It Came From The Dollar Tree: The Devil's Candy (2017)

    Welcome back to It Came From The Dollar Tree. Last time, we talked about The Final Girls. It was a fantastic film that if you haven't checked out yet, what are you waiting for? Now we get to look at our next film, The Devil's Candy.

    The Devil's Candy is a film that I had seen before I picked it up from Dollar Tree. It was released in 2017 and was written and directed by Sean Byrne. It is definitely a unique and fresh take on what a haunted house film can be. One can say that it definitely revels in its metal-ness. It's a story about a struggling artist finding the deal of a lifetime when him and his family move into a new home. It's a home that has a few skeletons in its closet and more secrets to uncover.

    The first time around I watched it, I was not sure what to make of it. It's something that just didn't click at first. It's a film that you do have to be in the right mood and mindset for. It is a film that is a bit of a slow burn. That was why the film didn't click for me the first time around. I was ready for a film that got me right from the opening moment. And instead, I didn't appreciate the story it was ready to tell. 

    This time around, I went into it with a complete open mind. I knew that it was going to be a slow burn. But as I've been watching the film, I realize that it's an incredibly unique tale. Typically in these haunted house films, we have a standard formula by now. A) Family moves into new home. B) Spooky things begin to slowly happen as things begin to bake. C) The spooks hit a breaking point with the family. D) Culminates in a pretty formulaic ending where everyone survives. However this isn't the case with The Devil's Candy. 

    Speaking of the film outside of the spooks and unsettlingness, this film has a heart to it. This is a movie with a family that I found myself caring for. Ethan Embry plays Jesse Hellman. He's the father and struggling artist in this piece. I have seen Embry in other films. I mean I remember him in Vegas Vacation and Can't Hardly Wait. But it wasn't till years later, I started taking more notice. Specifically I remember seeing him in Don Coscarelli's Incident On and Off A Mountain Road episode of the Masters of Horror. His performance in that was absolutely incredible as it took the 'typical' performance that we had known him for and spun it completely on its head. In this film, I felt for his character. I was able to see the struggles he was going through as a father and wishing to provide for his family. It's so relatable as I find myself in that situation. Shiri Appleby plays Astrid Hellman. She's our mother in this tale. She delivers such an incredible performance as well. And then we have Kiara Glasco as Zooey. I haven't seen much of her other performances, but this one was fantastic. That consists of our family unit and everyone is so believable together. It's a true family unit. And the hope that this family feels when they find a new home. It's something that I can relate to as have gone through that recently myself. 

    Now something that definitely differentiates this from other films is that we have another part of the equation with the character of Ray Smilie, played by Pruitt Taylor Vince. This is a truly intriguing performance from Vince. It has many layers to it. He's someone that previously lived in the house that is now owned by the Hellmans. He's someone that does have a few quirks about him. It's unsure if it's due to the 'force' that resides at the house or not. But the thing that is extremely clear is that Ray is still a child at heart that was lost within a monster. And that made him a prime candidate to be influenced by the 'force' of the house. It's not necessarily a true villainous role as there is a bit of a tragic stance on the character. 

    I have mentioned that there is a 'force' in this film influencing our characters. That is true. What is that force? Honestly, it's something that is never fully explored. It just has a hold on Jesse and Ray. It connects the two characters together in a way that is a bit unsettling. One point in the film, there is something that happens with Ray. And this 'force' then inspires Jesse to add this to his new painting that he's working on. 

    All of these different elements to the film work together in such a unique way with an unforgettable ending. It allows the story to be told in such a new fresh way. I found myself going through and feeling everything for the family. They go through so much in this film. It's some time to the point where it's a bit heartbreaking to see Jesse go through everything he goes through, especially placing myself in his shoes as a parent. For some, this may not be a film for you. But if you go in with an open mind and prepared that it has some heavy material, you may appreciate it. It's definitely a film that I won't forget. 

Rating: 4 out of 5. 

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It Came From The Dollar Tree: The Final Girls (2015)

    Hello everyone, whose ready for more It Came From The Dollar Tree? First, I want to say thank you all for showing so much support for this series. This was a series that I thought would be a fun one, especially after seeing all the available titles at Dollar Tree. I also seen a few people mentioning that they had picked up one of the films and then went on to regret it. So, I thought this might be a good way of taking a look at the films so that I could maybe help someone that was on the fence about a film. After I released the second installment, I dropped a poll on Twitter. I haven't figured out how to do polls for Facebook or Twitter yet. So follow me on Twitter to participate if you're interested in voting for a future installment. The results of the poll were pretty darn conclusive and The Final Girls was the winner. But stay tuned as the runner up, The Devil's Candy, will be featured next. 

