Zombie Desert (aka The Desert, original title: El Desierto) is a 2013 Argentinian science fiction horror film directed by Christoph Behl. It stars Lautaro Delgado, Victoria Almeida, William Prociuk, Lucas Lagré.

Plot teaser:

Axel, Jonathan and Ana live together in a bunker-like home with views over the post-apocalyptic landscape. They once lived in a love triangle idyll, with strong bonds of friendship, but the arrival of the zombies changed that. Ana is with Jonathan and Axel is alone, slowly tattooing his body with images of flies, while developing an almost voyeuristic obsession with the couple’s relationship. However, everything changes when Axel and Jonathan go out on an expedition in search of provisions and return to the house with a zombie that they call Pythagoras, who they keep chained and muzzled inside the house. As the dynamic of the trios relationship changes it becomes clear that their new prisoner may not be the biggest threat to their survival…

Reviews:

“Anyone who wants to make a zombie movie should watch The Desert as it’s a film that gets what the genre has always been about – the characters rather than the action. This may be one of the greatest zombie movies of all-time and it features little to no undead set pieces. Everything is told visually and the cinematography is first class. The Desert is beautiful, touching, moving, gripping and simply outstanding.” Luke Oweb, The Flickering Myth

“For horror fans who prefer the slow descent into madness as opposed to the gore of the undead, then check out The Desert. If that’s not really what you’re into, then who’s the REAL monster, huh?! It’s you. It’s probably you.” The Wolfman Cometh

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Delivery: The Beast Within - formerly known as Delivery –  is a 2013 American found footage horror film directed by Brian Netto from a screenplay by himself and Adam Schindler. It stars Laurel Vail (The Night Caller – short), Danny Barclay and Rob Cobuzio.

The Collective have announced a limited theatrical release from May 30, 2014 with VOD available May 27, 2014.

Official synopsis:

Kyle and Rachel Massy, a young couple who agree to document their first pregnancy for a family-oriented reality TV show. The production spirals out-of-control after the cameras capture a series of unexplained events, leading Rachel to believe that a malevolent spirit has possessed their unborn child. Delivery is told through the show’s abandoned and unaired reality footage, as well as testimonials from friends, family and crew members, providing a first-hand account of the Massys’ tragic story…

Reviews:

” … makes such great use of modern day conventions and sentiments and uses those tools to take the story in different and unexpected directions. The film maintains a high level of tension and just the right amount of all out scares without going overboard. It’s engrossing and unsettling in all the right ways, and it proves that in skilled hands, the “found footage” style need not be reduced to a gimmick.” Alex Koehne, Twitch

“The final moments of this film are so intense, so frightening, and so real that even though you know it’s a movie, you’re going to be fooled by the reality of it all. The trailer below doesn’t do the film justice, as it makes the film feel like it’s a Paranormal Activity riff and while the haters will dismiss this film immediately, Delivery is more effective than the last three PA films combined. If the final moments of this film don’t affect you in some way, you must already be dead. I was hit hard by this film which feels more like a documentary than a true found footage film. The scares are intense, the mood is dire, and the people in danger are worth rooting for.” Ambush Bug, Ain’t It Cool News

IMDb

Rigor Mortis - original title Geung si – is a 2013 Hong Kong horror film directed by Juno Mak, and also produced by Takashi Shimizu. The film is a tribute to the horror film series Mr. Vampire many of the former cast are featured in this film Chin Siu-ho, Anthony Chan, Billy Lau and Richard Ng, additionally Chung Fat who started in Encounters of the Spooky Kind is also featured.

Plot teaser:

A washed-up actor, desperate and suicidal, moves into a haunted apartment building where supernatural creatures, ghost hunters, taoist exorcists, and the souls of the undead walk among his neighbors.

Reviews:

“Mak has refused to go easy on himself with his latest artistic endeavor, venturing even further into the moody darkness that his earlier work, Revenge: A Love Story, suggested, while also embracing CGI and local horror iconography. Rigor Mortis is a slowburn by typical vampire movies standards, and never attempts to resurrect the humour of Mr. Vampire and its contemporaries, but proves a brave, confident and assured debut from a new independent voice in Hong Kong Cinema.” James Marsh, Twitch

“A lavish, heavy-handed retreading and reinvention of Hong Kong and Japanese horror-film tropes, saved from clinical inhumanity by its veteran cast.” Clarence Tsui, The Hollywood Reporter

“The film draws from a range of influences in the ‘Hong Kong’ or ‘Asian’ horror genres to create a tapestry of strangeness that willfully, stubbornly cannot be deposited into just one box. This both a good thing and a bad thing as the film is at its best when it doesn’t rely so heavily on the styles and looks of those who preceded it but, at the same time, feels anchored down by those same influences. It’s a strange balancing act that results in a mostly successful work that never stops being entertaining even when it doesn’t make a lot of sense.” Flay Otters, Horror-Movies.ca

Wikipedia | IMDb

Sx_Tape - or sxtape – is a 2013 American horror film directed by Bernard Rose (Paperhouse; Candyman; Snuff-Movie) from a screenplay by Eric Reese. It stars Caitlyn Folley, Julie Marcus, Ian Duncan, Daniel Faraldo, Diana García, Eric Neil Gutierrez.

