Genre: Live-action/adult animated psychological horror-thriller film
What It Reminds Me Of:
Writer: Robert Morgan, Robin King
Director: Robert Morgan
Premise: A stop-motion animator struggles to control her demons after the loss of her overbearing mother.
My Premise: An artist’s work starts to come to life. Is it to help cope with her trauma from her abusive mother or is everything truly coming alive?
Cast: Aisling Franciosi
Review: I put off watching this movie because of how creepy it looked. And wow, was it creepy. It feels like every movie I’ve reviewed lately is about someone’s ‘descent into madness,’ and this one fits right in.
This film would have been plenty scary without the stop motion, but adding that element makes it downright chilling.
The art design is incredibly impressive, and the way it feels like you’re watching two movies in one adds a unique twist. It starts a bit slow, but really picks up, and the third act is wild.
I won’t spoil anything—just go watch it with the lights on, and be prepared to lose some sleep.
Where to watch: Shudder (Included), Rent it across other streaming platforms
Genre: Horror movie
What It Reminds Me Of: I don’t want to say, haha! It reminds me of a movie that I loved in the early 2,000s. But mentioning it could give it away.
Writer: Damian McCarthy
Director: Damian McCarthy
Premise: A psychic medium attempts to uncover the truth behind her sister’s murder at the site of the crime.
My Premise: A blind woman enters the home of her dead sister to find out the answers behind her murder.
Cast: Gwilym Lee, Carolyn Bracken, Tadhg Murphy, Caroline Menton, Jonathan French, Steve Wall
Review: This month, I have been watching one horror movie a day. I started watching classic horror movies that I had never seen before. Then, I moved into newer horror movies. I have been watching them late at night after my girlfriend falls asleep. A lot of the movies that I have watched were too old or too cheesy to provide any really scares. This was the first movie I watched this month to really scare me. Honestly, this was the first movie in a while to scare the hell out of me.
This movie introduces a new character, the Wooden Man. Who is very, very creepy. I wish that people would dress up as him for Halloween or put him out on their lawn.
I don’t want to give much away on this movie. I just want people to watch it. It is original, it is genre-crossing, it is scary and it will have you guessing until the end.
Damien McCarthy has another recent movie out called Caveat that I plan to watch soon. After watching this movie, I want to watch whatever else he puts out.
What It Reminds Me Of: Talk To Me, Bodies, Bodies, Bodies, Clue
Writer: Greg Jardin
Director: Greg Jardin
Premise: A group of friends gather for a pre-wedding party that descends into an existential nightmare when an estranged friend arrives with a mysterious game that awakens long-hidden secrets, desires and grudges.
My Premise: A reunion turns from sexy to crazy when old friends live out their long-awaited desires, including revenge.
Cast: Brittany O’Grady, James Morosini, Gavin Leatherwood, Nina Bloomgarden, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Reina Hardesty, Devon Terrell, David W. Thompson, Madison Davenport
Review:
This movie is being hailed as this year’s Talk to Me, and I agree. It’s an indie horror film that feels very original, fresh, and innovative. Instead of drugs, a group of friends sits in a circle and experiments with something new, something mind-altering.
I was definitely confused at certain points during the movie. I think it’s one of those films you might need to watch once or twice to fully grasp. Watching it with captions can help too, as the dialogue clarifies who is who. One thing I really appreciated about this movie is that the writer and director also edited it. I love when that happens because it’s rare, and in this case, it feels essential. The movie can be confusing at times, but the director uses unique methods—such as lighting, lenses, moods, and other techniques—to help us easily distinguish between characters.
I liked how the movie starts off with a sexy, intriguing vibe and then descends into madness. It begins with characters exploring their curiosities and missed opportunities, but it quickly turns into something much darker. There’s a strong presence of lust and greed, and both come with consequences.
The film tackles themes like jealousy, the pitfalls of social media, missed opportunities, and the boundaries between friends and lovers. Now that I think about it, it has a bit of a Shakespearean feel. It would actually make a cool stage play.
It also reminded me a little of Clue—a modern-day murder mystery, a “whodunit” with a technological twist.
I love when TV shows or movies involve body-swapping, where actors have to mimic the mannerisms, features, and reactions of other characters. It takes a special kind of actor to pull that off, and this ensemble cast does an amazing job.
Also, the editing was really cool when the group was gathered together. It reminded me of the scenes in That ’70s Show when the gang passes around a joint—except in this movie, the substance has real side effects, is highly addictive, and… well, you’ll have to watch the movie to see the rest!
