Grimmfest 2017: Best Bits!

What a festival Grimmfest was this year! This was my sixth year attending the festival and I can easily say that this year had the best overall selection of movies out of them all! Last year I struggled to put a top 5 list of movies that I liked together due to there not being 5 movies that I liked. This year I'm struggling to whittle it down to just 5! You know it's been a good festival when you ask other people what their top 5 were and they all give you different movies. I know you can only show what has been made and that is out of the control of the festival organisers but I left the festival this year feeling positive about the future of the genre.

It has been a funny year for horror with the bullshit phrase "Post Horror" being created, the new IT movie breaking all kind of records and proving it's possible to make a decent adaptation of a Stephen King novel and then two of the largest and most popular franchise of the genre having a straight to digital release. I'm talking about the new Child's Play and Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies which was brazenly pirated before their release. Self proclaimed fans would be on Twitter having the cheek to criticise the films they have just stolen as they hadn't been released yet. Anyway this brings me to the first of my top 5 movies from Grimmfest.

Leatherface

I called Leatherface a remake of The Beginning which it isn't. It's a whole different story and a different take on the Leatherface's origin. As a Texas Chainsaw movie I don't think it works, it leaves you asking more questions than answers like the absence of certain characters from the original but as a standalone film I think it's very good. It has similarities to the origin story part of Rob Zombie's Halloween and quite a good twist towards the end.

I mentioned earlier that festivals can only show what is available... well with Grimmfest it helps when one of their organisers is a filmmaker! Next on my list is Habit.

Habit

A very bleak cannibal movie with great performances set in the streets of my wonderful city Manchester. It's full of broken characters who have no hygiene standards when it comes to meal time.

If Habit is too grimm for you then you will find a more light hearted film in Double Date

Double Date

Alex wants to help his best friend lose his virginity before he turns 30 and thinks they are on to a sure thing when they meet sisters Kitty and Lulu only these siblings are more into human sacrifices than partying. This is a very funny movie with characters that you really care about.

If you like last years Beyond The Gate then you will love Game Of Death

Game Of Death

Drunken teenagers find a board game they all agree to play only to find out once they started that rules are kill or be killed before the clock runs out. Another good horror comedy with over the top special FX.

If you are looking for something completely different then Borley Rectory is what you need.

Borley Rectory

The story of the hauntings of Borley Rectory and paranormal investigator Harry Price are brought alive in this visually compelling movie. It's not a traditional haunted house movie and you won't find it scary but you will find the techniques used mesmerizing.

Well that's my top five but there are many more movies you should keep an eye open for such as Dave Made A Maze, Replace, Freehold and Poor Agnes.

I want to thank all the organisers at Grimmfest and all the festival goers who make this such a great festival to attend year after year. Also to all the filmmakers who put all their effort in to making these movies and all they ask in return is that we don't steal from them.

Grimmfest 2017 : Borley Rectory Movie Review

Borley Rectory is unlike anything you have ever seen before!

The movie is the story of the hauntings at the Borley Rectory known as the most haunted house in Britain which inspired The Haunting Of Hill House by Shirley Jackson and The Legend Of Hell House by Richard Matheson.

If I'm honest I have never heard of the Borley Rectory or it's hauntings before watching this movie. So the way the movie combines different filmmaking techniques you are immersed in an atmospheric story that grips you from the start. With all the different techniques there is so much going on on-screen at the same time that you can't take your eyes of it and that's not even to mention the excellent cast who guide you through the story.

After watching this I was definitely educated on the Borley Rectory and awestruck by the amount of hard work that must have gone into this project! It isn't a scary movie but it is a thing of beauty with subtle humour and not to be missed!

Grimmfest 2017 : TAG movie review

After watching the trailer TAG was a movie I was looking forward to watching at Grimmfest this year. Unfortunately the trailer was very misleading.

The trailer had a voice over that implied that some kind of government or agency had a grudge against girls and was killing them off. What we actually got was the main character visiting various stages of her life while all the girls around her get massacred in random extraordinary ways including a mysterious wind that cuts everything in half to teachers gunning down their classes.

The movie blends art house and horror. The opening scene is a must see along with other set pieces and all the actresses who play the main character throughout her life all do a great job. Unfortunately the story at the end that tie the movie together is a let down and could have been much better but it is still a fucking crazy movie with some pretty cool effects.

