Best in Show: Creepy Cults (Part II of II)

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5. Rosemary's Baby

While a less showy film about cults, Rosemary's Baby is a sinister take on neighborly tenants. Spooky and drawn out, this film amasses tension for an end reveal that viewers will see coming, but will still be scared by. There's simply not much to say that hasn't been said about this film and the cult at the center of it. The Castevet's are perfectly disarming, Mia Farrows' Rosemary, perfectly acted and by the film's end, you'll appreciate the masterpiece before you.

  

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4. The Wicker Man

The Wicker Man is a surprisingly jovial horror movie. Bursting with Celtic tunes, dancing townspeople and colorful costumes, the insane ending may come as a shock to those unaware of the film prior. A certifiable cult classic that also happens to be about a cult, the cheeriness exuded by characters in The Wicker Man is odd but relatively innocent feeling. However, as the plot transgresses, the dark pit at its center grows and hardens. Despite a failed remake starring Nick Cage, this story deserves a proper reboot.

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3. Last Shift

Stuck watching a derelict police station on her first day, Officer Jessica Loren's quiet, but creepy night becomes quite the downward spiral. From creepy happens to ghoulish images, the ghostly cult members that haunt the station are nothing short of heart-stopping. Easily one of the scariest indie films ever, Last Shift is a must see. It's gritty, gory and everything that a haunted house movie should be. Whether a fan of jump scares or horrifying atmosphere, Last Shift has it in spades.

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3. Children of the Corn

A classic Stephen King adaption and perhaps one of the most iconic groups of scary kids, Children of the Corn is an endeavor on the gullible group mentality of children. As they follow "He Who Walks behind the Rows," the group led by Isaac Chroner, systemically remove the adults in the town as part of a human sacrifice. Ridiculous in its premise but terrifying in its execution, Children of the Corn showcased a certain strength and perseverance of children when threatened.  

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1. The Sacrament

The Sacrament does little to hide its ending. Opening with a photographer casually discussing his sister's involvement with a commune, a group of investigative friends go searching for answers only to find disaster. Timelier than ever, the media-hating, grounded story of this religious organization feels more realistic than some documentaries. Suspicious and filled with awkward exchanges, The Sacrament will make your skin crawl, only to rip it out in the end. It's the kind of movie that'll stick with you for some time. Though it all seems rosy, this film does little to appeal to organized religion and uncovers the deeply rooted issues within congregations, especially those buried in desolate regions.

Best in Show: Creepy Cults (Part I of II)

Humans are pack animals. Despite common notions of autonomy, the vast majority of people on earth are dependent on others. Whether for social exchange, physical dependency like food or to help make ends meet, friends, family and even strangers are necessary in our day to day lives. But, when people get a little too close, a little too exclusive, problems erupt. In cults, codependency takes on a new and sinister tone; something that is very often exasperated in horror films. This week's list looks at the scariest horror movies following cults.

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10. Faults

Part comedy, part deceptive thriller, this taut film follows a cultist deprogrammer and his latest case, a young woman who is buried deep in the mythology of a cult called Faults. Twisting, dark and at times, funny, Faults is a masterful blend of unsettling tension and compelling storytelling that'll leave viewers questioning their own perceived reality. Faults is a movie that feels realistic, despite later questionable flickers of the supernatural. Its end twist is also one of the greatest, if even just slightly predictable, in modern cinema.

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9. The Void

While not central to the creature-feature explosion that is The Void, the sheet-adorning cult in this film is absolutely terrifying. With no distinguishable feature separate from a triangle on their face, these poorly costumed ghost men imbued a creep factor complimented by a confrontational ferociousness. Retro, yet scarily timeless, these strange characters sought the end of the world and were willing to do anything to make it happen; they're inhuman nature and complete lack of motive only adding to the fear factor.

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8. The Conspiracy Conspiracy is a dangerous topic. Divisive and engulfing, the rabbit hole created by mostly unfounded suggestions and beliefs can lead to insanity and trouble for both the accused and accuser. Perhaps this is what makes 2012's The Conspiracy is so terrifying. A brooding and investigative Canadian found-footage film, The Conspiracy follows a pair of filmmakers seeking to uncover the truth about a mysterious organization named Taurus. Their investigation - as predicted - leads to quite the discovery that'll leave the duo changed forever. Ending on an open note and with little closure of what actually happened in their footage; The Conspiracy will leave audiences guessing.