Premise: In 1993, a mysterious children’s show host, Mr. Crocket, magically emerges from television sets to kidnap young children, brutally slaying their parents in the process. After Mr. Crocket snatches her son, one determined mother embarks on a perilous quest to track down the demonic entertainer and rescue her boy.
Cast: Jerrika Hinton, Elvis Nolasco, Ayden Gavin, Kristolyn Lloyd, Alex Akpobome.
Review: If you ever wondered what it would be like if someone made a movie that was The Ring meets Pee Wee’s Playhouse, look no further. I, at first, thought of this as more of a Mr. Rogers inspired character. But it wasn’t long until I got the Pee Wee vibe. I won’t give away much but the whole set of characters on his show comes alive.
Every Halloween, Hulu unveils a new release of original horror movies. When I first saw the trailer for this one, I was hooked. It is really original. It definitely has some parts that are inspired by other movies, but the premise is original and we really need that right now.
This movie was really cool. Innovative, fun, dark, supernatural. It provides backstory of the antagonist, which is really nice. You learn why he is the way he is. How he got there. How he does what he does.
I really wish that this got a theatrical release. I read that it started as a short film and I am so glad it got the funding to make it feature-length. It needed a full-length version. And it wasn’t too long. It didn’t drag on.
And the opening scene. You will be all in once that scene opens.
About: Ireland’s alternative emo darlings Greywind are finally back with new music – and a story to tell. The Killarney-based brother and sister duo of Steph and Paul O’Sullivan have experienced a lot in their career. The bands formative years saw the two struggling to navigate the juxtaposition of some remarkable highs and traumatic lows. Heroic praise of their sets at Reading & Leeds and Download Festival were often drowned out by unreasonable expectations of those around them. Even renowned radio DJ Zane Lowe (BBC, Apple Music) referring to Greywind as “A moment you won’t forget if you’re a fan of rock music” didn’t seem to quench the thirst of the short-sightedness surrounding them at the time. Then, when confronted by the isolation of a global pandemic, Greywind found themselves struggling mentally & emotionally to decide on the best path forward. As a result, they swore they wouldn’t put out another note of new music until they had the rights to their major-label-released debut album ‘Afterthoughts’ back. Now, after a lengthy struggle, and a 2023 viral surge that saw multiple songs off ‘Afterthoughts’ reaching millions of new fans globally, they’re more than ready to usher in a new era of their career with a brand new single called “Antidote.” Jointly produced by Sam Guaiana (Neck Deep, Silverstein) & The Wonder Years’ guitarist Casey Cavaliere, “Antidote” is a song fueled by the visceral whirlwind of emotions experienced by Steph and Paul in the first phase of their career.
About: The Strike is a three-member band based in Los Angeles, CA including frontman Chris Crabb, Jay Tibbitts (drums), and David Maemone (keys/guitar). The Strike released their debut album “Faint of Heart” in June of 2017, which was met with great enthusiasm nationally. The success of the record allowed them to expand their presence into Los Angeles from the greater Mountain West region where the band started. In 2022 the band signed with Nettwerk Music Group and released their follow-up album “The Lost Years,” which helped them garner national attention and begin touring. The Strike will be releasing their third studio album in the Fall of 2024. The album was recorded with acclaimed producer John Fields (Jonas Brothers, Ben Rector, Cory Wong, Switchfoot).
The Strike is known for their captivating live performances. In an age of musical minimalism, The Strike is reminiscent of rock bands from the 70’s and 80’s. They feature true showmanship in an age where the art of performance has been forgotten. Chris Crabb’s vocal style is akin to rock vocalists such as John Waite, or Steve Perry. The band members are all students at their craft. Those who attend Strike shows become instant fans.
Band members:
Chris Crabb – Vocals
Jay Tibbitts – Drums
David Maemone (keys/guitar)
Where are they from: Los Angeles, CA
Reminds me of: The 1975, Thriving Ivory, Journey, if Patrick Stump fronted a an 80’s rock band.
My favorite band, Good Hangs, have just released a new EP titled, DO IT FOR DALE (hope my love will quit). The album and title track got it’s name from the guys finding out that Nascar Xfinity Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a few of their songs on his playlist. The North Carolina native is apparently a bit time of pop-punk including bands like Have Mercy and The Wonder Years, and more recently Good Hangs.