    The synopsis for The Final Girls: "When Max (Taissa Farmiga) and her friends reluctantly attend a tribute screening of an infamous '80s slasher film that starred Max's late mother (Malin Akerman), they are accidentally sucked into the silver screen. They soon realize they are trapped inside the cult classic movie and must team up with the fictional and ill-fated "Camp Bloodbath" counselors, including Max's mom as the shy scream queen, to battle the film's machete-wielding, masked killer. With the body count rising in scene after iconic scene, who will be THE FINAL GIRLS left standing and live to escape this film?".

    The Final Girls was a film that was released in 2015. It was a film that I had heard a little bit about because the buzz was that it was good. Now I tend to take things with a grain of salt when I hear good buzz because films are an interesting beast. One person may come to love a film that another may find it missed the mark for them. It's honestly depends on the experience a person has with the film. So in my experience, I find it better to go into films with an open mind. And that's what I did. 

    This film is fun. Absolute fun. Whenever I'm in a bad mood and need to change my attitude, I turn this on. If I'm bored and unsure of something to watch, I can turn this on. This is a film that is just so damn rewatchable. I have seen it a lot of times and I still find it's because this is a film that is certain of itself. It is an absolute love letter to the genre. I mean come on, look at the slasher that is featured in 'Camp Bloodbath'. It's 100% a take on Jason Voorhees. It wears its inspirations on its sleeve in such a beautiful way. The more that I think about the film, I keep thinking back to Airplane!. That was a film that is still an enjoyable film to watch with tons of rewatchability. This is the horror genre's Airplane. 

    One of the major reasons why this film works so well is its cast. Taissa Farmiga, who you may know from American Horror Story. She is so lovable in this film. You can't help but feel for her when she's dealing with the loss of her mother. And then the way she is called to arms over the course of the film is incredibly strong. Alexander Ludwig gets to play against type. Typically, he would be played as the love interest that's a bit of a jock. In this film, he is the love interest but he's a complete goof of a character. It's great seeing him getting to exercise some comedic chops. Alia Shawkat is so fun to see play off of Farmiga. The chemistry of their friendship shines through so well. Nina Dobrev gets to show a slightly different side than we are typically used to from her. She gets to be a little more bitchy, but its because she's afraid of letting people in. Malin Akerman delivers such an astounding performance, in my opinion. In the beginning of the film, she's so earnest and wanting to do right by her daughter but unsure of how to go about giving her that best life. Then the film flips the script with her second role and it's interesting. There are many layers that are given to that character over the course of the film to see her develop in a way where she cares so much for Farmiga's character. They really are the heart of the film in a fantastic way. We also have Adam Devine and Thomas Middleditch. Both of these guys are just fun when they are on screen. They are enjoying so much chewing the scenery. Honestly if the film's cast had been changed one little bit, it may not work as well because this cast is such an ensemble. 

    Yes, the film is PG-13. That's one of the things that I have seen some people complain about. I think this is another of the film's charms. The way that it just plays everything against expectations makes it so unique. There's not really any gore in the film and that's okay. That's honestly not what it's about. So if you are looking into the film for gore, go check out something else. But if you check in the gore expectation at the door, you may come to love the film.

    At this point and time, I have to say that I love this film. I would definitely recommend it. If you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and check it out. 

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BlazinBlue's Book Review: Slice of Paradise (2022)

 

    Hello everyone, I am proud to return with another book review. Now, we all know that I've been working on book reviews quite a bit lately. I mean we have this anthology and two more books coming this month alone. It's been interesting taking the time and jumping into reading these books. Lately, I was trying to figure out what to call it besides just Book Review. So therefore, we have BlazinBlue's Book Review. Going forth all of the book reviews will be titled that. So things keep on a evolving and becoming more structured around here at the Horror Review. 

    Now that's out of the way, I'd like to talk about today's book, Slice of Paradise. It's one of two upcoming Beach Vacation anthologies from DarkLit Press. This isn't the first time reviewing an anthology here at the Horror Review. Anthologies are always an interesting thing to review, in my opinion. I mean it's a collection of stories from many authors. Each author brings a unique flavor, perspective, and idea to the collection. Honestly, anthologies are something I find difficult to review because of that. 

    With this collection, there are a lot of extremely solid stories. Ben Long and Andrew Robert did a fantastic job with editing this collection and the next one as well. Now with so many stories to read through, it leaves the issue of exactly figuring out what ones are the standouts. For me, each of the stories in these collections could be their own standout. They are all that good. 

    Therefore in this, I share some of my thoughts on the first two stories "Secret Beach" and "Night Dive". Honestly in my opinion, I know that the stories in an anthology can make or break it. Especially when it's the first stories, they have a difficult job because they have to set the tone to keep audiences interested in checking out the other stories held within. 

Secret Beach

Author: Mark Towse

A father and daughter visit their Secret Beach. However this trip will be one that changes their life forever. They encounter a force unlike any other. 