Grimmfest 2017 : Habit Movie Review

Well Grimmfest 2017 has kicked off and what a way to start a horror festival in Manchester by showing a horror film set in Manchester which happens to be directed by one of the co directors of the Festival!

The movie tells the story of Michael who befriends Lee down at the Job Centre who introduces him to a life of cannibalism at a seedy brothel.

The movie looks great and sounds great. It is full of broken characters who are all played great by the cast with a stand out performance by Sally Carmen. The story is really grimm which is fitting for the festival it's nice to see Manchester on the big screen and quite worrying to know I have to walk these streets back home.

Grimmfest 2017: Not Long Now

As you may know already I have attended Grimmfest for the last five years and I intend to see as much as I can this year too!

If you are not familiar with Grimmfest I'll give you a quick update; it is Manchester's biggest horror festival and takes place on the first weekend in October. If you want to know the calibre of movies that have played at previous festivals then please read my past posts on the festival.

This year the festival is showing many films I am excited to see. You can find the full lineup here along with trailers but I just want to say which films I am most excited to see.

Thursday is the opening night and this year has the world premier of Habit which is set in Manchester and is directed by Simeon Halligan who also happens to be the Co-Director of the festival so no pressure Simeon! Following Habit is Ruin Me set at an extreme horror themed camping site where the events turn from fun to deadly.

Due to work I will be unable to attend the majority of screenings on Friday but I do hope to get there for Better Watch Out as everyone loves a Christmas themed horror movie. Also the trailer for Tag has my attention.

On Saturday the movies I'm most excited about is Double Date due to the humour that I love in a British horror movie, Leatherface which is a remake of Texas Chainsaw The Beginning. I know it's not a remake but if you think about it it kinda is. I'm also looking forward to Fake Blood.

Sunday showings I'm looking forward to are Dave Made A Maze, Borley Rectory which is the movie I'm looking forward to the most at this years festival and Attack Of The Adult Babies which sounds fucking crazy!

These are just a few of the movies that are playing at this years festival there are plenty more to see over the four days which I'm sure will be great. I'm really looking forward to this year, if you don't have plans over the these four days you should definitely try and pop in and catch a film or two. Hopefully see you there!

   

Death Note Movie Review

The latest offering from Adam Wingard has been released on Netflix and it’s safe to say he’s done it again. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve seen so far from Adam Wingard and just like You’re Next, The Guest and last year’s sequel to The Blair Witch Project, Death Note is a fun movie to watch.

It’s probably worth noting that I’m not familiar with the Japanese Magna that the film is based on but that puts me in a better position to judge the film on its own without any emotional connection to the source material.

The movie follows a high school student named Light who discovers a mysterious notebook called Death Note. He is then visited by a Death God named Ryuk who goes over the rules of the notebook and tells him that he can cause the death of anyone he writes in the pages. All he needs is the name, be able to picture their face in his mind and the way he wants them to die. Along with his girlfriend he then proceeds to rid the world of criminals under the guise of Kira. This starts a cat and mouse chase between Light and a super detective known as L who tries to track down Kira.

It’s not the best movie in the world but it serves its purpose of entertaining you. The story is good, all the effects are spot on and the cast all play good roles. Adam Wingard was a perfect choice to direct this as he is very capable of killing of his characters in imaginative ways and I look forward to more movies from him.

I would have been happy to watch this in the cinema but Netflix are cutting out the middle men and are making some really good content and delivering it right to you wherever you are and however you want to watch it.

3.5 / 5

IT: Chapter 1 Movie Review

IT has finally been unleashed upon us all and it is one of the best horror films in such a long time!

After spending years in development and having numerous writers and directors attached to the project we finally have a movie that the book deserves. I will go as far and say it is my best adaption of a Stephen King story. My other favourites are Stand By Me, Shawshank Redemption and The Mist.

  

I'm going to assume you are familiar with the story of IT either from reading the book or watching the TV movie from the 90's so I'm not going to go over the details of the story. This is the first of a two part movie and focuses solely on the Loser Club members when they are children. The movie is set in the 80's as appose to the 50's when the book is set and the next movie will be set in the present day moving it from the 80's when the Losers face IT again as adults.

