If you want yourself a spooky ghost story, I'd recommend avoiding Crimson Peak. Yes, on paper it definitely sounds like your typical gothic tale, what with the specters, dark romance, and cavernous old mansion to boot. However, in actuality, this movie is neither spooky or potently romantic. Director Guillermo del Toro seems to have take a very grandiose cinematic approach to this story, and I don't think it paid off. Perhaps, in an attempt to make this horror story more mainstream, del Toro tries to give his movie a sense of epic scale. This means lots of expansive sets, tons of extras running around in the background, and several CG ghosts that love the spotlight. It's all a lot of unnecessary flare that distracts from what should be a much more intimate story. The core of this narrative is its romance, but none of the cinematography emphasizes it. Almost every scene is cleanly lit and given fairly standard coverage; giving very few visual hints to what our characters are...

Waaaayyyyy the heck back in 2014, long before From The Basement took to the mighty  Radio NL  610 AM Kamloops airwaves, Jason and Shawn reviewed a little slasher movie called Axeman, AKA Axeman at Cutter's Creek, and interviewed its writer, director and star, Joston Theney. Surprise, Axeman has become a cult classic, and spawned a sequel. However, Joston was never happy with the final cut of his film. Now it's 2021, and he's recut Axeman to the vision he always had in mind. Call it The Theney Cut, as The Dynamic Due put Axeman Redux on the chopping block for this week's podcast... From The Basement! The Basement Boys also interview Joston about the how and why of his new edit, and discuss the fact he's been able to retain ownership of his films, a rarity in Hollywood. How was he able to do that? What are his plans for the Axeman franchise? Stick with us! And stick around for Mortal Kombat! Or, more accurately, Jason and Shawn's review of the new video-game adapt...

Marcus Flor is down for the count today, but he'll be back next Thursday with his usual review. But fear not, we've still got something groovy to share with all y'all today, and that's this tense trailer for the upcoming abduction thriller Goodbye Honey. Pamela Jayne Morgan and Juliette Alice Gobin star in director Max Strand's tale of mistrust, fear, and reliance.  Dawn, a truck driver, pulls into a state park to get some sleep when she is ambushed by Phoebe, a young woman who claims she is fleeing from an abductor. Dawn is wary of Phoebe's story, leading to a struggle that leaves her phone broken, the keys missing, and nothing but darkness between them and help. As the night progresses, it becomes clear they are not alone... Sounds like, and looks like, pretty good stuff. Goodbye Honey comes at us via Freestyle Digital Media. It hits North American Digital HD and Cable VOD on May 5. We're gonna be watching. How about you? Source: Freestyle Digital Media

International films have always seemed like a box of chocolates to me; you never know what you'll get. And that's the case with Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil. This Spanish film is based on an old Basque folklore, which does help explain some of the "interesting" leaps in logic the movie makes. This movie definitely doesn't follow the typical Hollywood formula, for better or for worse. The upside is the aforementioned "Gump Effect," and the variety it brings. You're never quite sure how this movie is going to tell its story. Sometimes it's subtle and serious, or sometimes it's over-the-top goofy. While this does make for an engaging viewing experience, these mood swings also make the movie seem unfocused and unsure of what it wants to be. The most fun result of this scattershot directing approach is the film's depiction of the Devil. Instead of being a cliche and hiding him in the shadows, we see an actual guy in a red suit wit...

Just when we thought we'd seen it all in the world of demonic-possession movies, Know Fear comes along and gives us something a little bit different, and there is much rejoicing.  The twist to Know Fear, which features a family doing battle with a nasty demon after mom Amy Carlson is possessed, is a ritual used to do battle with the beast. The ritual allows one person to see it, one to hear it, and one to understand it's language. So it's up to niece Mallory Bechtel, nephew Jack DiFalco, and husband David Alan Basche to take the ghoul on. This play on the standard tropes works well, even when the characters pull a DMC and separate for a reason I can't even remember. But the movie redeems itself with some genuinely creepy moments, a surprising amount of gore, and some very good acting, which is anchored by David Alan Basche's strong turn in the husband role.  Know Fear would've benefited from one last rewrite before cameras rolled, and a slightly bigger budget. B...