This story was a bold start to the collection. It starts so innocently, but quickly descends into madness. It was such a solid story. As a parent,  I found myself relating to the father so much. And the journey that he goes on is so much - filled with an unending sense of dread. The imagery that is held within this story is so powerful. For me, I am someone that can have a hard time picturing things in my head. I know that there are more people out there like me that share the same difficulty. However, Mark Towse was able to bypass that. They crafted a tight story that was so dreamlike. It's literally a walking nightmare that culminates in an ending that I won't forget. 

Night Dive

Author: Drew Starling

Anna and Karl have been visiting the  Philippines. Anna has found a love for Scuba Diving, while Karl tolerates it. Basically, Karl would do anything for Anna. One day, Anna talks Karl into a Night Dive. It's an experience they will never forget. 

This story was a bit of a slow burn. It took the time to establish the characters.  There was a large sense of dread throughout. The way that Starling describes the night dive is fantastic. While I knew something was going to happen, I was unsure of what it was. It did catch me off guard. I wasn't sure where the story would go. In the back of my mind, I kept thinking that it'd be a ghost story that would culminate in the divers coming across 'ghosts' aboard some ship wreckage. However, I was wrong. I pushed aside a bit of information that actually foretells the story Starling was telling. It also made me unsure if I will ever wish to go scuba diving as I already don't like the water to begin with. 

With this debut collection, DarkLit Press brilliantly establishes that they are able to deliver on Beach Horror. These stories do what Jaws was able to do. Establishing a sense of dread and fear of not just the beach but the water beside it. It'll leave you wondering what just lurks within those hidden depths of the cold blue waters. But it also brilliantly establishes that your fears shouldn't be just of the water, but the beach as well. For things could quickly take a turn when you least expect it, even during the day. No time is safe. 

Rating: 4 out of 5. Highly Recommend.

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The Films of Mike Flanagan: Oculus (2013)

 

    Hello everyone, it's February and I wanted to do a new segment. If this is successful and people enjoy it, the plan is to go each month with taking a director's work and highlighting their films. If everyone wants to recommend directors, that would be cool. But for this month, welcome to what I am calling "Flanagan February". 

    Mike Flanagan is a very interesting director. Looking over on his iMDB, he directed a few smaller movies from 2000-2003 (Makebelieve, Still Life, and Ghosts of Hamilton Street). All three of these films tended to dip into Drama. We all know that Flanagan delivers a very distinct style with his horror work that also delves into drama. So, it's interesting seeing him dip his toe into things with the early films. But that's not why we're here today. 

    Today, we are here to start our journey with Flanagan's Horror work. Again, I mention his distinct style that is just so damn good. It's extremely easy to see why his stuff works so well. At this point, I would definitely consider Flanagan to be part of the modern era of the "Masters of Horror" in Hollywood. I have seen quite a few of his more recent works in the genre. So it's nice going back to see those earlier works. 

    His first horror film was Absentia. It was released in 2011. I haven't had the pleasure of checking it out yet. But you can be sure that I'll rectify that quickly. It's available over on Tubi, if you are interested in checking it out. Maybe at some point I'll figure out how to host a Watch Party over on Twitter. 

    After Absentia's release, Flanagan returned in 2013 with his second horror film, Oculus. Oculus was based off of a short that Flanagan had made in 2006 - Oculus: Chapter 3 - The Man With The Plan. It's an interesting short. As soon as I knew that I wish to start putting this series together, I tracked it down to give it a view. It's a short that shows so much incredible promise of a young director. It proudly shows its talent on its sleeve. 

    Now the film version of Oculus, it expands on the themes and the story itself in such a massive way. The interesting thing is when Oculus was first released, I missed it. I don't remember what was going on at that point in my life. But it missed my attention. I ended up coming back to it when I went to the local Dollar Tree and lo and behold, it was sitting there on the shelf. Immediately I knew it was a Mike Flanagan film and snatched it up because for me when I know it's one of his films - I know that I will be entertained. 

    The synopsis for the film follows "A woman tries to exonerate her brother, who was convicted of murder, by proving that the crime was committed by a supernatural phenomenon.". One of the things that I have to applaud is the way it expands the story. It gives the film a heart by grounding it in what is ultimately a family's story. And the way that it is told is in such a unique, interesting, and beautiful way. One of the big things that I noticed was the film doesn't follow a standard structure. It allows itself to move between two parallel stories with such ease. And the symmetry of what happens in the past and how it informs the present day story is very interesting. Especially considering that at the heart of the family's problem is a Cursed Mirror. So, it just drives the themes home even further by reflecting the past onto the present. 

