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DeadTectives – USA, 2018

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‘Fake hunters. Real ghosts. Complete dicks.’

DeadTectives is a 2018 American comedy horror feature film directed by Tony West from a screenplay co-written with David Clayton Rogers, Mark Riley and Cris Rice. The movie stars Martha Higareda, Chris Geere, Tina Ivlev and David Newman.

A team of hapless paranormal investigators on a reality TV series travel to Mexico’s most haunted house in the pursuit of better ratings. However, when the true dark secrets of the mansion begin to reveal themselves, the hapless presenters quickly discover that this house is no hoax.

With zero ghost-hunting skills (or really any other applicable skills) the team has to figure out how to bust the ghosts and escape the house with their lives…

Reviews:

“Tony West pulls off the near-impossible with his new film Deadtectives: he’s crafted a tonally perfect horror comedy, one that balances scares, laughs and heart-tugs with equal success. There’s not a single beat that doesn’t work in this hilarious, spooky film, and that’s a rarity, indeed.” Meredith Borders, Bloody Disgusting

Cast and characters:

  • Martha Higareda … Abril
  • Chris Geere … Sam Whitner
  • Tina Ivlev … Kate
  • David Newman … Lloyd
  • José María de Tavira … Javier
  • Pablo Guisa Koestinger … Dead Sushi Chef
  • Nuria Blanco … Dead Mother
  • Cecelia Antoinette … Ethel
  • Cris Rice … Konrad
  • Mark Riley … Bob
  • Maria Cargutié … Zoey

Filming locations:

Mexico City, Mexico
Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico

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Haunting on Fraternity Row – USA, 2018

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‘Party until you’re dead’

Haunting on Fraternity Row is a 2018 American paranormal horror feature film directed by Brant Sersen (Sanatorium) from a screenplay co-written with Jeff Cahn. Robert Shaye (A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise) was an executive producer. The Benaroya Pictures movie stars Jacob Artist, Jayson Blair and Molly Tarlov.

A fraternity house throws their big “Winter Luau” party but when fraternity brothers and coeds begin dying horrible deaths they discover an evil entity has taken over the house…

The movie is released on VOD on November 2, 2018.

Cast and characters:

  • Jacob Artist … Jason
  • Jayson Blair … Tanner
  • Molly Tarlov … Maggie
  • Shanley Caswell … Claire
  • Claudia Lee … Liza
  • Ashton Moio … Dougie
  • Cameron Moulène … Grant
  • Chester Rushing … Drew
  • Breon Pugh … Wiggles
  • Ashton Leigh … Sadie
  • Eduardo Losan … Lube
  • Stephanie Honoré … Daphne
  • Melissa Saint-Amand … Kate
  • Abbie Gayle … KLP girl
  • Mary Alice Risener … Ali

Trivia:

Previously known as The Party Crasher

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Ouija Death Trap – USA, 2014

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‘Once inside, stay alive’

Ouija Death Trap – former title Spirits – is a 2014 American paranormal horror feature film produced, edited and directed by Todd Sheets (Clownado; Bonehill Road; Sleepless Nights; Goblin; et al) from a screenplay co-written with Amanda Payton, Johnnie Reed and Wayne Whisenant. The Extreme Entertainment production stars William Christopher Epperson, Jessica Hopkins, Dakota Lassen and Raven Reed.

Plot:

High school student Raven decides to reconnect with her elementary school friends Kota, William, and Jessica by bringing them to her new workplace, the legendary, and allegedly haunted, ShadowView Manor. They decide to attempt some amateur paranormal investigating, however after playing with a Ouija board, the teens discover that the stories are true and spirits they have awakened are very real…

Cast and characters:

Ouija Death Trap was unleashed on DVD in North America by Wild Eye Releasing on November 27, 2018.

Related:

The Ouija Board: A history and its influence – article

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The Haunting of Sharon Tate – USA, 2018

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The Haunting of Sharon Tate is a 2018 American horror feature film written, co-produced and directed by Daniel Farrands (The Amityville Murders; The Haunting in Connecticut; Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers; et al). The Skyline Entertainment production stars Hilary Duff, Jonathan Bennett, Lydia Hearst and Pawel Szajda.

Plot:

Pregnant with director Roman Polanski‘s child and awaiting his return from Europe, twenty-six year-old Hollywood actress Sharon Tate becomes plagued by visions of her imminent death at the hands of Charles Manson’s fervid followers…

The Haunting of Sharon Tate has been acquired for US distribution in 2019 by Saban Films (Between Worlds; Lizzie; The Super) via Voltage Pictures.

Saban Films’ Bill Bromiley commented: “The Tate Murders remain a horrifying cultural fascination, even nearly fifty years after they occurred. Hilary is mesmerising as Sharon Tate; this is a brutal and unsettling story.”

Cast and characters:

  • Hilary Duff … Sharon Tate
  • Jonathan Bennett … Jay Sebring
  • Lydia Hearst … Abigail Folger
  • Pawel Szajda … Wojciech Frykowski
  • Ryan Cargill … Steven Parent
  • Bella Popa … Sadie
  • Fivel Stewart … Yellow
  • Tyler Johnson … Tex Watson
  • Ben Mellish … Charles Manson

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The Lingering – Hong Kong/China, 2018

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The Lingering – original title: 山村古宅 – is a 2018 Hong Kong-Chinese supernatural horror feature film directed by Ho Pong Mak and Derrick Tao from a screenplay by Edmond Wong (Baby Blues) and Dong Zheng. The Mandarin Motion Pictures production stars Bob Yin-Pok Cheung, Kai-Chung Cheung, Athena Chu, Fung Lee, Yao Tong and Terry Zou.

Plot:

On New Year’s Eve, Qingyi (Athena Chu) and her son, Dawa, were waiting for her husband to come home from work but he never showed up. Meanwhile, Dawa keeps seeing a stranger who is invisible to Qingyi. Leaving Dawa under the care of her neighbour, she heads to the village to find out her husband’s whereabouts. Qingyi returns home and sees a stranger hiding in her house…

Upon hearing about his mother’s death, Xinzhong (Louis Cheung) returns to his hometown. When he was handling issues regarding her death, a real estate agent appeared and asked Xinzhong to sell his mother’s mansion. Xinzhong must now find the property certificate to sell it. While finding it, strange things keep happening. Are these really just accidents, or was Qingyi warning her son?

Release:

The Lingering was released in Shaw Theatres on 18 October 2018.

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Dark Silence aka The Blind King – Italy/Canada, 2016

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‘When evil comes knocking’

Dark Silence aka The Blind King is a 2016 Italian-Canadian horror feature film directed by Raffaele Picchio (Curse of the Blind Dead; Morituris) from a screenplay co-written with Riccardo De Flaviis and Lorenzo Paviano. The movie stars Aaron Stielstra, Désirée Giorgetti and Eleonora Marianelli.

