We love us some found footage, and Skinamarink gives us a perfect reason to do so. We also loop in the discussion of Found Footage as a subgenre, including some of its highs and lows. 2022's Deadstream and 2023's The Outwaters also make appearances. Right now, the state of the subgenre is good and serves … Continue reading Bela Lugosi’s Undead Podcast – ‘Skinamarink, Deadstream, and Found Footage in 2023’
Review: ‘Influencer’ – A Follower From Hell Thriller
The world of social media mints and reshapes celebrities daily. Some find their fifteen minutes, while others launch long-term brand collaborations. Yet this also opens the door for parasocial relationships. A new Shudder thriller, Influencer seeks to capitalize on this idea. Set around social media, Influencer serves as a fun thriller. While it has little … Continue reading Review: ‘Influencer’ – A Follower From Hell Thriller
Review: ‘Scare Package’ – A Wonderful Anthology of Meta-Horror-Comedies
Anthology horrors have become an excellent place to locate emerging talent. Shudder has helped cultivate many of these package films, and as a result, we've seen an uptick in the directors moving on to create excellent features. Last year alone, directors on V/H/S 99 also landed the plane on some of our favorites of the … Continue reading Review: ‘Scare Package’ – A Wonderful Anthology of Meta-Horror-Comedies
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Scare Package II: Rad Chad’s Revenge’ – A Lovely Horror Parody
The horror parody film seemed to peak in the 1990s. During that decade, we saw Scream rise to prominence, and Scary Movie churn out a dozen jokes. Even legacy titles, including Halloween: H20 and Wes Craven's New Nightmare, poked fun at their place in the genre. The post-modern approach to horror storytelling had changed, even … Continue reading Blu-Ray Review: ‘Scare Package II: Rad Chad’s Revenge’ – A Lovely Horror Parody
SXSW 2023: ‘Brooklyn 45’ Examines the Haunting Effects of War
The process of going to war changes those in battle. Often, soldiers must do things that go against their morals and principles. The environment of death and destruction creates toxic cultures where violence begets violence. Director and writer Ted Geoghegan amps up the tension in Brooklyn 45, a real-time horror movie about a group of … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘Brooklyn 45’ Examines the Haunting Effects of War
Review: ‘Skinamarink’ Unsettles From the Word Go
The found footage genre continues to surprise as a fertile ground for new filmmaking talent. After The Blair Witch Project brought the style into the mainstream, it became commonplace over the next decade. Some of these films, like Paranormal Activity and REC became hits on their own merits. Many others struggled. Yet the process of … Continue reading Review: ‘Skinamarink’ Unsettles From the Word Go
Brooklyn Horror Film Festival: ‘V/H/S/99’ Delivers Incredible Highs with Frustrating Lows
Anthology films are often a mixed bag, but the V/H/S series has found a special place in the horror community. With four films already in the franchise, and legitimately spectacular filmmakers contributing, contributing to these omnibus features has helped launch careers. With alumni including Adam Wingard, Ti West, Chloe Okuno, and Radio Silence, horror fans … Continue reading Brooklyn Horror Film Festival: ‘V/H/S/99’ Delivers Incredible Highs with Frustrating Lows
Brooklyn Horror Film Festival: ‘Sinphony’ Sings a Sweet Anthology Tune
The horror anthology trend in 2022 has resulted in three showcases of wildly talented filmmaking. It's always exciting to see where the next great filmmakers will come from, and Sinphony certainly showcases incredible filmmaking talent. With a wide variety of subgenres on display, Sinphony could very easily result in a half-dozen feature-length expansions. Below is … Continue reading Brooklyn Horror Film Festival: ‘Sinphony’ Sings a Sweet Anthology Tune
Review: ‘Deadstream’ Combines ‘Evil Dead’ Humor (and Scares) With Vlogger Culture
As the world of cinema and television continues to evolve, other visual mediums have broken through the mainstream. The rise of YouTube, Twitch, and Vlogger culture has invented a new visual language for delivering information and comedy. While some resist the style and trends of these sites, they have caught on with audiences in a … Continue reading Review: ‘Deadstream’ Combines ‘Evil Dead’ Humor (and Scares) With Vlogger Culture
Review: It’s a ‘Glorious’ Day For Terrors
Horrors beyond our wildest dreams occupied the mind of H.P. Lovecraft. While monster stories of his era are not exclusively his domain, the prolific and problematic writer maintains a hold on today’s public consciousness. The use of otherworldly gods and terrors paints a picture of epic scale. That poses a challenge for independent filmmakers like … Continue reading Review: It’s a ‘Glorious’ Day For Terrors