    When I started the film, I didn't fully realize just how many well known actors are in it. It was literally something that was ahead of its time in terms of the casting. We have Karen Gillan in her first American role as Kaylie. Of course, we know her as Amy Pond from Doctor Who or the fact that she'd go on to become Nebula in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Guardians of the Galaxy. She is amazing in this film. Then we have Brenton Thwaites as Kaylie's brother, Tim. Now, I have gone on to know Thwaites as Dick Grayson from HBO Max's Titans. In this film, he is fantastic. It's fun looking back knowing that he'd go on to become a bit of a big name. And honestly, I love Titans and a large reason is due to Thwaites' performance. Katee Sackhoff and Rory Cochrane play Kaylie and Tim's parents in the past portion in the story. These two actors play off of each other really well. I also noticed James Lafferty, who plays Kaylie's fiancée - Michael. At this point, I know Lafferty from that little show he did called One Tree Hill. On that show, I thought he delivered a lot of good performances. However in the little bit he's in this film, he's fantastic. It had me wishing to see more of him. And then I noticed someone that's gone on to become a bit of a staple in Flanagan's films, Kate Siegel. The first time I had seen Siegel was in a film that I'll be covering down the road, Hush. (If you haven't checked out Hush, go check it out. No, when you get a chance - check it out. Netflix. Yeah, you. The one that's reading this right now.) 

    I wasn't sure what I was expecting this film to be. I knew it was Flanagan. At this point for me, always delivers. But I loved it. It was something that I wasn't expecting at all. A huge breath of fresh air. From the first moment, the film managed to draw me in. I was wanting to see where things were going to go next. And there were quite a few times where I was completely blind sided. That's something I love so much when a story will just rip the rug out from underneath you. And Oculus did that in spades. For the most part, it felt a little bit like a thriller and not a horror piece. Especially with the way that the two stories are moving with one another. And it ultimately delivered an ending that left me speechless. It is such an ending that I never saw coming at all. I applaud the ending because it's so strong and bold. But it also wraps things up in an interesting way. 

    If you wish to check out Oculus, it's available on The Roku Channel, Hulu, and Starz. I'd definitely recommend it, especially if you are looking for more of Flanagan's work. 

Rating: 4 out of 5. 

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The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007)

 

    Hello everyone, I hope that you are having a good week. I have returned today with a review that I've been working on for at least a week now. It's one that I had to spend some time thinking exactly what I wanted to say about it. 

    Last week, I had the chance to watch The Poughkeepsie Tapes over on Tubi. It's a film that I had heard a lot about. I mean the film had a bit of a reputation back in 2007. The film was set for release then and even had the trailers in the theater. But then, the movie was pulled. There were times over the years that the film would be released for a brief period of time. But ultimately, it would be pulled back into the abyss of Movie Limbo. It would be 10 years before the film would see release, but not by its studio. Shout Factory would release the film in 2017. 10 years. 10 years, The Poughkeepsie Tapes laid in Movie Limbo. People would talk about The Poughkeepsie Tapes and try to figure out why it was shelved. However, MGM would never say anything as to why it was keeping the film from audiences. 

    For me, it's safe to say that my expectations were pretty damn high. I mean a film that took years to be released, it makes one want to seek it out to figure out why. It just builds this mindset in your mind of what it'll be. I know I definitely thought about the film from time to time. There have been other films that have taken awhile to be released that I ended up seeking out as well - All The Boys Love Mandy Lane being a great example. Or take another example that's a little more closer to what The Poughkeepsie Tapes were trying to emulate - Cannibal Holocaust. That was a film that was pitched as actually happening and audiences believed it. Yeah, there were certain elements that they couldn't fake back when the film was made. But it was to the point where the director had to go before the Senate to say that it was just a film. 

    That may be potentially giving The Poughkeepsie Tapes a bit too much credit. But I hope that at least illustrates the point that I'm trying to make. A film that is able to build such an atmosphere and tone that many may believe is real. That's something that I believe The Poughkeepsie Tapes was trying for. And honestly, that may be a reason why MGM shelved the film - not believing that audiences were ready for such a take on a film. And back in 2007, it may have been the case. 

    In 2022, The Poughkeepsie Tapes is a film. It's something that many may find creepy and unsettling. It centers on a series of tapes that were discovered by the FBI. These tapes chronicle a serial killer's work. Each of these tapes do happen to be a bit more unsettling than the last. All of this is provided in a mockumentary format of a true crime show. Honestly, this format does feel very close to what we see now on these kinds of shows. It adds another layer of creepiness to it. 

    After so many years of wondering about The Poughkeepsie Tapes, I don't know how I feel about it. At first, I found myself disappointed by the film. It wasn't what I had expected. I didn't find myself creeped out by  the film in the slightest. It just lacked a punch for me. But I mean how could it? I had spent time building it up in my head. I had the same result with The Exorcist. If the film had been released in 2007, it would have hit its mark for me. 

    But I cannot say that I don't respect it. It is very bold. It doesn't pull its punches. It honestly never second guesses itself. It knows exactly what kind of film it's trying to be. It's also something that will lay in the History of Film like Cannibal Holocaust. But probably not for the way that the filmmakers intended. It'll be because of the long time it spent in Movie Limbo. 