Plot:

Following the death of his wife, grieving Craig moves into a new home with his daughter, Jennifer . It’s not long before the pair discovers the house is haunted by a dark presence that wants to take over the child. One day, Jennifer disappears and Craig must face a terrible truth in order to find his daughter…

Reviews:

“If you go into The Blind King expecting traditional ghosts, frights and horrors you’re going to be disappointed. What you actually get is a journey into the increasingly fractured psyche of a man forced to confront his failure, grief and guilt. It’s not a pleasant trip but it is a compelling one.” Full on Fear

“From the get-go it was a really tough sell, not helped by an early tone that oozed a surreal and abstract nature. Scenes of lengthy dialogue do little to quell a clock-watching irritability, although my patience did pay off as it skirted around the realms of The Babadook (2014) and Under the Shadow (2016), albeit without the palpable, pulse racing horror that accompanied those films.” The Schlock Pit

Cast and characters:

  • Aaron Stielstra … Craig
  • Désirée Giorgetti … Susan
  • Eleonora Marianelli … Jennifer
  • Sofia Pauly … Helen
  • David White … The Blind King

Producers:

  • Luca Boni … producer
  • Marco Ristori … producer
  • Russ Rossi … executive producer / producer

Production companies:

  • Extreme Video
  • Quizam Media production

More Italian horror

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Bloody New Year – UK, 1986

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bloody new year 4

‘The last day of the year… or the last day of your life!’

Bloody New Year  aka Time Warp Terror – is a 1986 (released 1987) British horror feature film directed by Norman J. Warren (Satan’s Slave; Terror; Inseminoid) from a screenplay co-written with Frazer Pearce.

The Hayden Pearce produced movie stars Suzy Aitchison, Nikki Brooks, Colin Heywood, Mark Powley, Catherine Roman and Julian Ronnie.

bloody new year

Plot:

Five shipwrecked English teenagers take refuge in an island hotel that is decorated ready for New Year’s celebrations. The problem is, it’s early summer, and soon enough, even the walls themselves are striking out against them…

Bloody New Year 3

Reviews:

Bloody New Year’s biggest flaw is in actually attempting to find an explanation for the goings-on on Grand Island. While I’m prepared to accept that the crashing of an experimental plane might somehow be able to produce a time warp, I can’t really see how it could possibly turn a fishing net feral, or cause a table to sprout a monster from its midriff.” And You Call Yourself a Scientist!

“While Bloody New Year is a serviceably fun offering from Norman J. Warren, it doesn’t quite deliver all the mayhem and bloodshed we deserve. Sure, it has its moments, but the mood is never quite right. The hotel isn’t creepy or surreal enough…” Bleeding Skull!

“The film is missing several elements that make these ’80s bloodbaths fun […] Aside from a few memorable shots—particularly the fist through the sternum and chopped-off arm — Bloody New Year relies mainly on its all-out craziness to generate scares.” David Johnson, DVD Verdict

Bloody New Year.avi_snapshot_01.12.49_[2012.11.03_00.57.44]

“It simply rushes you through scenes of ever escalating weirdness while employing creative (sometimes shoddy) DIY special effects that look like they were conceived of the day before shooting (by a genius). It’s like Jean Cocteau mixed with British children’s sci-fi programming and an episode of The Twilight Zone.” 30 Days of Horror

“I’ve never seen a movie give away all of it’s jump scares with the score before, but Bloody New Year does.” John Schatzer, Gutmunchers.com 

Bloody New Year is wrong on so many levels, and by no means showcases director Norman J. Warren’s unique talents or prove a suitable swan song (he hasn’t directed since), but it’s incredibly imaginative for a film that clearly cost about sixty quid, and is enormously good fun, which is what it’s all about, really, isn’t it?” Island of Terror

Bloody New Year.avi_snapshot_00.08.57_[2012.11.03_00.53.36]

“Even something like Inseminoid had pretty decent photography and production values (relatively speaking). All Bloody New Year can boast is a kitschy atmosphere and a well-worn concept involving a perpetual time warp, an old Twilight Zone standby…” Oh, the Horror!

” …the dime store make-up, with its fright wigs and putty scars, as well as a climactic scene that has the survivors clinging to a moving billiards table amongst a room full of ghostly beings, just come off amateurish, resembling an early MTV video trying to emulate Argento’s stormy style of colorful lighting and violence.” DVD Drive-In

bloody-new-year3

“Ham handed acting rounds out this crapfest, making this an official beer night film to enjoy with all of your soused friends.” Cinema Fromage

“It’s an aimless excuse for a supernatural thriller, despite some scenes that manage to be fun. It really feels like he made a movie just for the sake of making a movie: no vision, no direction, little fun. It feels like by the time shooting commenced, Warren only had only written half the script, and the rest was made up on the spot as they went along.” Obscure Cinema 101

“Because of the constant genre-hopping, the movie never makes up it’s mind what it wants to be and quickly turns into a muddled mess […] not a whole lot of Bloody New Year makes much sense but it does have a few WTF moments that liven things up. There is one pretty cool scene where a chick gets sucked into an elevator wall as well as a random ass seaweed monster attack.” The Video Vacuum

Cast and characters:

  • Suzy Aitchison … Lesley
  • Nikki Brooks … Janet
  • Daniel James … Spud (as Colin Heywood)
  • Mark Powley … Rick
  • Catherine Roman … Carol
  • Julian Ronnie … Tom
  • Steve Emerson … Dad
  • Steve Wilsher … Ace
  • Jon Glentoran … The Bear
  • Val Graham … Housemaid
  • David Lyn … Interviewer
  • Rory H. MacLean … 1st Expert
  • Nick Dowsett … 2nd Expert
  • Steve Edison … Film Invader
  • Roy Hill … Flying Cadillacs
  • Chas Cronk … Cry No More band member
  • Tony Fernandez … Cry No More band member
  • Jenny Bayliss … Madame Zelda
  • Ian May … Pilot
  • Paul Barrett … Table Monster
  • Victoria Smith … Snowball Girl

timewarp japanese vhs

bloody-ew-year-box_new

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Buy: Amazon.com

bloodynewyear

Image credits: VHS Collector, Island of Terror and 30 Days of Horror for some images above.

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The House That Would Not Die – USA, 1970

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The House That Would Not Die – aka The House That Wouldn’t Die – is a 1970 American made-for-television horror feature film directed by John Llewellyn Moxey (I, Desire; Home for the HolidaysThe City of the Dead) from a screenplay by Henry Farrell (How Awful About Allan; Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte; author of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? novel), based on the 1968 novel Ammie, Come Home by Barbara Michaels.

The Aaron Spelling produced movie stars Barbara Stanwyck, Richard Egan, Michael Anderson Jr., and Kitty Winn.

Plot:

Ruth Bennett (Barbara Stanwyck) has inherited an old house in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Amish country, which she moves into with her niece, Sara Dunning (Kitty Winn). The house was built before the Revolutionary War and is said to be haunted by the spirits of its original inhabitants.

With the help of Pat McDougal (Richard Egan), a local professor, and one of his students, Stan Whitman (Michael Anderson Jr.), they delve into the history of the house and find a scandal that involves a Revolutionary War general, who was suspected of being a traitor, and his daughter, who had disappeared after eloping with her boyfriend, a young British soldier. The spirits of the general and his daughter take possession of Pat’s and Sara’s bodies and a dark secret is revealed…

The House That Would Not Die will be released on Blu-ray and DVD by Kino Lorber – the first time on either format – on January 8, 2019. Special features:

  • Audio commentary by film historian Richard Harland Smith
  • Interview with director John Llewellyn Moxey

Review:

The House That Would Not Die is another tale of haunted early American colonials, but this time cloaked in the black velvet of séances, possession, hidden rooms, and constant wind. Television horror maestro, John Llewellyn Moxey (who, back in 1960, had helmed the impressive New England witchcraft shocker The City of the Dead), directs with his typically expert skill from Henry Farrell’s script.

