Top 10 FAVORITES of 2016!

NOTE: See how I typed "favorites" in all caps up there?  That's because this list is only meant to be MY favorite horror films of 2016- not any kind of definitive list, so no one fight me on these, puh-lease!

Ok, with that out of the way, now we can get to the good stuff!

(in no particular order - except for the #1 spot)

10. Don't Breathe- This one I actually went into completely blind (no pun intended), aside from the general plot.  I avoided the trailers like the plague because several people had been telling me that they were pretty spoilerific and ruined some great "twists and reveals".  I'm glad I did because I had zero idea what to expect and that's exactly how I feel like this movie should be approached.  Fede Alvarez (Evil Dead remake) nailed the tension and fear that the characters experienced throughout.  The shining star of the movie, though, was Stephen Lang playing a blind man whose home is going to be broken into.  This isn't your typical home invasion film.  You'll also never look at a turkey baster the same again...ugh.

9. Pet- This one was one of the late releases this year (Dec 2), and probably won't be on a lot of top 10 lists, but I don't even care because I really enjoyed it!  If you're unfamiliar with the film, a man (Dominic Monaghan) kidnaps waitress, Holly (Ksenia Solo), and locks her in a steel cage he's constructed in an unused wing of the animal shelter he works in.  That's all I'll give you, but if you watch the trailers you'll see there's a lot more to the story than that.  I won't lie and say this one reinvents the horror wheel, because it doesn't, but it's fun and creepy and has some legitimate twists and turns.

8. The Invitation- I wouldn't blame anyone for hating me if I didn't include this in my list.  Surprisingly, this was a pretty polarizing flick within the horror community; one side of the fence said it was a snoozefest and the other side heralded it for being a masterpiece of dread and tension.  I stand on that latter side, clearly.  Instead of re-hashing my thoughts on the film here, check out my review on it from April- THE INVITATION review.

7. Southbound- I think this one is actually the earliest release on my list having come out in February.  I'm such a sucker for an anthology film, and this one had a great cast of directors behind each segment.  I loved how seamlessly each story flowed together and created this never-ending sense of eeriness.  It was like a modern day Twilight Zone!  This is another one where you can check out my review on- SOUTHBOUND review.

6. Beyond the Gates- Another late-in-the-year release (Dec 9), this was Jackson Stewart's feature film debut and it hit a number of 80's nostalgia nails on the head.  Taking on the almost forgotten idea of VHS board games and turning it into a fun horror film was pretty genius to me.  Check out my full review on the movie here- BEYOND THE GATES review

5.  The Wailing- Wow, I don't even know if I have the right words to convey how great this movie is.  Coming out of South Korea, director/writer Na Hong-jin tells us the story of a policeman who must find out the cause behind a mysterious illness that is striking the villagers and causing them to commit brutal murders.  Coming in at just under 160 minutes, this watch is laborious and requires your full attention (especially with subtitles) but is full of such fantastic storytelling that you won't even be worried about the length.  The Wailing is so much more than a ghost story, a possession movie, a murder mystery... it's all of those, yes, but also completely heartbreaking.

4. The Eyes of My Mother- After her mother is brutally murdered, Francisca tries to cure her loneliness in dark and disturbing ways.  Before I watched this, I didn't even have any idea I'd be adding it to my Top 10 list.  Admittedly it was because I was turned off by the black & white aspect of the movie and thought it was going to end up being some pretentious, artsy-fartsy movie but boy, was I wrong.  This movie was bleak and violent from beginning to very end, but there was so many things to enjoy about it.  The b&w helps tone down the gore in the film, but I still felt uneasy eating while watching and you probably would, too.

3. The Autopsy of Jane Doe- I swear, the majority of my picks were released this month!  This one is probably the latest one (Dec 23) and the last movie that I needed for my list.  This one spooked the fuck out of me and it was so much fun.  There was a buttload of dread and a great mystery that you're solving right alongside the lead characters.  Check out my review on it from last week- THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE review

2. Baskin- This movie is fucking B-A-N-A-N-A-S (don't act like you didn't sing that part...).  Like, the first 20-30 min are probably the tamest and even those are weird as hell.  After that, all bets are off.  This Turkish flick is rooted firmly in surreal horror territory where a group of police officers stumble into Hell, basically, when they go into an abandoned building where a Black Mass is taking place.  The acting was great, the colors were wild and vibrant, and the movie never lets up once it gets going.  This one definitely aint for the squeamish.