    If you are a fan of True Crime stories, there's a high chance you may be intrigued by it. Unfortunately for me, it just didn't hit the mark. However, you may get something out of it that I didn't. That's the beauty of film. It's all up to the viewer and the experience that they go on with a film. 

The Poughkeepsie Tapes can be found on Tubi.

Rating: 3 out of 5. 

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Swallow Your Souls: Evil Dead 2 (1987)

 

    When Evil Dead (1981) first released, it wasn't something that established Sam Raimi in Hollywood. Least, not in the way that he would have liked. However it was a box office success. Honestly, I would say that was probably better for him and for the films he wanted to make. It allowed people to see that Sam Raimi and his friends were capable of making successful films. That was huge considering that Evil Dead took many years to finish. It also brought Raimi and co. to the attention of Dino De Laurentiis. And with Dino's help, they were able to make a second film - Evil Dead 2. 

    Back in the early 2000s, I was introduced to Evil Dead from my grandmother on my mother's side of the family. After that, my Dad and I caught Army of Darkness on SCI-FI one day when they were having a marathon. Immediately, I was interested as soon as Bruce Campbell appeared on screen. I knew it was Ash. But with that opening recap of Army of Darkness, I couldn't place what it was from. It was like there was a missing piece. 

    When my Dad and I went to our local K-Mart one October day, I found sitting on the shelf in the Entertainment section - Army of Darkness on VHS. Of course, it immediately caught my attention. But it was what was sitting next to it that intrigued me even more. It was Evil Dead II in a black clamshell case with an amazing cover - see the image above. I actually still have this tape to this day. But it was all new for the both of us and we brought those two VHS tapes home with us that day. 

    I ran to our living room before Dad could ask what I wanted for dinner. I hit the play button. And the rest was history. 

    Evil Dead 2 is such a special film for me. It came at a time where I honestly needed more in my life. My parents were going through a divorce. I remember I dove into watching movies, playing video games a lot, and reading a lot of comics during those times. It was a way of getting my mind off of everything, especially as it seemed like the world was crashing down around me. Batman, Spider-Man, and the X-Men were heroes that I was into at the time. But it was Ash Williams that served as my hero. He's a complete oaf of a buffoon at times. But when the times get tough, he doesn't hide or run away - least not after two or three attempts. No, he stands his ground and fights for himself and others. And honestly, Evil Dead 2 was my most watched movie during those times. 

    The film is an interesting experiment, if not completely ahead of its time. I mean think about it. Evil Dead 2. What does it remind you of? Well, the first quarter of the movie is a semi-retelling of the events of the first film. Ash and Linda go up to a cabin. Ash finds tape recorder and Necronomicon and presses Play. Linda is possessed. Ash has to defend himself resulting in a gruesome decapitation. That's pretty Evil Dead 1 standard fare - if not a bit more stream lined. But the remaining three quarters of the film is completely new adventure. It's filled with a lot of laughs and some scares as well as some more memorable characters. Well, except for you Ed cause no one likes you. But now thinking on the film again, it's a requel. I mean even Bruce Campbell himself has gone to call it a requel. And that's something that helps make it even more relevant today. 

    Funny thing is that it wasn't supposed to rehash the first film in that streamlined sequence. It only happened because there was legalities for why they couldn't use footage from the first flim. But hey, necessity sometimes makes great innovations. That's definitely something evident in these films as well. 

    While I have really grown to love the first Evil Dead over the years, Evil Dead 2 was an immediate love for me. It just hits a lot of the right notes. Horror? Check. Gore? Plenty of it in spades. Humor? Yes, please. I mean what other film has an entire sequence where the hero finds his hand possessed and is then thrown around a kitchen in such brilliant slapstick fashion? And then has to defend himself from that same possessed hand after he lops it off at the wrist? It's fantastic. I would say that my favorite image that I have from this film is seeing that goofy looking possessed Deadite Deer head. It's just so over the top in a lovable way. The way it cranes its head and then proceeds to laugh at Ash's suffering is so good. 

    With the cast in this film, everyone is fantastic. Bruce Campbell continues to be amazing as Ash. Denise Bixler is definitely an unsung hero as Linda. The whole idea of Linda as a Deadite this go around wouldn't work as well as it does without her. She just breathes so much life into the performance. Sarah Uriarte Berry delivers a solid performance as Annie Knowby. At first, I was a bit taken aback with the performance. There was just a lot there that scratched me the wrong way. But over time, I have grown to love it. It makes absolute sense for her to act like this. Especially since I feel like Annie was a bit of a spoiled child by her parents. Richard Domeier is great as Ed. This is a character that is seeking approval from Annie so much. It's great. Dan Hicks and Kassie DePaiva are fantastic as Jake and Bobby Joe. Both of them are just the right kind of suspicious at first. And then we have Ted Raimi. Ted Raimi is astounding as Deadite Henrietta. It's to the point where whenever the character is on screen - they steal the show. 