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7. The House of the Devil In this 80s styled horror film following a caretaker who ends up in the middle of an occult ritual, the scares come bursting with fire. Demonic images, gory violence and funky music make up this indie darling. Directed by Ti West and featuring a fantastic performance by Jocelin Donahue, this movie doesn't feature the most interesting satanic cult, but it is one of the scariest. While oddly practical in their beliefs and brutish nature, each is only slightly off. That is, except for the horrifying creature-like leader with a cat face and a pension for old relics.


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6. The Invitation 

The Invitation is a  slow-burning and quite movie. Constantly bubbling like a volcano about to erupt, this movie has gained quite the following and critical acclaim. For good reason, too. The Invitation begins as an everyday, awkward dinner party but quickly unravels into something more unsettling. It's a thriller that unfolds in such a way that viewers will be engrossed in the haunting lights and faces of the dinner guests. Brimming with tension, this movie ends with quite sharp bangs and an even sharper reveal. It is deserving of every accolade it received; for its cast, crew and plot, simple but intricate.

Review: The Canadoo

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For years, creators have tried turning America's passion for reality television into effective and scary horror stories. Television shows like Siberia and movies like Man Vs. and Wrong Turn 2, have all had limited success capturing the melodramatic, but engrossing nature of broadcasted reality. The recently released movie, The Canadoo, follows suit.

As noted, The Canadoo follows a group of five hopefuls as they venture into the forest for the chance of fame and fortune. There's a pretty stereotypical typecast between the aggressive pretty boy, the fame-seeking blonde, the nerdy introvert and the kind, small town girl. However, each is provided some more dimensionality as the film unravels. The film stars Tyler Buckingham (Megan Leavey) as aggressive pretty boy, Shawn, Ali Roberts (The Takeover), as the fame-seeker, Taylor, Alina Lia (Immortalis) as the kindhearted Ashley, Teddy Cole (Vice Principals) as nerd, Adam, and Drey Wigfall (The Brides of Sodom) as Derrick.


The cast is pretty phenomenal. Despite being relatively unknown, each provide far more to their characters than anyone could expect. The bonding sequence around the fire is one of the movie's most enjoyable and grounded sequences. It gives depth to characters that otherwise carry on as one dimensional. It feels the most real and would fall more in line with what actual reality programming attempts to do and is successful, largely in part, because of the cast. Even when they seem to fall into shaky territory, they wrap back enough to provide some sense of realness.  



The Canadoo takes a lot of time to get anywhere near a horror film. The majority of the film is spent giving the characters conversational moments, rather than building tension amongst them and the wilderness. For a non-horror film, this would be entirely fine, but when the movie has less than thirty minutes left, you begin wondering why the "scares" are amounted to a handful of rustlings in the bushes around the group's camp. The chasing in the dark scenes aren't fantastic, but more so because the camerawork seems pulled from the 90s. The eventual unveiling is scary and inexplicable, but it is the wilderness, so who knows what happens out there.


The Canadoo is cheaply made and sometimes leans toward mediocrity. Like the aforementioned films and shows that feature contestants taking part in reality television, there's something inherently missing. The fact that the cast isn't real, the things that happen to them aren't even close to real and the show they're featured on also isn't real make for something filtered through too many lenses. It's got some benefits; its characters - while sometimes flat - have a certain draw to them, the setting - while plain - is incredibly desolate and the plot - while predictable and not always scary - is enjoyable. The Canadoo isn't the most intelligent or terrifying film made, but it never becomes something unwatchable. 5 out of 10.

The Overlook: Faults

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There are plenty of films revolving around cults. From documentaries to dramas to the subgenre of horror, these movies often resolve around a disturbing cult with sinister intentions and devote followers. Less funny and more disturbing, movies following cults are often dark and feature upsetting endings. That's not the case with 2014's under the radar film, Faults.

More a dark comedy with horror elements, Faults follows an expert on cults and mind control tasked with breaking a daughter from a dangerous cult named Faults. While attempting to deprogram the young woman, the expert begins questioning his game and things take a turn for the unsettling. Directed by Riley Stearns (The Cub), Faults - while continuously tinged with a lighter air, becomes scary and by its close, will leave viewers more stunned than anything else. The movie stars Leland Orser (Saving Private Ryan) as Ansel Roth, the mind control expert, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead (10 Cloverfield Lane) plays Claire, the woman mysteriously tied to the omnipresent cult group. The cast is rounded out with Chris Ellis (Catch Me If You Can) and Beth Grant (The Office) as Claire's parents.

