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Escape From Tomorrow (2013) - Randy Moore

This review may contain spoilers. An American independent horror movie from filmmaker Randy Moore. It stars Roy Abramsohn, Elena Schuber, Katelynn Rodriguez, Jack Dalton, Annet Mahendru, and Alison Lees-Taylor. It premiered at the official selection of Roger Ebert, at the Sundance Film Festival on January 18th, 2013. Synopsis Jim is a depressed middle-aged man that despises his family life but wants to try to hold it together for a vacation to the Walt Disney World Resort. Jim receives a call before they leave and, unfortunately, Jim has lost his job as well. It proves too much to handle as this trip to the Magic Kingdom becomes a hellish nightmare. Jim’s mind cracks as we watch him deal with Disney’s seedy underbelly. Complete with elaborate corporate conspiracy, undercover sex workers, and demons. Oh and two very young French girls that Jim lusts over. It’s gross. Analysis The acting is amateurish. It’s nothing that’s going to win any awards or anything. The wri
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The Ranger (2018) - Jenn Wexler

The Ranger (2018) An American independent horror movie from director Jenn Wexler. The film stars Chloe Levine, Granit Lahu, Jeremy Pope, Bubba Weiler, Amanda Grace Benitez, and Jeremy Holm. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival as the Official 'Midnighter' Selection, on August 17th, 2018. Synopsis  A group of young, brash, drug-addicted punk rockers kill a police officer then hold-up in a cabin out in a closed off State Park. It seems like a solid plan. The only problem is the psychotic park ranger that won’t leave them alone. Analysis  Jenn Wexler delivers another low-budget horror movie, paying homage to the b-movie slashers of the eighties. It’s a decent premise and I found myself really liking Jeremy Holm’s work as The Ranger. However, aside from Chelsea (Chloë Levine), the characters in this movie are horribly unlikeable. I literally couldn’t wait for them to start eating it. We are graced with a mix of practical effects and light CGI for a very decent

Man Made Monster (1941) - George Waggner

Man Made Monster is a short sci-fi horror movie from director George Waggner. Released on March 28th, 1941, this fifty-nine minute small-length feature from Universal Pictures features a huge cast. Lon Chaney Jr. stars alongside Lionel Atwill, Anne Nagel, Frank Albertson, Samuel S. Hinds and even Constance Bergen. Even with these actors and actresses, it was one of the cheapest films Universal produced that year. Man Made Monster had an estimated budget of $86,000. And it did pretty well at the box-office. The film is about a stunt performer named “Big Dan” played by Lon Chaney Jr. Big Dan appears to have an immunity from electricity following a bus crash that had seen the electrocution death of five other people. Our hero Dan falls in with a strange mad-scientist that’s obsessed with electricity. Obsessed with pouring loads of it into Dan to create a sort-of superhero. A strange plot that seemed out of place among the killer ape movies of the period. Man Made Monster is a m

Terrifier (2017) - Damein Leone

Terrifier is a 2017 supernatural horror movie from director Damien Leone and Epic Pictures Group. It’s based on a segment that appeared in the Damien Leone picture, All Hallows Eve. The film stars small time actors like Jenna Kanell and Catherine Corcoran alongside character actor, David Howard Thornton as the lead villain Art the Clown. It’s an independent feature that really pushes the boundaries with it’s graphic murders and gory special effects. All packaged up with a grindhouse estetic that makes it all the more creepy and cool. Tara and Dawn get stranded downtown while heading home on Halloween night. Both are way too drunk to drive and are stuck in a really bad part of town. To make matters worse, they are being stalked by an extremely creepy clown that has a favorite pastime of slicing and dicing his victims. Now, Tara and Dawn have to try to survive the night with Vicky, Tara’s sister, on the way to pick them up. The special effects in this movie are awesome! Tom

Maximum Overdrive (1986) - Stephen King

Maximum Overdrive is a 1986 science-fiction horror comedy film from writer/director, Stephen King, and producer Dino De Laurentiis. It’s loosely based on the short story “trucks” that appeared in the Night Shift collection. However, this is a mostly original feature written by King directly for the silver screen. The soundtrack is proudly provided by the power-rock band AC/DC, who’s album Who Made Who was the official soundtrack. The movie stars “Mr. Cool” Emilio Estevez, Pat Hingle, Laura Harrington, and Lisa Simpson herself, Yeardley Smith. It’s cool to see her in this movie. But her voice is like a power saw.  A comet flies too close to Earth and makes all electronics rebel against their human users. ATM’s are insulting their patrons. Arcades are electrocuting the gamers. Drink machines are pelting poor coaches. And a small group of travelers is being held hostage in the Dixie-Boy Diner by a group of menacing autonomous semi-trucks. Can the humans prevail over t

Murder Party (2007) - Jeremy Saulnier

Murder Party is a 2007 independent horror comedy film from writer and director, Jeremy Saulnier. It did well on the independent film circuit, winning best feature at the 2007 Slamdance Film Festival . It stars indie actors, Chris Sharp, Sandy Barnett, Macon Blair, Paul Goldblatt and William Lacey. This has been on my watchlist for years. I always started watching it, and then ended up getting involved in something else. This time, I thought why not make this the first movie of the 2018 Edition of 31 Movies of Halloween . So here we are. Christopher responds to a random costume party invitation that will be held on Halloween night. A Murder Party to be more accurate. Dressed as a cardboard knight, Christopher arrives to find a strange costumed group that has plans for him. Murderous plans for artistic reasons. They tie Chris up and begin discussing how they want to kill him. Unfortunately, things don’t quite go the way the group intends. A series of mishaps ensue leading to

Firestarter (1984) - Mark Lester

Firestarter is a science-fiction horror film released in 1984 and directed by Mark Lester. It serves as one of the many Stephen King adaptations released by the Dino de Laurentiis Company. This one is based on the 1980 novel of the same name. The film stars David Keith, a young Drew Barrymore, Heather Locklear, Martin Sheen and a miscast George C. Scott. The soundtrack is expertly provided by the eighties progressive rock band, Tangerine Dream. I had seen this movie a number of times before. But this was the only time that I actually sat down to review it. I am watching the Google Play version of the movie. Andy McGee and his daughter Charlie are on the run from a secret government organization known as The Shop, that is seeking them out in order to lock them up for experimentation. Andy and Charlie both have a secret psionic ability. Andy can manipulate your mind, but Charlie can set things on fire just by looking at them. Quite a dangerous power for such a little girl to have.