Plot teaser:

Adam and Jill attempt to spice up their relationship by recording a sex tape in an abandoned mansion. Realizing they’re not alone in their ominous surroundings, the couple discover some sex tapes shouldn’t be made as their kinky adventure turns into a desperate fight for survival…

Reviews:

“The fear and uncertainty is a slow burner, the genre’s standard loud sounds and flash scares are efficiently used and Folley carries the film well, interacting with the unseen Adam while reluctantly creeping towards the unknown in a dark room or corner. Unfortunately the second half of the film goes rapidly downhill, with an obvious and ridiculous twist and a confusing and unsatisfying ending, which seems tacked on as a last resort … What started as a very promising film ultimately becomes a let down, and a disappointing return to horror from someone who could have done much better.” Jonathan Anderson Sunday, Starburst

“Gripping and claustrophobic, with distant echoes of The Shining in places, the story’s horror elements work mostly by subtle suggestion and nerve-jangling sound design. That said, Rose still allows himself a final orgy of bloody slaughter and black comedy, including an oral sex joke that will make most male viewers wince.” Stephen Dalton, The Hollywood Reporter 

“Any claims of subversion are hindered by the fact that Eric Reese’ screenplay makes no attempt to flesh out these characters beyond their obnoxious exteriors. This may be part of the point, but it makes the bulk of the film painfully dull. By the time we’re confronted with some stomach-churning gore at the film’s close, it feels as though we’ve been taken for a deeply unpleasant and poorly thought-out ride.” Jonathan Hatfull, SciFiNow

IMDb

Hotel Inferno is a 2013 action/crime/horror film written, produced and directed by Giulio de Santi.

Review:

This will probably be easier if I transcribe the film’s description direct from their website:

“The contract killer Frank Zimosa has just been hired for a ridiculously lucrative mission by the rich and powerful Jorge Mistrandia. The objective: to kill a couple of people hiding in one of his European hotels. What would look like one of the simplest jobs Frank has ever had is just about to turn into a living nightmare. He will soon realize he’s nothing more than prey for Mistrandia and his army of crazy henchmen that have hiding in the hotel along with an ancient and unstoppable Horror. In their hotels you can only rent rooms….in Hell! See everything through the eyes of the anti-hero Frank Zimosa and boost your mind with an overdose of: nonstop violence, adrenaline, and pure fear, surrounded in a mysterious, deep and twisted story. You won’t just watch it, you will experience it”.

Directed by Giulio de Santi and from the Necrostorm stable, also home to Adam Chaplin, the unique selling point of the film, aside from the utterly gratuitous gore-flinging, is that the whole film is shown in first-person. The ruse that allows this to pass is that Zimosa, as part of his contract, is obliged to don a pair of spectacles that will record all his killings for the benefit of his mysterious employer. This conceit rather presupposes that there was a demand for such an innovation and initial fears that this is going to be a tricky technique to carry over full-length movie (albeit 80 minutes) soon prove sadly correct – angles, characters, motives and spatial awareness all being thrown into the air with good intentions but bad catching skills.

Zimosa (who I kept hearing as ‘Samosa’, a distinctly un-chilling name) is required to only perpetrate the killings using only the weapons (under no circumstances these being guns) provided and remove his victim’s brain and viscera, without ever questioning why. If this sounds a flimsy excuse to show an array of blunt implements being used to cave-in heads, you’re possibly already above the intellectual expectation the film-makers envisaged this movie attracting. Zimosa screws up these instructions almost instantly, condemning himself to becoming a permanent resident in the hotel in a plot that takes what it probably imagines to be a Lovecraftian twist but which is sadly neither lovely, crafty nor twisty.

There is, for those who are less fussy about plot and more picky about innards, a staggering about of lingering gory sequences, executed in an accomplished but rather childish manner. To allow for the relatively costly effects, much money was evidently saved on the actors and script – essentially there are only three roles that require voices, Zimosa (Rayner Bourton (Outland, You’re Dead), his nagging girlfriend and Mistrandia (Michael Howe, whose career has swung from The Two Ronnies comedy to The Hunger to the Unman of Unman, Wittering and Zigo). All these vocal performances are catastrophic.

Which brings us to the crux of the issue; this film is made almost exclusively for a generation of video game players, who have descended into such laziness that they now require someone to play the game for them. The voice-acting, is entirely in keeping with the unconvincing but to-the-point delivery of innumerable slash ‘n’ dice console games, as is the dizzying pace which dispenses with sense and subtlety before you’ve even begun to query why someone keeps asking for samosas.

At the film’s best, it’s Bad Taste without the fun, at its worst, you begin to feel guilty for not pressing ‘stop’. There are brief moments where the first-person view hints at potentially claustrophobic set-pieces but these are soon shuffled along as neither film-maker nor audience can evidently wait longer than two minutes for a crushed cranium. The DVD is stuffed with extras, a special edition even included a Hotel Inferno cigarette lighter. It’s a shame the audience that would enjoy this best is actually too young to smoke.

Daz Lawrence, Horrorpedia

IMDb

Dead Banging – original title Metaruka and also known as Metalca – is a 2013 Japanese comedy horror film written and directed by Eiji Uchida (Greatful Dead). It stars Ryusuke Komakine, Shôko Nakahara, Shûgo Oshinari, Kyoko Watanabe (real-life all-girl rock band, Gacharic Spin).