Taking place mostly in a secluded hotel room, Faults makes the most of its odd ball characters and their troubling quirks. Orser's Ansel is an indebted failure coping with a failed career, Winstead's Claire is simple and quiet; she is particularly spectacular, often using a cold, blank stare to command scenes, and Ellis and Grant both play their roles as overly protective parents well. As noted, Winstead controls the flow of the majority of the movie. She's a commanding presence who carries everything on her back, only assisted by the more dialogue-heavy Orser and the others.

From the get-go, despite all of its subtle comedy, something is deeply discomforting in the film. Things begin coming too easy for Ansel and when supernatural elements begin infusing to the storyline, the horror of the film becomes central, Without giving much away, this twisting film will intrigue viewers- that's a promise. Faults does suffer from some genre-mixing crises, but by the film's end, it knows exactly where it wants to end up.  In fact, it gets there with such precision, you'll be able it ignore the inconsistencies.

Review: Awaken the Shadowman

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Ever walk into a horror movie, not expecting much but leaving pleasantly surprised? It's a rare occurrence, but one that is welcome. So often, horror movies are harshly criticized on for their tell-all trailers and poor unraveling. But sometimes, there's more to appreciate as a viewer than critics would suggest. Awaken the Shadowman isn't one of these cases. While the intent is there, the recently released Awaken the Shadowman isn't the most offensive film, but it'll surprise no one in its simplistic and underwhelming unraveling.

Awaken the Shadowman follows a couple who return home after the husband's mother disappears. A drunk and lonely woman with a suspiciously connected support group, the man's mother is somewhat of an enigma; collecting random trinkets and making odd decisions. She's the type of character that could have been used much more effectively in what becomes a rather typical cult film. The film stars Jean Smart (The Accountant), who makes a strong effort in her dead role as the substance-abusing mother of Jake and Adam, played by Skyler Caleb (Waking) and James Zimbardi (Watertown), respectively. Adam's wife, Beth, is played by lily Somers (Reboot).


Like many poorly laid out movies featuring mediocre B-horror conventions, Awaken the Shadowman is incredibly slow and makes some incredibly blatant mistakes. Throughout there are an array of inklings of hope; off-center characters and some built in suspense, but a tacky soundtrack and some audibly painful dialogue make what could have been an average film about a cult, something far less. Themes observing the bereavement process, as well as substance abuse are problematic and never progressing, and even when there's a jump toward some sort of symbolism, the movie decides to backtrack into flat mediocrity.


It'd be a lie to say that the filmmakers don't have some inspired tense scenes and scares, but nothing about these moments feel new or groundbreaking. Similar ploys have been done better in less original films, but they are at least well-rounded. The scattershot horror of Awaken the Shadowman makes the film watchable, but certainly not worthwhile. It's a film that makes effort to impress but falls short at every turn.


Awaken the Shadowman isn't a disaster, but it isn't great. It's the type of horror movie that is best overlooked, but on the chance you're viewing list has run dry, it's not the most painful endeavor. In the world of dentistry, Awaken the Shadowman is more a cavity than a wisdom tooth extraction, but it's definitely not a routine cleaning or polish. 4 out of 10.

 

Best in Show: Unsuspecting Travelers Abroad (Pt. I of II)

Horror has a long history of inflicting itself upon the unexpected. Especially abroad, travelers often get way more than they bargained for. With summer fast approaching and the need to explore outside of our borders itching at the adventurous, this week's list looks at the best horror movies about travelers abroad. Ignoring the somewhat problematic nature of painting foreign lands as particularly dangerous, these free-for-all movies are often complete descents into chaos.




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10. Out of the Dark

While not the most cohesive film, Out of the Dark is a rare indie horror film that feels scary. Offering a share of jarring moments featuring dead, bandaged children and terrifying shadows, the film wasn't much of a critic or commercial success. Its problematic painting of the mysticism of the third world - although met with a certain tone of first world oppression - didn't do the ghost story any favors. But, Out of the Dark is plenty horrifying. It follows a mother positioned to take over her father's business in South America, whose family is haunted upon arrival. The movie gets twisty as discoveries are made and the mother's daughter goes missing. Out of the Dark is ta telling story of how American misdeals can come back to bite you.



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9. They're Watching

They're Watching is a pretty ridiculous movie with a fun, engaging plot and pretty much zero basis in reality. Following an American home makeover TV crew in Eastern Europe, They're Watching plays completely into the traditions and mystic nostalgia of the area while providing the occasional scare and intentional laugh. It's a terrifically odd movie destined to scare few, but entertain all. It's placement on this list is mostly thanks to the sketchy villagers surrounding the makeover home who make for deeply unsettling moments.