At first glance, I thought I knew what I was getting into when I pushed play on Ivan Kavanagh's latest horror entry, Son. Single mom and her child threatened by her secret -- and spooky -- past. Got it. Been there, done that. Then Son got going, and went places I didn't expect. I was hooked and, at times, horrified for the entire 100-minute ride. Kavanagh has an impressive talent for playing to our expectations, and then twisting them into something new. He even plays with the is-it-real-or-is-it-all-in-her-head trope, but makes it satisfying. Without giving too much away, this ends with a clear answer to that mystery, and I loved it.  Andi Matichak, who had a great debut in Halloween (2018) does good work here as the single mom. You believe every minute of her performance, and how she reacts to the plight she and her son, also well played by Luke David Blumm, are in. Kavanagh's script asks how far a parent will go to protect their child, and Matichak conveys every ounce of...

We said it loud and proud not once, not twice, but thrice this past weekend on the mighty Radio NL, and now we're gonna say it one more time as From The Basement celebrates this, the latest podcast From The... Well, you get the point. This episode is a reason to celebrate as we've got more -- like 10 minutes more -- of our interview with Son writer/director Ivan Kavanagh! Son opened in limited theatres and Digital last Friday, and it's a great little horror ride that's getting rave reviews. Ivan talks about his inspiration for the film, working with stars Andi Matichak and Emile Hirsch, his creative process and more. Ivan is a great filmmaker and fine person, and that comes through in this 17-minute interview. Jason and Shawn also review Son and, given the great-little-horror-ride comment, it should be no secret what they think about this one. They do have a lot to say about Son, so tune in anyway. The Basement Boys also sound off on some older flicks, and provide a wee...

Tonight, From The Basement celebrates the release of the new movie Son, the latest flick from Irish writer/director Ivan Kavanagh. Why is this a movie worth celebrating? Well, if we told you this, then you likely wouldn't tune in to the mighty Radio NL 610 AM Kamloops, and that's something we definitely want you to do! The film stars Andi Matichak of Halloween 2018 fame as a single mother and cult survivor who must take her young son on the run when they're threatened by dark forces. She's aided by Emile Hirsch's cop. Son, which hits limited theatres, On Demand, and Digital today, is getting great reviews, but what do Jason and Shawn thing? Stick with us! And stick with us you shall as we interview Ivan and delve into his inspiration for this dark ride. We also talk his writing process, and the film's many twists and turns.  The Basement Boys caught a few older flicks as well, and chime in on those in case you're in need of other viewing choices. Plus there...

Revisiting Amityville II: The Possession was a bit of a shocking experience. It's a much-maligned sequel to a movie that isn't all that great in its own right. And it exploits a real-life tragedy in the name of exploitation entertainment. On the surface, I should hate it.  But I don't. Scripted by Tommy Lee Wallace, and directed by Damiano Damiani, Amityville II is a very loose adaptation of Hans Holzer's Murder in Amityville. Hans Holzer is a well regarded author and paranormal investigator who investigated the actual Amityville Horror. His book, Murder in Amityville, was about the Defeo murders that occurred in 112 Ocean Avenue prior to the Lutz family moving in. This movie heavily alters the true story, changes the family name, and goes for pure Hollywood horror thrills and chills, baring little resemblance to the tragedy that really took place, other than the outcome.  As a movie inspired by a true story, or any kind of serious look into the paranormal, this flick i...

I think I've come up with a vague genre for a movie like Slaughterhouse Rulez: and it's called The First Draft. Like a first draft, the finished film hasn't ironed out the kinks in the story, and a lot of elements don't blend together all that well, at least not yet. Now, you'd think mixing teen comedy and supernatural horror wouldn't be too hard, but evidently it is. Honestly, this movie feels like two movies in one, with how disconnected these elements are. What's even stranger is if you follow the script during the film, it's structured like an average movie of this genre. This just goes to show that even if your script is half-way competent, scatter-brained directing can make it feel very disjointed. However, there are a few noteworthy aspects of this film, such as Tom Rhys Harries' performance as the main bully, Clegg. He manages to perfectly walk the line between posh prick who loves the smell of his own farts, and violent psychopath. If only h...

