Relic (2020) Review

Running Time: 1hr 29min

Release Date: July 3, 2020 (US)

Directed by: Natalie Erika James

Review by: Stacey

Old people in scary movies are just downright...scary. From THE EXORCIST III to Rosemary's Baby and more recently, films like The Visit and The Taking of Deborah Logan (Ash and I mention this one in an older HORROR HUDDLE video of ours here), old people have been scaring the shit out of me for years. Natalie Erika James's directorial debut film, Relic, uses the theme of an older woman suffering from the onset of dementia which, apparently, is a really good base for a possible supernatural film. So here we have another scary movie with a scary old person, and I've subjected myself to it yet again.

Personal Shopper (2017)

Running Time: 1hr 45min

Release Date: March 10, 2017

Directed/Written by: Olivier Assayas

Review by: Stacey

I'm not going to lie, I kind of LOVE the Twilight movies.  Hey, at the end of the day I'm still a woman, I like chick stuff.  That said, despite my love for the "young adult" vampire tales, I neeeever could find an ounce of enjoyment for Kristen Stewart (or K Stew if you're E! News).  She always seemed so flat and emotionless, and I know I'm not the only one with that thinking because that kind of became this long-running joke about her.  Which is unfortunate now after having seen Olivier Assayas's  psychological thriller, Personal Shopper.  I don't know if this is the best work she's done (I tended to avoid her projects), but from what I've seen, this is the best work she's done.

Don't Knock Twice (2017)

Running Time: 1hr 33min

Release Date: Feb 3, 2017

Written by: Mark Huckerby, Nick Ostler

Directed by: Caradog W. James

Review by: Stacey

Usually I save this bit towards the end of my reviews, but I have to say right off the bat that this flick doesn't do much of anything original BUT it doesn't suck at what it does do.  And honestly, I don't mind if a movie has been "done before" as long as it's being done well.  Does that make sense?  In my head it does.  Don't Knock Twice kind of came out of nowhere and ended up surprising me.

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

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?

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.

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).

Horror Huddle with Stacey-Beth & Ash: Oculus (2013)

On this episode, we talk Mike Flanagan's supernatural horror, Oculus, starring Karen Gillan.

 --

"A woman tries to exonerate her brother, who was convicted of murder, by proving that the crime was committed by a supernatural phenomenon."

Enjoy and leave some feedback!

Find us on Instagram: staceybethh || e.txcountryboy

Backtrack (2015)

Running Time: 1hr 30min

Release Date: January 29, 2016 (UK)

Review by: Stacey

Apparently I'm treating myself this week to movies that indulge my disgusting crushes on random actors.  Last review was Jeremy Sisto and today it's the Academy Award-winning Adrien Brody in Australian suspense/thriller Backtrack.  The only difference is that Brody is on a totally different level of acting and I didn't walk away from this one feeling bad about my decision to watch it.

Last Shift (2014)

Running Time: 90 minutes

Release Date: October 6, 2015

Review by: Stacey

 

2015 has been a great year for indie horror with films like It Follows, Cooties, and Creep.  Anthony DiBlasi's (Dread, Cassadaga) supernatural flick about a rookie cop and a cult fits right with the likes of those listed and gave me some major creeps.

Avenged (2015)

Running Time: 95 minutes

Release Date: March 6, 2015

Review by: Stacey

I recently saw this in a list of "underrated horror movies" and I am still trying to figure out why it's there.  A "redsploitation" film made in 2013, Avenged (previously titled "Savaged", oooh, I get the double entendre...) mixed a revenge plot a la Kill Bill with supernatural/possession elements.  Throw in a deaf-mute woman as the victim and you've got a leading lady you kind of have to root for.

The Road (2011)

Running Time: 110 minutes

Release Date: May 11, 2012

Review by: Stacey

I love a good, foreign horror and usually 9 times out of 10 they're far better than most American films ([REC], The Devil's Backbone, Audition).  I don't know why, but I've always had some luck when finding foreign horror films in that they've all ended up being pretty damn great- and 2011's Filipino horror The Road was no exception.

Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015)

Running Time: 97 minutes

Release Date: June 5, 2015

Review by: Stacey

 I'm not even going to lie, the Insidious franchise has some of my favorite movies to date.  Yes, I have seen many many horror films, but I am speaking from a "modern horror" view.  With the constant debate in the horror community about originality vs remakes, it's easy to want to shake the shit out of people who overlook some of the best mainstream modern horror films that have been released in the last few years- The Conjuring, Sinister, Insidious 1 & 2.  The latter franchise decided to give us a third film and make it a prequel (and give us a bit of an origin story), which made me a bit reticent in my excitement as I like my horror universes to maintain that bit of mystery that makes the film scary...and because most origin stories tend to fall flat (hello, Leprechaun: Origins).  Insidious: Chapter 3 did not have that problem.

V/H/S 2 (2013)

Running Time: 96 minutes

Release Date: June 6 2013

Review by: Stacey

 

Nowadays it's not often enough that we see a sequel sort of outdo it's predecessor but V/H/S 2 (previously titled S-VHS) definitely did just that.  It was crazier, gorier, and all-around violent as fuck- and it ruled.

Unfriended review on Horror Movies Uncut!

I wrote a review for Unfriended that went up today at HorrorMoviesUncut.com. If you're into that sort of thing, check it out!

 http://horrormoviesuncut.com/2015/04/17/some-requests-should-not-be-answered-unfriended-movie-review/ 

 

 

Grave Encounters (2011)

Running Time: 92 minutes

Release Date: September 9, 2011

Review by: Stacey

Pretty much, if you haven't heard of Grave Encounters, you've been living under a weird rock that doesn't let you watch horror movies.  I'm also an avid defender of (most) found footage films despite their typical formula that lost its appeal somewhere along the way.  From the get-go GE didn't seem to hold much promise in the way of giving us something fresh and interesting, but dammit, they sure pulled a fast one over us because a lot of people (including me) fucking love this movie.  It has most definitely gained a cult following in the horror community.

Banshee Chapter (2013)

Running Time: 87 minutes

Release Dates: Aug. 22, 2013 (Fantasty Filmfest) & Dec. 12, 2013 (US)

Review by: Stacey

 

I watched this movie probably about 7 or 8 months ago and I distinctly remember being upset by it.  Not because it was scary or even very good, but because I didn't pay enough attention and had no idea what the fuck was going on.  At that point I just tossed it back into my pile of titles that I wouldn't care to ever watch again.  What I DO remember, however, was that the plot was actually really cool and covered a subject I have always been fascinated by.  Fast forward to now and I went back into that shameful pile and pulled out Banshee Chapter to see if maybe a second viewing would remedy whatever feelings I had initially had about it.

The Entity (1982)

Running Time: 125 minutes

Release Date: February 4, 1983
Review by: Stacey

"A story so shocking, so threatening, it will frighten you beyond all imagination."  Solid tagline, dudes.  Sadly, it only delivered about 80% of that, and that's coming from someone (me, duh) who has this in her top 10 favorites.  Based on Frank De Felitta's novel of the same name and directed by Sidney J. Furie, "The Entity" was filmed in 1981 but didn't see a worldwide release until 1982 (US release was in '83).  The 70's and early 80's saw an influx of supernatural/demonic films in the horror genre because who doesn't love a good possession, amiright?  And probably because, for the same reason found footage films are so big right now, it works and we're intrigued.