The film, having moved the action from the novel’s location of Washington, D.C.’s Georgetown neighbourhood to Amish country, is a perfect example of the modern rural gothic, or – as outlined in Grady Hendrix’s book Paperbacks from Hell – women in nightgowns running from gloomy mansions.

While the denouement might seem a bit soft for modern viewers, it does fit nicely with the occult gothic, old-fashioned ghost story vibe, making this a solid and worthy TV production.

Ben Spurling, HORRORPEDIA

Other reviews:

“The cast is fairly decent, but the storyline is incredibly predictable and the chills just aren’t there for the most part, though nostalgic viewers who saw this one as kids seem to look at it through rose colored lenses. One senses Henry Farrell who adapted the book, may have had to tone things down a lot for the tube…” The Bloody Pit of Horror

“The script is one cliche after another, the acting is uninspired (Richard Egan probably comes off best), the use of music and sound is standard-issue, and the movie just wanders from scene to scene without building up much in the way of suspense.” Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings

“The climax which involves Egan’s possession momentarily upgrading to super bananas is short lived but convincing enough thanks to the fact that Egan is kind of scary even when not being host to a contentious ghost. Gorehounds and folks under 70 may want to run in the opposite direction of this one but if you’re up for quiet granny scares this just might be the hooch for your hot toddy.” Kindertrauma

“John Llewellyn Moxey directs with occasional effect – there are some odd moments during the seance and the investigation of the cellar that raise some atmosphere. Mostly the film has an easy predictability where all atmosphere comes at timed intervals and builds to contrived cliffhangers in time for the commercial break.” Moria

“It makes up for the lack of horror present, but there are a couple of times that it does present a slight chill down the spine […] What this movie offers is a little bit of mystery, some fine performances by a very talented cast and a lazy way to spend an afternoon.” The Telltale Mind

” …TV horror is nicely brought to life by grande dame Stanwyck and vet actor Egan; well made by genre director John Llewellyn Moxey (he helmed 1972’s excellent tele slasher Home for the Holidays among others). This one’s chock a block full of enjoyable atmosphere and with a good revelation ending. House is well worth seeking out.” The Terror Trap

Cast and characters:

  • Barbara Stanwyck … Ruth Bennett
  • Richard Egan … Pat McDougal
  • Michael Anderson Jr. … Stan Whitman
  • Kitty Winn … Sara Dunning (as Katherine Winn)
  • Doreen Lang … Sylvia Wall
  • Mabel Albertson … Mrs. McDougal

Technical credits:

74 minutes | 1.33: 1

Image credits: The Telltale Mind

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The Ghost Talks – short, USA, 1949

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The Ghost Talks is a 1949 American comedy horror short film produced and directed by Jules White from a script by Felix Adler. The movie stars comedy team The Three Stooges: Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard.

This was the 113th short film released by Columbia Pictures starring The Three Stooges out of a total of 190 they made for the studio. It was remade in 1956 as Creeps, using much of the same footage.

Plot:

The Three Stooges are moving men assigned to move furniture out of the haunted Smorgasbord Castle. All goes well at first, outside of a few scares, until a clanking suit of armour inhabited by the ghost of Tom (voiced by Phil Arnold) scares the hapless Stooges, until he convinces them that he is, in fact, a friendly spirit. Having gained their trust, Tom tells the trio the story of his watching Lady Godiva (Nancy Saunders), only to get a pie in the face. In turn, his ghost is cursed and trapped inside the suit of armour, ” for a thousand years”.

The Stooges, however, still have a job to do and tell Tom that they have to move everything in the castle, including him. He instructs the boys to leave him be, as “bad luck” will be upon them if they ever try to take him away. Shemp, Larry and Moe all take turns trying to move Tom. However, a series of shenanigans, such as a large frog jumping into Shemp’s cap and down the back of his shirt, an owl entering a skull and assuming the role of a death’s head spirit, spooks the Stooges. They also encounter two skeletons playing chess.

As they run into another room to escape, Lady Godiva rides up on a horse and takes Tom away. The Stooges rush over to the window to watch them depart, only to be pelted with three successive pies.

Trivia:

The working title was That’s the Spirit

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A Haunting at Preston Castle – USA, 2014

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‘Evil is forever’

A Haunting at Preston Castle – aka Preston Castle – is a 2014 American supernatural horror feature film directed by visual effects expert Martin Rosenberg (Van Helsing; Jurassic Park III; Starship Troopers; et al) from a screenplay co-written with Peter Bailey.  The movie stars Mackenzie Firgens, Jake White and Heather Tocquigny.

Plot:

When Liz (Mackenzie Firgens) returns home on a college break with a broken heart, all she wants to do is hibernate and heal. But her best friend Ashley (Heather Tocquigny) coaxes her out of the house for an innocent, diverting rendezvous with high school ex-boyfriend Danny (Jake White.)

What the young friends don’t know is that truly terrifying things are about to happen. Sparks begin to fly between Liz and Danny, and the possibility of their reignited romance lead the three to a night time romp in Preston Castle, an abandoned boys correctional institute with a gruesome past…

Reviews:

“Although highly derivative, Preston Castle is technically well-made and takes advantage of one of California’s most striking “haunted” locations and is undemanding entertainment with some effective jumps.” DVD Beaver

“The acting isn’t too bad as the cast is actually pretty talented (too bad they couldn’t have found a better movie to star in) and the overall premise has promise, but the execution was pretty piss poor. It had a lot of issues that kept me from enjoying it (including the very end which was a total rip off of REC/Quarantine as it was almost identical).” Horror News

“The story for this one is one told so many times before with nothing new added and told in the blandest of ways. The film puts three youths in a castle where things pop up here and there and translucent figures walk down corridors and door ways. In the middle of all this is the same youths screaming like they have never acted before resulting in a real chore of a film to finish.” Horror Society

“Being trapped in a haunted place with too many twists and turns and no way out is something nightmares are made of – literally. I think that aspect gave the movie more of a creepy factor. It was entertaining. Even though a lot of the film was predictable I still enjoyed the film.” She Scribes!

Cast and characters:

  • Mackenzie Firgens … Liz – The Thompsons; The Hamiltons; Sweet Insanity
  • Jake White … Danny – Vengeance Girl (producer); Captured; Children of the Corn 2009
  • Heather Tocquigny … Ashley
  • Cody Morris … Bobby Wells
  • Amanda Vogel … Girl
  • Connor Kinzer … Boy (as Connor Scott)
  • Carol Bauman … Mom
  • Vince Murdock … Cop
  • Charlie Adams … Prisoner
  • Jack Adams … Prisoner
  • Jordan Carey … Prisoner
  • Nick Carozza … Prisoner
  • Michael Deggelmann … Prisoner
  • Richard Fleming … Prisoner
  • Kevin Grover … Prisoner

Filming locations:

Ione, California

Trivia:

The German title is Paranormal Investigations 8: Preston Castle

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The Whispering – South Korea, 2018

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‘Abandoned haunted house. Now it opens’

The Whispering – original title: Sodak Sodak or 속닥속닥 – is a 2018 South Korean supernatural horror feature film directed by Sang-hoon Choi from a screenplay co-written with Kim Joon-Hyun. The movie stars So Joo-Yeon, Kim Min-Kyu, Choi Hee-Jin, Kim Young, Kim Tae Min and Park Jin.