I think what sticks with me the most about the upcoming horror flick The Parish is how little of it has actually stuck with me, despite me enjoying the watch. Does that make sense? The story of a recently widowed woman and her daughter moving to a small town and falling under the influence of supernatural forces is a decent one. Lead actor Angela DiMarco does a solid job as the widow, bringing layers and strength to her character. Ditto veteran genre actor Bill Oberst Jr. as a priest who comes to her aid. And the film is well made.  But, despite the potential for scares and intensity, The Parish just sort of chugs along at a decent pace. There's no build up of tension heading into the final act, even with certain pieces of the supernatural puzzle revealed along the way. Things just fall into place, and get wrapped up in a neat little bow. The fault lies with director David Hogan and editor Tony Tibbetts. All the material was there, it just needed to be cut better for pacing and exc...

More than a half dozen reviews await you if you dare enter the latest podcast... From The Basement! We humbly acknowledge listeners had three opportunities to catch Jason and Shawn on the mighty Radio NL this past weekend, but we appreciate those who are stopping by the hear the episode for the first time, or to catch it again. We love you all individually and as a group. What's on the chopping block this week? The Parish, a new horror flick from director David Hogan featuring Angela DiMarco and Bill Oberst Jr. This one finds a single mother and her daughter threatened by supernatural evil, including a creepy nun... and an even creepier janitor. Nuns, janitors... it's all creepy here! But does it deliver the creepy goods? Stick with us! And stay tuned, true believer, As Shawn (finally) catches up with WandaVision, and takes on Owen Wilson and Selma Hayek in the morality tale Bliss. Meanwhile, Jason braves Shudder's latest original, the social-media themed Shook, plus the cr...

Zack Snyder exploded onto the movie scene with 2004's Dawn of the Dead and, in my mind, pulled off one of the best zombie movies -- and remakes -- in recent memory. His sense of style and visual storytelling was well suited for Dawn, and I've eagerly awaited his return to the genre with Army of the Dead. The wait is almost over, as Army hits Netflix on May 21, which essentially makes the flick the kickoff to whatever this summer movie season will be. And today we got a first look at the film via the teaser above. Suffice to say, I like what I see, and want to see more!  Army of the Dead stars Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, and Theo Rossi. And yes, it's heading straight to Netflix, continuing the streamers conquest over cinemas, which we in The Basement are A-OK with! Source: JoBlo Horror Videos

Let's face it, even though they're a dime a dozen, we all dig demonic movies. Maybe it's because, when done right, they can be super scary. Or maybe it's because we're lazy and don't like to be challenged by new things. Either way, we keep watching 'em, so filmmakers keep making 'em. At least the upcoming Know Fear A) might actually be scary, and B) has a few original ideas up its sleeve. The flick stars Amy Carlson of Blood Boods fame, and Hereditary's Mallory Bechtel, in this tale of a family who move into a new home and discover an old occult book. Naturally, things go wrong, a demon is summoned, and it's bad scoobies from there.  What makes Know Fear somewhat unique is each family member can communicate with the demon in a different way -- they can speak to it, see it, or hear it... and that could make for spooky stuff. Jamison M. LoCascio directs. Know Fear hits Digital March 12 from Terror Films. Source: Terror Films

When you watch as many movies as Shawn and I do, you come to appreciate the ones that do something a little different with a formula you've seen time and time again. What Lies Below is one such movie.  On the surface, if you'll excuse the pun, this comes across as a routine psycho-stalker flick, with Mena Suvari and her daughter coming under the spell of hunky Trey Tucker, who quickly goes from awkward to weird to bat-crap crazy. OK. Been there. Done that. Bought the shirt. But things slowly unravel into a completely different kind of movie, one I don't want to spoil for those who want to give it a watch. But I kinda have to in order to do this review justice. So be warned, spoilers ahead... This is a monster movie! Yup, What Lies Below is really a creature feature that's a little bit Humanoids From the Deep, and a little bit Invasion of the Body Snatchers. It's a slow-burn reveal, one that moves a little too slowly at times, but has a payoff that's well worth t...