    The wonderful KnB Special Effects group worked on the film. Their work is always so good. It also helps bring to the screen all the fun that was going on behind the scenes. Do yourself a favor and check out the special features for the film. There are a lot of good bits from the KnB crew. 

    All of this culminates in such a fantastically memorable way. And hell, the ending is so good.  Evil Dead 2 is just such a delight. No matter how many times I watch it, I always find myself entertained. There's a reason it's a classic. If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and check it out. 

Rating: 5 out of 5. 

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It Came From The Dollar Tree: The Frankenstein Theory (2013)

    

  Welcome back to It Came From The Dollar Tree! The series where I take a look at the films that may be available at your local Dollar Tree. Last time, I had the pleasure of checking out They Reach (2020). It was an interesting little indie film. 

    Today, I take a dive back into my Dollar Tree collection and came out with - well, it's a film. That's definitely something that I can say about it. It's probably not a good way to start this, is it? Brace yourself as we take a trip into the cold with The Frankenstein Theory from 2013. 

    When I first saw the cover for The Frankenstein Theory, I was a bit interested. I mean it literally has a good look at what I was guessing the Monster would be. It immediately gives you a great idea of what the film is going to be. But the question is - does it really though? Pushing aside my thoughts of negativity for it, I was sold on the film because it pitched itself as being from the creators of The Last Exorcism. The Last Exorcism is a film that I haven't yet covered here on the blog, but will be in the future. However, it is a film that I do enjoy. 

    What is The Frankenstein Theory though? To sum it up in a nutshell, it's The Blair Witch Project with the Monster as the stand-in for the Witch. Yes, that is exactly how I would sum it up. While The Blair Witch Project is a success, this film is something that didn't work for me. To start off though, I was very open minded when I first started the film. It was establishing the ground work and was taking its time. Jonathan Venkenhein had talked his friend Vicky and her documentary crew in documenting their journey to follow in Venkenhein's family's footsteps. He wanted to prove that his theory was right - the story of Frankenstein was based in fact, did happen, and that the Monster is out there in the world today. After they start their journey, they begin to run into 'issues'. And yes, that's including dealing with someone that was very clearly on Meth. Actually that whole sequence is pretty dang entertaining. 

    But it's not till they get to the Canadian outdoors that the film starts to falter. It spends more time with its cast talking, instead of attempting to develop any sense of threat. And it's in that instance, the film drags on so much. I was left wondering when the hell The Monster was going to show up. There's only so much time with the humans that one can take in a film called "The Frankenstein Theory". It has Frankenstein in the title. By the time, it came to a close there is a glimpse of The Monster but ultimately what was the point. It was too little too late. 

     I cannot fathom as to why they thought this was a good idea. Yeah, the first half of the film is good. It managed to draw me in. But not having more of The Monster in the second half feels like a huge miss. Immediately after the film finished, I googled The Frankenstein Theory and saw what it was to look like. What The Hell! You have a take on The Monster that looks pretty damn good. It's interesting and very unique, in my opinion. Why not feature it more? Were you so afraid of breaking your 'found footage' reality? It just absolutely boggles my mind. If they had used The Monster more, the film would have worked so much better. 

Rating: 2 out of 5.

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The Saw Is Family: Leatherface Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990)

    Welcome back to The Saw Is Family. So far in this look back, we have managed to cover just a small tip of this franchise. With the first film, it had managed to find its success and gone on to become such a classic. However with Part 2, it missed its mark at the time. Personally, I chalk it up to being a little ahead of its time. Audiences just weren't prepared for it yet. And there's the small fact that a lot of people were probably expecting something a bit closer to that first installment. 

    It would take a few years, but Leatherface would eventually find his way back to the big screen. This time it would be with a whole new company. While they were new to Leatherface, they weren't new to the horror genre. I mean there's a reason why they're called "The House That Freddy Built" - New Line Cinema. 

    But herein lies the issue, new company holding the chainsaw means there's many chances for mistakes. Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III definitely had its fair share of issues during its production. For one, New Line was gearing everything up for production on the film but one thing - a director. They had also made sure to have KnB Studios on the project for the effects. They eventually approached Jeff Burr after their first choice (Peter Jackson) hadn't panned out to direct. Ironically, New Line would go on to fire Jeff Burr before production was set to begin. With no one else accepted the job, New Line rehired Burr. Sure signs of production troubles. 

    The synopsis of the film is as follows: "A couple encounters a perverted gas station attendant who threatens them with a shotgun. They take a deserted path in Texas to seek help, but only meet up with a cannibalistic clan interested in helping themselves to fresh meat.". New Line was fully set on this being its own installment apart from the previous films. I mean what other direction did they have to go on? At the end of Part 2, the family is basically wiped out by Stretch and Lefty. Roughly, this is a sequel in name only. It also harkens back to a more serious tone akin to the first installment. 