Plot teaser:

Nosebleed, a formerly unpopular rock band instantly gains a cult following after the lead vocalist, Kana, recruits a zombie, Tetsuo, as their death metal vocalist, even though he is the same undead monster that killed her former band members. Meanwhile, government agents frantically search for their runaway zombie experiment…

Reviews:

“There is some bloodshed here, but not too much. This is all about the comedy. And the music. Yes, I’ll admit it. One or two of the songs had me tapping my feet and smiling. The girls pretending to be rock stars may be a bit rubbish with the instruments (seriously, could they have not at least got someone who was ace at Guitar Hero?) but they make up for it with enthusiasm and energy.” Kevin Matthews, Flickfeast

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Plot keywords: all-girl rock band | bitten by a zombie | comedy | death metal | gig | head banging | heavy metal | living dead | Metallica | moshing | Nosebleed | rock music | stage diving | System of a Down | undead | zombie

The Sacrament is a 2013 American horror thriller film directed by Ti West and produced by Eli Roth. The movie had its world premiere on September 3rd, 2013 at the Venice Film Festival and had a wide theatrical release on May 1, 2014.The movie’s plot takes several elements from real life events such as the Jonestown Massacre of 1978 (previously filmed as Guyana: Crime of the Century aka Guyana: Cult of the Damned).

Plot:

New York fashion photographer, Patrick (Kentucker Audley, also seen in West’s segment of V/H/S) somewhat reluctantly decides to visit his sister, Caroline (Amy Seimetz, You’re Next), who has lived in a remote, rural commune since her release from a drug rehabilitation centre. Seeing an opportunity for a story, Patrick’s two friends Sam (AJ Bowen, House of the Devil, Hatchet 2) and Jake (Joe Swanberg, V/H/S) who work for Vice Magazine (neat ‘real-life’ advertising) who are making a name for themselves with a strand of investigative journalism aimed at the hipster elements of society. Upon arrival at the remote Eden Parish, they are immediately alarmed by the armed guards at the gates but are put at ease by some of the chattier members of the community, all of whom are God-fearing and speak in awe of The Father, the leader of their clan whose sonorous tones we hear blessing them over a Tannoy system. 

It would appear Caroline couldn’t be happier, so the group concentrate on finding something to report, in the absence of any other action; despite the residents of Eden Parish being more than a little sceptical about media intrusion, they manage to interview some of the residents and are even granted on audience with the mysterious ‘Father’. The Father (Gene Jones, No Country For Old Men) is as engaging and enigmatic as his voice would suggest but gives little away and plants seeds of concern in the visitors that all may not be as jolly as is made out. Duly, a frightened mother and her mute daughter make clear their terror and desire to escape in a clandestine meeting and it soon becomes clear that the beloved Father’s ability to control his flock has left his commune’s inhabitants with far more sinister futures than gardening and weaving…

Reviews:

A preamble from Sam explaining Vice’s raison d’être should act as a klaxon to viewers of the last decade’s horror that a somewhat slight excuse for wobbly camera work is imminent. The problems with this are largely that it is now such an overused effect that seasickness tablets are as essential nowadays as a remote control. This is not The Sacrament‘s fault, of course but the conceit falls flat when every second of their visit is deemed worthy of filming, often with such grand incompetence that you really think they should consider another career. Worse still are the moments when the convenient positioning of a camera (as well as ‘phantom’ cameras which couldn’t possibly be operated by any of the characters) drags you out of the film’s narrative. Though a step up from recent found footage, the documentary angle is believable but flawed by a rather ham-fisted reminders.

The acting is certainly worthy of mention, not least Gene Jones who could scarcely be better as the Parish leader, clearly up to no good but kept as a shadowy character for a significant period of the film. Seimetz too is believable as the reborn innocent flower-child and the cast of residents is perfectly serviceable, if necessarily bland. Audley is afforded surprisingly little screen-time, leaving the least well-realised leads to take most of the limelight, doubly unfortunate as you can’t help feeling that their predicament is entirely their own doing. The film’s musical score is a high note, the work of Tyler Bates (Dawn of the Dead, 2004, Watchmen), one of the more interesting composers for film and television of recent times.

After the understated, though excellent, Innkeepers, rather more full-on House of the Devil and trashy Cabin Fever 2, there remains a feeling that Ti West still hasn’t hit his stride or decided to throw the kitchen sink at anything – indeed, some of his best work is featured on the segmented V/H/S and The ABCs of Death. Here, once more, what we’re actually left with is a fairly straight re-telling of the Jonestown Massacre – sometimes so alarmingly similar you begin to begrudge that someone has a writing credit; this is fine but the viewer is left hanging on for a final revelation or twist and it simply never comes. The final shot is an almost blushing ‘that’s all folks!’. The film can at least serve as a cautionary tale to those tempted to sell their houses and give their money to pseudo-religious leaders.

