he's like I gotta get me that. The Leprechaun explodes out the marine's penis during a scene with a female marine after the marine is aroused. (Viagra get that shit outta here. Ya need more green.)

Marines hunt on the ship while Leprechaun outsmarts them. Shit happens and goes down. The Cyborg Pilot turns into a scorpion spider hybrid at one point. Oh my goodness.

The Princess literally distracts the Marines at one point by flashing them. Should I keep going? Okay, well the Leprechaun ends up exploding on the main ship while a pair of Marines escape in a pod..they witness the Leprechaun's giant hand flipping them off.

Yeah....

That's basically what happens in this film. At this point, I will say that this is a poor film. It's very balls to the wall in slapstick. It feels like a parody of scifi movies and the Leprechaun movies. They certainly crossed the line with their cheesiness. Outside of the exploding penis, there wasn't many memorable deaths. And outside of Warwick, there wasn't many memorable acting performances. 

Rating: 2 out of 5. At this point, this felt like a jump the shark moment with the franchise. It's easy to see the ship starting to sink. 

Come back on Friday for more goodness here at The Blue!

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31 on 31 for Halloween Day 2: Jakob's Wife

When I had first heard about this film, I was a bit of a skeptic. Another new vampire movie. It seems like we get them a lot now. I mean we even just got Blood Red Sky from Netflix. However, the thing that sold me on this film - Barbara Crampton. 

I have been a fan of Barbara's for awhile. I took a look at the movies that she's been in and I was very surprised at some of them. Robot Wars and Evolver being high up there. The reason being both of those were ones that I remember going to the video store and seeing their awesome covers on the shelves. It kinda hit me with that feeling of nostalgia that can't get anymore as rental stores have gone. 

It was Barbara's powerful performance in You're Next that drew me back in. That film is such a tour de force. Even after ten years, it holds up so well. And the one thing that hits me every time with that film is Barbara's performance. 

And there was Beyond the Gates. That was a small film that I watched first. But didn't hit with me right away. I did end up finding on DVD. That was when it finally clicked. 

But to say Jakob's Wife is just another vampire film. That's selling it very short. And each time I go to my local Walmart, I find that it's sold out every time. That shows just how great of a film it is.

Sypnosis:

Spending her days on cooking, housekeeping, and gardening, Anne, the dutiful, obedient, and supportive suburban wife to local pastor and pillar of the community, Jakob Fedder, realises that decades of passionless marriage have taken a toll on their relationship. Trapped in an uneventful existence, suddenly, Anne finds her world turned upside down when her old flame, Tom Low, drives into town, eager to pick up where they left off. 

Now, against the backdrop of unaccountable disappearances and an inexplicable rat infestation, temptation takes over, and Anne starts to build self-confidence, a whole new attitude, and her dream wardrobe. What is wrong with Jakob's wife?

Jakob's Wife was written by Kathy Charles and Mark Steensland and directed by Travis Stevens (who also co-wrote the film). 

Barbara Crampton delivers a phenomenal performance in this film. The journey she goes on is incredible. Starting off the film, Anne starts as someone that's been going through the motions. Day to day, she lives to serve her husband, Jakob (Larry Fessenden). Almost as if it was a blink and you'll miss your life moment. Which that idea is so very terrifying to me. The thing that sold it to me was when she met with Tom Low (the great Robert Rustler), there was a moment where could see how Anne was trapped..she so very much wanted to see Tom Low and spend intimate time with him. But her commitment was to her husband. 

But once the change hits, Anne becomes more assertive and confident in herself. And she cannot help herself with her new found urge.

Larry Fessenden is fantastic as Jakob. He's the town minister that is caught up in his job. He has taken his wife granted for so long. Or maybe they are just too comfortable with each other. To the point, where they going through the motions. However, adjusting to Anne's transformation has made him realize how much he loves his wife. And to what ends he will go to save his wife.

Bonnie Aarons plays The Master. This is the creature that helped transform Anne. It's not very in your face performance. They keep an air of mystery to the character. And that's fantastic. In the first moments, we see long fingers with claws. It's clearly Nosferatu inspired. And to me, that's very refreshing and a nice callback to old. Now, in case you were wondering, Bonnie Aarons played The Nun. Here, she delivers another fantastic performance.

Now, I could dive deeper into the film. However, I do not wish to spoil it. This is a great film. It is a breath of fresh air to the typical vampire film. It moves very quickly and before I knew it, it was over. It didn't overstay its welcome. It had me wishing for more. 

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Jakob's Wife is from RLJE Films. It's available on digital, DVD, Blu Ray and on Shudder.