1. Green Room- When I saw this one in April, I knew it had a secure spot on my list, but after giving it a re-watch yesterday, I knew it had my #1 spot.  From director Jeremy Saulnier, we follow a punk band who are forced to fight for their lives after witnessing a murder in a club run by Neo-Nazis.  What a simple fucking storyline, right?  Saulnier takes that simplicity and gives us a horribly violent and tension-filled movie that sticks with you for a long time after watching.  I felt like everything was done just perfectly with this movie and that's incredibly hard to find in horror (yes, this is a goddamn horror movie, don't even suggest otherwise!)  Plus, it was the last film to be released, while he was alive, that featured Anton Yelchin (RIP).
Check out Adam's kickass review on it- GREEN ROOM review


HONORABLE MENTIONS: Neon Demon, The Conjuring 2, Under the Shadow, I Am Not A Serial Killer, Always Shine


Leave me your picks in the comments below!

Holidays with Horror Huddle: Krampus (2015)

(I have to apologize for the shitty lighting on my end and the potato sound quality.  We're still trying to hone our skills and find better software.  Let us know if y'all have any suggestions!)

On this special Christmas-time ep, we talk about Michael Dougherty's 2015 comedy/horror KRAMPUS.

And you finally get to hear our very own intro/outro Horror Huddle theme song!  Created by Adam Odor because he kicks butt.  Hope you guys dig it!

Enjoy and leave some feedback!

The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)

Running Time: 1hr 39min

Release Date: December 21, 2016

Written by: Ian B. Goldberg, Richard Naing

Directed by: André Øvredal

Review by: Stacey

This was the last horror movie of '16 that I was anticipating the release of, and boy, did it deliver.  Not to mention the fact that the director of Trollhunter helmed this one, so naturally I was all in.  Throw Emile Hirsch and Brian Cox in the lead roles and you have yourself a solid flick for me.

Ash & S-B's 2016 Christmas Picks!

Christmas is actually my least favorite holiday (what a shocker); there's just too much damn cheeriness for me.  And the music, dark lord, the music.  Don't get me wrong, I still decorate the hell out of my house every year and put up a tree, but that's because it's the perfect mood setter for when I turn off every other light and sit down for my annual viewing of Bob Clark's BLACK CHRISTMAS or the ever-so-bizarre CHRISTMAS EVIL.

Ash and I decided to pick 3 movies each that we think are perfect watches for your holiday viewing this year.  Read on below for our lists!

Beyond the Gates (2016)

Running Time: 1hr 24min

Release Date: December 9, 2016

Written by: Stephen Scarlata, Jackson Stewart

Directed by: Jackson Stewart

Review by: Stacey

Horror has been a haven for the retro throwback style the last few years with movies like House of the Devil, Almost Human, The Guest (ok, not really horror, but y'know) and most recently The Mind's Eye.  It seems like a lot of filmmakers are choosing to set their movies from decades past or even in fairly ambiguous time frames (It Follows), and for most it works!  I've talked to a few folks, however, who have said they're growing tired of the throwback style, but I can tell you that I'm not one of them, especially not after seeing Jackson Stewart's feature debut, Beyond the Gates.

Mercy (2016)

Running Time: 1hr 30min

Release Date: June 4, 2016 (Los Angeles Film Festival)

Written/Directed by: Chris Sparling

Review by: Stacey

Not to be confused with the 2014 movie of the same name starring Carl from The Walking Dead, 2016's Mercy was acquired by Netflix sometime this year after having its premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival.  Now, Netflix has a pretty good track record with their original series, but when it comes to their original movies I'm actually pretty in the dark about those.  And as we all know, Netflix isn't the best when it comes to having a variety of quality horror.

I decided to give Mercy a chance taking into consideration the streaming site's top tier series selection, hoping that maybe their horror films would follow suit.

Check out my latest reviews at HMU!

I've been a little quiet around here lately, my apologies!  I'm sure you all can understand that Thanksgiving week is always a cluster of family, food, and madness.  I'm happy to say that we came out of alive; 10 lbs heavier, but alive.

Ash and I have a new episode of HORROR HUDDLE coming at ya by tomorrow, but until then I'll post the links to my latest reviews over at www.horrormoviesuncut.com.  Give them a read and show some support for their awesome site!