Daz Lawrence, Horrorpedia

“The film’s intelligence extends to its strong but suitably modest tech package, with the narrative involvement of Vice providing an alibi for Eric Robbins’ fluid, generously lit lensing; most films in the found-footage genre have no reason to look this good. Jade Healy’s production design is a particular asset, visually conveying the camp’s spartan, faux-organic principles with absolute authenticity. Sound design, as ever with the helmer’s work, is tack-sharp, as is Tyler Bates’ spooky score…” Guy Lodge, Variety

” … if you sit down prepared to be a little bit patient (it’s not even a very long movie!) there’s a good chance you’ll appreciate the mystery, the suspense, the shocks, and the payoffs that The Sacrament has to offer. With all due respect to The Innkeepers and House of the Devil — two very good thrillers — The Sacrament may be Ti West’s angriest, cleverest, and most accomplished feature yet.” Scott Weinberg, Fearnet

“The picture is violent, a necessary cinematic pressure to capture despair, yet West lingers on the suffering, studying a man gasping for life as he’s poisoned to death, while showing a little girl getting her throat slit by her mother. It’s gratuitous, especially when it becomes clear that the film isn’t going anywhere original with its overview of brutal self-sacrifice…” Brian Orndorf, Blu-ray.com

The Sacrament - Buy on DVD from Amazon.co.uk

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘Welcome to the family’

Torment is a 2013 Canadian thriller horror film directed by Jordan Barker. The film had its world premiere on October 11, 2013 at the Screamfest Horror Film Festival. It stars Katharine Isabelle (American Mary; 13 Eerie) as a woman who must try to save her step-son from an insane family. In the U.S., Phase 4 Films will be releasing Torment onto VOD on June 10th.

Plot teaser:

Sarah (Katharine Isabelle) and Cory (Robin Dunne) have decided to go on vacation, taking Cory’s young son Liam with them. They’re hoping that the vacation will help ease some of the issues that Cory has with Sarah, as he resents that his widowed father remarried. The destination seems idea, a luxurious house in the middle of an idyllic wilderness, but upon their arrival they discover that someone has been living in the house. The local sheriff assures them that the intruders have probably moved on, but this soon proves to be false as Liam goes missing that same night. Sarah and Cory now have to try to fight an insane family for not only Liam, but also their very lives…

Reviews:

” … what Torment lacks in scintillating plot originality it makes up for in solid performances (Robin Dunne and Katherine Isabelle provide strong work, plus Stephen McHattie pops up for a few scenes, and he’s always the man), a professional sheen, and — most importantly — a fast-moving and consistently well-edited narrative that moves forward so expeditiously you’ll barely mind dealing with some familiar stuff. If a home invasion/slasher story can be called “enjoyably old-fashioned,” then this flick certainly qualifies.” Scott Weinberg, FEARnet

“The atmosphere alone was chilling and through subtle flowing plot twists you have yourself a film that you will not forget anytime soon.” Ross Wilcock, Slasher Studios

“The Strangers may also come to mind, but here’s where the film differs greatly from that one – the killers have a motive and explain why they are targeting this guy. It’s not a terrible concept, but unfortunately the villain speaks with a voice not unlike Bane’s fromThe Dark Knight Rises, and thus it’s almost impossible to keep up that level of tension when I keep having the instinct to burst out laughing. I’m sure the thinking was that it would be creepy and unsettling, but it’s just kind of goofy…” Horror Movie a Day

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Hemlock Grove is an American, Netflix Original, horror thriller television series. The show is executive produced by Eli Roth (Cabin Fever; Hostel; The Green Inferno), developed by Brian McGreevy and Lee Shipman. It is based on McGreevy’s novel Hemlock Grove (2012).

The show premiered April 19, 2013, with all thirteen episodes made immediately available for online viewing. On June 19, 2013, Netflix renewed Hemlock Grove for a second season.

Hemlock Grove, Pennsylvania. The town is a mixture of extreme wealth and poverty, as the closing of the town’s steel mill many years earlier caused many to lose their jobs. The town’s main sources of employment are now the Hemlock Acres Hospital and Godfrey Institute for Biomedical Technologies. Run by the powerful Godfrey family, the Institute is rumored to conduct sinister experiments on a daily basis.

The town’s rumor mill turns even more twisted when two teenage girls are brutally killed and their bodies left for unsuspecting people to find the next day. Peter Rumancek, a 17-year-old gypsy, is suspected of the crimes by some of the townsfolk; he is also rumored to be a werewolf. While secretly he is a werewolf, he is not the killer, and, along with the heir to the Godfrey estate, Roman, he sets out to solve the mystery…

Main cast:

• Famke Janssen as Olivia Godfrey
• Bill Skarsgård as Roman Godfrey
• Landon Liboiron as Peter Rumancek
• Penelope Mitchell as Letha Godfrey
• Dougray Scott as Dr. Norman Godfrey
• Freya Tingley as Christina Wendall

Reviews:

“If the underlying formula is as old as Dark Shadows, there’s still a need for more narrative momentum than the 13-episode series initially delivers. So while one can understand why Netflix would augment its original slate with this mix of talent, “Hemlock Grove” remains a mere niche confection, one likely to play best among those genre fans who can’t see the forest for the trees.” Brian Lowry, Variety

“Actually, embarrassing is a good way to describe everything about this show. It’s cringeworthy. You can tell that the creators thought they were being edgy, because they threw swear words into every other line and included lots of sex scenes, but it comes off as impossibly juvenile. There’s not a single character that acts like a real person would. They just do things, because the script says so. It’s hard to shake the impression that the whole thing was written by a child, just guessing at how the adult world works.” Sarah Dobbs, Den of Geek!