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Tiny Terrors Day 7: Child's Play 2 (1990) and Child's Play 3 (1991)

Good morning everyone! Hope everyone is having a wonderful Monday so far. Our great series that is Tiny Terrors continues. Today, I have the pleasure of talking about Child's Play 2 and 3. 

To kick things off, let's begin with Child's Play 2. 

After the success of Child's Play, a sequel was something fans were hoping for. United Artists were making the sequel originally, before they were bought out. So, Chucky was in need of a home now. Universal Pictures set out to give Chucky a home and helped set up a franchise. 

2 years after the original's release, Child's Play 2 was released in theaters. It was written by Don Mancini and directed by John Lafia. 

Fun Fact: While researching this, I discovered that originally the film was to open with a courtroom scene of a jury sentencing Karen Barclay to a mental institution for insisting that Chucky was alive. Catherine Hicks and Chris Sarandon would have reprised their roles. Honestly, while it's sad that this didn't happen - the idea would be repurposed for a later film. And the cutting of that scene due to budget constraints helps explain why the film is so short. 

Sypnosis:

Andy Barclay has been placed in a foster home after the tragic events of the first film, since his mother was committed. In an attempt to save their reputation, the manufacturers of Chucky reconstruct the killer doll, to prove to the public that nothing was wrong with it in the first place. 

In doing so, they also bring the soul of serial killer Charles Lee Ray back to life. As Chucky tries to locate Andy, the body count rises. Will Andy be able to escape, or will Chucky succeed in possessing his body?

As I had mentioned before, I have been a fan of the Child's Play franchise since I was very young. I had very fond memories of what I thought was the first film. However, over the years, I have since learned that my memories had combined the first two films together. For some reason, I had always thought Andy's mom had been in the opening and then disappeared. (It was the fire place scene from the first film where she confronts Chucky to show he's not just a doll.)

The idea of the Play Pals corporation restarting their Good Guy dolls line to prove all the hearsay of Chucky wrong. It's a very bold move. It also shows how cutthroat the business world can be. This is expanded upon as one of the workers is electrocuted while working on the line. It serves as two fold - reviving Chucky and also how expendable the company views their workers. And then we have our second kill in the film as Chucky murders the corporate assistant. 

We are reintroduced to young Andy. He's now 7 or 8 years old and has been placed in the foster care system. It's been very hard since he was taken away from his Mom. He now founds himself placed with the Simpsons, Phil and Joanne. They are also fostering a teenage girl, Kyle. 

Chucky then is able to use the corporate yuppy's car and the phone in it to track down Andy's whereabouts. Chucky then suffocates the yuppy before going on his merry way.

The two worst foster parents continuously find ways to prove that they have earned that title with Andy. They even go out of their way to buy a Good Guy Doll. Seriously, why the hell would you get a kid that was traumatized by one of these things another one?? Well honestly for plot convenience. Chucky infiltrates and takes the place of the other doll. This is where the fun begins...we see multiple attempts of Andy trying to tell people about Chucky. He's literally trying to ask for help. Yet nobody is willing to listen or try to help.

This leaves Chucky able to murder and then hide in plain sight. The most well known murder in this film is the school teacher. Chucky is taken from Andy by his teacher. After school, Chucky beats the teacher to death with a meter stick. It's one of the striking visuals in this film. 

Andy later on attempts to sneak into the basement to destroy Chucky. However there's such a large commotion that Phil comes to check out the noises. Chucky ends up causing Phil to trip on the stairs and breaks his neck. The blame falls to Andy as Joanne finds the aftermath. 

Immediately Andy is sent back to the foster center. Kyle uncovers the remains of the other Good Guy Doll and realizes Andy was right. She goes to Joanne to help to find Chucky's one step ahead of her. He ambushes Kyle and they go to the foster center.

We end up in the endgame of the film as Chucky forces Andy to take him to the Good Guy factory with Kyle in pursuit. By this point, Chucky has been becoming human once again. The visuals on display are so visually striking. Especially as the battle between Andy and Chucky goes on. It gets to the point where we have Chucky smashing a knife into the stump of where his hand use to be.

Surprisingly, Chucky is very competent in this one. He managed to succeed in completing that damn ritual. However, too little too late. This whole end section is phenomenal. My favorite ending to a Child's Play film by far. There is so much tension. But also the stakes are incredibly high. 

This film is one of, if not, my favorite entry in the franchise. It hits all the right notes for a sequel. It continues the story of Andy and able to dive deeper into his character. There is just so much right for me. And I would say that a lot of it goes to Don Mancini's writing. Here he was able be unleashed and able to make do with the whole voodoo angle. 

