Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood is a 1988 slasher horror film directed by John Carl Buechler (Troll; Cellar Dweller; Ghoulies III) from a screenplay by Manuel Fidello and Daryl Haney.

It is the seventh instalment in the original Friday the 13th series and the start of the Kane Hodder era in which he repeated the role of Jason Vorhees three more times. The other leads are Lar Park Lincoln, Kevin Blair, Susan Blu, Terry Kiser (The Offspring).

Plot teaser:

Shortly after the events of the previous film, seven-year old Tina Sheppard witnesses her father abusing her mother, and runs out onto the lake in a boat. When her father tries to retrieve and apologise to her, Tina’s latent telekinetic powers awaken and she accidentally collapses the dock on him, causing him to drown.

Ten years later, Tina and her mother return to the lake at the request of her doctor Dr. Crews in order to face her fear and trauma over the death of her father. Crews tries to incite Tina to use her telekinetic powers through constant persuasion and manipulation, though under the guise of psychiatric care, he plans to exploit Tina’s gifts. After a particularly disturbing confrontation, Tina runs out to the docks and believes she senses her father’s presence in the lake. She uses her powers to resurrect him, but instead accidentally frees Jason Voorhees from his imprisonment…

Reviews:

‘The New Blood certainly moves briskly from one violent set piece to the next; as a result of Buechler’s emphasis on narrative momentum, however, the underlying themes, such as they are, never have an opportunity to breathe. With the victims made even more generic than usual this time around, the result is more or less the kind of slasher film the series’s many detractors accuse films in the genre of being as a whole: an empty-headed slaughterfest, with a bit of negligible human interest to offset the nihilism.’ Kenji Fujishima, Slant Magazine

‘Although the role of Jason isn’t exactly Shakespeare, Hodder turns in a great performance as the hulking, heavy breathing zombie killer.John Carl Buechler’s special effects are great, even though they were heavily edited by the MPAA. Hodder and the special effects are the main reasons to watch the film, since the rest of the cast sleepwalk through their parts and the dialogue is frighteningly dumb.’ Jim Harper, Legacy of Blood: A Comprehensive Guide to Slasher Movies

‘The makeup design this time around is absolutely stunning, and shows an attention to detail that has hitherto been completely absent from any aspect of the Friday the 13th series. Jason really does look like he’s spent a good ten years rotting at the bottom of a lake. His clothes are little more than soggy rags, his skin is greenish and slimed with putrescence, and his bones are visible wherever they lie close to the surface— his ribs, spine, kneecaps, and shoulder blades. It’s when his mask comes off during the final clash between him and Tina that the makeup team’s workmanship really comes to the fore, though.’ 1000 Misspent Hours and Counting

Buy Friday the 13th: The Complete Collection on Blu-ray from Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

Censorship:

Several explicit scenes of gore were cut in order to avoid an X rating, including: Maddy’s death, who originally had a sickle jammed through her neck; Ben’s death, which showed Jason crushing his head into a bloody pulp; Kate’s death, which showed Jason ramming her in the eye with a party horn; the original VHS and DVD versions only show a full view of Jason as he aims towards her face, but quickly cuts to another scene before revealing the blood and gore gushing from her eye; we see Eddie’s head hit the floor; a shot of Russell’s face splitting open with a large blood spurt; Dan’s original death had Jason ripping out his guts; Amanda Shepard’s death originally showed Jason stabbing her from behind, with the resulting blade going through her chest and subsequent blood hitting Dr. Crews;

Dr. Crews’s death showed Jason’s tree-trimming saw violently cutting into his stomach, sending a fountain of blood and guts in the air; Melissa’s original death had Jason cleaving her head in half with an axe with a close-up of her eyes still wriggling in their sockets. The boxed set DVD release of all of the films and the single deluxe edition have all these scenes available as deleted scenes in rough work print footage, however the deluxe edition features more additional footage than the boxed set.

Buy Deluxe Edition DVD from Amazon.com

Ghanian hand drawn poster

Cast:

• Kane Hodder as Jason Voorhees
• Lar Park Lincoln as Tina Shepard
• Kevin Spirtas as Nick
• Susan Blu as Amanda Shepard
• Terry Kiser as Dr. Crews
• Susan Jennifer Sullivan as Melissa
• Elizabeth Kaitan as Robin
• William Butler as Michael
• Staci Greason as Jane
• Jon Renfield as David
• Jeff Bennett as Eddie
• Heidi Kozak as Sandra
• Diana Barrows as Maddy

Body Count:

Documentary:

Wikipedia | IMDb

iZombie is an upcoming American comedy horror detective TV series scheduled to premiere on March 17, 2015, on The CW. It is a loose adaptation of the comic book series created by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred, and published by DC Comics‘ Vertigo imprint.

The series is a Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Spondoolie Productions and Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Rob Thomas, Diane Ruggiero-Wright (Veronica Mars), Danielle Stokdyk and Dan Etheridge. The pilot was directed by Rob Thomas.

Plot teaser:

Olivia “Liv” Moore was a rosy-cheeked, disciplined, over-achieving medical resident who had her life path completely mapped out, until the night she attended a party that unexpectedly turned into a zombie feeding frenzy. Afterward, she became part zombie.