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8. Wolf Creek

This movie is bleak. Wolf Creek is a gritty portrayal of suffering at the hands of a maniac. Following a pair of British 20-somethings who travel into the Outback with an Australian, Wolf Creek is a stark cat-and-mouse chase of disturbing proportions. It's a film that features little relief or absurdity and instead focuses on unsettling the viewer through very real possibilities of kidnap and torture. For some viewers, Wolf Creek will most definitely be too much, but who could blame them? This film is so painfully executed that the awfulness these characters experience, you feel, too.



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7. The Ruins

The Ruins is pretty typical for a mid-2000s horror movie; dumb young adults doing dumb, adventurous things and paying for it. But none of these aspects stops this film from being terrifying. Featuring a mysterious Mayan ruin with viciously alive vines, The Ruins makes adventure feel all too worthless. From the Cabin Fever inflections of attempting to strip your body of the infection to the off-center mimicry of the plants, this movie will leave viewers afraid of going anywhere that's not a particular tourist trap. In The Ruins, unmarked means death.



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6. Borderland

For detractors of Wolf Creek, heed this warning: Borderland is not for you. Following a trio of college friends who get swept up into a satanic crime cult, Borderland takes everything displayed by Wolf Creek, adds dimensions of the occult and tosses it into a small Mexican city. It's gory and gratuitous violence; all exasperated by harsh lighting and intense camera work make for a romp that'll make stomachs turn. Borderland has some of the intrusive nature of Americans into other's lands and nails the ignorance of youth perfectly.

The Overlook: Last Shift

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It's rare to find an indie horror movie on any streaming site that is truly nightmare-inducing. Sure, modern indie hits like The Babadook are terrific, but they're well known and often mentioned. But, for small name movies with niche audiences, the fact remains that these outlier films are rarely scary enough. Never fear though, because there are still options oft overlooked and if you haven't Last Shift is definitely worth the watch.

Last Shift deserves far better than the hand it was dealt. Easily one of the best horror movies on Netflix and most definitely one of the better overall in recent years, Last Shift follows a new police officer as she watches over a recently emptied police station. As the only officer on duty, the strange occurrences that take place during the film feel especially bone chilling and with ties and inspiration drawn from cults like the Manson Family, this film offers plenty for all horror fans to enjoy.

Last Shift rests nearly all of its weight on the shoulders of its lead actress, Juliana Harkavy (The Walking Dead), who plays the titular and somewhat troubled officer of the law, Jessica Loren. Harkavy does incredibly well given the fact that she is constantly on the screen. Her ability to capture fear in her eyes and win over viewers- even those that are typically apathetic toward horror victims. Even with the assistance of a believable supporting cast, the undeniable fact is that Harkavy is the core and breath of this film.

Attempting to continue her slain father's legacy on the force, Jessica's confidence and pride often conflict with the fears before her eyes, making for an extremely solitary and terrifying time. Last Shift provides every kind of scare horror fans could hope for. From atmospheric and jump scares to terrifying moments of trickery, Last Shift was made with no higher intention. It is gritty and dark and most definitely a straight up horror film.  

Last Shift is a suspenseful and startling horror masterpiece. It is far more deserving of recognition and does what any horror movie could ever hope to do, and provides consistent scares intermingled with a fine storyline. It's one of the best films streaming on Netflix and if you haven't, you need to see it. Last Shift offers everything and more.

 

 

Review: Wolves at the Door



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Cult mania has seen a bit of resurgence in recent years, the indie hit Last Shift, which drew attention when it started streaming on Netflix, Emma Cline's The Girls, and the James Wan-produced Annabelle all featured satanic cults with insidious intentions. Attempting to build on this retro, 60s-inspired subgenre is Wolves at the Door. Recounting the true story of the murders a group of friends murdered by the Manson Family during the 1969 "Summer of Love," Wolves at the Door plays relatively close to a reenactment without much of the backstory, reasoning or tact to make it anything more than exploitative.

Wolves at the Door features former Harpers Island stars Katie Cassidy as pregnant Sharon Tate and Adam Campbell as Wojciech, Elizabeth Henstridge (Agents of Shield) as Sharon's friend Abigail and Miles Fisher (Mad Men) as Jay. Each are actually pretty solid in their roles, despite the film's shortcomings and the tasteless resulting product.  Cassidy is especially effective at conveying love and loss, and as Sharon, she brings some justice to an otherwise low-brow screen.