Rating: 5 out of 5. 

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Child's Play 3 was released 9 months after the second film. Holy crap! The studio was like (in raspy voice), "We need more that Killa Doll stuff! Make it happen!". There are some more recent franchises that released within a 9 month timeframe, but it's kinda gone away. Whenever I hear that I'm instantly reminded of Elm Street and Friday the 13ths.

Watching the film now after knowing it was released 9 months later, it makes me realize how little time they must have had to script the film. Honestly, that's something that's a bit of a shame with how studios work. And there must have been immense pressure to try and top that second film.

Don Mancini once again wrote the film. I applaud him on the story he was able to craft. This is another of the films that is close to my heart. And Mancini's a huge reason why. 

So, Child's Play 3 is the one where Chucky goes to military school. That is such a solid idea. Yeah, it also follows on with Andy's storyline from 2. Big downside is that there wasn't time for Alex Vincent to grow up, so we get a recasted Andy.  Andy makes friends with another kid named Tyler. Tyler is a bit of an army brat and was dropped into the academy by his Dad. Andy also meets Kristen DeSilva. Good for you, Andy! Finding time to make eyes at a girl while Chucky runs amok the academy. 

Well, Tyler ends up finding Chucky (who was resurrected again and found a way to be mailed to the academy). By now, we know the drill - Chucky must find a way to perform the ritual to the first person that sees him. Well, this time it ain't Andy. He's along for the ride. 

Andy finds Tyler with Chucky. Andy gets in a bunch of trouble trying to help Tyler. Probably because Andy can relate to Tyler a bit. Chucky murders a few people. The one that hits my memory the most is when Chucky gives the Sergeant or Barber a close shave. Andy has to stop Chucky to save Tyler. 

The biggest set piece in this film for me is the Paintball Wars battle. Chucky brilliantly replaces all the paint ammo with real ammo. That is something that he will always be remembered for. Then to let the kids out on the field. Yeah, you guessed it - a few kids die before everyone catches on. Well, it may be one kid. A kid that was a douche to Andy. Karma will get ya. 

Then there's a junkyard that Tyler ran to. Chucky pursued. And it feels a small part like a retread of Child's Play 2's ending. That's okay. They do a solid job with it. And it ends with one of my favorite visuals in all these films - Chucky with half his face sliced off, or better known as Pizza Face Chucky.

Having Andy not be the primary focus for Chucky. That was a great move. It allows a different perspective of things as Andy is now switched to a similar role to Kyle from 2. Also 16 year old Andy is a bit of a badass. This is probably the film I have watched the most. It's like my go to film when I wanna watch a Chucky film. A warm blanket of nostalgia, if you will. 

Mancini originally wanted to have multiple Chucky's in the film. Unfortunately that had to be scrapped at this time for budget purposes. This was the first film where they had Chucky's movements synced up to a computer. Pretty groundbreaking for it's time. However, the multiple Chucky idea would be repurposed for Cult of Chucky. I love that Mancini keeps his ideas and waits for the right time to do them. 

Solid flick for the amount of time they had to make it. It's a bit of fun. 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5. 

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31 on 31 For Halloween - Day 1: "Ghostface"

Hello everyone, welcome to 31 on 31 for Halloween. This is a new installment here at The Blue. As of today, there are 31 Monday, Wednesday and Fridays till Halloween (which falls on a Sunday this year). This is my way of celebrating that wonderful news. 

I thought I'd kick this off with a shout out to a fan film from a few years ago. "Ghostface" from Brandon Tobatto is available to view on YouTube. With the 25th anniversary of Scream this year, I thought this would be a fun revisit as well. 

Now, ladies and gentlemen, this review will be spoiler free. I do not wish to spoil anything that is contained in the film. It is something that I strongly believe in as I wish everybody has the experience of going into the film not knowing what will happen next. Without further ado, I present my review of Ghostface.

The film's opening is one of its strongest moments. It sets the tone of the material, as well as establishing the threat of this Ghostface. It may have felt a little like an homage to a cold opening for a Saw film. But that only strengthens the material.

It is here that we are also introduced to the new look for Ghostface. It is a very striking image with this new mask and those black tears that look as if Ghostface had been crying. The new weapon for Ghostface is definitely an upgrade from the previous knives. It is bigger and able to do more damage. This is a Ghostface that isn't taking anything lying down. He means business.

After the opening, we continue the journey of Ghostface as he tries to uncover the truth and the answers to his questions. He is on a mission.