To give her access to the brains she must eat to survive, Olivia currently works at a coroner’s office. A side effect of her new diet is the ability to absorb the memories of the deceased, which helps her solve homicides…

Cast:

• Rose McIver as Olivia “Liv” Moore
• Robert Buckley as Major Lilywhite: Liv’s former fiancee
• Malcolm Goodwin as Clive Babinaux: A local police detective who knows Liv’s secret and often asks for her help to solve crimes
• David Anders as Blaine DeBeers.
• Rahul Kohli as Dr. Ravi Chakrabarti: A medical examiner and Liv’s boss. He also knows about Liv’s secret and assists her whenever he can to protect as well as study her.

Wikipedia | IMDb | Official website

‘It’s their planet now!’

Plan 9 is a 2014 science fiction horror comedy movie written and directed by John Johnson, loosely based on Ed D. Wood Jr.’s original Plan 9 from Outer Space.

The film stars Brian Krause (Sleepwalkers; Coffin Baby; House of Purgatory), Mister Lobo, Matthew Ewald, James D. Rolfe, Aaron Yonda, Matt Sloan, Monique Dupree, John Johnson, Conrad Brooks (from the original), Addy Miller, Sara Eshleman, Amy Hart.

Plan 9 is released in the US by Monster Pictures on 18 March 2015.

Reviews:

‘The whole thing is an affectionate tribute to Ed Wood’s B-Movie milestone. From its infamous flying saucers on wires to the late Bela Lugosi, or rather, Wood’s chiropractor who hid his face behind a cape; it’s littered with references that show just how revered the original is. This one just amps up the boobs and gore and oddly enough, it’s the kid characters that get it the worst, because who cares about being politically correct?’ Ernesto Zelaya Miñano, Twitch Film

Clip:

IMDb | Facebook

The Generation of Z: Apocalypse is an interactive theatre experience.

Press release:

‘The Generation of Z: Apocalypse, an immersive, terrifying interactive theatre experience, is coming to London after sell out seasons in New Zealand and at the Edinburgh Fringe. Hurling audiences into the maelstrom of a zombie apocalypse and unfolding in real time, The Generation of Z: Apocalypse is a thrilling 75 minutes of high-velocity storytelling that will terrify even the hardiest of thrill seekers.

It is 2015. London has fallen. And the deadly Z virus is transforming the global population into a rabid horde of the infected. What will you do to survive? Where will your choices take you?

Your survival is in your hands. This apocalyptic world unfolds within a purpose-built labyrinthian venue in Whitechapel, spanning over a 25,000 square feet bunker.’

Official website

‘A boy went to war… something UNSPEAKABLE came back!’

Deathdream is a 1972 Canadian horror film produced and directed by Bob Clark (Black Christmas; Murder By Decree) from a screenplay by Alan Ormsby. The plot was inspired by the W.W. Jacobs short story The Monkey’s Paw. It stars Richard Backus, John Marley and Lynn Carlin. A young Tom Savini handled the special effects makeup, apparently aided by Ormsby.

The film was shot as The Night Walker and initially released in Tampa, Florida, as Dead of Night (its British title) on August 30, 1974. It has also been released as The Night Andy Came Home.

Blue Underground DVD released a special edition of Deathdream in 2004. Special features include an audio commentary by Bob Clark, an audio commentary by Alan Ormsby, the featurette Tom Savini: The Early Years, the featurette Deathdreaming: Interview with star Richard Backus, alternate opening titles, extended ending sequence, trailers, and a poster & still gallery.

Plot teaser:

In Vietnam, US soldier Andy Brooks is shot by a sniper. As he begins to die, he hears his mother’s voice calling out, “Andy, you’ll come back, you’ve got to, you promised.” Sometime later, his family receives notice of his death in combat.

Back home, Andy’s father, Charles, and sister, Cathy, begin to grieve, but his mother, Christine, becomes irate and refuses to believe that Andy has died. Hours later, in the middle of the night, Andy arrives at the front door in full uniform and apparently unharmed; the family accepts the notice of his death as a clerical error and welcomes him back with joy.

Over the next few days, Andy displays strange and erratic behaviour, dressing in an unusually concealing matter and spending his days sitting around the house listless and anemic. Meanwhile, local police investigate the murder of a local trucker, who was found with his throat slashed and his body drained of blood after telling diner patrons that he’d picked up a hitchhiking soldier…

Buy Deathdream on DVD from Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

Reviews:

‘A Monkey’s Paw for the Nixon era, this haunting horror movie from Canadian director Bob Clark (yes, the same man who gave us Porky’s) makes the most of its topical premise and rage over a generation being used as cannon fodder.’ Rolling Stone

‘The reason Deathdream works is its superior dramatic staging. The actors are excellent, especially John Marley and Lynn Carlin, both honored for their roles in John Cassavetes’ Faces. Clark stages the domestic scenes with a fine simplicity and what we remember the most is the looks of bewilderment on nicely-framed faces.’ Glenn Erickson, DVD Talk

‘A modern spin on the classic “be careful what you wish for” theme, Ormsby’s screenplay balances a pointed Vietnam War allegory with pulpier aspects—a “shock” ending, distinct moments of morbid comic relief and beyond-the-grave retribution ripped from the pages of a 1950s horror comic.’ Paul Corupe, DVD Verdict