They really have turned the horror up on this one, from the opening scene you realise that this is going to hold no punches, if it wasn't from the comedy relieve that comes mainly from Richie and Eddie this would have been one hell of a dark movie.

The whole cast are brilliant, some characters outshine others but I can't find fault with any of the performances. Now this can be seen as a double edged sword for the next chapter as the adults that have to play the same characters have a very hard act to follow.

IT Chapter 1 is going to be very successful at the box office and deservedly so. This is a great movie and the marketing campaign has been excellent. I know it must help to be promoting a character such as Pennywise who is already a household name, up there with Freddy, Jason and Michael but there wasn't any big name actors attached. I do hope this success leads to more big budget horror movies in the future or studios putting some good marketing behind some of the great indy movies that are made year after year.

IT: Chapter 1 proves you no longer have to be terrified of remakes apart from the fact that it's scary as fuck. I admit there has been many unnecessary remakes recently but when the movie is adapted from a book I always look forward to see how someone else can bring the pages to screen especially when it's a book I love. You will always have the saying that the movie isn't as good as the book and the same can be said about this version of IT but it's a much better adaptation then the previous outing.

I give IT: Chapter 1 5/5

Grimmfest 2016 Highlights

Grimmfest is one event I look forward to every year and before you know it it's been and gone. This was my fifth year attending the genre film festival and it makes me proud to have witnessed how it's evolved into what it's become today.

Kicking of on Thursday evening and finishing on Sunday night they screened 20 feature films and 10 shorts. Returning to Odeon Printworks, Manchester they had a new sponsor with The Horror Channel who brought along a wall for you to graffiti with your favourite quotes from horror movies. There wasn't as many stalls as the previous year but Arrow Video had their usual stall and they never have a problem with parting me from my money. 

Here are my highlights from the festival. Unfortunately I was unable to attend on the Saturday so missed a few of the screenings but there was one film everyone I spoke to gave high praise for which I must see when I next get the opportunity is Trash Fire. A few honorable mentions for the films that didn't make my highlights but are worth a watch goes to Directors Cut, Darling and Beyond The Gates.

What We Become
A neighbourhood becomes a quarantine zone when virus epidemic breaks out.
What makes What We Become different from other zombie movies is you see how the breakout slowly unfolds with characters you care about this is a must see for any zombie movie fan.

My Father Die
A brutal revenge southern gothic movie where a deaf and mute man seeks revenge on his dad for murdering his brother.
There is never a dull moment in this movie beautifully filmed with a shit load of action and you never know which way it's going to go.

Train To Busan
A father and daughter catch a train when a zombie epidemic breaks out.
Yes this is Zombies On A Train but it's so much better than that. Easily my favourite movie of the festival. It's an emotionally charged adrenaline rush that is so well made I can't see any zombie movie fan not liking it.

Tonight She Comes
This is a great movie that starts of as a typical slasher movie then spirals into something much more.
Inspired by the slasher films of the 70s and 80s to the point where they lovingly rip of a certain kill scene this movie has a lot going for it. It will make you laugh and it will turn your stomach but it won't disappoint.

The Rezort
Think Jurassic Park but with zombies. The Rezort is a holiday island that has been set up after a zombie pandemic almost wiped out the planet for wealthy guest to go hunting zombies.
Another well made zombie film from this years Grimmfest. It good to see some new ideas being used for the zombie sub-genre when I was starting think everything has already been done.

Thank you for reading and be sure to check out these movies when they become available for you. Unfortunately I don't have release dates but when I get some information I will be sure to let you know.

Highlights From Past Grimmfest 2012 - 2015

Grimmfest, Manchester's annual horror film festival kicks off on the 6th October and this year will be the fifth time I've attended the event. For the first three years I attended the event took place at the Dancehouse Theatre before moving to it's current home at the Odeon Printworks last year. Due to this event I have seen some great movies that I know would have passed me by if I didn't attend. I also enjoy watching the shorts from some promising film makers. I have also seen some godawful shit that I wish I did miss but that's part of the risk of attending movies you don't research beforehand. Although I know I can't attend all the days and screenings I've always bought the full festival pass as I still feel I get the value for my money.