Both screeners from Toronto's Blood In The Snow film festival:

24X36: A Movie About Movie Posters:

https://horrormoviesuncut.com/2016/11/27/bits-2016-24x36-a-movie-about-movie-posters-movie-review/

My Brother Charlie (short film):

https://horrormoviesuncut.com/2016/11/27/bits-2016-my-brother-charlie-horror-short-review/

The Last House on the Left (2009)

Running Time: 1hr 50min

Release Date: March 13, 2009

Directed by: Dennis Iliadis

Review by: Stacey

I'll save you the tired ass "remake vs original" argument that everyone has every second of every day, and just get to it.  The original The Last House on the Left (which was actually my first review for the site 2 years ago!) was grim and brutal is still hard to watch for some of us (although it boasts one of my favorite horror soundtracks).  I don't think it's on many folks' Top 10 lists, not for the content, but because simply, it's not very good.  That said, it's maintained it's cult classic status with many of us horror fans and it's lasting power is a testament to Wes Craven's earlier works.

And then, in 2009, we got our modernized version of the film.

Halloween Edition Week 4: Roseanne Halloween Episodes!

IT'S TIME!

Happy Halloween everyone!  Every horror lover's favorite day is finally upon us and with that we bring you the 4th and final episode of our Halloween Edition Horror Huddle episodes.  Ash and SB are joined by Adam and Chris (who you might recognize from our earlier review videos) to talk about the loved and lauded episodes from ROSEANNE- their Halloween episodes!  We talk about all 8 of them; the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Enjoy and leave some feedback!

Find us on Instagram:

staceybethh || e.txcountryboy

Halloween Edition Week 3: Night of the Demons (1988)

This week we have on a regular, Adam, to discuss the cult classic NIGHT OF THE DEMONS!  Starring Linnea Quigly and.....some other people?  We delve into Quigley's penchant for nudity and whether or not the movie is a "classic" for the right reasons.

Enjoy and leave some feedback!

Find us on Instagram:

staceybethh || e.txcountryboy

Pick of the Week: La Creeperie Bookshop

Not only am I sucker for horror movies, but I also have a sweet spot for anything spooky in written form.  I have quite the little collection of books ranging from the occult and true crime to books on the paranormal and movie novelizations.  If you're like me, you'll appreciate the gem I found a few months back in the form of online bookshop, La Creeperie.

As you can see from the screenshot above, their shop has quite an array of "genres" to choose from, with the majority related to all things spine-chilling.

These are just a few of the titles I've acquired from the shop.  Clearly I have a thing for horror movie novelizations. Woops!

What I also love about the shop is the awesome prices.  You'll find some awesome titles that are super affordable (of course the real special books are higher in price, but well worth it).  While checking the site today, I noticed they're currently having a Halloween sale with all items being 15% off, so don't sleep on La Creeperie and go snag some kickass reads!

Instagram: lacreeperie

Twitter: lacreeperie2

10 Nights of Halloween: Watchlists from Ash & Stacey-Beth

(with a special list by Adam!)

"Only 10 nights of Halloween?!" Yes, only 10.  We got a bit of a late start on the list-making and figured since there are several other awesome websites doing their own "31 days of Halloween" watchlists, we'd keep it easy and give you our 10 picks each for this Halloween season.

Halloween Edition Week 2: Hocus Pocus (1993)

Week 2 is here!  We discuss the Halloween classic, HOCUS POCUS, starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy.

Enjoy and leave some feedback!

Follow us on Instagram:

staceybethh || e.txcountryboy

Fender Bender (2016)

Running Time: 1hr 31min

Release Date: May 23, 2016

Directed/Written by: Mark Pavia

Review by: Stacey

The slasher movies of the 80's seem to hold a special place in the hearts of the majority of us in the horror community, but at the same time we tend to side-eye anything that comes out nowadays that even resembles a slasher.  Mostly because anything done now that follows the slasher formula ends up feeling tired and also because it's hard to create an iconic villain with the likes of Freddy or Michael (that's not to say there aren't a couple out there that are up to par, but it's usually few and far between).

Halloween Edition Week 1: Pumpkinhead (1989)

It's that time of year, y'all!  We're back again this year with our "Halloween Edition" of Horror Huddle.

Okay, I know we're a litttttle late on the first week's video, but technology really hates us this year.  That said, here it is!  We talk about Stan Winston's cult classic, PUMPKINHEAD, starring Lance Henriksen.

Stay tuned for week 2's (posted in a few days) video where we discuss the Halloween staple, HOCUS POCUS.

Enjoy and leave some feedback!

Follow us on Instagram:

staceybethh || e.txcountryboy

Young Frankenstein (1974)

Running Time: 1hr 46min

Release Date: December 15, 1974

Written by: Gene Wilder, Mel Brooks

Directed by: Mel Brooks

Review by: Ash

I typically don't go to movie theaters as a rule.  Why pay $15 for one movie ticket then pay way too much for the food there when the movie you are about to see might be horrible? So it means something when I actually throw down that ungodly amount for a ticket to see something on the big screen. This time it was for Young Frankenstein.