‘ …what a gem this little film is. It is highly imaginative and original, and once you’ve seen it you will never forget it. It has a strong cast of gifted actors and an even stronger array of highly believable characters, but not just the central characters – the peripheral characters are not simply written blandly as plot fodder.’ Zomblee, Eat My Brains

Buy Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things + Dead of Night from Amazon.co.uk

‘ …an unusual and wonderfully skin crawling horror experience punctuated by thought provoking social commentary akin to the best of George Romero.’ Cool Ass Cinema

‘Though not very lively and ultimately anti-climactic, the movie sustains a calculated mood of off-centered awkwardness from to finish, and is buttressed by strong acting and plausible dialogue.’ Peter Dendle, The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia

Buy Zombie Movie Encyclopedia from Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Buy Bob Clark: I’m Gonna Kill You from Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Cast:

• Richard Backus as Andy Brooks
• John Marley as Charles Brooks
• Lynn Carlin as Christine Brooks
• Anya Ormsby as Cathy Brooks
• Jane Daly as Joanne
• Mal Jones as Sheriff
• Henderson Forsythe as Dr. Philip Allman
• Norman William Beauchamp as Cop

Wikipedia

Nightmare City is a planned 2015 remake of the 1980 film of the same name with Tom Savini directing and supervising special effects. Original Italian director Umberto Lenzi will act as an associate producer and Dean Cundey (Halloween; Jurassic Park) has been named as a possible cinematographer. The project is currently seeking crowdfunding via Indiegogo…

Plot teaser:

After the outbreak of an unknown virus in the Caribbean the Miami Port Authority receives an SOS from an international aid ship returning from Haiti. TV reporter Dean Miller and his cameraman Charlie are sent to the port where rescue teams are awaiting the arriving ship. At first the ship appears to be deserted, but suddenly the rescue teams are attacked by dozens of deformed people. Infected by a new hybrid of two of the most deadly viruses of our time – Ebola and leprosy; their faces and bodies are covered with welts and sores and they are hungry for blood.

Dean and his colleague witness a brutal massacre and return to the TV station to inform the public about the horrifying events, but the government and military prohibit the broadcasting of the news in order to avoid a panic. With the public in the dark, the virus and the number of infected people start to spread over the city, while Dean, his wife Anna and a small group are trying to escape from the ‘City of the Walking Dead.’

Maggie is a 2014 US independent post-apocalyptic horror film, directed by Henry Hobson, written by John Scott 3 and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Abigail Breslin and Joely Richardson. The film is a dramatic departure for Schwarzenegger, who is more known for his action hero roles and for huge budget movies. Originally set to have its world premiere at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival, the film will now have a release date in early 2015 as Lionsgate bought the American distribution rights and pulled the film out of the festival’s roster.

Plot teaser:

A teenage girl in the Midwest becomes infected by an outbreak of a disease that slowly turns the infected into cannibalistic zombies. During her transformation, her loving father stays by her side…

Cast:

• Arnold Schwarzenegger as Wade
• Abigail Breslin as Maggie
• Joely Richardson as Caroline
• Aiden Flowers as Bobby
• Carsen Flowers as Molly
• J.D. Evermore as Holt
• Raeden Greer as Allie
• Ashley Hudson as Frightened Woman
• Rachel Whitman Groves as Bonnie

Wikipedia | IMDb

The Walking Deceased is a 2015 American comedy horror spoof of zombie films directed by Scott Dow from a screenplay by Tim Ogletree. It stars Ogletree, Joey Oglesby, Dave Sheridan, Troy Ogletree, Sophie Taylor Ali, Danielle Garcia, Andrew Pozza, and Mason Dakota Galyon.

Plot teaser:

After waking from a coma, Sheriff Lincoln realizes that he is in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. He reunites with his son Chris and joins several other survivors, including four friends who use city names as aliases and a zombie named Romeo who is looking for love, to find the Safe Haven Ranch, where they expect to be safe from the zombies.

Reviews:

‘Dow and Ogletree simply recycle the same zombie shtick from one unfunny scene to another as if they were going down a zombie movie checklist.’ Kiko Martinez, San Antonio Current

‘ …lame satire of zombie movies, whose shelf life expired even before it was made.’ Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter

‘Believe it or not, this witless spoof has even less brainpower than the gray-matter-starved creatures it’s ridiculing.’ Ethan Alter, Film Journal International

‘There’s no more disposable type of comedy than the genre spoof, and no greater example of its general creative worthlessness than The Walking Deceased’ Nick Schager, The Village Voice

‘Less a send-up of The Walking Dead than a misfired potshot at various zombie productions from Dawn of the Dead to Warm Bodies, it’s a slop bucket of lazy writing and uninspired jokes.’ Cary Darling, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Cast:

• Dave Sheridan as Sheriff Lincoln, a parody of Rick Grimes
• Tim Ogletree as Green Bay, a reference to Zombieland
• Joey Oglesby as Chicago, another reference to Zombieland
• Sophie Taylor Ali as Brooklyn
• Danielle Garcia as Harlem
• Troy Ogletree as Romeo, a reference to Warm Bodies and George A. Romero
• Andrew Pozza as Darnell
• Mason Dakota Galyon as Chris

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘They Do NOT Come In Peace!’