Here I want to share with you some of my highlights from the past festivals

2012

Comedown

You always remember your first! Comedown was the first movie I saw at Grimmfest so forgive me if I remember this with rose-tinted glasses but I really enjoyed this slasher set in an derelict tower block in London.

Grabbers

What can I say about Grabbers? If you haven't already seen Grabbers then you are missing out. Very funny creature feature set in Ireland with really good practical special FX.

Devoured

In 2012 Grimmfest had two screens playing different films simultaneously, they had the main screen and a smaller screen in a studio. I arrived too late on the Friday for the start of Nightbreed: The Cabal Cut in the main screen but Devoured was about to start in the studio screen so why not give something new a try. I was presently surprised with it. A slow burn haunting, psychological thriller with a fantastic lead actress who gradually descents into madness.

Stitches

What could go wrong? The final film of the festival with the star in attendance. So you probably wouldn't want a technical glitch like the sound dropping out with fifteen minutes to go to happen? So bless the organisers as that's exactly what happened. Stitches is an enjoyable killer clown movie staring Ross Noble. What makes this film even more special is that Pollyanne McIntosh came and sat next to me to watch it.

2013

I've only picked three films that stood out for me at the 2013 Grimmfest. This year marked the launch of the Grimmfest fringe which replaced the second screen at the Dancehouse. Unfortunately I completely missed all these screenings at the fringe due to work commitments. I did see a good number of the films screened at the Dancehouse but these are the only three I went out of my way to buy and watch again.

The Borderlands

Up there as one of my best found footage movies. An investigation team go into a church where a priest claims miracles have taken place. Great use of head cameras throughout to answer the question "why would you keep filming?". I do wish this gets a release on Netflix or something in order to get more people to see it as I'm sure it could have a much larger fan base.

Jug Face
(Also known as The Pit) is a very creepy movie where a backwoods community have to offer blood sacrifices to a pit. Not giving the pit who it wants will cause it to wreck havoc.

The Machine
Beautifully shot with an amazing score The Machine is a fantastic science fiction movie where the MOD steal a self-aware artificial intelligence creation.

2014

In my opinion Grimmfest came back in 2014 with a much stronger lineup than the previous year. Still housed at the Dancehouse theatre with the fringe held this year at Gorilla here are my top five favourites from this year. I must point out I missed all the fringe screenings again this year but that didn't take away from my overall experience.

Suspiria

Grimmfest always screen at least one classic movie at their festivals. This is a perfect opportunity for you to see your favourite movie on the big screen. What made Suspiria different from any other screening was that Goblin was in house to play the score live. If you ever get a chance to watch a film with the score played live then take it.

What We Do In The Shadows
I have watched this movie so many times since the festival and it doesn't get old. Created by the brilliant minds behind Flight Of The Concords this hilarious mockumentry follows the struggles of a group of vampires that flat share in New Zealand as they prepare for the annual masquerade ball for the undead.

Choerence
Can't really say much about Choerence without giving away the plot but it's a very clever, mind bending movie that stays in your head long after watching.

Starry Eyes
I do love a slow build movie and Starry Eyes doesn't disappoint. A dark tale about Hollywood ambition where a waitress is offered a dream role but not everything is as it seems.

Wolfcop
Grimmfest had a fair amount of horror comedies on offer in 2014 and Wolfcop is another example of how a horror comedy should be done. It never takes itself serious and offers a great amount of gore for you to enjoy.

2015

In 2015 Grimmfest returned bigger and better than all the previous years I attended. At it's new home at the Odeon Printworks the team created a fantastic festival. They had more stalls, a gamers section, a new host to conduct the Q & As, more guests and most of all a brilliant selection of movies. Here are my favourite movies from the festival...

Blood Sucking Bastards

Another very good horror comedy where the new office manager is a vampire that attempts to turn all the employees.

He Never Died
Henry Rollins plays an eternal being who just wants to be left alone and play bingo. A very enjoyable slow build.

Turbo Kid
A homage to 80's post apocalypse movies. This was one of my highlights from 2015 and I don't mean just from the festival. Great 80's style score, fantastic 80's style effects and an enjoyable story.

The Hive
It was late in the day when I watched this and was very tired so probably didn't appreciate it as much as it deserves but The Hive is a visual stunning, very well made zombie movie.