Pick of The Week: ROSEANNE: TRICKS & TREATS

Release Date: 2011

Running Time: 3hrs 6min

Roseanne will always be one of my favorite tv shows of all time (and I don't think I'm the only one).  The humor was always on point and surprisingly still relevant, but what I loved the most was the family dynamic.  They didn't give us a cookie cutter, tv sitcom family; they were real just like the rest of us, they had fights and financial troubles.  And they LOVED Halloween!

It's safe to say that the Roseanne Halloween episodes are the best of any sitcom (fight me on this).  That's why my "Pick of the Week" goes to Roseanne: Tricks & Treats dvd released by Mill Creek Entertainment in 2011.  Running at 3hrs and 6min, it features all 8 Halloween-themed episodes (season 1 didn't have one): BOO!, Trick or Treat, Trick Me Up, Trick Me Down, Halloween IV, Halloween V, Skeleton in the Closet, Halloween- The Final Chapter, Satan, Darling.

Now I'm going to be honest here, not every Halloween episode is AMAZING.  They really started to lose their spark towards the end of the series, like the rest of the episodes in those seasons, but those first few were classics!  BOO! was the first and probably the best- Roseanne and Dan spend the episode trying to one up each other with spooky pranks to determine who really is "the master!"  And Roseanne dressed as a male lumberjack in the second episode, Trick or Treat is absolutely hilarious.

I have to say, though, that the icing on the cake of these episodes were the costumes, by far.  But it wasn't Roseanne and Dan that were best dressed, it was the kids!  Darlene and Becky always had the coolest costumes that I'm still jealous of to this day.  Becky dressed as a mutilated prom queen, Darlene as Tippi Hedren in The Birds, or little DJ as Hannibal Lector complete with straightjacket- they were definitely winning best costume somewhere in Lanford.

That said, Roseanne: Tricks & Treats is a must-own for any fan of the sitcom and the Halloween season.  And you can't beat that price tag of $5.49 over at Amazon!  So go and buy it and stick around for our episode of Horror Huddle on Halloween when we talk in-depth about the episodes!

Texans Talk Terror: THE STRAIN recap: Ep 4 "Gone But Not Forgotten"

This week we recap episode 4 of THE STRAIN's third season!

Find us on Instagram:

staceybethh || e.txcountryboy

The Neighbor (2016)

Running Time: 1hr 27min

Release Date: September 6, 2016

Directed by: Marcus Dunstan

Written by: Marcus Dunstan, Patrick Melton

If you haven't heard of this one, it's probably because it's a straight to VOD/DVD flick, and I don't think there was much press on it at all in the horror community.  As I've mentioned before, I'm a fan of mostly anything involving Josh Stewart, so naturally I had to check this one out.  Unfortunately, The Neighbor came off like something I had seen before...several times.

Texans Talk Terror: THE STRAIN recap: S3Ep3 "First Born"

On our latest episode, we recap the S3Ep3 of THE STRAIN.

We also briefly talk about the upcoming blu-ray release of EXORCIST III from Scream Factory!

Find us on Instagram:

staceybethh || e.txcountryboy

Blair Witch (2016)

Running Time: 1hr 29min

Release Date: September 16, 2016

Directed by: Adam Wingard

Written by: Simon Barrett

Review by: Ash

Blair Witch is the sequel we didn’t know we wanted but for better or worse it’s the sequel we got.

Texans Talk Terror: THE STRAIN S3 recap - Ep 1 & 2

On our latest episode, we cover episodes 1 & 2 of THE STRAIN season 3!

We briefly talk about THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT and the latest news on the FRIDAY THE 13TH game.

Find us on Instagram:

staceybethh || e.txcountryboy

Pick of the Week: WHO TOOK JOHNNY (2014)

I first heard about the disappearance of Johnny Gosch on a podcast a couple of years ago.  What caught me about it was that it was relatively unknown for me, so I didn't feel like I was hearing about something that had been rehashed over and over on other platforms, and because this case is like a cornucopia of conspiracy, police ineptitude, multiple missing children, and just general mystery.

Currently on Netflix, Who Took Johnny (2014) delves into the (now) 34 year old missing persons case of 12 year old Johnny Gosch .  The documentary's focus is Johnny's mother, Noreen, who has spent the last three decades trying to uncover what happened to her son.