The strength of this film is that it is the next logical step for the franchise. This is exactly what everyone may be looking for after Scream 4. There have been talks and rumors of a Scream reboot. But, I'm pretty sure that people are more looking forward to something like this. It's establishing that it cannot have a reboot without facing the past first.

Brandon Tobatto gives a strong performance as the voice of Ghostface. The other actors all give strong performances as well.

The only drawback is that it is only 20 minutes long. It left me wanting more. It's the beginning step for the next story. There had also been some things that would been nice to see in flashbacks, but were unable to due to budget and casting.

It respects the franchise and is a love-letter to all that has come before. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

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Inside 'Halloween Inferno': A Chat with Coleman Films

On Wednesday, I took a look at Halloween Inferno: The Boogeyman Cut. Its a solid sequel to Halloween '18. It also does a great job of expanding upon the world of the film. 

I had the opportunity of chatting with Coleman Films about the fan film.

What was your introduction to Horror?

Believe it or not, my earliest memories of horror are Michael Myers. Something about the

look and tone of the original film really affected us when we were kids. The iconic score mixed with the imagery of the character was something so powerful, it stuck immediately.

How did Coleman Films begin?

ColemanFilms began with James and Vince Coleman, Alessandro and Stefano Korlou at 10 and 11 years old. 

As kids James and Vince had an obsession with Michael Myers,

we had the mask and our friends had the camera, so we thought hey let’s make a movie!

It is funny looking back on it , but our first film ever was a Halloween film. Halloween Inferno is almost like a promise we made to ourselves as kids that one day we would make something so awesome people would have to take notice.

Where did the inspiration for Halloween Inferno come from?

The inspiration really came from a love of the character, and what we thought the franchise could be capable of, had it been given the proper care. 

The remake came out when we were young and it was a far cry from what true fans wanted. Our dream was to one day be at the helm of a studio funded Halloween film. 

After 2018 was released, we

thought, “What are we waiting for, lets just do it ourselves”.

This was originally released in three sections. What led to that decision?

To put it simply. We did not know what kind of reception it would get, or if anyone would care at all. 

We did the first part as a fun project to get our old gang of friends together.

After it was released we started getting bombarded with messages and requests for more. A few fans generously donated to help us fund part 2. We attempted to crowd fund

for part 3 but were not as successful as we hoped to be. 

Luckily both James and Vince are thick headed and we pushed onward and made part 3 with what we did raise, we just had to rework some things in the script in order to fit the budget.

The Michael Myers mask at the beginning on Inferno, how did that come about?

We actually took the 2018 mask to our good friend and special fx artist Michael Del Rossa and gave him a basic idea of what we thought it would look like. He began tearing out

hair and painting the mask, along with several other techniques until we had what you see in the film. 

This was far before any imagery or discussion of what Halloween Kills

was planning to do . I think it is cool we got pretty close to their design.

Later on Michael finds the classic mask, what led to the decision to include it?

We thought in the Halloween universe, the Michael Myers mask existed, as we see Myers stole the mask from a store in the original film. Maybe that is a frankenstein type icon in that universe, so it would not be too crazy to think that a trick or treater would have it. 

We wanted to incorporate a steadicam kill and we thought an interesting driving force for him to follow the couple would be spotting that classic mask. Plus, nothing

beats the original mask and we have not seen Michael in it for 40 years.

Inferno expands the world established in Halloween '18. Both in terms of the scope as well as the characters themselves. How did the decision come about to introduce these new characters? 

We decided to incorporate new characters for a few reasons. One being we do not have Jamie Lee Curtis and replacing her might come off as comical. That being said, I feel that Michael represents evil and evil can affect anyone. The element that really interested me was the aftermath. 

Introducing Lily and immediately hearing her father was killed is a strong way to bring her into Michael’s world. We wanted to make this film character driven. We wanted people to see Barker accept his negligence and become a hero in the end. 

We wanted to see the devastation that Michael Myers caused on more than just Laurie strode.

How has the response been to Inferno?

The response has been amazing, being an artist is filled with a lot of pain and heart break. 

Chasing a dream, no matter what it is never easy. To hear fans tell me I inspired them or that they loved my work is an incredible feeling. And I could not be more thankful to the people who have supported me.

Is there an interest to return for a Part 4? Or a sequel to Inferno?

Is there an interest for a part 4? I will see this…. you can’t kill the boogeyman.

What's next for Coleman Films?

We are about 85 percent done with an original feature film. Keep a look out for that. It takes all the things you loved from Inferno and incorporates them into something completely new and unique.

Check Out Halloween Inferno The Boogeyman Cut on YouTube.

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