Zombies from Outer Space is a 2012 German sci-fi comedy horror film directed by Martin Faltermeier and starring Judith Gorgass, Siegfried Foster and Florian Kiml.

Plot teaser:

Rural Bavaria. The late 1950’s. Something very strange is taking place. When Maria (Judith Gorgrass) happens upon the dead body of a woman, little does she realize the terror that will unleashed. Noted scientist Dr. Robert Hoelzlein (Florian Kiml) and American Army Captain John Welles (Siegfried Foster), both brought in to investigate the crime, soon butt heads over the case and their mutual attraction to Maria. Romance takes a back seat when more bodies are discovered. Who or what has caused these mysterious deaths?

The following bands appear on the soundtrack; Biermösl Blosn, The Meteors, Cherry Casino and the Gamblers, The Bricats, and Mars Attacks.

Buy Zombies from Outer Space on DVD from Amazon.com

Reviews:

“The story works (quite) well and it delivers entertainment in good doses, even if I wished for more graphic gore and less talk. It’s already a bit too long, so I – if I was a producer – would have demanded some cuts, maybe to get it down to 85 minutes. Then it would have been perfect, cheesy entertainment. Now it’s a ambitious, good, crazy and very well-made oddity that deserves a bigger audience!” Fred Anderson

“If you have a soft spot for the classic horror films of the 50’s and 60’s this could well work for you. Slightly more splatter would however have been welcome. All in all, not a knockout but  still a remarkable debut film “Made ​​in Germany”. Watch the Shit

“Pure entertainment value is high, especially in light of the available funds and resources.” Scary Movies

Official website | IMDb

WH

The Signal is an American horror film written and directed by independent filmmakers David Bruckner, Dan Bush and Jacob Gentry, each directing a segment of the film. It stars Anessa Ramsey, Justin Welborn, and Scott Poythress.

The Signal was created by filmmakers who have been collaborating since 1999 in Atlanta, Georgia and each of its chapters had different directors during shooting. The film was completed for the 2007 Sundance Film Festival on a budget of only $50,000 and shot over the course of 13 days.

Plot Teaser:

As the citizens of Terminus ready themselves for the New Year celebrations, an ominous signal begins to emanate from every electronic device in the city, transforming the would-be celebrants into murderous marauders. Fortunately, Ben (Justin Welborn) has managed to avoid having his mind muddled by the eerie transmission, so sets off to rescue his lover and discover the source of the evil-inducing broadcast. That’s easier said than done, however, when there’s hordes of killers roaming the city…

 Buy The Signal on Blu-ray from Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Reviews:

“Fans of horror will do themselves a favor in picking up The Signal. They will find intense moments, some gore, comedy, philosophical discussions, and even a love story. As I said, these filmmakers are ones to watch.” Beyond Hollywood

“Would it be too lame of a pun to say that I’m crazy for The Signal? Fuck it. The Signal is by far one of the best independent horror films ever made and the best horror film I’ve seen all year. Not only does it have an original story, but it also boasts a phenomenal cast and three up-and-coming directors.” Dread Central

“The magic of The Signal is that it is derivative of so many better movies, yet walks confidently enough in those initial 30 minutes to convince the audience otherwise. Once the rest of the picture falls asleep with a weird, quivering Hal Hartley arrow toward irreverence and unreal bodily damage (of course using the argument of psychosis to cover up the obvious seams), The Signal loses its aroma and whimpers to the finish line. This picture contains greatness, but only in the smallest amounts.” DVD Talk

Wikipedia | IMDb

WH

‘Prey for Salvation’

Zombie Resurrection is a 2014 British horror film, made partly with the aid of online funding. Set in an unspecified part of the UK, eight survivors of an apocalyptic outbreak, which has seen the dead rise from their graves, attempt find sanctuary as the undead hordes thin out and make sense of the chaos that surrounds them. It is the debut feature of directors Andy Phelps and Jake Hawkins.

Fifteen months after zombies ravaged the country, eight survivors trudge through the British woodland attempting to find a place of refuge known as Imperium, the destination known only by one of their number, the upper class Major Gibson (Joe Rainbow, Stag Night of the Dead), who revels in the hold he has over the others. These include Mac (Jim Sweeney), a sweary Scottish tough guy; God-fearing Esther (Shamiso Mushambi); almost respectably middle-class Beaumont (Danny Brown), who carries a golf club just to make sure you’ve “got it”, and the shackled prisoner Dr. Sykes (Eric Colvin), plus three more utterly detestable individuals.

In a twist to the usual lore surrounding zombie outbreaks, we learn that time has taken its toll on the dead, who are now few in number and those who do survive are ineffective decaying lumps. Regardless, the disagreeable bunch of the living find getting on with one another impossible and tensions rise even further when Gibson steps in a mantrap and has his leg removed. Taking shelter in a school building (expanding the quite obviously tiny shooting area by up to twenty feet), we find that Sykes is held as a prisoner due to his role in the development of the ‘virus’ which started the apocalypse – actually an attempted cure for chemical warfare – and that he is due to be hanged. Events spiral out of their control when they realise the building actually houses some unexpectedly spritely zombies and, even more surprisingly, that one of them has a quasi-religious gift for resurrecting the more decayed of his number, threatening to send them back to the early days of the outbreak.