I don't want to give a whole lot about the film away for you readers who haven't heard anything about the case, but I highly recommend this one.  Especially if you have an affinity for conspiracies and true crime.  It's equal parts crazy and heartbreaking because at the end of the day, a boy went missing and no one knows who is at fault.  Families were destroyed and to make it worse, Johnny's disappearance wasn't the only one that occurred in that area around that time (which is briefly covered during the documentary).  That's where the film starts to take a turn into sketch-land.

Disappearance and conspiracies aside, the film reveals how poorly the police handled the disappearance.  Whether it was unwillingness or inexperience, the Des Moines PD dropped the ball in the first hours of Johnny's disappearance (and for a long time afterwards), and it's very evident.  It's not hard to become a little mad and ultra-suspicious of what exactly happened in this whole tale.

Johnny Gosch Wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Gosch

There it is.  My pick of the week!  Give it a watch and come back and let me now your thoughts in the comments.  Or find me on Twitter: @TheStaceyBeth

Come back every Friday for my next PotW!

Texans Talk Terror Episode 5!

On our latest episode, we talk about the release of the trailer for upcoming movie RINGS, the revival of horror video game ALLISON ROAD, the costume design for Pennywise from the IT reboot, and the unveiling of Adam Wingard's BLAIR WITCH sequel trailer.

Ash and Stacey-Beth also discuss recent movies they've seen and briefly talk about the premiere episode of AMC's FEAR THE WALKING DEAD.

Enjoy and leave some feedback!

Find us on Instagram:

staceybethh || e.txcountryboy

Schlock Time with Fran Appleton! - The Creeping Terror (1964)

Running Time: 1hr 15min

Release Date: November 20, 1964

Directed by: Vic Savage

Written by: Robert Silliphant

Review by: Fran Appleton, Dominatrix of Schlock

It's HERE, Schlockateers! Aunt Fran's latest Dissection: "THE CREEPING TERROR"! Just in time for Friday Date Night! Guaranteed to have your date clinging to you like static shag rug fibers! Enjoy, my lovelies!

They're Watching (2016)

Running Time: 1hr 35min

Release Date: March 25, 2016

Directed/Written by: Jay Lender & Micah Wright

Review by: Stacey

Adam and I decided to stay in bed about an hour or two longer than usual on Sunday because, duh, lazy.  In between re-runs of Bar Rescue we started watching one of the many home improvement shows on HGTV because we'll never have the money to make unneccessary renovations to our house and because they're just plain addicting to watch.  Have you ever wondered what would happen if the crew from one of those shows had to film in rural Europe but ended up stumbling across some superstitious locals who have a heavy disdain for witches?  No?  Well, too bad, because 2016's They're Watching answers that for you.

Horror Huddle with Stacey-Beth & Ash: 'Stranger Things' Chapters 5-8

Welcome back to another episode of 'Horror Huddle'!

SB, Ash, and our guest, Adam, are back to round up our 'Stranger Things' overview as we talk episodes 5-8 of the Netflix original.

Enjoy and leave some feedback!

Find us on Instagram: staceybethh || e.txcountryboy

Horror Huddle with Stacey-Beth & Ash: Stranger Things Chapters 1-4

We're baaaack!

Ash and Stacey-Beth have resurrected 'Horror Huddle' from it's grave to talk about the tv series that has lit the internet on fire: STRANGER THINGS.  On this episode we have on guest (and SB's husband) Adam as we all give an overview and our thoughts on the first 4 episodes (or chapters) of the Netflix original show.

Enjoy and leave some feedback!

Find us on Instagram: staceybethh || e.txcountryboy

I Drink Your Blood (1970)

Running Time: 1hr 23 min

Release Date: December 1970

Directed/Written by: David E. Durston

Review by: Stacey

Don't be fooled, there's no drinking of blood in this one.  Hell, the poster (as seen above) wasn't even originally meant for this movie, and the character is never seen at any point, unless I blacked out during that time.  David Durston's trashy exploitation flick I Drink Your Blood (originally titled Phobia) is equal parts awful and hilariously entertaining; I was contemplating taking a nap during my viewing but found myself engrossed in the story, if that tells you anything.

Schlock Time with Fran Appleton: The Beast of Yucca Flats (1961)

Running Time: 54 minutes

Release Date: May 2, 1961

Directed/Written by: Coleman Francis

Review by: Fran Appleton, Dominatrix of Schlock

 “Aaah!” “Aaaahh!” “AAAAAHHHHHH!”