This movie does feature some scares, even if it is suspense-free. Swept straight out of movies like The Strangers, Wolves at the Door has plenty of dark figures bouncing around the house just out of sight of the characters. There are creepy scenes with our home invaders tapping on glass and writing on walls, but these feel really misplaced and tossed in. In terms of plot, the movie feels as though it is a brutal super cut of murder rather than a holistic film. It never really comes full circle or offers anything past the death scenes and this works to the disadvantage of the horror. There's no art or camp, and definitely no substance to whatever this movie is or could have been and when compared to superior, although critically panned film like The Strangers, the scares of Wolves at the Door feel miniscule and exploitative.

There are things that could have been done to improve Wolves at the Door. A constantly tricky subject, the recounting of real life murders in film can be a steep slope that most filmmakers would avoid. But, where other films may shoot for something more in line of a documentary or a completely changed story that only draws inspiration from its source, Wolves at the Door shamelessly shoots out and showcases the real characters' deaths.

While it'll surely appeal to some, the blatant and contrived nature of Wolves at the Door feels less like a horror movie and more of an unrelenting, dramatized sequence of real life murders. Sure it may feature some of the home invasion aspects kin to movies like You're Next and The Strangers, but it doesn't offer any of the cleverness, storied background or plot. The bottom line is that Wolves at the Door feels like a cheap façade, profiting off of others' loss without regard for the real lives impacted by the losses. There's no storyline, no higher meaning or resolve, just brutality and selfishly profited death. 2 out 10.

 

Review: The Void

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Alien: Covenant is fast approaching, but until then what do sci-fi/horror fans have to look forward to? I present The Void. Easily one of the most entertaining and mysteriously outrageous as it is grounded, The Void is a terrifying concoction of the cult and alternative dimension subgenres. It's the rare sci-fi/horror movie that seems realistic - thanks in part to a stunning cast of actors who bring a level of humanism to their roles.

The Void follows a police officer who brings a disoriented man to a desolate hospital, only to bear witness to a grand plot of portal openings and monstrous creatures. The recently charred hospital that is this film's setting, hosts a number of lingering characters who have yet to move to one of the more well-kept hospitals in the rural area. There's a trio of nurses, a doctor, a pregnant teen, her grandfather, a male patient and later an additional pair running from the cult. Each of these characters provide depth and interest to the storyline; especially noteworthy given horror's tendency to use a cast like cannon fodder rather than story development.

The Void stars Aaron Poole (The Conspiracy) as police officer and central character, Daniel Carter, horror icon Kenneth Welsh (The Exorcism of Emily Rose) as Dr. Richard Powell, a friend of Daniel's father, Daniel Fathers (Dark Matter) as a man running from the cult outside the hospital and Kathleen Munroe (Resurrection) as experienced nurse and wife of Daniel, Allison Fraser. Other cast members include Ellen Wong (The Carrie Diaries) also supports as an inexperienced nurse-in-training, Kim, Mik Byskov (The 100) as a fellow cult escapee, Grace Munro () as the pregnant teen, Maggie and James Millington (The Freshman) as her grandfather.

As noted, this movie excels at creating characters that feel worthwhile. For Poole who holds much of the camera's attention, his role as Daniel is especially terrific given his realistic and subtly comical responses. Other especially great performances come from Wong, whose character goes from somewhat useless to undoubtedly scrappy and Munro's Maggie who is scarily frantic for her and her baby’s life. The understandable, but constantly frustrating man played by Fathers, is also entertaining enough, as is the other members mentioned previously.

The Void is also bolstered by a pension for suspense building. No matter how ridiculous or off-the-rails its final scenes got, everything felt horrifying. Even scenes that had a sense of placidity - like those featuring the cloaked cult members standing in the lot - were unsettling at the least. There's also plenty of homage to movies like The Thing, with impressive practical effects and well-timed gross out scenes worthy of the history books. In fact, there are no true flaws in The Void. This is a film that is truly committed to its mythology and no matter where that mythology goes or how susceptible that world could be of critiques, the confidence at which it plays out is hard to undermine.

The Void is deserving of each and every one of its praises. It is horror-inducing, it is funny and it most certainly is well-done. It’s the type of movie an array of people could find something to love and is setting an early standard for best lists of 2017. From the very first scene where Daniel comes face-to-face with a cult member (Personal note: I pinpointed this scene as one that would give me nightmares, and within an hour of falling asleep I was jolted awake by a dream of it), to the final intense moments of survival, The Void never lets up. 9 out 10.