    While I was watching this film earlier today, I just kept thinking to myself 'What had happened to the film?'. This watch was with the Unrated version. I appreciate that it's trying to craft a new story. I appreciate that it even has a new 'family' that Leatherface works alongside. But as much as I would like to say that it's good. It's okay. It just screams of its troubled production. It screams that the studio had no idea what to do with it. They had the Texas Chainsaw license, but didn't fully understand what that meant. Therefore, Leatherface becomes a shallow thug shell of his former self. He's just someone that goes around with his chainsaw terrorizing people. I mean Yeah, Leatherface did that in the first two films. But he also used his hammer quite a bit. He wasn't always so reliant on that damn chainsaw. Plus even in the Unrated cut, the film feels tame. Understandably that's a shame considering the original script had more gore in it. If they had made the original script today, I'm not sure they would have cut back on the gore. They wouldn't have had to. But hey, it was the 90s and horror was going through its cycle. 

    Two things the film does have going for it though is Ken Foree and Viggo Mortensen. Both of these actors do great job in this. Ken Foree is a bit of a tough action hero. Viggo Mortensen - well, he does a superb job at playing crazy.

    Outside of those two, the film just feels like a pale imitator of the Texas Chainsaw name. I'm not trying to come down on it too hard. But it just feels like there could have been a lot more done with it - perhaps if the studio hadn't wanted to rush it out to the theater. The commentary for the film was an interesting listen as well as the Behind the Scenes documentary. Those two things did help give a better insight as to what happened with Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III.

Rating: 3 out of 5. 

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Don't Throw Him Out: Benny Loves You (2020)

   

 

    Hello everyone, Matthew here. After taking some time with the Texas Chainsaw franchise, I had the pleasure of getting a visit from a stuffed bear. Yeah, that's right. I had the pleasure of finally catching Benny Loves You. 

    Benny Loves You is a horror film that was released in 2019. It was written, directed, and even stars Karl Holt as Jack. The whole concept for this film is one that really intrigued me. What happens to your stuffed animals when you outgrow them and move on from them? It's such a fresh idea that I honestly never had thought of before. In a genre where we see a lot of similar concepts over time, it's just refreshing to see original films. This isn't just a spin on a familiar concept. This is a balls to the wall whole new ballgame. Honestly, this film wouldn't feel out of place as an entry to the Tiny Terrors series that we had last year. 

    The film's opening sequence is such a standout for me. It doesn't take no guff. It doesn't hold your hand. It cleverly and brilliantly illustrates exactly what this film will be about. If you don't like it, then go heck off kind of attitude. We see a child. This child is not just any kind of child. It's a child that some of us wouldn't be afraid to say that we have seen them in our day to day lives. This child is a little shit. And I can't say that it's all because today is their birthday cause it's not. No, this child is most definitely channeling the 'I'm a shit all the time' energy. You know what I'm talking about here. The quintessential shit. They bully their mother into getting their presents early because they had seen their poor parent wrapping them earlier that day. Cut to bedtime and the child is asleep with their new toys. The poor bear that was the child's former favorite toy has now been designated to the box in the closet. And he's sick of it. He comes to life and through this awesome sequence terrorizes the child. The child continues to scream every so often for their parent that they had been a shit to. The mother just can't take it anymore and in such a surprising fashion - gives the child a strong solid backhand. It was in this moment that I was just utterly surprised as to where this film was going to go. After that, the mother places the bear in bed with the little girl. And well, I'll let you see the film to figure out where the sequence went from there.

    This opening was so good. It had all the right amount of energy to it. On one hand, the tension that just continues to build as I put myself in the parent's shoes was so strong. I felt for the parent as I'm sure we all have been through those kind of days. The days where whatever we do is never good enough for our children. They have to do whatever they want, whenever they want - just to get their way. Actually, I wish I could say that I felt for the child. I don't want to say unfortunately, but I just couldn't find myself to feel bad for the child. They were a total shit. But it all builds together beautifully in such a strong sequence. 

    After that, we are introduced to Jack. Jack works as a toy designer. He wishes to be successful with his work. However, he has the most rotten and down on his out luck I have ever seen. This is like Alexander and the No Good, Horrible, Rotten Day ever luck here. He can't find a break at work. You'd think that maybe he'd have success at home. Nope. Jack still lives at home with his parents. Now, I'm not going to knock anyone that is at home with their parents. Not my place to say. But if someone were to be acting like Jack, I'd smack them. He is afraid of change. He is afraid of taking those next steps. He is afraid of success, I feel like. He'd rather stay at home where it's safe. I mean he hasn't changed his room at all and has all of his childhood things out and about. And he's 34 years old...35..34. Well, his luck changes one day when he has the worst birthday of his life. 