   

  These are the only lines you’ll get from the great TOR JOHNSON in this inane movie meltdown.  And if you, like me, adore that big barrel of Swedish man-monster, you’re gonna be mightily disappointed in director Coleman Francis’s waste of a perfectly good Tor.  The best thing about this dud is the mercifully short running time. And maybe ¼ of that bare hour contains actual screen time with the Torminator.  Bummer, huh?    Exploding with inconsistencies, ridiculous edits, and a bizarre narrator straight out of every high school Driver’s Ed movie you’ve ever seen, “THE BEAST OF YUCCA FLATS” promises to deliver a veritable nuclear blast of  bad- movie goodness.  Cold War Commies; mutilating radiation; a vacationing family;  two  hot chicks; and  a deep-fried psycho Beast in the person of Ed Wood alumni Tor Johnson.  A fine start, right?  Here we go, Movie Slaves:

Satanic (2016)

Running Time: 1hr 25min
Release Date: July 1, 2016
Directed by: Jeffrey Hunt
Written by: Anthony Jaswinski

Review by: Stacey

Goddamit, you guys.  That poster is pure shit.  PURE. SHIT.  Who approved this?  Who allowed this to be released to the public and represent the film?  Unfortunately, the poster is the least of the worst when it comes to 2016's latest addition to the ever-growing pile of supernatural horror- Satanic.  The name alone suggests a lack of effort from anyone involved.  Even though it's already out on VOD, I have yet to hear anyone else talk about it (hell, even IMDB only has 2 user/5 critic reviews); am I one of the only other suckers that watched it?

Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966)

Running Time: 1hr 10 min

Release Date: November 15, 1966

Review by: Mistress Devastatia, Dominatrix of Schlock

Just when you think you’ve seen the worst movie in history, up pops Manos: The Hands of Fate. A masterpiece of laughable dialogue, incompetent camerawork,  and too many jerky edits and set mishaps to count, this gem makes Plan 9 look like an Oscar contender.  Manos has nearly every element cheesy horror devotees hold dear, plus some of the worst acting this side of Paris Hilton. Factor in a mysterious, pervy caretaker named Torgo (who’s either suffering from advanced Parkinson’s disease or a permanent boner that inhibits his mobility) and the result is Pure Crapfest Gold.

Texans Talk Terror: Top 5 Killer Animals

In episode 4, we give our lists for our top 5 killers animals!  We talk the cancelled horror video game Allison Road, more Friday the 13th reboot news, a new Halloween film (!!!), and Bill Skarsgard being cast as Pennywise in the IT remake.

We also discuss the movies we watched that week.

(Forgive us for the news being a bit old, this was recorded a couple of weeks ago but we were unable to post it up until now!)

If there are any lists or topics that you'd like us to cover, let us know in the comments below!

Stacey's Top 5:

5. The Birds (1963)         

4. Arachnophobia (1990)

3. Grizzly (1976)

2. Piranha (1978)

1. Razorback (1984)

Ash's Top 5:

5. Cujo (1983)

4. Prophecy (1979)

3. Jaws (1975)

2. Monkey Shines (1988)

1. The Giant Claw (1957)

The Conjuring 2 (2016)

Running Time: 2hr 14min

Release Date: June 10, 2016

Review by: Stacey

 I'm writing this review about a week after I saw the movie because procrastination, so bear with me.  Holy shit, I won't even beat around the bush, I loved The Conjuring 2.  I know that's not an uncommon thing to hear but this and the Insidious franchise are so polarizing within the horror community so it doesn't hurt to be clear about what side of the Wan fence you are on.  There aren't many films that he has done that I hate, to be honest (I just realized he directed the Kevin Bacon version of Death Wish- Death Sentence- and that movie ruled), but I feel like the first The Conjuring might be Wan's best work yet (I also love Insidious so my opinion might change next week).  That said, The Conjuring 2 is definitely a worthy addition to the cinematic universe that Wan seems to be creating with these films.

Crush The Skull (2015)

Running Time: 1hr 20min

Release Date: June 11, 2015

Review by: Stacey

This was one of those movies that dragged me in by the poster alone because the plot sounded pretty uninspired.  I came out of it pleasantly surprised by how not shitty it turned out to be.  Apparently funded entirely through Kickstarter (for $75,000), Crush the Skull blended a good mix of comedy and horror that ended up working out pretty well for itself.

Texans Talk Terror: Top 5 Killer Inanimate Objects

In Episode 3 we give our lists for top 5 killer inanimate objects!  We talk Insidious 4, the spoiler-ific trailer for Fede Alvarez's Don't Breathe, and the techno-horror shows Black Mirror and Darknet.