Are you ready for the holiday season yet? What better way to prepare for this especially joyous December than by watching Krampus! With how cynical this movie is, I think it's quite appropriate for this pandemic edition of the holidays. Krampus rides the line between satirical comedy and genuine horror movie, sometimes veering too hard in either direction. This creates tonal dissonance at times, but not too frequently. The dissonance is most apparent with the in-laws in Krampus, who are full-on caricatures. They work well for the Christmas satire, but feel a bit too one dimensional for "serious horror mode." I think, if this movie went full on slasher cheese, they would've worked better. It's not that I don't think comedy and horror can't be mixed together. But Krampus doesn't completely stick the landing for me. There is still plenty of twisted Christmas spooks to be had, though. I appreciate them giving the titular monster henchmen, and not making hi...

We're not much for the news game of late, shifting the focus more to reviews and commentary. But a schedule change prompted me to see if anything of interest was heading our way. Given we started as a horror site, we're always down for a decent backwoods slasher flick. Wouldn't you know it; there's a backwoods slasher flick headed our way called, appropriately enough, Backwoods. And the trailer for said film is posted above for your eye holes. What's the skinny? High school cheerleader Molly woke bound and gagged in the trunk of her boyfriend's car. That was the high point of her night. After escaping, and fleeing into a nearby forest, she comes face-to-face with the town urban legend: The Hangman, a deformed zealot said to lynch male trespassers and keep women as "brides." Now, Molly and her best friend Noah must work together to avoid becoming his latest victims. Sounds promising! We'll find out if Backwoods is a worthy entry in the slasher-movie...

Just how good is Bob Clark's seminal holiday slasher Black Christmas? Made way back in 1974, it's spawned two remakes. The first, 2006's Black Xmas, is a so-bad-it's-OK exploitation slasher. And Blumhouse's 2019 redo is, well, just plain bad. How bad? It has good intentions with its social commentary, and takes broad swipes at campus rape culture and how university classes largely tout the works of white men, white-male hierarchy and promote misogyny. And I agree with the film on all counts. Point made.  While Sophia Takal clearly has a feminist agenda, what points she makes become lost in the film's apparent hatred of men. All men. Every male character in this movie is evil, incompetent, or just plain ineffectual and unlikable. I get it, guys are dicks. I'm one of them, and my wife can attest to that. But come on; we're not all evil beings out to keep women submissive. There's even a scene where one of the male characters tries to tell his girlfrien...

Just in case you thought Americans were the only ones who make backwoods slasher movies, along comes the Polish effort Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight to prove us all wrong. And, for the most part, they do a pretty good job of it too. We get a solid backstory, some decent kills, ample gore, and that which is lacking in most horror movies these day -- sex and Female Chest Nudity! The story follows a group of technology-dependent youth who go to an offline camp and face a sinister danger lurking in the woods. That danger is a pair of deformed killers who delight in stabbing, smashing and ripping our teenagers limb from limb. Nothing too original here, other than the killers' backstory, which I won't spoil. And the offline camp idea is really just a modern spin on the traditional summer camp. So don't expect any social commentary or hidden agenda... even with a gay character included among the ranks.  But we do get lots of what we're here to see, as I stated already. No...

There's been movies about ghosts ships, there's been movies about evil Nazis, and there's been plenty of movies about vampires. But I'm pretty sure this is the very first vampires-on-a-Nazi-ghost-ship movie. And I assure you, there's much rejoicing. Set during World War 2, Blood Vessel finds a mismatched group adrift after a German U-Boat sinks their ship. Fortunately, their life raft drifts upon a seemingly abandoned Nazi naval vessel, and our heroes climb aboard. They slowly realize they're not alone, and I'm sure you can guess what's waiting for them... A movie like Blood Vessel doesn't need to be anything more than good, gory fun. And, for the most part, writer/director Justin Dix succeeds on that level. Sure, some of the writing is off, and the performances a bit over-the-top, but we're not watching this expecting Oscar bait. We want vampires killing people on a Nazi ghost ship, dammit, and that's what we get. The vampire design is very ...