Directed by Michael Tarzian and released in 2005, Screech of the Decapitated is low budget buffoonery of the highest order that is deliberately so. Below grindhouse standard, it revels in the paucity of its effects and the campy knowingness of the deliberately pantomime acting. And, because it does all this, the film manages to raise itself up by its own bootstraps. It follows showgirls Raquel (Brittany Petros) and Wanda (Shannon Noelle Garrigus), international showgirls, strippers (not that the film plays the nudity card, to be fair) and part-time jewel thieves and agents. They are in Buen ..read more

A short film that is just over 18-minutes length and I assume directed by John A Benjamin (the film’s credits list him as editor and DP), this was produced in 2015. The film shows all the hallmarks of being a labour of love that fights against a lack of budget. It is most telling in the locations, where a bland room serves as most, it seems, whilst a still of a mansion is the establishing shot. This does have one particular moment that stands out for me. you will be cursed The film starts with intertitles that suggest that the last witch trial in America was 1878, but the year is ..read more

Author: C. Augustine First Published: 2020 Contains spoilers The Blurb: Come, tour the wild hills and deep, black forests of Transylvania with us. Climb aboard the creaking carriage. We're headed to the Borgo Pass, to Castle Orlok, for a night of terror that will leave you screaming for the dawn... In the acclaimed silent film Nosferatu (1922), filmaking (sic) pioneer F.W. Murnau offered to the world what has been described as the most ""realistic"" vampire film ever made.Suppressed (sic) for many years by the estate of Dracula author Bram Stoker, the film was thought, for many years, to ..read more

Drag stars the Boulet Brothers (aka as Dracmorda Boulet and Swanthula Boulet) are probably best known for their horror themed drag contest Dragula. Halfway to Halloween is a TV special created exclusively for Shudder and released in May 2023 (half way… you get the picture) that is actually a variety and sketch show. It was directed by The Boulet Brothers with both Nathan Noyes and Michael Varrati directing segments. I was a little shocked, as I watched it, that there was a lot less drag than I thought there would be. In fact they have a large number of celebrity appearances including Kevin ..read more

Authors: James Tynion IV and Matthew Rosenberg Artist: Otto Schmidt First Published (THB): 2023 Contains spoilers The Blurb: The nightmarish second arc begins! The Earth is now cloaked in darkness as the victorious vampire empire has taken full control. Pockets of humanity can still be found, and they struggle to live but hope fades with every darker day. The leaders of the last surviving resistance force-Green Arrow, Batgirl, and Supergirl-hatch a desperate plan to save the world…or die trying! The review: If you have not read Volume 1 then please note this review will contain major s ..read more

This 2011 film was directed by Joston Theney and it’s, let’s be honest, not brilliant. The premise sees a chess game between the devil and, well its never said but presumably God gave powers to the demon hunters in this, as they do have powers. The primary hunter is Ramona (Tonya L. Harris) who has taken over from Lady Jasmine (Brinke Stevens), and we also briefly meet Lady Black (Tiffany Shepis). This is a world were the good have to take an ‘ends justify the means’ stance. Also in the plot is scientist Cassie (Mariana Evans), new in town due to a job opportunity (there is a side bar of pe ..read more

Director: Paul Knop Release date: 2000 Contains spoilers A straight to VHS film, this is a washed-out looking affair but, despite amateur acting and a simple storyline, there is something amusing to this and a good nugget of an idea. It had a very short run on Blu-Ray but don’t expect any remastering, if you can track it down. It starts in Eastern Europe in 1599 and Mi Lady (Michele Mattert) is taking a bubble bath as the, maid, Greta (Lori Boyd), comes upstairs carrying a lamp. She brings a towel and Mi Lady gets out to be dried but Greta slits her throat and allows the blood to pour in ..read more

Sometimes slow and steady wins the race but sometimes it is rapid and high octane for victory. Max6 was a just over over 2-minute short from a 2010 short film competition, which was directed by Lee Ford and works so very well in its simplicity. We see a car and a group of six guys. They are heading for a lift but the driver of the car approaches, a beautiful woman (Tine Stapelfeldt, Eat Locals). fangs and blood The lift is closing but one of the guys opens the doors. The occupancy is a maximum of 6 and so they kick out Ralph – which might seem unfair but, truthfully, he’s the lu ..read more

Though split into chapters, the Hills of the Dead by Robert E Howard is a short and is definitely interesting in the way it treats vampirism. This is one of Howard’s Solomon Kane stories and was published in Weird Tales in 1930. Kane is in Africa and consults with a Shaman called N'Longa who gives him a stave, sharpened at the end, and suggests that if he sleeps holding it, the stave will draw N’Longa to him astrally. The stave isn’t named in the story but is the Staff of Solomon. As he travels, he saves a village girl from a lion and offers to escort her home. However, they have to shelte ..read more

Director: Hugh Gallagher Release date: 1994 Contains spoilers Shot on, and straight to, video, Gore Whore is a low to no budget flick that I have had ghosting around for a long, long time but never got around to reviewing. It is ostensibly a zombie flick, which owes some of its beats to Reanimator, but the titular Gore Whore is definitely a vampire – though one created by science. The film begins with a John (John McLaughlin) returning to Dawn’s (Audrey Street) home. He cracks wise that as she has her own place, he should get a discount (as she has less overheads). Ignoring him, she danc ..read more