Plot:

After the death of her best friend, Yeo Eun-Ha (So Joo-Yeon) has been haunted by nightmares. Because of this, she gets a low score on her college entrance exam and becomes even more stressed out. Yeo Eun-Ha and five of her classmates decided to take a road trip out to the beach, including popular student Kang Min-Woo (Kim Min-Kyu). Joo Dong-Il (Kim Tae Min) takes his mother’s van for their trip, even though he hates driving.

The students soon become lost and take a wrong turn on a mountain road. They come upon an abandoned amusement park. After looking around the park and then getting kicked out by a mysterious old woman, Woo-Sung (Kim Young) gets everybody to go back and enter the haunted house. He wants to livestream themselves on social media. While walking through the haunted house, the students begin to hear whisperings…

Cast and characters:

  • So Joo-Yeon … Yeo Eun-Ha
  • Kim Min-Kyu … Kim Min-Kyu
  • Choi Hee-Jin … Choi Jung-Yoon
  • Kim Young … Jo Woo-Sung
  • Kim Tae Min … Joo Dong-Il
  • Park Jin … Park Hae-Gu
  • Shin Jae-Seung … Byung-Yoon
  • Go Na-Eun … Mi-Joo
  • Lee Yoo-Mi … Byun Ji-Eun
  • Lee Han-Seo … Daughter of CEO Choi
  • Ji Dae-Han … Internet cafe man
  • Jin Yong-Ok … Homeroom teacher
  • Lee Pil-Mo … CEO Choi

More South Korean horror

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Hantu Kak Limah – 2018

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Hantu Kak Limah [“Ghost Kak Limah”] aka Hantu Kak Limah 3 is a 2018 Malaysian horror comedy feature film written and directed by Mamat Khalid (Rajawali; Lebuhraya Ke Neraka; Zombi Kilang Biskut; Zombies from Banana Village). The Infinitus Production stars Datuk Awie, Delimawati, Zul Ariffin and Ropie Cecupak.

It is a sequel to Hantu Kak Limah Balik Rumah (2010) and Husin, Mon dan Jin Pakai Toncit (2013).

Plot:

Kak Limah is discovered dead in her garden by a villager. Thereafter, her ghost is spotted around Kampung Pisang, making the villagers feel restless. Enter Encik Solihin, who tries to help by shooing her ghost away from the village. However, the tragedy behind Kak Limah’s death has yet to be unveiled…

Reviews:

“What to expect as an audience is a stream of jokes which may work or make one ponder in confusion, nonetheless the delivery of each gag will be hammered down by the actors to ensure that a joke was made.” Aina Izzah, Daily Seni

“Although HKL has a standalone story that viewers can easily get into, there are references that will fly over your head if you haven’t seen the previous films. Still, for fans of the Kampung Pisang-set films, if it’s laughter you’ve come to find, then indeed, laughter is what you’ll get.” Kenneth Chaw, Star 2

Cast and characters:

  • Datuk Awie … Husin
  • Rab Khalid … Yeh Sekupang
  • Sharwani NS as Wani
  • TJ Isa … Khuda
  • Delimawati … Kak Limah
  • Zul Ariffin … Ustaz Solihin
  • Uqasha Senrose … Eton/Princess Bunian
  • Mus May … Elf Father
  • Ropie Cecupak … Nayan
  • Pekin Ibrahim … Musalman
  • Jue Aziz … Wife Wani
  • Sabri Yunus … Village Head
  • Ziema Din … Maznah
  • Vea Kisil … Noraini
  • Erra Fazira … Wati
  • Dato’ Seri Vida … herself
  • Low Jing Tiong … Hantu Bang Enam

Running time:

111 minutes

Release:

The film was released in Malaysia on August 9, 2018, and was a big hit taking RM36 million on a budget of RM1.2 million.

Hantu Kak Limah is currently available for streaming via Netflix

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Deadwall Hotel – Bangladesh/UK, 2012

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‘You will check in, but never check out.’

Deadwall Hotel is a 2012 Bangladeshi/British supernatural horror feature film written and directed by Kayser Foyz.

 

Plot:

When Abhik and Ria’s car break down, they have to stay for the night in a nearby hotel. With only one employee and four other guests, the Deadwall Hotel seems quiet. Until the guests start being killed horrifically by ghosts.

Abhik and Ria discover that a devil worshipper named Rezaul cursed the hotel to claim the souls of any wayfarer unfortunate enough to stay. Now they have to fight for their lives. An extended stay means you’re dead…

Filming locations:

  • Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Abbey Road, Barking, London, England

Release:

Previously unreleased, The Filim Company production was picked up for distribution at the 2018 Cannes film festival by the Global Genesis Group and released in Bangladesh on 1 December 2018.

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Chatter – USA, 2015

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‘Who’s watching you?’

Chatter is a 2015 American horror feature film produced and directed by Matthew Solomon from a screenplay co-written with Joshua Carl Allen and Jeremy Fox, based on Solomon’s short film, Anna. The movie stars Richard Hatch, Alison Haislip, Brady Smith and Sarena Khan.

Plot:

Whilst monitoring internet traffic for the Department of Homeland Security, Agent Martin Takagi comes across the intimate video chats of a couple, temporarily living in different parts of the world, who begin to discover their new home is haunted…

Reviews [may contain spoilers]:

Chatter is two-thirds of a respectable effort mauled by an additional third of valueless content. Likable leads and effective fleeting shadow spooks initially lean it in a favorable direction. Then a superfluous framing device chewing at chapter breaks leans it right back the wrong way…” Ian Sedensky, Culture Crypt

“Overall, Solomon has provided a nice alternative to the normally mundane framework of horror presentations, and although the computer aspect is starting to become more prevalent as a focal piece in these types of films, Chatter is one that should be checked out at least as a one-timer.” Matt Boiselle, Dread Central

” …the film quickly devolves into a stream of horror clichés that kept me from investing any energy into the story. Doors open, floors creak, lights turn on and off and the actors respond in exaggerated and misguided ways. They attempt to show marital tension and paranormally-induced fear but what we get is writing and acting that comes across as more insincere than the fake plant in the corner of the office.” Laura Birnbaum, Film Inquiry

” …a fun low-budget thriller, with a good, solid cast and enough suspense and ghostly shenanigans to hold your interest up until the (kind of abrupt) ending.” Mike Hansen, Horror Buzz

Chatter was obviously shot on a shoestring, even by found footage standards, but Solomon largely overcomes his severe budget constraints. He throws the audience a few twists that are adequately established but not glaringly obvious and keeps the tension nicely amped up […] Altogether, it is really scary in multiple ways.” Joe Bendel, J.B. Spins

“This movie was a lot of fun. It had the scares, it was eerie throughout and they did a good job of allowing the haunt to slowly gain traction. There’s no gore or really any violence at all, just good old fashioned, “Something’s not right here…” dread.” Scary Dad

” …even if the two leads never actually meet face-to-face, there’s actually quite a bit of chemistry between them so it’s easy to get sucked into their story, and the narrative as such is rather brilliantly structured as well to make the most of its limiting approach. Actually, really good genre entertainment!” Mike Haberfelner, Search My Trash

“Despite a few logic holes, Chatter kept me interested and engaged with its story and I enjoyed the film due to the likable nature of the two lead characters and their solid acting.  I really dug the third wheel government spying idea and also how the story weaved an interesting web that connected David to everything going on.” Skullbanger

“This is a very thought provoking and fun little cyber ride that will keep people on the edge of their seat for the most part watching to see how it plays out.” Wicked Channel

Cast and characters:

  • Richard Hatch … Nate Terry
  • Alison Haislip … Carolyn Terry
  • Brady Smith … David Cole
  • Sarena Khan … Laura Cole
  • Tohoru Masamune … Martin Takagi
  • P.J. Marshall … Bob Butler
  • Laura Niles … Alex Hausland
  • Ashley Palmer … Meghan Collins
  • Pete Capella … Ted Jennings
  • Derrick Redford … Charles Dixon
  • Clementine Heath … Jenna Morris
  • Sadie Ella Solomon … Anna Hausland
  • Fiona Hardingham … Jane Montgomery

Image credits: Horror Buzz

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Amavas – India, 2019

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‘Witness the darkest night like never seen before.’

Amavas – “New Moon” – is a 2019 Indian Hindi supernatural horror feature film directed by Bhushan Patel (Alone; 1920: Evil Returns; Ragini MMS 2) from a screenplay by Aparna Nadig (dialogue) and Tanya Pathak. The Viiking Media Entertainment production stars Sachiin Joshi, Nargis Fakhri and Mona Singh.

Plot:

The lives of a young couple turn into a nightmare, as dark forces lie in wait beneath the shadows of the haunted mock castle in which they have decided to stay…

Reviews:

” …packs in every trope that could possibly evoke a jolt-and-a-half. But each and every scene — from approaching a door with dread to bending over to reveal a dark apparition standing right behind, has been borrowed from some film or the other.” Kunal Guha, Bolly Movie Reviewz

“The film picks up in the last half hour or so, when the rest of the cast assembles for some supernatural hijinks and the body count rises. No great acting chops are required in a film like this, but Nargis Fakhri with her pale make-up and screechy manner of asking daft questions is more frightening than the ghost.” Deepa Gahlot, Cinemaah

” …Mona Singh, playing a therapist, tries hard not to laugh at the goingons. Patel’s film makes for an agonizing watch, worsened by its two-hour-plus runtime. The acting is gorier than the plot, and the writing paler than the faces.” Shilajit Mitra, The New Indian Express

“As far as the horror is concerned, there is nothing to worry about because the ghost is extremely predictable even when it tries to surprise you. While the effects are slick and the ghosts match up to international standards, they cannot save this film from turning into a painful two-hour-long watch.” Reza Noorani, Times of India

Cast and characters:

  • Sachiin Joshi … Karan Ajmera
  • Nargis Fakhri … Ahana
  • Vivan Bhatena … Sameer (Ghost)
  • Mona Singh … Dr Shibani Roy, psychiatrist
  • Ali Asgar … Gotti – servant and  butler
  • Navneet Kaur Dhillon … Maya
  • Sabina Chema
  • Monisha Haseen
  • Tara Devani
  • David Broughton … The doctor

Technical credits:

132 minutes

Release:

Amavas was released in India on 8 February 2019.

The film was rated ’15’ by the British censorship body the BBFC on 5 February 2019.

Related:

Alone – India, 2015

More Indian horror

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Hideo Nakata’s restored Ring (1998) re-released in UK cinemas and on Blu-ray

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To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Arrow Films’ restoration of Hideo Nakata’s Ring (1998) is being released in cinemas across the UK from March 1st. Check here for showings.

The film will be available on Digital, DVD, Blu-ray, Limited Edition Steelbook, and a special Limited Edition Collection featuring Ring, Ring 2, Ring 0 and Spiral on March 18th.

Limited Edition Collection Extras:

  • Limited edition packaging featuring original and newly commissioned artwork.
  • Limited edition 60-page booklet containing new writing by Violet Lucca, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Jasper Sharp, Kieran Fisher and Kat Ellinger.
  • “Spiral” – George Iida’s 1998 sequel to “Ring”.
  • New audio commentary by film historian David Kalat.
  • New audio commentary on “Ring 0” by author and critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas.
  • “Ring Legacy” – interviews from critics and filmmakers on their memories and the enduring legacy of “Ring”.
  • “A Vicious Circle” – video interview with author and critic Kat Ellinger on the career of Hideo Nakata.
  • “Circumnavigating Ring” – video essay by author and critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas on the evolution of the film series.
  • “Spooks, Sighs and Videotape” – video essay by critic Jasper Sharp on the J-horror phenomenon.
  • “The Psychology of Fear” – newly edited archival interview with author Koji Suzuki.
  • Archival Behind-the-Scenes featurette on “Ring 0”.
  • “Ring 0” deleted scenes.
  • Sadako’s Video.
  • Theatrical trailers.

Blu-ray / Steelbook / DVD Extras:

  • New audio commentary by film historian David Kalat.
  • “Ring Legacy” – interviews from critics and filmmakers on their memories and the enduring legacy of the Ring series.
  • “A Vicious Circle” – video interview with author and critic Kat Ellinger on the career of Hideo Nakata.
  • Sadako’s Video.
  • Theatrical trailers.
  • Limited Edition SteelBook packaging featuring newly commissioned artwork by Matt Griffin (SteelBook-only).
  • Booklet containing new writing by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas (SteelBook-only)

Meanwhile, here is the lowdown on Ring:

Ring – original title: リング or Ringu – is a 1998 Japanese supernatural horror feature film by Hideo Nakata, adapted from the novel Ring by Kōji Suzuki, which in turn draws on the Japanese folk tale Banchō Sarayashiki. The movie stars Nanako Matsushima, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Rikiya Ōtaka.

It was remade in the US by Gore Verbinsky as The Ring (2002).

Plot:

Investigating the inexplicable, near-simultaneous deaths of her young niece and three teenage friends, reporter Asakawa (Nanako Matsushima) learns of a story about a supernaturally cursed video tape circulating among school kids.

As soon as anyone has watched the tape, allegedly recorded by mistake from a dead TV channel, the telephone rings and the viewer has exactly a week to live. Those doomed are invisibly marked, but their images are distorted if photographed. Inevitably, Asakawa gets hold of the tape and watches it…


Reviews:

“What strikes the deepest chord in Ring is the film’s imagery, which lingers long after the confused narrative has faded away. Ring presents no explicit deaths at all, and not a drop of blood, but relies instead on simple yet effective sequences achieved with minimal effects…James Marriott, Horror Films, Virgin Books, 2004

“You can feel the goosebumps during Sadako’s manifestation through the cathode ray tube. Given the sheer artificiality of the film’s central concept, not to mention the odd hole in the convoluted and occasionally  lackadaisical plotting, it’s all down to Nakata’s subtle handling of such impressive set pieces that the film works as well as it does.” Jasper Sharp, Midnight Eye

“The cast does an excellent job of gradually building hysteria without resorting to running or  screaming; in particular, Sanada Hiroyuki is quietly effective as Reiko’s ex-husband […] The people behind the camera also perform outstanding jobs, with the subtly manipulative cinematography, jolting editing, and spooky ambient music score gradually building tension to the breaking point.” Nathaniel Thompson, Mondo Digital

“The 1998 film from director Hideo Nakata broke box-office records in Japan. It’s not so much the gore that interests Nakata as the reporter (Nanako Matsushima) digs into the case, it’s the subtle dread that keeps you up at night in a cold, clammy sweat.” Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

“The drip, drip, drip of dread of Hideo Nakata’s film will turn your stomach to ice – it’s not for nothing that Ring is the highest grossing horror in Japanese film history.” Cath Clarke, Time Out

Cast and characters:

  • Nanako Matsushima … Reiko Asakawa
  • Miki Nakatani … Mai Takano
  • Yûko Takeuchi … Tomoko Ôishi
  • Hitomi Satô … Masami
  • Yôichi Numata … Takashi Yamamura
  • Yutaka Matsushige … Yoshino
  • Katsumi Muramatsu … Kôichi Asakawa
  • Rikiya Ôtaka … Yôichi Asakawa
  • Masako … Shizuko Yamamura
  • Daisuke Ban … Heihachirô Ikuma
  • Hiroshi Sakuma … Komiya Kameraman (as Kanehiro Ri)
  • Yûrei Yanagi … AD Okazaki
  • Yôko Ohshima … Reiko no Oba
  • Kiriko Shimizu … Yoshimi Ôishi
  • Makoto Kakeda … Kanrinin

Technical credits:

96 minutes | 1.85: 1 | Dolby SR

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The Legend of Hell House – UK, 1973

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‘For the sake of your sanity, pray it isn’t true!’

The Legend of Hell House is a 1973 British supernatural horror feature film directed by John Hough (Twins of Evil; Incubus; American Gothic) from a screenplay by author Richard Matheson (The Devil Rides OutI Am Legend; The Incredible Shrinking Man), based on his own novel Hell House.

Legend-of-Hell-House-1973-title-shot

The movie stars Pamela FranklinRoddy McDowall, Clive Revill, and Gayle Hunnicutt. The role of Belasco was played by an uncredited Michael Gough.

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The Legend of Hell House is one of only two productions of James H. Nicholson after his departure from American International Pictures (AIP) – a company he had run, along with Samuel Z. Arkoff, since 1954. Matheson’s screenplay drastically reduced some of the more extreme elements of the novel. In the original novel, the house was located in Maine, in the United States, and the investigative team is composed of Americans.

Legend-of-Hell-House-1973-autoerotic-phenomena

The moody, largely electronic soundtrack score was composed by Delia Derbyshire and Brian Hodgson of Electrophon Ltd, with  uncredited additions by Dudley Simpson.

hell house 2

Plot:

A group of psychic investigators steel their nerves and make ready to visit Hell House, an old haunted mansion which has already seen off one team of researchers. Entering its foreboding walls, they determine to reveal the house’s secrets – but they will have to broach the very limits of madness before they do so…

Legend of Hell House Scream Factory Blu-ray

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Reviews:

The Legend of Hill House is all the better then for its incongruity; it doesn’t quite sit with the more staid strains of Hammer nor the exploitation boom about to blossom (and if The Exorcist isn’t exploitation, it sure as hell was marketed as such). Instead, it simply stands as one of the best haunted house films of its era, unencumbered by trends passing and coming.” Scott Drebit, Daily Dead

“With great atmosphere and a cast of only four principal players, this is a fine example of well-executed horror done with the bare essentials. The cast is excellent, and although McDowall tends to be hammy at times, it’s still a worthy credit to his fantasy résumé.” George R. Reis, DVD Drive-In

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The Legend of Hell House is often thought of as a good, not great film, and that may ultimately, be because it has the courage of its convictions. Stands by its thesis, and doesn’t succumb to the audience desire to be blown away. How rare, and how wonderful.” John Kenneth Muir, Horror Films of the 1970s

horror-films-1970s-cover

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” …in spite of some atmospheric sequences, the film doesn’t overcome the script’s failure to establish the necessary conflict between science and occultism, relying instead on a mechanical succession of spectacularly staged shocks. As a result, the impact of the climactic revelations about the mad millionaire’s perversions are an anticlimax because they are inadequately prepared.” The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror

legend of hell house + vault of horror british quad poster

“This acclaimed British production is a terrific, albeit imperfect, haunted house film. Chief among the appeals is the threatening atmosphere, which rises and thickens within minutes of the opening. Heavy use of close-ups, with few establishing shots, creates a feel of claustrophobia … To me, only The Haunting is superior.” David Elroy Goldweber, Claws & Saucers

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“This unusually atmospheric film (in the league of The Haunting) is tense throughout under John Hough’s direction, with several twists of plot. It is not the harrowing experience of Matheson’s superb book, but it comes as close as a movie can.” John Stanley, Creature Features

“The subject of ghosts is approached in a reasonable, rational way, and it serves to both fascinate and lower our guard as viewers — things are less frightening when we think we understand them. It’s here, though, where the film and director John Hough (Twins of Evil) unleash their greatest trick yet by terrifying and educating us anew.” Rob Hunter, Film School Rejects

“Trivialising the theme, saddled with some terrible dialogue, needlessly tricked out with a lot of countdown-style dates, it flounders into innocuous routine. Pamela Franklin, however, gives a convincing as the ‘mental medium’.” David Pirie, The Time Out Film Guide

Legend-of-Hell-DVD

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“It’s not the originality that makes it here, as we’ve seen these tactics in countless other movies. It’s the deadly serious conviction with which the actors and director approach their task that makes these scenes believable and, therefore, suitably frightening. The careful pacing allows us the luxury of savoring each small and well-placed frightening moment, leisurely preparing us for the horrors to come.” Sofa Gothic

“The anticlimax is helped by the clever casting of Michael Gough, whose screen image from Horrors of the Black Museum to The Corpse corresponds exactly with what we are told of Belasco. The film is entertaining, sometimes conceptually daring, but its cool, scientific detective story mitigates against irrational fear.” Kim Newman, Nightmare Movies

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“This unnerving combination of old-fashioned haunted house tricks with modern scientific jargon and (comparatively mild) sex and violence makes for a memorable, atmospheric experience. The set-up will be nothing new to viewers of The Haunting, but Matheson’s story weaves in some unusual directions and certainly layers on the chills, culminating in a memorably odd finale.” Nathaniel Thompson, Mondo Digital

“Hough does a creditable job in maintaining viewer attention for the duration of the running-time, despite the script throwing in several moments of ridiculousness.” John Hamilton, X-Cert: The British Independent Horror Film: 1971 – 1983

X-Cert-2-British-Independent-Horror-Film-1971-1983-john-Hamilton-Hemlock-Books

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“Once the group’s inside the house – a marvellously well-realized place – director Hough creates a dark, threatening atmopshere. By standards of the time set by The Exorcist, the action is comparatively inoffensive, but this is top-drawer, well-acted stuff. The electronic score by Brian Hodgson and Delia Derbyshire adds a lot.” Mike Mayo, The Horror Show Guide

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“Crisply directed by John Hough, although with a propensity to overuse his camera and lenses, this is still the old haunted house horror movie with a fine gloss and excellent special effects. It’s all very eerie in the tradition and only labours when it begins to explain the psychic phenomena in layman’s terms. Until then it’s quite chilling with some very creditable tense moments.” Alan Frank, The Horror Film Handbook

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“One of the most absorbing, goose-fleshing and mind-pleasing ghost breaker yarns on film.” Judith Crist, 1977

“While director John Hough does a fine job with the things-that-go-bump-in-the-night aspects of the material, he fails to breathe any life into Richard Matheson’s woefully underdeveloped screenplay.” TV Guide

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” …the film remains at heart thoroughly plodding and unimaginative. Hell House itself is almost startingly clichéd and the performances never convince, making the result stilted and entirely unpersuasive. To be fair to the filmmakers though, Matheson’s script itself was not up to his usual high standard.” David Pirie, A New Heritage of Horror

heritage of horror david pirie

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“There are certainly chilling moments but the expected revelation is hardly the stuff of which nightmares are made.” John Elliott, Elliott’s Guide to Films on Video

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hell house bantam 1972 matheson

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Cast and characters:

  • Pamela Franklin … Florence Tanner – The Food of the Gods; Necromancy; The Innocents
  • Roddy McDowall… Benjamin Franklin Fischer – Fright NightThe Ballad of Tam Lin; It!
  • Clive Revill … Doctor Lionel Barrett – Z Dead End; Godzilla: The Series TV series;  Dracula: Dead and Loving It; C.H.U.D. II: Bud the ChudThe New Scooby-Doo Mysteries TV Series; The Headless Ghost 
  • Gayle Hunnicutt … Mrs Ann Barrett – Eye of the Cat
  • Roland Culver … Mr (Rudolph) Deutsch
  • Peter Bowles … Hanley
  • Michael Gough … Emeric Belasco [uncredited]

Filming locations:

Production began on 23 October 1972. The external shots of the house were filmed at Gothic revival mansion Wykehurst Place, Bolney, West Sussex (also location for Demons of the Mind; Son of DraculaHolocaust 2000). Mr Deutsch’s mansion in the opening sequence is Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. The interior shot of the long room is the palace’s library.

the-legend-of-hell-house-1973-cigarette-burns-poster

“In The Legend of Hell House, the house is the monster. It’s a powerful film and has no big star in the cast (the star was the house). It’s the Mount Everest of British haunted house films, and they could not have chosen a better location. You really do believe it’s an evil house.” Simon Flynn, British Horror Film Locations

British-Horror-Film-Locations-Derek-Pykett

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The Sound aka Paranormal: White Noise – Canada, 2017

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‘If you hear it you’re already dead’

The Sound – aka Paranormal: White Noise – is a 2017 Canadian horror feature film written, co-produced and directed by Jenna Mattison (writer of Deadly Revenge), making her directorial debut. The movie stars Rose McGowan, Christopher Lloyd, Michael Eklund, Richard Gunn and Stephen McHattie.

Plot:

Kelly (Rose McGowan) is a writer and a skeptic of the supernatural. As a specialist in acoustic physics she uses low frequency tactile sound-waves to debunk reported paranormal activities for her online blog.

When presented a new case of a supposedly haunted subway station Kelly sets off to uncover the truth behind the hoax that involves a forty year-old unexplained suicide. Her investigation takes her deep into the abandoned station where her skepticism is tested.

As Kelly ascends into the depths of the metro’s darkness she is confronted by an unforeseen evil. In the vastness, she must face her own haunted memories to find the truth and surface back into the light…

Reviews:

“It’s a modern ghost story, but The Sound, while fighting to be relevant to a younger generation of moviegoer, doesn’t offer much in the way of suspense […] It’s not a completely ineffective effort, but Mattison’s attempting a different route to chills, and it doesn’t work, especially when there’s 90 minutes of screen time to fill.” Brian Orndorf, Blu-ray.com review

” …The Sound loads for bear with well-worn tropes like a dirty children’s doll as a memory-sparking touchstone, flashbacks revealing an identity crisis, and an abandoned asylum.  Hitch that wagon to a bizarrely unsteady camera […], bland production design, and an even blander story, one wonders exactly where an audience is meant to find entertainment value.” Ian Sedensky, Culture Crypt review

“Naturally, a lot of work has been put into the sound design, and this builds an initially impressive atmosphere, but it’s a device that can only be sustained for so long. Only rarely does it attempt to do more than simply intimidate, linking audio themes with narrative ones. Being underground, the film is dimly lit, so we spend an awful lot of time watching McGowan wander around…” Jennie Kermode, Eye for Film review

“The cool thing about The Sound is that it takes a credible shot at fusing technology with the supernatural. Instead of being part of the logical scientific explanation, the ultra-low frequency sound waves might just an indicator of uncanny juju afoot. Plus, the station itself and the warren of support tunnels are massively creepy.” Joe Bendel, J.B. Spins review

The Sound takes some third-act turns toward woo-woo spirituality, which come across as fairly abrupt — in large part because the plot’s too paltry to pay that off. The movie mostly consists of Kelly creeping through dimly lighted tunnels, spotting apparitions whenever the light flickers. But McGowan is excellent…” Noel Murray, Los Angeles Times review

“The movie is clearer on the potentially supernatural stuff (The station was built on a common grave) than it is on what ultimately matters. One can sense a decent enough story in either of these threads—a simple and spooky tour of a haunted subway or a study of repressed trauma. The Sound, though, tries for too much with too little.” Mark Dujsik, Mark’s Movie Reviews

” …everyone delivers their lines like they’re The Most Important Lines In The Movie. Not quite the William Shatner School of Acting, but close enough that he could probably sue for copyright infringement. While I do love a good pseudo-science and I’m always looking to promote more women writers and/or directors in the male-dominated horror genre, I gotta say stay away from this one.” Scariest Things review

The Sound has good ideas and a strong performance from McGowan but is nothing like the bombastic, jump scare-filled horror films stuffed in the genre, this a dark, psychological test of patience that trades traditional horror momentum for quiet hallucinatory breakdown. That’s not a bad thing. It simply lacks the larger punch.” David Duprey, That Moment In review

“The plot is just too simple, to be entertaining. Meanwhile, long time horror viewers will not be scared by this production. There is very little conflict and surprisingly very little character interaction. A bit of supernatural interplay (or Kelly’s unwinding) does enter near the finale. Meanwhile, Kelly only talks with a few imaginary characters.” Michael Allen, 28 Days Later Analysis review

” …The Sound is little more than a joyless exercise in tedium. While the strong central cast obviously doesn’t hurt, none of them are able to breathe life into proceedings. The burden largely falls on McGowan’s shoulders as she’s on screen pretty much constantly, all alone much of the time – and Mattison’s script barely gives her anything interesting to work with.” Ben Bussey, Warped Perspective review

Main cast:

  • Rose McGowan … Kelly Johansen – Planet Terror; Scream (1996)
  • Christopher Lloyd … Clinton Jones – Cold Moon; I Am Not a Serial Killer; Piranha 3D and 3DD; The Addams Family; et al
  • Michael Eklund … Detective Richards – West of Hell; Bates Motel TV series; See No Evil 2; Nurse 3D
  • Richard Gunn … Ethan
  • Stephen McHattie … Earl – Z; Come to Daddy; Awakening the Zodiac; The Dark Stranger; Wolves; Hellmouth; et al
  • Nicholas Campbell … Taxi Driver #1
  • Pat Mastroianni … Taxi Driver #2
  • Jane Moffat … Kelly’s Mother
  • Alex Braunstein … Boy in Subway
  • Joel Keller … Officer Simmons
  • Troy Michael Claymore … Evan (as Troy Michael Clayborn)
  • Ella Hollidge … Little Girl
  • Faye Lavin … Nurse
  • Michael Giel … Kidnapper

Technical details:

92 minutes

Filming locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Trivia:

The film’s working title was Lower Bay

HORRORPEDIA provides an independent and unbiased overview of horror and sci-fi culture and offers a range of diverse opinions and reviews from a wide variety of sources. We rely solely on the very minor income generated by affiliate links and internet ads to stay online and expand. Please support us by not blocking ads on our site. Thank you.

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Ghost Killers vs. Bloody Mary – Brazil, 2018

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Ghost Killers vs. Bloody Mary is a 2018 Brazilian comedy horror feature film directed by Fabrício Bittar from a screenplay co-written with Andre Catarinacho and Danilo Gentili. The latter co-stars alongside Dani Calabresa, Léo Lins and Murilo Couto. The original title of this Clube Filmes production is Exterminadores do Além Contra a Loira do Banheiro [“Exterminators of the Beyond vs. The Bathroom Blonde”].

Plot:

Four YouTubers with expertise in supernatural activity seek further audience recognition when they attempt to solve the urban legend of the Bathroom Blonde Case…

Reviews:

“The characters suffer a bit from Scooby-Doo syndrome and constantly need to separate, some scenes seem too similar to previous scenes and the simple premise can only handle so much material. The constant meta-comments where the characters play their own actors is fun, but a bit exaggerated.” Freakpop review, translated from Portuguese

” …everything is always very dark, and it is detrimental to the look of the narrative, there is also an oversight in the sound mix […] Add to this flamboyant, redundant editing, and a script that is nothing more than a collage of all the more obvious clichés…” Papo de Cinema review, translated from Portuguese

Release:

The movie is currently available on Netflix Brazil.

Cast and characters:

  • Dani Calabresa … Caroline
  • Léo Lins … Fred
  • Danilo Gentili … Jack
  • Murilo Couto … Túlio
  • Bárbara Bruno
  • Jean Paulo Campos … Renato
  • Sikêra Junior … Diretor Nogueira
  • Pietra Quintela … Loira do Banheiro / Catarina
  • Digão Ribeiro … Conan
  • Matheus Ueta … Daniel

Technical details:

103 minutes | 2.35:1

Related:

Brazilian horror

Comedy horror

HORRORPEDIA provides an independent and unbiased overview of horror and sci-fi culture and offers a range of diverse opinions and reviews from a wide variety of sources. We rely solely on the very minor income generated by affiliate links and internet ads to stay online and expand. Please support us by not blocking ads on our site. Thank you.

The post Ghost Killers vs. Bloody Mary – Brazil, 2018 appeared first on HORRORPEDIA.

The Haunting of Winchester House – USA, 2009

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‘A terrifying true story’

The Haunting of Winchester House is a 2009 American supernatural horror feature film written and directed by Mark Atkins (Monster Island; 6-Headed Shark Attack; Knight of the Dead; Halloween Night; et al), based on a story by Jose Prendes.

The Asylum production stars Lira Kellerman, Michael Holmes, Tomas Boykin and Kimberly Ables Jindra. The film was shot in 3D.

Plot:

A family moves in to look after the Winchester mansion for a few months, and soon find themselves terrorized by vengeful spirits. With the help of a paranormal investigator they’ll unravel the mystery of the house…

Reviews:

” …the FX on the house were at times ghastly, but the ghosts/zombies/bad guys were horrifying, inventive and gruesome, truly the things of nightmares […] A good scare, this one, and more importantly, a good film, too.” H. Perry Horton, Committed

“Primarily set over one night, the film really at times is quite atmospheric and cranks up the tension with some clever low tech effects created in-camera. Ghosts move around the background and are helped by some good sound effects which at times is quite creepy.” Craig Snell, Den of Geek!

“There’s a few instances of WTF? when footage is sped up for no reason, and the acting and dialogue are par for the course terrible. There’s some successful sound design, I’ll say that, and a few sequences are genuinely creepy. Still, the dark figure walking quickly through the frame jump scare is used about 14 times, which is 13 and a half times too many.” Stacie Ponder, Final Girl

“Atkins’ jumps are all tiresomely borrowed ones – red herring taps on people’s shoulders, an endless array of peripheral figures moving through the background of shots, shapes moving under sheets/quilts and so on. The score’s constant lurking, shrieking and lunging becomes overhyped in the endless attempts to generate atmosphere so much that it creates none at all.” Richard Scheib, Moria

 

“There might actually be a good film in Haunting of Winchester House somewhere, but it isn’t in the film as it was made. Still, though a 98% failure for a low budget horror film, it is, for an Asylum film, a literal masterpiece of ghostly horror.” A Wasted Life

Cast and characters:

  • Lira Kellerman … Susan
  • Michael Holmes … Drake
  • Tomas Boykin … Harrison Dent
  • Kimberly Ables Jindra … Sarah Winchester
  • Patty Roberts … Haley (as Barry Womack)
  • Jennifer Smart … Annie
  • Rob Ullett … James Clayhill
  • David McIntyre … Officer Cooper
  • Savannah Schoenecker … Margo Hunter
  • Sari Sheehan … Jessica Lloyd
  • Rya Meyers … Marlene
  • Mitch Toles … Blind Ghost (as Mitcheal Toles)
  • Jefferson Wilmore … Civil War Ghost
  • Frank Weitzel … Gunshot Ghost
  • George Michael Lampe … Nasty Ghost
  • Gregory Paul Smith … Faceless Ghost / Redneck 2
  • David Hendrex … Ghost
  • Sarah Hendrex … Ghost
  • Kimberly Trew … Girlfriend
  • Joey Ruggles … Redneck 1

Filming locations:

Singing Springs, Angeles National Forest, California
Woodbury-Story House – 2606 N. Madison Avenue, Altadena, California

Technical details:

86 minutes | 1.78: 1 | Stereo

Related:

More paranormal horror

More horror from 2009

Winchester – USA, 2018

HORRORPEDIA provides an independent and unbiased range of diverse opinions and reviews from a wide variety of sources in one handy web location. We rely solely on the very minor income generated by affiliate links and internet ads to stay online and expand. Please support us by not blocking ads on our site. Thank you.

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