We also discuss the movies we watched that week.

If there are any other lists or topics you'd like us to discuss, let us know in the comments!

Stacey's Top 5:

 5. Tourist Trap (1979)

4. The Stuff (1985)

3. Puppet Master (1989)

2. Halloween 3 (1982)

1. Chopping Mall (1986)

 Ash's Top 5:

 5. Maximum Overdrive (1986)

4. Screamers (1995)

3. Ash from Alien (1979)

2. War Games (1983)

1. Pulse (1988)

Pet Sematary (1989)

Running Time: 1hr 43min

Release Date: April 21, 1989

Review by: Stacey

Adam and I were super fortunate enough to attend a Mondo x Chiller screening of Stephen King's Pet Sematary last night.  If you have never seen this: 1. why are we even friends? and 2. stop reading and go watch it NOW (it's for rent on Amazon).

Sci-f thriller "Morgan" first teaser trailer released!

#WhatIsMorgan

We get our first look at the teaser trailer for Luke Scott's directorial debut Morgan.  The film stars Kate Mara, Rose Leslie, Paul Giamatti, Anya Taylor-Joy, Toby Jones, and Jennifer Jason Leigh.

SYNOPSIS:

A corporate troubleshooter (Kate Mara) is sent to a remote, top-secret location, where she is to investigate and evaluate a terrifying accident. She learns the event was triggered by a seemingly innocent “human,” who presents a mystery of both infinite promise and incalculable danger.

MORGAN Official Channels
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: WhatIsMorgan.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MorgantheMovie/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/MorganMovie
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/morganmovie/
HASHTAG: #WhatIsMorgan

#Horror (2015)

Running Time: 1hr 41min

Release Date: November 20, 2015

Review by: Stacey

I don't think I've been this irrationally annoyed by a movie in a while.  Maybe it's because it lacked a story with substance.  Maybe it was because it took too goddamn long before anything happened.  And maybe it's just because I'm an old fart who shouldn't enjoy a movie that is clearly geared towards 15 year olds who hashtag everything.

Eibon Press Announces Launch of Four Horror Titles for 2016 and 2017!

Eibon Press has announced the release of their debut line of FULCI COMICS alongside a pretty kickass trailer for the release of ZOMBIE #1.

From the press release:

Eibon Press is the all-new publishing brainchild of Masters of Horror/Shock Festival writer Stephen Romano, and horror’s own memorabilia legend and creator of Black Devil Doll, Shawn Lewis.  Their mission is to “Make owning and collecting horror comics cool again,” by releasing single issue comic books in super limited “Prestige Editions,” which will feature premium printing and innovative packaging never before seen in the history of comics.  “Our books are like limited edition record albums,” says Romano.  “You know all that awesome stuff they’re doing with posters and vinyl soundtracks at places like Mondo?  Well that what we’re bringing to comics.  Each and every issue of each and every title will come encased in a specially-designed album jacket-style sleeve which we’ve invented ourselves. We call it the “Eibon Sleeve”.  Plus you’ll get some fun extra stuff inside the sleeve with your comic.  For example, the first 250 of each 1,000 copy run will contain a signed and numbered bookplate.  And we’ll be inserting random awesome stuff in a few of the sleeves like autographed bookmarks and such.  What we’re doing has never been done before, and we really hope people will dig all the blood and sweat we’re putting into each issue.”

Eibon Press comics are also highly exclusive.  As in, they will only be sold at the company website and will not be available in any store.  “We were actually about to sign a pretty big co-branding deal with an established publisher to get these books out,” says Lewis.  “But Stephen had been down that road before and when we started looking at the numbers, it became more logical to use our own resources to get these books out through direct internet marketing.   So we came up with a business model that would allow us to sell a limited number of titles in small print runs through our own website.  Stephen’s been a professional creator of this crazy stuff for decades and I’ve been in the business of mail order fulfillment for decades, so it was kind of a “duhhh” moment. We figured we’d do this thing ourselves and make the books really collectible and special.”

“It’s a lot of hands on work to do it this way,” says Romano.  “But it really makes these comic books into instant one-of-a-kind collector’s items.  Plus, of course, there’s what actually INSIDE the pages of the books. Which ain’t so shabby, if I do say so.”