“Hemlock Grove takes its time with story lines, ensuring that each one has plenty of room to ripen. It carries out every dastardly deed with gusto, but still offers enough moments of levity … And though the sordid world is captivating, I’m still grappling with aspects of the conclusion, which oozes with old-school misogyny that savagely punishes every girl and woman who dares to own her sexuality.” Jessica Shaw, Entertainment Weekly

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ANNA, previously known as Mindscape, is a 2013 Spanish-American psychological thriller film written by Guy Holmes. It is the debut feature of Spanish filmmaker Jorge Dorado and stars Taissa Farmiga (American Horror Story), Mark Strong and Brian Cox. The film was produced by Ombra Films, a production company formed by Jaume Collet-Serra (Orphan; Unknown) and Juan Solá, with the aim of generating English language thriller, horror and fantasy films via emerging Spanish talent.

The world premiere was held at the 46th Sitges Film Festival on October 13, 2013 receiving critical acclaim from audiences. A re-titled version of the movie named ANNA is being distributed in North America via Vertical Entertainment.

Plot teaser:

John Washington (Mark Strong) is a recently widowed man with the ability to enter people’s memories. In the past, John used his abilities to solve criminal cases, but after a stroke during a session gone wrong that leaves him incapacitated and financially broken, he is left a shell of his former self. Desperate for an assignment, John asks his superior, Sebastian (Brian Cox), for a new job. The case he receives is that of a brilliant but troubled and dangerous 16 year old girl, Anna (Taissa Farmiga), to determine whether she is a sociopath or a victim of trauma. Anna, the daughter of wealthy parents, has gone on a hunger strike, and while John enters her mind to find out why, disparate memories overlap, and it is possible that Anna is not as innocent as she seems.

Reviews:

“An over-the-top B-movie concept, a satisfyingly twisty plotline and an intriguing central tandem are the hallmarks of a sharp-witted film that delivers all the traditional elements but which lacks the flair factor.” The Hollywood Reporter

“You can almost smell the dust on the screenplay, and the scare tactics — doors closing by themselves, mumbled surveillance video testimonies played in reverse, creepy self-portraits that seem to be drawn in blood — are more precious and irksome than frightening. But Taissa Farmiga (sister of Vera) is a marvel in the title role.” Sam Weisberg, Village Voice

“It’s a set-up which, in lesser hands, could easily have subsided into cliché. That it doesn’t is due partly to the strong script and partly to Taissa Farmiga’s refreshingly natural performance as the troubled teenager, which has none of the gloss or smarminess we’ve come to associate with pointedly intelligent characters of this sort.” Jennie Kermode, Eye for Film 

Cast:

• Taissa Farmiga as Anna Greene, troubled and dangerous 16 year old girl
• Mark Strong as John Washington, a detective with the ability to enter peoples’ memories
• Brian Cox as Sebastian,
• Noah Taylor as Peter Lundgren
• Clare Calbraith as Jaime
• Saskia Reeves as Michelle Green
• Alberto Ammann as Tom Ortega
• Richard Dillane as Robert Green
• Julio Perillán as Senator Rockford
• Rod Hallett as Detective Worner
  Antonia Clarke as Susan
• Molly Malcolm
  Bruno Sevilla as a detective

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘She thought she was alone’

Soulmate is a 2013 British supernatural horror film written and directed by Belgian actress Axelle Carolyn (Doomsday), wife of Neil Marshall (Dog Soldiers; The Descent; Skull Island: Blood of the King). It stars Anna Walton, Tom Wisdom, Tanya Myers, Nick Brimble, Emma Cleasby, Guy Armitage, Rebecca Kiser, Amelia Tyler, Felix Coles and Anubis. It was filmed in Brecon, Wales and is being distributed by Soda Pictures.

In June 2014, it was reported that British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) have ordered that the film’s opening scene, in which Anna Walton’s character attempts suicide by slitting her wrists be censored because this is ‘imitable behaviour’. Rue Morgue magazine rightly noted that “The backlash on this decision has been very vocal and unanimous on the social media networks, with harsh words for the BBFC from horror fans as well as critics who have actually seen the movie.”

On Yahoo blog Seeing Dead People Ben Bussey commented: “What makes this particularly shocking is, aside from a few moments of moderate violence, there is literally nothing else in the film to warrant the most restrictive UK rating: no sexual content, no drug use, and very little in the way of strong language. Simply put, ‘Soulmate’ is a quiet, character-based drama set in the picturesque Welsh countryside which I’d have no qualms about sitting down to watch with my grandmother. For it to be effectively banned due to one brief and not especially graphic scene seems staggeringly illogical.”

IMDb | Related: Rue Morgue | Seeing Dead People

‘Payback’s an itch’

Mosquito Man aka Sucker is a 2013 American sci-fi action adventure horror film directed by actor Michael Manasseri (Babysitter Wanted) from a screenplay he co-wrote with J.P. Epstein. It stars Manasseri, Kimberley Kates, Jordan Trovillion, Troma‘s Lloyd Kaufman, Ted Myers, Falah Cannon, Ricky Wayne, Greg Trzaskoma, Dana Gamarra, Danny Mooney, Monty Bane. 