Excess Flesh
Not one to watch while eating or feeling hungry. A girl with body image issues is obsessed with her model roommate and soon the obsession becomes violent. Another example how to do a slow build movie.

Howl
A good creature feature where a night train to London breaks down in a forest home to werewolf type creatures. As if being trapped on a train isn't bad enough.

Deathgasm
If you love zombies, heavy metal and a good laugh then this is one from you. You can count on New Zealand to produce a good horror comedy.

A Christmas Horror Story
Four Christmas based horror movies blended together, one of which features Santa fighting zombie elves what more do I have to say.

I think it's safe to say I'm looking forward to this year's event unfortunately I can't make it there Saturday but I'll be there all the other days. Thanks for reading and please check back for a review of this year's festival.

Blair Witch 2016 Spoiler Free Movie Review

Set 20 years after the events of the first film, Lisa; a film maker, is making a documentary on ambiguous loss where one of her subjects is James whos older sister Heather went missing along with two of her friends while camping in the woods. James comes across some footage on YouTube that has been recently found in the woods which he believes shows his sister. Lisa and James along with two other friends go into the woods hoping to find more clues related to what happened to Heather...

The announcement of Blair Witch came as a shock to many horror fans, especially the ones who had been following the developments of Adam Wingard's new film The Woods which was revealed as Blair Witch at it's first screening at Comic Con. This is a direct sequel to the first movie and rightfully ignores The Book of Shadows.
I got to see this as a mystery movie at the cinema. I was so happy when I saw the title as you may know I loved the first film and been looking forward to seeing this since it's announcement. I have to say I wasn't disappointed with this sequel however I wasn't blown away either.

The movie has some faults and the biggest problem I had was with the acting at the beginning of the movie. It felt like the actors was acting and not giving a natural improvised performance which was done so well in the first movie. I will point out that the acting got better as the film went on but I would have liked the characters to be believable from the start.
My other problem was that there was also a large amount of unnecessary jump scares. I'm a sucker for jump scares, they get me every time and I don't mind them but this movie had many of times when it was just the main characters coming out of a bush or just standing there when a swinging camera locks on to them.

There are many positives about the film which I won't go into to keep it spoiler free but I will say where this film succeeds and will be remembered for is the final 30 minutes. You will witness one of the most intense sequences that lasts for half an hour without a break for a breather. You will be begging for the movie to end just to get your heart rate down to an acceptable rhythm again.

If you are a fan of the first movie then you should enjoy this. It goes over territory which you will be familiar with from the first film and expands on the myths. If you didn't like the first film and I appreciate The Blair Witch Project is the Marmite of horror movies then there is nothing here for you.

🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Blair Witch Project 1999 Revisited

It’s been 17 years since The Blair Witch Project graced our screens and with the upcoming sequel I thought now's a good time to revisit the granddaddy of found footage movies.

Sure there were found footage movies before The Blair Witch Project but none of them kick started the sub-genre the way The Blair Witch Project did. Cannibal Holocaust incorporated found footage in the movie and was very and still is very controversial but it never opened the floodgates for the influx of found footage movies that followed The Blair Witch Project.

The main reason there are so many found footage movies now is down to the success of The Blair Witch Project. Made with a budget of only $60,000 Eduardo Sánchez and Daniel Myrick managed to make a whopping £248.6 million worldwide.

Now I can’t talk about The Blair Witch Project and not mention the brilliant and never duplicated marketing campaign. The movie was advertised as the actual found footage of three film student Heather, Joshua and Michael who went missing while filming a documentary on the Blair Witch. They created a whole folklore surrounding the Blair Witch which was turned into a TV documentary which broadcasted just before the film’s release. The TV documentary had interviews with relatives of the missing students, local residents, investigators and even historians. So I don’t mind saying I went into that movie as a 14 year old thinking it was actual found footage and that the Blair Witch had a real place in history.

What also contributed to my naivety was the book by D. A. Stern called The Blair Witch Project A Dossier. The book includes The legends, myths and facts surrounding the Blair Witch, links to Rustin Parr, interviews with the victims' friends and families and Heather's journals which was supposedly found with the footage.

