Wicked Little Things

Director: J.S. Cardone
Writers: Boaz Davidson & Ben Nedivi
Released: 2006
Labels: Chiller|Supernatural|Zombies|2000's

The bereaved Tunney family move to their newly inherited house in the remote, wooded hills of Pennsylvania. Nearby is a deserted mine where a group of working children were mistreated and died many decades before. An evil presence lies in the woods and the family soon learn that being out after dark can be dangerous.

Wicked Little Things looks creepy, it has a good lead cast and the SFX are well handled.  However, these few plus points come no where near saving this movie from being a slow, labored, uninspiring affair. Every cliche in the book is thrown at this flick, things like: vehicles that just won't start (or are stuck), staring yokel locals telling you not to go into the woods/out at night and creepy sounding children's laughter. 


Instead of increasing the tension, these well-worn devices clog up the screen making you lose touch with the actual story or any characterization. In short, you are never engaged. Zombie kids....so what?, Daddy died.....who cares? The Mine shaft has a dark history?....wow. On top of the lack of interest, we are subjected to some ridiculous moments that defy all logic (even when faced with Zombie children), most notably the standing in a shower of blood scene in the barn at the end (just move one step forward you dumbasses!!!!).

Wicked Little Things is not even a good idea ruined by bad filmmaking, it was just a bad idea from the start.

Wicked Little Things on IMDb

Wicked Little Things on Wikipedia

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Forget Me Not

Director: Tyler Oliver
Writers: Tyler Oliver & Jamieson Stern
Released: 2009
Labels: Supernatural|2000's

Sandy Channing, a popular High School graduate, fears for her own sanity when one-by-one her best friends go missing but she seems to be the only one that has noticed. A barely remembered night and the vengeful spirit of a girl from Sandy's past will help her solve the mystery.

Forget Me Not Graveyard Game

Rules of the Game: "1 person is the ghost and everyone else hides, once you're caught, you turn into a ghost...last one alive wins."

Rhyme: (chanted while holding hands in a circle) "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 - Release the one ignored by Heaven...8, 9, 10 - Now run and hide or join her at the Devil's side...11 comes, the clocks will chime, forgotten souls erased by time...Midnight comes, it's not too late, so kill the ghost or seal your fate!"

The game becomes a reality in this original and enjoyable movie. The disappointingly slow start eventually gives way to a story that will keep you hooked and some ghostly demons that will have you reaching for the pillow! 

It would be fair to say that this film is an amalgam of Asian horror such as "Ring" and American teenkill flicks like "Final Destination", but the added twist of the dead being "forgotten" by history really makes this story stand out.  

The movie moves at a good pace once the action starts and the whole back-story is well explained in flashback.  There are a few twists and turns that please even if they are a bit predictable. On the downside, the film suffers from an under-par cast and rushed editing. It would be interesting to see this film re-made with a big budget, some leading names in the cast and a competent hand at the helm (Sam Raimi would be our choice!)

If you want something a little out of the ordinary then give "Forget Me Not" a try!

Forget Me Not on IMDb
Forget Me Not on Wikipedia




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Chain Letter

Director: Deon Taylor
Writers: Michael J. Pagan, Deon Taylor & Diana Erwin
Released: 2010
Labels: Gore|Slasher|2010's

A group of High School students become the focus of a technology hating serial killer when they choose not to forward his chain-letter.

Chain Letter is one of those horror films in which we see a series of gruesome deaths strung together with some loose storytelling. The person responsible for the murder spree here is a serial killer that hates technology and those that use it (dunno why). That's all we are told really. It would have been interesting to explore the killer's motives but we are not given the oppurtunity because the film-makers simply want to display their best array of long, protracted killings using (yup, you guessed it)....CHAINS. 

Nothing is explored here, all the characters are left narrow and one dimensional, including the killer. There is no coherency in the storytelling. It is hinted that the killer is working with others in the movie, but it's not really revealed one way or the other and just moving the story along one kill at a time becomes a bit pedestrian after a while. The finale is simply a repeat of the opening scenes of the movie, spoiling any potential surprise, and it all seems a little confused at the end (much like the viewer will be). 

You get the feeling that this movie is attempting to launch a franchise like "Final Destination" or "Scream" but the atmosphere of the film is overwhelmingly dark and cynical and certainly does not leave you eager to see more.

Chain Letter Official Website

Chain Letter on IMDb

Chain Letter on Wikipedia

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Night of the Demons (2010)

Director: Adam Gierasch
Writers: Jace Anderson, Adam Gierasch & Joe Augustyn (Original 1988 film)
Released: 2010
Labels: Gore|Supernatural|2010's

Seven party-goers get locked in a creepy mansion and have to fight evil demons in order to survive and stop hell being unleashed upon the world.

This is a dumb movie,... but in a good way. A reworking of 1988's "Night of the Demons", this version has all the feel of a film from that era. Like other 80's classics, "The Evil Dead" or "Return of the Living Dead" it never takes itself too seriously. It mixes salacious sexiness with nasty body-horror, it knows how to use a relatively low-budget to full gooey effect and the actors do a passable job at being humans but a great job over-acting as the Demons. 

The history of the house and the reasons behind the demonic possession are told clearly in flashback, so there is no confusion in the viewers mind as to what the heroes must do in order to defeat the evil and there is a clever little climax to the action. 

It won't scare you, but it still gives plenty of thrills and the sheer enthusiasm and energy from all involved is clear to see. 

Night of the Demons (2010) on IMDb

Night of the Demons (2010) on Wikipedia

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Nine Dead

Director: Chris Shadley
Writer: Patrick Wehe Mahoney
Released: 2010
Labels: Thriller|2010's

A masked gunman kidnaps nine strangers, chains them up in a small cell and threatens to shoot one of them every ten minutes. In order to survive, they must work out what connects them to each other and to their captor. As the clock ticks away, who of the nine will live and who will die? 

It's an over-used premise for a horror/thriller movie nowadays, but if executed well (forgive the pun), there is no reason why the "strangers in a room in peril" theme can't be an absorbing and exciting movie experience. Sadly though, Nine Dead offers little excitement. In fact, it can be described as positively pedestrian. 

The kidnapper has been granted too much sympathy and comes across as a nice guy, whereas the "victims" are annoying and earn no sympathy from the viewer whatsoever. What does keep you from ejecting the dvd (or relinquishing your Netflix subscription) is the story behind why they are all there and what it is that links the nine. You only find out the reasons for the kidnapping and the links between the victims as they work it out. 

So for that, it does hold your interest until the end; it's just a shame that it is such a dull ride that takes you to the film's conclusion. Equally disheartening is the conclusion itself. The film has a natural point at which it should end, and it would have been a better movie if it had, but then there is this last ten minutes sitting uncomfortably looking like it's been tacked on by the filmmakers in order to appease the star and her pushy agent mom.

Nine Dead on IMDb

Nine Dead on Wikipedia

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Isolation

Director: Billy O'Brien
Writer: Billy O'Brien
Released: 2005
Labels: Thriller|Creature|2000's

Bovine genetic experiments at a desolate farm leads to cows with mutated offspring. The result bears a life form with razor sharp teeth and a penchant for burrowing into flesh in order to incubate and feed. Only the handful of people on the farm can stop this nightmarish creature spreading into the outside world.

The premise for "Isolation" sounds laughable, mutant killer cow fetuses, but in actual fact the filmmakers have produced a credible horror and made a comment on modern science practices to boot. The completely run-down desolate farm is the perfect setting for a suspenseful horror movie and the quiet background noises of the wind, rain and machinery are quite unsettling. The film builds slowly at first but gains momentum when we first catch sight of the creatures in question. Some good use of mechanical effects here and much like "The Thing" (which this film has a lot in common) these effects add to the realism, CGI just wouldn't work in this instance.

  

There are only seven actors in the whole film (not including the cows) but the necessary range of stock characters is well-catered for including the obligatory "mad" scientist. There is plenty of body-horror to go with the unending tension, a lengthy and well-constructed finale with plenty of hide and seek action and a decent (albeit obvious) twist in the tale.

This film fulfills its potential and although it treads a well-worn path it does so with a good breath of fresh country air.

Isolation on IMDb

Isolation on Wikipedia

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Trick 'r Treat

Director: Michael Dougherty
Writer: Michael Dougherty
Released: 2007
Labels: Supernatural|Chiller|2000's

An interwoven collection of Halloween stories featuring a murderous high school principal, a virginal college girl looking for Mr. Right, teen pranksters taking a joke too far and a grumpy recluse, along with a neighboring couple, being visited by a zealous trick-or-treater.

"Trick 'r Treat" pays homage to many horror flicks from the 1980's, not least the anthology movies like "Creepshow" or "Twighlight Zone: The Movie," but unlike those movies the stories and timeline here are beautifully interwoven, reminiscent of Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction." The comic book feel (lovingly lifted from EC comics "Tales from the Crypt" series from the 1950's) along with the small-town setting, gives this a charm rarely seen in modern horror. All the tales have enjoyably dark and sinister twists and reveals that make sure the movie doesn't stray into cheesy sentimentality and although it isn't particularly scary or overly gruesome it's definitely not one for the kids. 

All the actors put in good performances, most notably Dylan Baker's turn as the quietly psychotic Steven. The costume design is inspired, particularly the creepy school bus children's make-and-mend Halloween outfits and the impish Sam (future horror icon!). Also the set design and cinematography work perfectly to ensure each shot looks like an expertly drawn panel from the afore-mentioned comics.

This really is one to own and enjoy every Halloween and, despite it being mishandled upon release and receiving little attention, we are sure that it is destined to become a seasonal classic.

Trick 'r Treat Official Website

Trick 'r Treat on IMDb

Trick 'r Treat on Wikipedia

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