The Last Days on Mars (2013)

This was a serious sci fi flick with so many potentials. You can find a cast full of recognized actors serving it well and a scenario giving its best, combing science fiction with horror elements. Only a few hours before the crew departs from Mars, an accident turns out to be disastrous for the whole mission. A great discovery on bacterial life changes to a lethal game for survival between the astronauts. The situation is really tough for everyone and as mission comes to its end, Vince, a brave technician tries to figure out what happened and what will be his next move in order to survive, isolated in an unfriendly planet. You will enjoy every moment of its dramatic sequence as this entertaining film delivers a great story.

The tripper (2006)

Tripper tastes like old wine. Sounds good, watching is even better. A b movie, directed at zeros, focusing in the oldskool style bloody stuff. Samantha and her friends decide to spend some time in the woods, visiting a psychedelic music festival. They love using drugs and being lost half of the day.The problems start when arriving at the spot and are assaulted by three local hillbillies. And this is only the beginning, as deranged psychopath serial-killer wearing a mask of Ronald Reagan uses an ax to kill the pacific stoned hippies. Deputy Buzz Hall investigates the crime scenes but there are various issues to be resolved as well. The atmosphere is creepy, cinematography also works good and blood fans will enjoy for sure.

Extinction (2015)

Extinction is not another typical zombie flick but maybe a beautiful exception. Even if you can think of it as a repetition at the beginning, everything is going to change soon at this well written story. Two different neighbors, Patrick and Jack, live peacefully somewhere in an abandoned place in the future. There was a zombie attack, nine years ago, and now Patrick raises up his daughter Lu, as Jack has no friends around, except his dog. There is a secret between these two men and they both have a common enemy that is still kept hidden. Surviving on the cold planet is really difficult and Lu tries to understand the meaning of being a human. Cool acting, nice atmosphere and an interesting horror film as well.

American Mary (2012)

A talented young girl tries her best in the medical university but she gets into troubles while doing the dirty job for a mobster. This is not her only problem as twisted doctors are trying to get closer to her and a few weird clients need her services at last. She is confused and has to take difficult decisions about her future that change everything. Her delicate passion for being a surgeon will drive her into a dark, bloody world. An interesting horror film with good acting and working plot. There is not enough gore as I was expecting but it is still an accomplishing gem. It is good to see new talent emerging with entertaining movies that don't follow the cookie cutter mold Hollywood has been giving us. 

Clown (2014)

Somewhere in a small town, a father tries to entertain his son at his birthday party. As he wears on an old fashioned clown costume, founded in an abandoned house, it will bring chaos to his life as it will transform him to an ancient demon. Kent tries to remove the evil suit over him but every attempt fails and gets him closer to the living nightmare as he loses control. His wife is the only one who understands him but this is not enough to save him for the endless pain. This is another Eli Roth's production, probably a good horror film with great moments for fans. Its great filming and acting can save your night, if you are looking for an interesting thrilling movie. The characters developing also works  and gives an overall positive result.

Escape from Tomorrow (2013)

What is actually the definition of cinema? Action, a good script, a better cinematography or a perfect role play? On this experimental as I can say film, maybe you can't find any of these or you may explore some new frontiers. It is all filmed in a Disney entertainment park, where you find Jim and his family try to spend some happy moments together until the father gets a notice that he got fire. After that, he obsesses with two young girls and starts being paranoid. The place seems to be unfriendly for his family and various issues appear in their relationship. The story goes insane more and more, presenting both surreal and horror elements into. A really bizarre film that made my mind move through his stunning black and white video production. So cinema or not, this gem is not for anyone!

Out to lunch - Joseph Bennett (2014)

This is exactly the reason you never should call a yeti for an interview at a television broadcast. Especially if it's hungry all day.

OUT TO LUNCH from Joseph Bennett on Vimeo.

13 Sins (2014)

Elliot Brindle has a difficult day as he loses job and opportunity to take care of his younger brother who requires assistance for disabilities. He has to help also his racist father who lives alone and get ready for the arrival of a new member in his family with Shelby who tries to understand his problems. Until one day he receives an unknown call that informs him about the privileges of a special game where he has to execute 13 tasks in order to win such a fortune. The first tasks seem to be quite easy but as the game continues, things get complicated in a terrible way and Elliot finds out that he can't quit now because he will lose everything. Is he going to find the solution and win the bloody competition at last? This is a superb horror film, so strong in images, with amazing script and good performances that shall satisfy any thriller fan out there.

Treevenge (2008)

It's Christmas, I just wanna fuck! What an epic title. Directed by the same guys who gave us 'Hobo with a shotgun' and 'Grindhouse' package. It is a hilarious short film blending Fulci-esquire gore with horror cult films. A magnificent idea about what happens when we mess with forest. It can stand as also as a parody of cheap slasher movies from the 70s and 80s. Foul-mouthed lumberjacks descend on a hillside of trees, cutting them down and trucking them to Christmas tree lots where families paw them, pick one out, take it home, stick it in a stand, and decorate it. The trees experience terror throughout the ordeal: we hear their squeals of pain when axed or sawn, the emotion of separation from family and friends, the fear of the unknown, and the despair they feel during the strange and bizarre rituals of families at Christmas. On Christmas morning, the trees strike back. Man, woman, child, and pet may be in for a grisly end.

 
Treevenge from jasoneisener on Vimeo.

Eddie the Sleepwalking Cannibal (2012)

Lars Olafssen is a talented famous art designer. He moves to Koda Lake, a small Canadian town in order to work as a teacher in an art school. He is recognized and the director wants him. Soon problems appear at the school as one of its sponsors dies and she leaves Eddie back, a mute weird guy, passionate with cereals living on his own word. Now Lars has to protect him as Eddie's mother property can keep the school opened. Soon he realizes that Eddie has more secrets and his hunger doesn't need only cereals but fresh hot blood. When Eddie is sad, a syndrome that transforms him into a beast awakes. Lars will find a way to be inspirational again, painting on canvas after every murder of Eddie. A crazy black comedy with stunning performances and bloody artistic lines.

Gallowwalkers (2012)

I could say I always liked Snipes's films. But this time it didn't get so well as usually. The problem with this film is the editing. The story is about a colored gunman who seeks for revenge for the rape and death of his wife. We really don't know enough about his roots except he was abandoned from his mother, a witch or something like that. He grew up at the orphanage and then found a shelter at a woman's butcher house. He will find Fab, a young brave man in chains, and he will hire him to help him eliminate the responsible gang for his drama. But there is a curse on him that everyone he dies from his hands shall return to life. This strange mixture of western and undead is just a mess because the director seems to have forgot the lines of cinematography. The sequences are not following the correct order and the whole thing is a violent movie that could be a horror classic but instead of that stays another gem that will fade into oblivion. It's a pity for Snipes though because he acted well again.

The rambler (2013)

This is a strange film for sure. It is a surreal trip into the unknown. Our guide is the rambler, an adventurer that feels he can't stay anywhere but only walking forward. The rambler leaves back his old life after being released from the prison and escape to nowhere. He meets more and more odd people on his way and mess with surreal situations. Alongside with a crazy scientist who thinks he is Frankenstein and experiments with human brain. But not with the best results. He could find love in the hug of a young woman that meet far away at an unknown town but fate plays another game with him. But he can't put it down but always continue his path so his transition to a fearless man will come soon. What is the purpose of all this no one knows though. A crazy gem, not really suggested to masses.

Dark skies (2013)

Barret family is living peacefully at the suburbs when a series of shocking events disturb their routine. The father, Daniel, is unemployed for a long time and his wife, Lacy tries to support him as also grow up their two sons with love and care. An unknown force invades their home night by night and make all suffer from nightmares. They all also start to have memory blackouts and find themselves into a hypnotizing condition that drive them crazy. What is the purpose of this uninvited menace and what will be the consequences of this arrival upon their house? An astonishing sci fi thriller from the producers of Paranormal Activity (I hate this film) but I think this production is levels ahead anyway. Great suspense and powerful performances from the starring duo as also an accomplishing direction of a mysterious case.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)

When Tim Burton is at the production team of such a film, you probably know that the result is going to be more than satisfying. So you are correct. Abraham Lincoln is the well known 16th President of the States and this film gives us another view of his personality as he is a dedicated vampire hunter. Everything started with his mother's death from a thirsty creature and Lincoln wants to revenge the whole clan whose leader is Adam, an ancient devil. Henry is a mysterious guy that teaches Lincoln the secrets to destroy the monsters but wants him also to execute his orders. We watch the transition of Abraham's life from his teenage years until his election as the president and the difficult years of the civil war that became a real crisis between the living and the dead citizen of America. Astonishing fight scenes with our hero's axe give another dimension at the dark atmosphere of this movie. The plot and the customs are giving a realistic sense of that era and the performances are cool. So are you a patriot or a vampire?

Journey to the unknown - Kerry Laitala (2002)

Kerry Laitala is an experimental film director living and working at the States. Laitala hand-builds her films, manipulating the surface of the celluloid and exposing each frame individually to create works that stand at the edge of both film and art. This is a gem you can find at the Experiments in Terror dvd compilation. I can describe it as an experimental film including herky-jerky shock-editing & startling noises, rather than definite event, to achieve an audience reaction of tension or horror.

Blackaria (2010)

Welcome to the twisted world of François Gaillard and Christophe Robin. They are also directed the incredible 'Last Caress' back in 2010. This is the second film of a package dedicated to neo giallo. Full of bloody murders and naked beautiful women, it is an ode to neo noir and a trip into horror fantasy. A young woman, Angela tries to understand her nightmares asking for advice from her friend Marco, a psychologist. Her neighbor Anna Maria, organizes orgies at her apartment and drives Angela into the abyss of a weird atmosphere. As Angela finds her dead one day, she discovers that a strange thing happens as she looks through the broken glasses of a magic sphere. What happens to the time and who is the freaky killer wearing the red coat? Angela has to find the solution and escape from this situation as the murders lead to her as for the next victim. It was another interesting attempt from the French directors duo, but I think 'Last Caress' was working better as a plot. There are some cool scenes as the eye sliced by the razor, probably influenced by Bunuel. Maybe with a bigger budget and a better scenario we could have a miraculous result as well.

Yôkai daisensô aka Yokai monsters Spook warfare (1968)

I still haven't understand if this film is the sequel of '100 monsters' as various sources from the internet describe it in alternate ways. It is still a great production from ADV, in a series of Japanese children's movies created in the 1960s. Two tomb raiders accidentally wake up the Babylonian demon, Daimon who flies up to Asia and especially Japan during the Middle Ages. He arrives at Izu magisterial palace and capture the souls of the local Lord and his stewards, Saheji. Lord's daughter, Ohie, with the help of her guard, Shipanhiro, try to figure out what happens and their people's behavior has changed. The local ghosts are the only ones who know what is truly going on and try to confront Daimon. Enjoy marvelous Kappa, the water imp, and a variety of spirits based on Japanese folklore and traditional art. The first film in a series that inspired the recent Great Yokai War. Directed by a veteran of the Zatoichi series and the excellent samurai/horror/kaiju film, Daimajin.

 

The day of the Triffids (1962)

Tom Godwin is a marine biologist living at a small island with his wife, Karen, working on lab experiments. Bill Masen is a captain who wakes up at an abandoned hospital after a successful surgery on his eyes. Things have changed and millions of people have became blind due to a phenomenon of meteors falling on earth. And this is not the only problem as the meteors have turned Triffids, some experimental plants into mutated aliens that grow up and threat the human kind as well. Bill finds an orphan who was traveling alone and together they pass to France. They meet madam Durant there, an elegant lady who uses her house as a camp to save people. Will all these people survive through the chaos that space objects have caused? An interesting science fiction film from the 60s, not quite a fully-fledged classic but a serious proposal for the audience of that era.

Quella villa accanto al cimitero aka The house by the cemetery (1981)

Boyle family have to move in a small town and rent a house near a cemetery. Bob Boyle has to investigate the terrible crime and suicide of an ex colleague. The real estate office seems to know something about Boyle's new place. A dark secret that is kept well. At the past centuries, another family with unexpected end have been living there. The father, Dr. Freudstei, was a surgeon who killed his wife and then disappeared. The problem for Boyle family starts when they start listening and feeling of weird phenomena as screams from the basement and things moving around. There is an enigma sharing the same house and the results will be catastrophically. Lucio Fulci directs another Italian horror film and tries hard for a good attempt to give us the appropriate creeps. Lots of blood and corpses are around and a frightened child who yells all the time.

Videodrome (1983)

This is the third time I have seen David Cronenberg's classic gem. A mixture of thriller, surreal and painful horror film. Max Renn is the president of CICIC tv, based in Toronto, Canada. He is cynical, sex maniac and arrogant. He looks for new ideas to promote his channel in a better way. Harlan. a technician who works for Max, shows him a strange program, Videodrome, that he has found through intercepting the tv satellites. It is plotless and shows some guys in uniforms torture a woman to death. Max is being interested on that and tries to find more information. As he is guest to another show, he meets Nicki, a masochist beautiful woman. At this show, there is another eccentric guest, Professor O'Blivion, a pop culture analyst and philosopher who will only appear on television if his image is broadcast into the studio, onto a television, from a remote location. Nicky is addicted to pain and Max shows her Videodrome. She responses sexually and Max likes it. All these characters are involved to a surreal trip of madness and fear through Videodrome.