Plot teaser:

Jim Crawley is having a really bad day. He gets fired from his job at the nuclear power plant, his car is impounded and he discovers his wife having an affair. To make matters worse, Jim gets himself abducted by an evil scientist looking to conduct human testing for a vaccine against a deadly mosquito borne virus spreading across the planet. It turns out that years of exposure to nuclear radiation and rabid mosquito DNA don’t mix very well and Jim transforms into a half man-half mosquito, hell bent on revenge…

Trailer as Mosquito Man:

IMDb

The Damned (formerly Gallows Hill) is a 2013 horror film directed by Victor García (Frost Giant; Hellraiser: Revelations; Return to Haunted House; Mirrors 2) from a script by Richard D’Ovidio (The Call; Thir13en Ghosts). It stars Peter Facinelli, Sophia Myles, Nathalia Ramos, Carolina Guerra.

IFC Films will premiere The Damned in the U.S. on Ultra VOD July 25, 2014, and release it via selected theatrical play on August 29.

Plot teaser:

A widower takes his children on a trip to their mother’s Colombian hometown. En route, the family are involved in an accident and take refuge in a secluded inn, where they free a girl locked in a basement and set in motion a terrifying sequence of events…

IMDb | Thanks: Fangoria

‘A vacation to dismember’

Axeman - originally known as Axeman at Cutter’s Creek - is a 2013 American slasher horror film directed by Joston Theney (Bleed 4 Me) who also stars. The rest of the cast are Tiffany Shepis, Brinke Stevens, Scot Pollard, Elissa Dowling (Dahmer vs. Gacy, Borderline Cult), Jamie Bernadette, Arielle Brachfeld, Erin Marie Hogan, Stephen Eith, Chantelle Albers.

Plot teaser:

Nine vacationing twenty-somethings are hunted by an axe-wielding local legend.

Reviews:

“The kills are fun and totally 80s-ed out, and the set up from one scene to the next is actually done with a lot of skill and love. This campy horror fest takes itself just serious enough to be a real movie, but not so serious that it fools itself into thinking its anything it isn’t. This is a self-aware 80s homage with some updated elements, and a solidly sound technical crew.” Horror Punks

“Finally, the film does several kills with most of them taking place on camera but they are ruined with horrible CGI and visual effects.  Overall, Axeman is a film that fails to really deliver on the goods.  It does have a few praise points but for the most part it misses the boat.  It does deserve at least one viewing but that is it.” Horror Society

” …some of the deaths in the film are pretty inventive, especially the very first kill of the foul-mouthed, sexy frustrated fat guy (a genre cliche that has been a staple of slasher movies since the early 80s). Not all the kills are a success however and there’s often a reliance on out of shot murder with  some less-than-stellar CGI blood splatter. But hey, at least the CGI is kept to a minimum, often enhancing what I would think are hard-to-acheive (at least on this films low-budget) kills. Oh and kudos to Theney and co. for the tremendous death of Brinke Stevens, a real black comedy moment in an otherwise “straight” slasher movie!” Phil Wheat, Nerdly

“Axeman is a bad movie, no doubt about it, but it’s knowingly bad. The soap opera-esque, unmoderated couples’ therapy feel of some scenes helps keep things interesting. Those with a taste for cheesy, campy, sophomorically humorous horror flicks should give it a shot. Having recently watched one of the latest “found-footage,” major studio theatrical releases, Devil’s Due, I can honestly say that Axeman was more fun…” Chaz Lipp, Cinema Lowdown

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Ragnarok - original title: Gåten Ragnarok – is a 2013 Norwegian fantasy adventure monster movie directed by Mikkel Brænne Sandemose from a screenplay by John Kåre Raake. It stars Pål Sverre Hagen, Nicolai Cleve Broch, Bjørn Sundquist, Sofia Helin, and Maria Annette Tanderød Bergly.

In the US, Magnet are unleashing Ragnarok in theatres, on iTunes and on demand August 15, 2014.

Official synopsis:

Archeologist Sigurd Svendsen (Pål Sverre Hagen) has for years been obsessed with the Oseberg Viking ship. The only inscription found on the ship is the enigmatic “man knows little” written in runes. Sigurd is sure that the Oseberg ship contains the answer to the mystery of Ragnarok, the end of days in Norse mythology. When his friend Allan finds similar runes on a stone from the north of Norway, Sigurd becomes convinced that the runes are in fact a treasure map. Together they mount an expedition group, and their adventure leads to the “No Man’s Land” between Norway and Russia, which has been deserted for decades. Here Sigurd learns the true meaning of the runes – a secret more terrifying than he could possibly imagine…

Source: Dread Central

Self Storage is a 2013 American dark comedy horror film written and directed by Tom DeNucci (Army of the Damned; Almost Mercy) who also appears as Jake. It also stars Eric Roberts, Jonathan Silverman, Michael Berryman, Vanessa Leigh, Nick Principe, David Gere, Tracey Sheldon. It was produced by Chad A. Verdi for The Woodhaven Production Company.

Plot teaser:

Jake (DeNucci) is the overnight security guard at a highly-secured Self Storage facility in rural Rhode Island. When his friend’s party plans fall through, he invites them to his job site to throw a fiesta of his own. There couldn’t be a better location: removed, no people, nothing but party… right? Innocent mischief turns a naughty night of fun into an evening of horror. We soon learn that some things were meant to stay under lock and key and certain places were supposed to be left undisturbed.

Reviews:

This is over indulgent on the partying scenes but the slick presentation, character actors (Roberts and Berryman are great fun), survival kills and cynical social satire more than compensate. Somewhat flawed by a strange balance but nevertheless a promising debut from DeNucci.

Adrian J Smith, Horrorpedia

” … an unforgivably disjointed jumble of horror and comedy that falls short of succeeding at either. However, it certainly isn’t due to a lack of effort on the part of writer/director Tom DeNucci, who pulls off the hat trick here by performing the lead role of Jake as well.  Pity, because sharp, witty dialogue and an inspired plot are usually a recipe for indie success. Not so much the case with this mixed bag.” Rob Getz, HorrorNews.net

“Self Storage marks the directorial debut of filmmaker Tom DeNucci. Working from his own script, DeNucci manages to put together a film that is entertaining and effective. And although it is a bit rough around the edges in parts, Self Storage will certainly keep you intrigued throughout.” Scott Hallam, Dread Central

” … DeNucci is more concerned with focusing on the partygoers dancing, smoking pot, partying, drinking, and having sex. To make matters worse, the party shenanigans are so unbelievably boring and cliché that it will literally take all of your force of will to keep from forwarding through this one. The fact that not one, but two, extended sex scenes occur through the course of the story shows where the interests of this film lie. After an hour of lame partying to even lamer music, Roberts and Berryman strike in equally uninspired ways.” Ain’t It Cool News

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

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Army of the Damned is a 2013 American horror film written and directed by Tom DeNucci (Self Storage; Almost Mercy). It stars Sully Erna (from metal band Gobsmack), Tony Todd, Michael Berryman, former porn queen Jasmin St. Claire, David Chokachi, Joey Fatone, Jackie Moore, Madeline Merritt, Nick Principe, Maria Kanellis, David Gere, Julie Ann Dawson.

Plot teaser:

The filming of a hit reality TV show goes horribly wrong when a group of small town cops respond to a call that brings a whole new meaning to the phrase, domestic disturbance…

Reviews:

“Army of the Damned is a great sophomoric effort from director Tom DeNucci. The film starts off as an atmospheric suspense-filled horror film and transitions into an all out action film, complete with tons of bullets and a large death count.  Army of the Damned is not without it flaws however,  the use of the singular location for all the action scenes and the lackluster use of Tony Todd hurt the  film, but that in no significant way ruined my enjoyment of this highly entertaining flick.” Morbidly Amusing

“Writer/director Tom DeNucci assuredly asserts himself as a horror fan through a nostalgic script full of cheeky references and the cameo casting of famous genre faces, but in doing so,Army Of The Damned becomes a low-budget, cliché ridden, copycat title deader than Fatone’s singing career. Shooting for B-Movie glory, DeNucci makes too many fatal mistakes that horror fans simply won’t stomach, relying on an overabundance of unfunny comedy and gratuitous gore – without establishing any resemblance of horror.” Matt Donato, We Got This Covered

“Another positive aspect of the film is the 80′s horror vibe given off throughout the film, which DeNucci captured very well. Given its solitary location, he also made good use of it without having that singular location feel to it. Another nod should go out to the director because of what he did with this cast of characters including professional wrestlers (Tommy Dreamer, Thea Trinidad, Maria Kanellis, et al), a rock star (Sully Erna), a former pop star (Joey Fatone) and an adult star.” Wicked Channel

 Buy on DVD from Amazon.co.uk

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Buy Army of the Damned + Croczilla on DVD from Amazon.com

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‘Reality is not an option’

Dementamania is a 2013 British horror film directed by Kit Ryan (Botched) from a screenplay by Anis Shlewet. It stars Samuel Robertson, Vincent Regan, Kal Penn, Geoff Bell, John Thomson, Holly Weston, Anthony Cozens.

Official synopsis:

Frustrated with the social injustice he must face every day and the bureaucratic culture of the office he works in Edward Arkham is at boiling point.

Although successful in his job, working for a leading IT consultancy, years of routine have taken their toll, his work now seeming so unbearably monotonous, fuelling his frustration and bitterness.