Having absorbed all the background information I could find on the Blair Witch (and missing the crucial fact it was all made up) I was ready for the movie and I remeber loving it. It scared the shit out of me. It was different to anything I had ever seen and any horror that was released at the time. The way it told the story being part documentary part first person horror without any music score was a work of genius.

It was a bout a week later when I found out the whole story was made up and I was still impressed. Even though I had been had big time I was still able to part take in the whole Blair Witch experience the way the makers wanted it to be experienced and I can't see a movie giving me that overall experience again.

The question now is does it stand the test of time? With only having it on DVD I gave it a recent watch and even though I've seen the movie many times over the years I am still impressed with it. The picture quality makes it a product of its time, I haven't seen a Blu-Ray version so don't know if the picture has had an upgrade but it looks like it was made in the 90's by film students which is exactly the way it should look. They didn't have IPhones with HD cameras back then so I would be disappointed if they enhance the footage. The acting and script can't be faulted apart from the whole kicking the map in the lake situation but I did enjoy the fallout that followed. There's also little moments I have only just picked up on that impressed me like the part Heather is discussing editing suggestions on footage they shot that day.

The scares still have the same impact, who isn't going to shit themselves if while camping in the middle of nowhere you hear children playing during the middle of the night? I still love the end scene in the house with the handprints on the wall and the cameras just being knocked out of their hands and not showing the witch just adds to the mystery.

I can easily say that The Blair Witch Project is one of my best horror movies, not for the film itself but the whole experience it created at that moment in time. I look forward to when my children are old enough to watch it and I'll try and sell it to them as a true story, I'll dig out the book and watch the documentary to try and create the same experience I went through before they watch the actual movie.

The Conjuring 2 Movie Review

How many times have you gone into the sequel fearing it won't be as good as the first? Well you have nothing to fear here... that's not totally true; you do have something to fear here you have a lot to fear with The Conjuring 2 which I believe is far better than the first one.

James Wan really pulls out the scares in the follow up to his 2013 The Conjuring. The story focuses on the Enfield haunting. Set in 1977 London, England; Peggy Hodgson is a single mum of five children who asks for help after she believes her youngest daughter Janet maybe possessed. Ed and Lorraine Warren are sent to investigate.

Not only am I impressed with the scares in the film which come in the form of jump scares and slow burn tension building I am really impressed with the way James Wan recreates England in the 70's. For someone that isn't even from the country I have to give credit for the amount of research that must have gone into this project to get the feeling right.

The movie has a great cast with Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson reprising their roles as Lorraine and Ed Warren; they are joined with great performances by Frances O'Connor who plays Peggy Hodgson, Lauren Esposito who plays Margaret Hodgson and the stand out performance from Madison Wolfe as Janet Hodgson.

When it comes to real life hauntings like the story this film is based on I am somewhat of a sceptic, I don't believe in ghost so in order for me to enjoy a film that is advertised as the true story from the case files of the Warrens I have to try really hard to turn the sceptic side of my brain off and enjoy it for what it is... Which is one of the most scariest films I've seen in a long time.

5/5

Review: Blood Harvest

Blood Harvest by S.J. Bolton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Welcome to Heptonclough! A small village in the Pennines. If you're into ghostly sightings, creepy folklore, missing children and pagan rituals then this is the place for you.

This is the third book from Sharon Bolton  (known as S J Bolton when initially released) who has gone on to release a further six books plus some short stories.

The story starts in a graveyard where a landslide due to heavy rainfall has unearthed a childs grave who must have been having a sleepover as two extra bodies where found along with the gave's supposedly only occupier.

The story then goes back a few months and follows Harry Laycock the new town vicar, the Fletcher family who has recently moved into the area, Evi Oliver a Psychiatrist who is concerned for one of her patients from Heptonclough that goes for walks along the moors looking for her daughter who died in a house fire and numerous other supporting characters that contribute to the build up for a great whodunit that will keep you guessing right till the end. I love the amount of twists that Sharon Bolton throws into this story. My wife who is better than me at calling out a killer also got this wrong.

Although I love horror stories and movies I don't believe in the supernatural so I would like to point out the genius way Sharon Bolton creates a supernatural environment and later explains what caused it.