    This is the day that changed his life forever as his path had finally changed. It forces him to take life into his own hands. Forces him to grow the hell up. It forces him to take chances and make mistakes. And boy, there are quite a few mistakes that are made. But for the most part, it seems like he just has that rotten, most terrible, horrible luck. But truth is sometimes we have to go through long times of that shit to get to the other side and learn from life. So in order to make things right for himself, he puts his stuffed bear Benny down into the basement. And that sets the film into motion.

    Benny Loves You is a film that I wasn't sure I was going to like as much as I do. I have seen other movies where I was all excited about from the trailer or the poster even and then been disappointed. However, I am happy to say that this wasn't the case. I love this film. It's completely original and fresh. It was a lot of fun. I honestly had no idea where the story was going to go next. But seeing the interaction between Benny and Jack is pretty fantastic onto itself. Then we have Claire Cartwright as Dawn. She delivers an incredible performance as well. It's quite easy to see the relationship build between Dawn and Jack. All of the cast in this film work together so wonderfully. 

     I'm sure I could go on about Benny Loves You, but at this point it's pretty clear where I stand on it. I definitely recommend it. There was two moments in the film where I was very shocked where it went. In other movies, I probably would have shut it off. However in this film, it's clearly over the top. Go do yourself a favor and check it out. 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

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The Saw Is Family: Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 (1986)

     

    Welcome back to The Saw Is Family! Our retrospective that dives into the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise. Last time, I took a look at the original 1974 film that started it all. It's a film that I appreciate and that I enjoy a bit. I mean this franchise wouldn't be where it is today without it. Is it a completely perfect film? No, I don't think so. It does have some faults that have come to the forefront with the last watch that I did. However that first film was a bit of a success and it took a while before people were asking for a sequel. But one did come...

    Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part II was released in 1986. Wait a minute, that's 12 years between the two entries. Tobe Hooper had returned to direct and co-write alongside L. M. Kit Carson. When it was first released, it turned out not to be a financial success. It had managed to recoup it's budget, but nothing more substantial than that. What had happened?

     Well, I can definitely say that when people stepped into theaters to see Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 - they were probably expecting a certain kind of film. Something that was a further continuation in the established style of that first film. However this film was far from that, this managed to carve a new path and legacy for itself apart from the previous film. 

    Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 is a film that is fun. It is an absolute rollercoaster. It literally took any of the preconceived notions one would have after watching the original and flipped them on their heads. Could it have been done in the same style as the original '74 classic? There's a chance it could have. Would it have been a hit? I honestly couldn't say. I fear that if it had tried to emulate what made the first so successful, it would have lost something. It definitely wouldn't be as iconic as Part 2 has gone on to be. 

    One of the large reasons why Part 2 works so damn well for me is its cast. Dennis Hopper in a Texas Chainsaw film? Who would have thought it would have worked so well? He is so over the top in such a beautiful way. He knows exactly what he wanted to do with the role and what he had to do to get there. It allowed him to make Lefty such an interesting and fleshed out characters. The same goes for Caroline Williams as Stretch. She delivers such an incredible performance. The film literally hinges on her shoulders. If she didn't work, the rest of the film may not play as well as it does. 

    We do get to see the return of Jim Siedow as Drayton Sawyer. He was very memorable in the first film, however in this second film - the character flourishes. Honestly in this installment, the whole Sawyer clan comes to life in such an interesting way. It's more lively than in the original film, in my opinion. And that definitely has something to do with Bill Moseley as Chop Top. This is a character that is the brother to the hitchhiker from the '74 film. He is completely over the top in such a fun way. Every time he's on screen, this performance manages to steal the scene. Every time I have watched this film, I keep an eye on Chop Top and always find something new in the performance. It's such an iconic performance. And we also have Bill Johnson as Leatherface. 

    This is probably one of the largest changes from the original film. In that original film, Leatherface was a bit more of a brute and did as instructed. In this installment, we get to see many layers to the character. He takes moments to think for himself. He does make some mistakes - accidentally denting Chop Top's dome probably one of them. He does manage to take a liking to Stretch. Some would say that it's a very cartoonish approach, but I say that it works really well. It's a more embellished approach when compared to the original film. 

    Holy crap, I went this far into talking about the film without discussing the story. I guess that shows the power of this film. It's a very simple story, which sometimes is what works best. It picks up 13 years after the events of the original. One night we have two dimwits calling a radio station while encountering Leatherface and Chop Top. It's something that sets the whole film into motion. Plus we get to see the return of Nubbins, the hitchhiker - even if he is just a corpse. The story moves along at a very quick pace and before I knew it, we were seeing Dennis Hopper battling Leatherface in a Chainsaw Battle for the Ages. 

    It's amazing to see that after all these years, Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 continues to find an audience. It may not have found it on initial release, but I'm sure it's made up for it since then. The film has such a chaotic energy at times and can be captivating. I would say that out of the whole franchise, this is probably my favorite. And it's very easy to see why. 

If you haven't seen it yet, go check out Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2. 

Rating: 5 out of 5. 

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