When Edward is stung by a mysterious bug, it results in a painful and aggressive rash. It also unlocks the door to a secret world inside his head causing nightmarish fantasies to manifest themselves within vivid hallucinations. As the rash spreads and threatens to envelop his entire body, his visions become more real and reality begins to drift further and further away…

Reviews:

“Dementamania is a fun horror black comedy fusion that channels the frustrations of modern life that we can all sympathise with, into a twisted fantasy of violent desire and madness. Never afraid to walk the line between pure humour and pure horror, it is an ambitious little gem, full of creativity and a twisting plot that throws the audience into a delirious nightmare that buries right into the heart of everyday horror and angst.” Movie Ramblings

“Dementamania has a rich look and some impressive mind-warping horror effects but suffers from a hard-to-care-about protagonist and an overfamiliar descent-into-madness plot trajectory.” Kim Newman, Screen Daily

“One of the things that really stands out about Dementamania is the direction from Kit Ryan. There’s lots of innovative and refreshing camera techniques and cuts throughout which keeps the energy of the film at a high. Ryan also brings to life some of the film’s more bizarre moments with panache making a remarkably polished movie on a relatively small budget.” Entertainment Focus

“While I felt the ending becomes a bit too clichéd and almost trite, the trippy ride there through the wings of an angry hornet named Edward was worth the trip. Bloody, brutal, and sometimes even beautiful as Kit Ryan intersperses some fun techno songs with funky lighting to spice up some of the scenes, Dementamania may be a bit of a clichéd foray, but still a visually unique and downright brutal one worth taking.” Ain’t It Cool News

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Avalanche Sharks is a 2013 Canadian horror film directed by Scott Wheeler from a screenplay by Keith Shaw (The Thing Below; Malibu Shark Attack; Ice Road Terror). It stars Kate Nauta (Fear Clinic), Emily Addison, Alexander Mendeluk, Mika Brooks and Jack Cullison.

Following upon the success of Sharknado, Syfy announced a sequel and the internet was flooded with suggestions toward similar fantasy-shark topics. In October 2013, they announced a film with a working title of Sharkalanche as a sequel to Sand Sharks.

Avalanche Sharks debuted on Syfy in the USA on July 1, 2014. It will be shown on Syfy UK on July 28, 2014.

Plot teaser:

After a snowboarder inadvertently starts a major avalanche, the moving snowfield uncovers and wakes a prehistoric “snow shark” which had been trapped beneath. The shark develops an appetite for human flesh and the staff at the Twin Pines Ski Resort begins getting reports of missing people and a strange finned creature moving under the snow.

Fearing financial loss on what is their busiest event day of the year, the Bikini Snow Day, the Twin Pines management tries to hide news of the missing skiers and sightings of strange creatures. Disaster strikes as, one-by-one, the bikini-clad snow bunnies  become meals for the shark. The avalanche has cut off the roads trapping all within the Twin Pines Valley. The local sheriff allies with snowboarders to track down the monster…

Trailer review:

“There are lots of fins sliding weightlessly across the surface of the snow, and lots of women in bikinis getting eaten. The lead actor is best known for playing “Fratboy” in a Twilight film. The whole thing looks as if it was made on a budget of 15p. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a film about sharks in this post-Sharknado world.” Staurt Heritage, The Guardian

More sharks on Horrorpedia: 2-Headed Shark Attack | Cruel Jaws | Ghost Shark | Great White | Jaws | Jaws 2 | Jersey Shore Shark Attack | Jurassic Shark | Mega Shark Versus Crocosaurus | Piranha Sharks | Psycho Shark | Sand Sharks | Shark Attack 3: Megalodon | The Shark is Still Working | Shark Week | Sharknado | Sharktopus | Snow Shark | Super Shark | Swamp Shark | Zombie Shark

Cast:

• Kate Nauta as Diana
• Gina Holden as Nurse
• Emily Addison as Jenna
• Charles Evans, Jr. as Operator (voice)
• Abby Francis as Skier
• Richard Gleason as Sheriff
• Benjamin Easterday as Lars
• Eric Scott Woods as Dale
• Kelle Cantwell as Madison
• Jack Cullison as Ted
• James Ouimet as Duffy
• Nicole Helen as Carol
• Michael Dostrow as Mayor
• Mike Ruggieri as Randy
• Erin Ross as Lacy
• Patrizia Cavaliere as Karla
• Mika Brooks as Lola
• Amy Ninh as Hiro
• Jack Cullison as Ted
• Ericka Jordan as Barb
• Eric Scott Woods as Dale
• John Hundrieser as Ross Hamilton
• Haley Stewart as Beca
• Richie Million Jr. as Mike

Wikipedia | IMDb

Zombie TV is a 2013 Japanese action/horror/comedy film co-written and co-directed by Maelie Makuno, Yoshihiro Nishimura (Tokyo Gore Police; Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl; Helldriver) and Naoya Tashiro (splatter shorts: Naked Sister; Hell of the College Girls; Cannibal Maid and Killer Nurse).

It stars Maki Mizui, Takashi Nishina, Tomoya Maeno, Miyuki Torii, Jiji Bû, Hidetoshi Ezawa, Luchino Fujisaki, Yasu Genki.

Press release:

A Monty Python-esque collection of shorts, animation, sketch comedy, instructional videos and more, Zombie TV showcases the natural evolution of zombies in the 21st century, no longer a frightening menace, but rather an annoying neighbour you realise you simply have to put up with.

Zombie TV answers such natural questions as: in a world full of the undead, wouldn’t some of the surviving humans want to join the majority and become zombies themselves? Would becoming a zombie solve the emotional and relationship problems we all have as living, breathing human beings?

Do zombies have their own idols? Would zombies worship a zombie god? Who would win in a fight: a cannibal, or a zombie? How did zombies evolve from walkers into runners? And the most burning question of all: how do zombies have sex?

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

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