What I loved the most about Blood Harvest is the location. Now I might be a bit biased with this opinion as it is set very close to where I use to live. Although Heptonclough is a made up place the surrounding area is very real and Sharon Bolton captured it perfectly. I loved the references to The Witch Way bus service which is a real bus service, Rawtenstall Market and other local references that I couldn't help but smile when I came about them.

Sharon Bolton is a gifted author who has created a very enjoyable book with relatable characters that covers some very dark human behaviour where you feel a real sense of danger for the children involved.

4.5 / 5


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Review: HEX

HEX by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's been a long time since a book has creeped me out this much. At some points while reading I kept thinking the witch was stood at the side watching me read which is when you know the book is doing what the author planned out to do. So I would like to thank Hodderscape for sending me this book and for the nightmares.

Hex is the worldwide debut from Thomas Olde Heuvelt having already had success in Holland with 5 novels Hex is the frist to be translated into English. However this isn't a straight translation, Thomas went back and rewritten the whole book to give it an American setting.

I think the set up is brilliant. The residents of a small town in the the state of New York called Black Spring are under the curse of a 17th century witch called Katherine, The Black Rock Witch. If you were born there or moved there you can't leave. If you spend any extended amount of time away from Black Spring; say a two week vacation you become suicidal and must return or your suicidal tendencies will get the better of you. Katherine whos arms are chained and eyes and mouth are sewn shut has full access to the town; she is seen walking the streets, the woods and she can also appear in your house stay as long as it suites her then disappear again. The town is under strict rules and a high tech surveillance team called HEX who monitors Katherines movements and keep a watch on the residents and outsiders as Katherine is their secret and they can't risk outsiders getting involved as opening her mouth or eyes will be devastating. Unfortunately for the rest of the town a group of teenagers are sick of the restricted life and plan to make Katherine viral.

Thomas Olde Heuvelt has demonstrated the great ability of creating a town and making you feel like one of the residents. The story follows multiple characters as they go about their lives in Black Spring and this helps you normalise living with a seventeenth century witch that is haunting your town. Just when the situation becomes normal to you thats when Thomas Olde Heuvelt pulls the rug from underneath you!

Although the story is set in America to me it still has a European feel to it. The town feels older than the USA actually is. I would be more than willing to read the original story if it ever gets translated into English just to see how much has been changed. But don't let that put you off as this is a real page turner even when you want to cover your eyes cause you can feel the witch is watching you.

I look forward to more from Thomas Olde Heuvelt hopefully we won't have to wait long for his other releases to be translated.

4.5/5

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Hush Movie Review

I don't know about you but the sub-genre of horror that genuinely scares me are home invasion movies. Psychopaths breaking into your house and doing terrible things to you and your love ones seems much more likely to happen to me than say a horde of zombies tearing me from limb to limb and eating my innards. Although in the majority of these movies the home invasion usually happen to people in big, isolated houses with lots of land so I'll count my blessings that I live in a small house on a cul-de-sac.

The setup is simple; Maddie played by Kate Siegel is an author who lives on her own in a remote house who one evening settles down to finish her latest book becomes the target for the psychopathic killer played by John Gallagher Jr. Unfortunately for Maddie due to a battle with meningitis at the age of 13 she lost her hearing and became mute. Her tormentor realises this and uses it to his advantage. Maddie then has to try and find ways to keep the killer outside.

Director Mike Flanagan has created an edge of your seat, cat and mouse thrill ride. Although there is some gore the film doesn't rely on it. Instead we get perfect tension and as there isn't much dialogue the film delivers this through a superb performance from Kate Siegel. You really feel her isolation and fear as she tries to keep her attacker away.

The film is now on Netflix and I definitely recommend you watch it.

4.5 / 5

The Witch Movie Review

Frist let me say that I have some lovely woodland behind my house where I enjoy going for walks with my two children who can play in there for hours if I let them... not anymore! Since watching The Witch it will take a while before I go back in the woods especially with my children.

Directed and written by Robert Eggers The Witch stars Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Anya Taylor-Joy and Havery Scrimshaw. The film is set in the 1600s and starts with William and his family being banished out of their village due to Williams religious teachings. They find themselves a place where they set up a farm but the family is gradually torn apart by the power of witchcraft, black magic and possession.

The movie is a slow burn but with the combination of the beautifully filmed scenes, great acting from the whole cast along with the most haunting score I have heard in a long time your attention is never challenged.

Some people may find the 1600's English hard to follow at times but that's another testament to the cast for being able to pull it off convincingly.

The only downside to the movie and has nothing to do with the film itself is that it won't reach a wider audience due to the limited cinema release it has received here in the UK. This is a movie that will be best enjoyed in the cinema with no distractions but unfortunately there are many people that will miss it as it isn't screening near them.

I want to end on a positive and thank Robert Eggers for restoring my faith in movies involving witches!

4.5/5

Krampus Movie Review

2015 has been very generous with quality  Christmas related horror films,  first we had A Christmas Horror Story and now Krampus.

Directed by Michael Dougherty who also co-wrote along with Todd Casey and Zach Shields; Krampus is a excellent blend of horror and comedy delivered perfectly by a great cast.

The movie starts of with a much more realistic feel of what Christmas is really like, being dragged and pushed about in overcrowded shops and spending time with people you wouldn't dream of associating with if they wasn't family.

The shit hits the fan for the family when a snowstorm cuts the power to the whole town but having no power is the least of their troubles.

The only downside I can see people having with the movie is the ending as they will either love it or hate it. Me personally thought it was a good ending and if you don't like the ending there is so much more you can take from movie that
it won't ruin the overall experience.

The movie feels in part as a much darker version of Gremlins with an isolation feeling similar to The Mist.

Apart from the blend of horror and comedy as I mentioned earlier another of the movie's great success comes with the fact that it doesn't rely on a over use of blood and violence which isn't missed one bit and gives a much wider audience the chance to enjoy it.

4.5 / 5

DEATHGASM Movie Review

DEATHGASM is by far the funniest horror comedy this year! From writer and director Jason Lei Howden the movie tells the story of misfit Brodie who unfortunately has to move in with his god fearing uncle, auntie and unpleasant bully of a cousin. He makes friends with like minded people who eventually start a band but when they play a piece of magical music that they come across they unleash a curse on the whole town.

Deathgasm has everything that makes the perfect horror comedy and if you like heavy metal you will love it all the more.  With brilliant one liners that will surely be quoted between friends time after time I can even imagine people wearing them on t-shrits. Along with great acting and makeup it also has some unforgettable action scenes featuring very imaginative zombie kills. I know this film will receive lots of repeat viewings and I can only score it top marks.

Along with Housebound and What We Do In The Shadows, New Zealand is becoming the go to country for horror comedy.

5/5

The Hallow Movie Review

The Hallow staring Joseph Mawle and Bojana Novakovic from director Corin Hardy tells the story of a tree surgeon who along with his wife and baby move from the city to an old millhouse in the Irish countryside where things start to go bump into the night. 

Visually the film is brilliant! The make up, special effects and locations all look great. Corin Hardy is definitely a film maker to look out for. The acting is also very good so I'm sorry to say that my only complaint is with the story.

Yes city folk moving to the country only to be greeted by disgruntled locals that make it very clear the family and his work in the woods isn't welcome has been done before but the film keeps it interesting and somewhat original by including some Irish folklore which keeps you guessing who or what is causing the disturbances to the new family. 

So what stops this movie reaching a four or five from me is some major continuity errors. I could explain what the errors are but can't without giving the last quarter of the film away which I won't do as I still recommend you go watch this as I'm sure I will go see it again when it's released. 

3/5

A Christmas Horror Story Movie Review

A Christmas Horror Story is a anthology horror movie where four different stories are all intertwined together through a radio station where William Shatner stars as the host DJ Dan.

The four stories features a group of teenagers that breaks into their school to create a documentary about a murder that happened a year ago, a couple that after a christmas tree hunting trip realise there's something seriously wrong with their little boy, Krampus terrorising a greedy family after their attempts to extort money from a wealthy relative is squashed and my personal favourite of the lot is Santa fighting zombie elves in his workshop.

The four stories are all pretty solid and totally different without a weak link amongst them. The directors Grant Harvey, Steven Hoban and Brett Sullivan have all done a great job in creating something for everyone with the four stories plus a twist ending which I never saw coming.

A Christmas Horror Story I am sure will become annual viewing for some households as I know it will in mine.

4/5