On the plus side, there are some interesting ideas here; the diminished threat of rotting corpses over time has been touched upon in film and fiction before but, in this case, it’s central to the plot; similarly, aside from voodoo, there hasn’t been a great deal of emphasis on religion’s part in such a scenario. Unfortunately, these really only become viable as part of a short story – at a push, a play, though presumably a rubbish one. Without zombies as an immediate threat, you have to rely on the living characters and their back-stories to provide the drama and tension, done skilfully in periods of Romero’s early zombie films and large tracts of The Walking Dead comic and television series. You’d be correct in assuming this film has none of that.

Firstly, there are far too many characters, none of whom are engaging or illicit any sympathy from the viewer. This is exacerbated by the fact that the acting is of a shockingly poor quality, veering from potty-mouthed shouting to something that resembles the farce of a drunken person assuring assembled onlookers that they’re completely sober, whilst stood in a duck-pond. This sits particularly badly when the closing quarter of Zombie Resurrection attempts to ponder the complexities of life, religion and all points between, with the film left hanging as neither fish nor fowl, though almost certainly, foul.

The gore effects and make-up are passable and indeed, if that sends your pulse racing, you may still find something of interest here. Despite this, at no point is anything in the least believable; how a compound came to be called Imperium in just over a year (surely rejected even by eager Apprentice candidates), why the filmmakers opted to omit someone in a wheelchair from their parade of abysmal stereotypes and why, four years after filming wrapped, has this been allowed to surface without anyone having the guts to recognise this simply didn’t work. It’s another nail in the coffin of a horror sub-genre that just won’t stay shut.

Daz Lawrence, Horrorpedia

Buy on Blu-ray | DVD from Amazon.co.uk

World War Z 2 – expect a title tweak! – is a 2017 American post-apocalyptic action horror movie directed by Juan Antonia Bayona (The Orphanage; Penny Dreadful) from a screenplay by Steven Knight. It is obviously a sequel to Paramount Pictures 2013 $190 million blockbuster World War Z.

Despite mainly negative reviews, the first film took $540 million at the box office, before residual sales such as Blu-ray, DVD, VOD. Brad Pitt is returning to star. The sequel will apparently focus on new characters and plot points taken from Max Brooks’ original storylines.

The film is currently set to be released on the June 9, 2017, the same day as 20th Century Fox’s Fantastic Four sequel, though media commentators suggest that this is likely to change.

IMDb

Anger of the Dead – aka Apocalisse Zero – is a 2015 Italian-Canadian post-apocalyptic horror movie produced by Uwe Boll (House of the Dead; Alone in the Dark; BloodRayne: The Third Reich) and Luca Boni, and written and directed by Francesco Picone (based on his 2013 short film of the same name).

The film stars Aaron Stielstra, Michael Segal, Marius Bizau, Désirée Giorgetti, Claudio Camilli, David White, Ally McClelland, Roberta Sparta.

Reviews:

“While there are more than a few slow spots in Picone’s first full-length presentation, his ability to convey a fairly decent story is what pulls this movie through and sets it apart from a typical Boll production. The dive into humanity is deep, and for the first time in ages, I actually gave a crap about a few of the characters … Overall, thumbs up to Picone for a nice job with taking a sub-genre that’s been butchered and valiantly reviving it for a short spell. This is definitely worth the view-time if you have the opportunity.” Matt Boiselle, Dread Central

IMDb | Facebook

Fear the Walking Dead is a 2015 American television series created by Robert Kirkman and Dave Erickson scheduled to premiere on AMC and globally in August 2015. It is a companion series to the hugely successful horror drama TV series The Walking Dead, which is based on the comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard.

AMC approved the pilot to series on March 9, 2015, with a two-season commitment.

Plot teaser:

Set in Los Angeles, the series follows a male divorced teacher, a female guidance counsellor, and her two children – a son and a daughter – in the zombie apocalypse…

Cast:

• Kim Dickens as Madison, a high school guidance counsellor and fiancee to Travis. She is a single mother to Alicia and Nick.
• Cliff Curtis as Travis, Madison’s fiance and a divorced teacher who shares custody of his son Chris with ex-wife Liza.
• Frank Dillane as Nick, Madison’s college-flunk out son who is battling a drug problem.
• Alycia Debnam-Carey as Alicia, Madison’s high-achieving and ambitious daughter who is in a relationship with her jock boyfriend Matt. She is able to read situations well and often finds herself at odds with Nick due to his unmotivated nature.
• Elizabeth Rodriguez as Liza, Travis’s ex-wife and mother to their son Chris. A free-spirited bohemian type, she is attempting to rebound from her disastrous marriage.
• Mercedes Mason as Ofelia
• Rubén Blades as Daniel, Ofelia’s father

Wikipedia | IMDb | Official site

‘Vampire leopard women prowl the jungle”

Night of the Sorcerers – original title: La Noche de los Brujos translation: “Night of the Warlocks” – is a 1973 Spanish horror film written and directed by Amando de Ossorio (Tombs of the Blind Dead, Night of the Seagulls, Demon Witch Child).

Cast:

Maria Kosti, Lorena Tovar, Barbara King, Kali Hansa, Jack Taylor, Simon Andreu and Joseph Thelman.

Plot teaser:

1910, Bumbasa, West Africa: A white missionary (Barbara King) is kidnapped by native Bokor (sorcerers) to be sacrificed under a full moon. The Bokor tie her between two posts, whip her, then decapitate her. However, the voodoo ceremony is interrupted by British soldiers who shoot all the participants. Unnoticed in the melee, a shedim (demon) takes possession of the woman.

Years later, Professor Jonathan Grant (Jack Taylor) commands a safari investigating the disappearance of elephants. The safari team stumbled across the clearing where the natives had performed their rituals, before being wiped out in colonial times.

Unfortunately, they decide to camp nearby…

Buy via Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Reviews:

” … it’s hard to find a better-paced, more enjoyable exercise in sensationalism of its kind. It can’t decide what kind of horror movie it wants to be, so vampirism, voodoo, possession and the walking dead are all tossed in like a big salad, and a very tasty one at that. The film is also not afraid to spill blood or allow for some kinky sadism, notably in repeated rituals where pretty women have their blouses literally whipped off… George R. Reis, DVD Drive-In

” … a mean-spirited, poorly made exploitation picture that relies on nudity, brutality, and gore rather than story, acting, and characterization. And what’s worse, it’s not even competent on this level, for it breaks the first rule of exploitation filmmaking: Shock, sicken, and titillate, but never, never bore your audience.” Bryan Senn, Drums of Terror: Voodoo in the Cinema

Buy via Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

“The film’s general shoddiness is everywhere. In the daytime, the vampire women take the form of animals, played by stuffed leopards whose heads peer out through some bushes. Fernando Garcia Morcillo’s roller-rink organ-driven score is like something out of an Emmanuelle knock-off. The tired jungle cliches uneasily mix with the ’70s sexploitation elements, which in turn don’t blend well with the intended horrors.” Stuart Galbraith IV, DVD Talk

“The plot is paper thin, the acting amateurish and some scenes were too dark due to the shooting process. Although, that said, when the shots weren’t too dark there was some great lighting and atmospherics. It hasn’t a shred of pc awareness and, you know what, it is great fun. It is leopard skin bikini vampiric fun from a master of exploitation horror.” Taliesen Meets the Vampires

“Graphic violence and plentiful soft-core sex cannot relieve the tedium…” Phil Hardy (editor), The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror

” … endearingly kitsch jungle exploitation flick … De Ossorio brings his familiar spooky touch to scenes where zombies crawl out of their graves and cannibals cavort around piles of skulls. By the far the most enjoyable aspect are the leopardskin bikini-clad vampire women, as Barbara Rey and Loli Tovar prance around the jungle with demonic glee.”Andrew Pragasam, The Spinning Image

“Racist, risible and completely redundant, it’s a forgettable effort.” Jamie Russell, Book of the Dead

Filming Locations:

Aldea del Fresno, Madrid, Spain

Wikipedia | IMDb | Image credits: Chilling Scenes of Dreadful Villainy | VHS Collector

‘Rotting ghouls return to life in an orgy of cannibalism’

Corpse Eaters is a 1973 Canadian horror film directed by Donald R. Passmore and Klaus Vetter based on a screenplay by producer Lawrence Zazelenchuk, with additional dialogue by Alan Nicholson. 

Cast:

Michael Hopkins, Ed LeBreton, Terry London, Michael Krizanc, Helina Carson, Douglas Deering.

Some the film’s gore scenes were apparently removed for it’s theatrical release and the footage has since been lost. According to Caelum Vatnsdal’s book They Came from Within, Corpse Eaters was produced in 1973 by teenager Lawrence Zazelenchuk, who owned The 69 Drive-In on Route 69 outside of Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. He had saved $36,000 from working at a nickel mine and decided to write and produce a horror film to screen at his own drive-in. Director Donald R. Passmore was hired, then fired after four days and replaced by Klaus Vetter. Once finished, Zazalenchuk found he could not afford the lab costs to have the film developed, but finally saved enough in drive-in proceeds to get it processed. It premiered at The 69 Drive-In in 1974 and went on to a long local run before it was bought by a New York distributor in the market for a tax write-off.

Reviews:

“With easily has the most extreme effects of any Canadian horror movie, The Corpse Eaters is worth a look if for no other reason, than it has the distinction of being the first gore film made in the Great White North. Unfortunately, the film itself leaves much to be desired it never really recovers from the success of the initial zombie attack, seemingly unsure of which direction to proceed in.” Canuxploitation

“Whether it’s an awkward sex scene or total mutilation by zombies, this film never hesitates to go over the top and push boundaries.” The Zombie Site

“An ugly, poorly lit, cheap looking and technically inept film, this has bad acting, Halloween kit makeups (which are also by Zazelenchuk) and a dull storyline culled from the aforementioned Night and Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things (1972). This is only really worth seeking out for curio value and for zombie movie completists.” Bloody Pit of Horror

“Aside from the gore similarity that one could compare to certain European romps, there’s ironically a fair amount of Fulci/Franco trademark zooms to the character’s eyes. Conversely, the film has a Herschell Gordon Lewis feeling to it because of bad/inane dialogue and obviously over-the-top gore. There’s always something about experiencing a lost film that makes a horror viewer smile, and Corpse Eaters is no different, except it has a much more interesting and personable story behind it.” Oh, the Horror!

“Sleazy, gory and a little sloppy, startling obscurity has kept you from seeing this. Tenacity must push you onward, until the two of you meet over Friendship & Beers.” Bleeding Skull!

IMDb

‘Something wicked this way comes…’

Teenage Exorcist is a 1991 American supernatural comedy horror film directed by Grant Austin Waldman (The Channeler; Victoria’s Shadow) from a screenplay by actress Brinke Stevens (Screaming in High Heels: The Rise and Fall of the Scream Queen), based on a story by co-producer Fred Olen Ray (Scalps; Evil Toons; Super Shark).

The film stars Stevens, Eddie Deezen and Robert Quarry (Count Yorga, Vampire; Dr. Phibes Rises Again; The Deathmaster).

Although it was shot in 1991, Teenage Exorcist did not receive a video release until 1994.

Buy via Amazon.com

Plot teaser:

Diane (Brinke Stevens), a prim and proper college grad student, rents a spooky old house from a creepy realtor (Michael Berryman). Unfortunately for Diane, an ancient demon (Oliver Darrow) resides in her basement and she’s quickly possessed by the spirits of the house, turning her into a leather-clad, chainsaw-wielding succubus.

When Diane’s sister Sally (Elena Sahagun), Sally’s brother-in-law Mike (Jay Richardson) and Diane’s boyfriend Jeff (Tom Shell) come to visit only to be attacked by her demonic incarnation, they summon a priest, Father McFerrin (Robert Quarry), to handle the situation. Zombies also arrive to make the situation worse.

Failing that, Father McFerrin attempts to call an exorcist, only to dial the wrong number and unwittingly place an order at the local pizza parlour. When the geeky superhero worshipping pizza delivery boy (Eddie Deezen) arrives at the house, it’s up to him and the rest of the gang to destroy the demon and stop his nefarious scheme…

Review:

Scripter and ‘Scream Queen’ Brinke Stevens doesn’t have enough screen presence, even in shiny black S&M gear, to hold this horror parody together. though the feeble groan-inducing genre jokes are reasonable enough to make the first half painless. Unfortunately, once Quarry and Deezen appear things go rapidly downhill, and Oliver Darrow as the demon is just annoying, so its easy to see why this uninspiring effort remained unreleased for three years.

Adrian J Smith, Horrorpedia

Cast:

• Brinke Stevens as Diane
• Eddie Deezen as Eddie
• Oliver Darrow as The Demon
• Jay Richardson as Mike
• Tom Shell as Jeff
• Elena Sahagun as Sally
• Robert Quarry as Father McFerrin
• Kathryn Kates as Maid
• Michael Berryman as Herman

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘No one gets out… alive’

Death House – later retitled Zombie Death House – is a 1987 American crime-horror film directed by actor John Saxon (Queen of Blood; Cannibal Apocalypse; A Nightmare on Elm Street) from a screenplay by William Selby, David S. Freeman and Kate Wittcomb. It stars Dennis Cole, Anthony Franciosa (Tenebrae), Dino Paskas and John Saxon himself. The end credits are accompanied by punk rock band the Dead Kennedys song ‘Chemical Warfare’.

Plot teaser:

Derek Keelor (Dennis Cole) takes a job as a chauffeur for mob boss Vic Moretti (Anthony Franciosa). Derek gets it on with Moretti’s girlfriend, so the crime lord takes revenge by drowning his girlfriend in the bath and framing her lover for the crime. Derek is sentenced to death row. Meanwhile, a renegade CIA agent (John Saxon) is using the penitentiary inmates as unwilling test subjects for his new experimental drug with the intention of creating an un-killable army…

Buy on DVD from Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Reviews:

“Mob shenanigans, poorly shot/edited/choreographed car chases, a bunch of prisoners being hardasses, an imprisoned mobster bullying cons and guards alike, our hero fucking a girl and then being framed for her murder… basically every B movie plot but zombies.” Horror Movie a Day

“The whole idea of crazed, rotting inmates vs. non-crazed mates vs. soldiers never comes near the greatness of the images that conjure in your head while watching, and as the last reel commences you’ve found its been a “watchable” waste of time and concept. Although Death House is quite fleet of foot and manages to cover its meager twists well while Saxon’s direction doesn’t particularly stand out from the army of other bargain video wonders from the era.” Basement of Ghoulish Decadence

“Zombie Death House is confusing, very choppy, and covered with loose ends. However, it is a fun  movie because it is classic 80’s cheese. All but one female is blonde with big hair, the dialogue is corny, and there are occasions of unrelated placement of boobies.” Lee Roberts, Best Horror Movies

“Along with any good in this movie there is an equal amount of the absurd. There is so much voice over in this film from so many sources that it’s laughable, and it starts at the very beginning. Add to that the fact that we are thrown into the first montage before the opening credits have finished cycling and you are left dumbfounded before you even know what the film is about.” Horror’s Not Dead

“Sure the film is slow to develop the pedestrian plight of the falsely imprisoned hero (Dennis Cole), and there’s nothing much to recommend it to serious cinema fans, but this flick is great viewing for a B movie night…” Glenn Kay, Zombie Movies: The Ultimate Guide

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Choice dialogue:

“Don’t shoot! Or the kid gets it”

IMDb | Related: Prison

Shrunken Heads is a 1994 American film directed by Richard Elfman (Forbidden Zone; Modern Vampires) from a screenplay by Matthew Bright. It is Full Moon Entertainment’s first theatrical feature, and the last film in which Julius Harris (Live and Let Die; King Kong (1976), Darkman; Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence) appeared.

Director Richard Elfman’s brother, Danny Elfman, provided the main theme music for the film, while the rest of the score was created by Richard Band. Richard’s son, Bodhi Elfman, appeared in the film as Booger Martin.

Plot teaser:

After a New York street gang kills three youths, a friendly voodoo priest reanimates them so that they can seek vengeance…

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Reviews:

” … the script wisely capitalizes on the humor of floating bodiless heroes. Of course, the movie still includes such Full Moon staples as kiddie-level violence and time-padding flashbacks, but Elfman’s fun-loving touches manage to get this new series up and running with twisted enthusiasm.” J.R. Taylor, Entertainment Weekly

“Being one of my favorite B movies of all time, I highly recommended Shrunken Heads to everyone because there really is a little something for everybody in this film. There’s action, comedy, drama, magic, love, lots of cool/cheesy special effects, and even a portrayal of the step-by-step process of making shrunken heads.” Swamp Flix

“Shrunken Heads is one of the most unique revenge tales you are ever likely to see. It definitely takes a while to get rolling, but when it hits its stride, it goes for the throat and never looks back. If you have any interest in horror comedies and voodoo practitioners you owe it to yourself to check out this decidedly campy piece of fun cinema!” Silver Emulsion

Writing in The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia, Peter Dendle said that the characters “lovingly exaggerate every preposterous line with relish, yielding some outrageous dialogue in an otherwise treadmill production.”

Buy from Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Cast:

• Julius Harris as Aristide Sumatra, a voodoo priest
• Meg Foster as Big Moe, a tough lesbian mob boss
• Aeryk Egan as Tommy Larson
• Rebecca Herbst as Sally
• Bo Sharon as Bill Turner
• Bodhi Elfman as Booger Martin
• A.J. Damato as Vinnie Benedetti
• Darris Love as Freddie Thompson
• Troy Fromin as Podowski
• Leigh-Allyn Baker as Mitzi
• Paul Linke as Mr. Larson
• Billye Ree Wallace as Mrs. Wilson
• R.J. Frost as The Vipers
• Randy Vahan as the plumber
• Don Dolan as the arresting cop

Wikipedia | IMDb

Zombie Shark is a 2015 American horror film directed by Misty Talley (editor of Ghost Shark; Haunted High; Arachnoquake) from a screenplay by Greg Mitchell (SnakeHead Swamp) for Active Entertainment.

This US film should not be confused with the 2013 Spanish production Tiburón Zombie – La pelíca, also known as Zombie Shark.

Plot teaser:

A perfect getaway for four friends turns into survival when they fight an experimental shark…

Cast:

Becky Andrews, Ross Britz, Carter Burch, Leslie Castay, Laura Cayouette, Sloane Coe, Ladson Deyne, Jason London, Austin Naulty, James Ourso, Jeff Pearson, Caleb Spillyards, Cassie Steele, Roger J. Timber, Jaime Wallace

Reviews:

“The cast did a surprisingly good job, bringing as much credibility as they could to a film about a bunch of people being menaced by zombie sharks.  Jason London and Laura Cayouette (remember her as Leonardo DiCaprio’s odd sister in Django Unchained?) are both memorable as representatives of the establishment.  Cassie Steele and Sloane Coe were totally believable as sisters and brought so much commitment to their roles that the film’s ending was unexpectedly poignant.” Lisa Marie Bowman, Through the Shattered Lens

“Syfy movies aren’t exactly known for their high quality special effects, but Mega Shark vs. Kolossus now looks like a Michael Bay production by comparison. A rubber severed shark head puppet proves a more special effect than anything computer-generated. The digital sharks look unfinished, mostly 2D, and lazily inserted into the film. Fins frequently cut through the water without even leaving a wake. Worst of all, the sharks rarely even look zombie-like.” Foywonder, Dread Central

Filming locations:

Madisonville and Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Sharksploitation on Horrorpedia: 2-Headed Shark Attack | 3-Headed Shark Attack | Atomic Shark | Avalanche Sharks | Cruel Jaws | Ghost Shark | Ghost Shark 2: Urban Jaws | Great White | Hammerhead: Shark Frenzy aka SharkMan | Jaws | Jaws 2 | Jersey Shore Shark Attack | Jurassic Shark | Malibu Shark Attack | Mega Shark vs. Crocosaurus | Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus | Mega Shark vs. Kolossus | Piranha Sharks | Psycho Shark | Raiders of the Lost Shark | Robotshark | Sand Sharks | Shark Attack 3: Megalodon | Shark Exorcist | The Shark is Still Working | Shark Lake | Shark Week | Sharkansas Women’s Prison Massacre | Sharknado | Sharknado 2: The Second One | Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! | Sharktopus | Sharktopus vs. Mermantula | Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda | Sky Sharks | Snow Shark | Super Shark | Swamp Shark | Zombie Shark

IMDb