He’s not kidding.  In fact, the Eibon Press debut line of FULCI COMICS have been almost 16 years in the making.  Having adapted Lucio Fulci’s classic film THE BEYOND in 1998, Romano and Lewis had moved on to several other projects based on Fulci films.  This resulted in ambitious graphic novel adaptations of ZOMBIE and CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD (GATES OF HELL).  Both projects met with adversity and ended up lost to the four winds . . . but are now being resurrected, like they’ve never been seen before.  “Actually, you really haven’t ever seen these comics before,” Romano quips.  “Not like we actually wanted you to see them anyway.  GATES was never really released in its entirety at all. ZOMBIE had a release, but it was so small and it looked so bad, with the lousy printing and everything.  Plus that was like 16 years ago.  A lot of people have never even heard of these things. We wanted to return to these Fulci projects and not only get them really right—but continue the stories beyond the films they are based on.”

This means that ZOMBIE will shamble ever forward as an ongoing series after the original 4-issue film adaptation is complete.  “You’ll see all your favorite characters of course,” says Lewis.  “But you’ll also see some new faces.  And some faces you thought were dead and buried, too.  Stephen’s bringing back Doctor Menard, for example, as a crazy mutated zombie mad scientist monster, working under the insane magic of BIACANDO—the voodoo priest sort of responsible for the zombie apocalypse.  But there’s a post modern twist to everything, involving a toxic waste dump and a crazy Army general.  It’s just insane stuff. The fans are gonna eat it the fuck up. I mean . . . I’m a fan and I’m already eating it the fuck up!”

The saga of GATES OF HELL will also continue . . . though Romano and Lewis remain tight lipped about particulars at the moment.  “It’s a secret for now,” says Romano.  But we have some awesome-wicked stuff coming in the second wave of Fulci Comics.  The Saga of the Seven Gates was something we sort of set rolling in 1998, and we may be bringing it to its conclusion soon.  Plus we’re working on several other Fulci film licenses.  And some non-Fulci film stuff, too.  Fans are gonna shit when they hear what’s coming next. ”

After LUCIO FULCI’S ZOMBIE #1 hits the public in July, the next Eibon title will be THE BOOK OF EIBON, an innovative comic preview magazine, designed to give fans an exclusive taste of everything that’s coming soon.  “Because we’re such a small outfit, it’ll take a while to get all the issues of all these books out,” says Romano.  “We thought it would be a shame to make the fans wait so long for everything, so we did a deal with Dread Central to get THE BOOK OF EIBON in their monthly Box Of Dread—so it’s totally exclusive to them and damn fucking cool.” 

“We’ve got all kinds of nasty in the first issue of EIBON which hits in August, including a GATES OF HELL preview that will knock your dick in the dirt,” says Lewis. “Plus there’s a lot of ink on BOTTOMFEEDER, which is my baby.”

 

BOTTOMFEEDER is an all-new original horror series, slated for release in 2017, which plays like HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP meets BAD LIEUTENANT.  It was created by Lewis and Romano in a psychotic collaboration that not only features the most audacious, bloodthirsty, politically incorrect horror scenario envisioned since the gory glory days of the grindhouse 1980s . . . but it also contains a stellar “dream cast” of horror movie legends.

“We originally wanted to make BOTTOMFEEDER as a movie,” Romano says.  “So when we decided to make it as a comic series, we “cast it” just like we might have cast a dream version of the film.  This means we can have some heavyweight horror stars in there, like Bill Mosley and Clu Gulager, who have both given us permission to use their likenesses . . . plus we get to resurrect Joe (MANIAC) Spinell and Zoe (MS.45) Tamerlis from the dead.  Just wait’ll you see them in our comic.  Our artist did an amazing job of bringing them back to life!”

BOTTOMFEEDER will come up for air in 2017.  For more info, check out the extended preview at www.bottomfeedercomic.com 
 

LUCIO FULCI’S ZOMBIE #1  will be available for pre order on FRIDAY JUNE 10 at MIDNIGHT.

The first issue of BOOK OF EIBON will only be included in August’s specially themed Box of Dread, available at Dread Central.  The debut issue will feature the mind-blowing Shark Vs. Zombie preview story from our upcoming Halloween issue of LUCIO FULCI’S ZOMBIE.

It’s an all-new era of ongoing Fulci Comics, and we’re proud as hell to bring it to you. For more information, keep an eye of our website and our twitter feeds!"

Stay up to date with Eibon Press on their social media sites:
https://twitter.com/eibonpress
https://www.instagram.com/eibonpress/
https://www.facebook.com/eibonpress
 
Also look out for the launch of their website on June 6!

 Check out the awesome trailer for their Zombie comic series and some preview pages below: