While some may critique its lack of subtlety, Sophia Takal’s Black Christmas is exactly the kind of energy we need going into the 2020 election cycle. Why subtweet Nazis with antifascist undertones when you can just have your characters roll up their sleeves and get the purge done themselves? (GPG: 4/5). Review by Contributing Editor… Continue reading ‘Black Christmas’ is an interesting take on college horror
Tag: Horror
QUARRIES
In hopes of beginning her own journey to recovery and self-worth, “Kat” (Nicole Marie Johnson) leaves her abusive boyfriend and joins a hiking expedition, made up of other disparaged women, for a several-day long hike. Unfortunately, Kat gets much more than she bargained for, and so does the rest of the group when they realize… Continue reading QUARRIES
ALWAYS SHINE
Takals’s film Always Shine successfully utilizes the best elements of several genres, excellent sound design, to produce a final product that is all at once horrifying and beautiful. The story is simple: two young actresses whose friendship has been tainted by one woman’s success and the other’s lack of success. But the film is incredibly… Continue reading ALWAYS SHINE
SHELLEY
The horror genre has produced countless demon-filled stories that prey on viewers through spooky effects and big bads. But SHELLEY is different. Directed by Ali Abbasi (first feature), and penned by Maren Louise Kaehne (with Abbasi), SHELLEY is the non-horror horror movie, a demon-baby story that creates fear in the heart of the viewers not… Continue reading SHELLEY
VIRAL
Directed by Henry Just and Ariel Schulman and written by Christopher Landon and Barbara Marshall, Viral’s horror plays on the very real paranoia that sets in when discussion of new infectious diseases take over the news. When a parasitic infection takes over the United States, causing apocalyptic chaos, “Emma” (Sofia Black-D’Elia) and her sister “Stacey”… Continue reading VIRAL
SOUTHBOUND
Written and directed by a creative team including Roxanne Benjamin and Susan Burke, Southbound tells the tale of five different horror stories, all taking place along one single stretch of desert highway. Will little story but lots of fright, Southbound is told with a twist ending…so stay in your seat until the credits roll. (JEP:… Continue reading SOUTHBOUND
THE BOY
Screenwriter Stacey Menear draws viewers into an eerie mansion as American nanny “Greta,” (Lauren Cohan) babysits an eight-year-old, life-sized doll. The unpredictable and peculiar plot engages viewers for the majority of the film, making them wonder if young “Brahms” is a real boy, haunting his new housekeeper. (BKP: 3.5/5) Review by Associate Editor Brigid K.… Continue reading THE BOY
GOODNIGHT MOMMY
Writers Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz conjure up a terrifying psychological thriller about twin boys and their unrecognizable mother. A beautifully-shot, disturbing take on family drama. (BKP: 3.5/5) Review by Associate Editor Brigid K. Presecky Unlike the abundant, low-budget flicks in American cinemas, Goodnight Mommy (aka Ich seh, Ich seh) is an Austria-based thriller teetering… Continue reading GOODNIGHT MOMMY