My two favorites from the EP are pc4pc (hurt) and If I ate mold, do you think I’d notice? (Disa Disa Disa).
DO IT FOR DALE (hope my love will quit) is a song about trying to get over the love you have for your buddy’s girlfriend.
pc4pc (hurt) is a beautiful song about losing out on love due to addiction. The catchy, repetetive words in the chorus will surely get stuck in your head.
If I ate mold, do you think I’d notice? (Disa Disa Disa) is a song about your current, working professional, thirty-year old self looking back on you in your early twenties and being disappointed in how you never reached your dreams or at least are still pursuing them.
I Hate This City (Without You) starts off with a Mark Hoppus style bass line. And, just like so many pop punk albums had one or two acoustic songs, they also always had a song about how different the singer’s town feels now without their love there anymore. And this song is just that.
Review: These movies play a big part in my love for horror. I saw the first one when it premiered at the Independent Film Festival Boston in 2012. My friend used to work for a film rental company, and we would get free passes to the festival. I remember how much I loved the first V/H/S movie. Some people found it too disturbing, and some found it to be too much of a shaky cam, found-footage movie.
Since the release of the first film in the franchise, there have been seven anthology films, two spinoffs, and a miniseries:
1. V/H/S (2012)
2. V/H/S/2 (2013)
3. V/H/S: Viral (2014)
4. SiREN (2016) – Spinoff film
5. V/H/S: Video Horror Shorts (2018) – Miniseries
6. V/H/S/94 (2021)
7. V/H/S/99 (2022)
8. Kids vs. Aliens (2023) – Spinoff film
9. V/H/S/85 (2023)
10. V/H/S/Beyond (2024)
The only film I didn’t like in the franchise was V/H/S: Viral. I felt it tried too hard to be a political statement, and it didn’t really have any scare factors. SiREN was also decent, but I feel it worked better as a short.
Anyway, V/H/S/Beyond is a great installment. It is a little different, as they went more in the direction of sci-fi versus horror. But that doesn’t mean the movie isn’t filled with disturbing and terrifying things. Just like the ones before it, it features a bunch of new concepts and stories by new creators in the V/H/S franchise.
I didn’t know what score to give this movie. I don’t like when people compare and contrast things and give the follow-up an unfair chance. A lot of people, including myself, didn’t like Us as much as Get Out. Was that because it wasn’t as good, or because we were challenging Peele to make the same type of movie and avoid a sophomore slump? The first time I watched Us, I said, “It wasn’t Get Out.” And it wasn’t—it was its own movie. The second time I watched Us, I loved it. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that I didn’t love V/H/S/Beyond as much as the first movie, but that’s fine. It’s its own movie—its own series of shorts made by completely different people. While this one focused more on sci-fi vs. horror, I still really enjoyed it. All horror fans love sci-fi, right?
I went into V/H/S/Beyond without watching a trailer. I didn’t want to know anything going in. However, right before watching, I did read that Justin Long, Mike Flanagan, and Katie Siegel were behind a few of the shorts, and that got me pumped.
Without giving away spoilers, Justin Long and his brother co-wrote and co-directed one of the shorts, and it is very reminiscent of a previous Long movie. This shouldn’t give anything away, as the scream king has a long list of horror films he’s been in.
The last short in the film is the one that will stick with me. It was pretty interesting throughout, but the ending was absolute chaos, leaving the protagonist in the worst-case scenario. It was pure terror.
I just posted about how Bon Iver has a three-track EP coming out this month and has already released a track. This is the first new music released by Bon Iver in over five years. But even if we got new Bon Iver music every day, it’s still wouldn’t be enough. That is why I’ve put together a Spotify playlist so you can listen to my other Bon Iver. This includes Artists and bands that sound like them, as well as side projects and previous bands that Justin Vernon, Sean, Carrie, and other members have been in.
I will keep doing more as I think of them or discover them!
Justin Vernon – Before he started Bon Iver, Justin Vernon released music under his actual name. The songs are raw, emotional, beautiful, and he sounds like Springsteen. There is even a great medley out there called.” Drinking This Rain, I’m on Fire.”
DeYarmond Edison – The band that Justin was in during college.
The Shouting Matches – A trio that Justin is in that makes music for fans of The Stones and The Black Keys.
Gayngs – A soulful soft rock supergroup comprised of Justin and members of other bands like Megafaun, who the rest of DeYarmond Edison went on to start.
Volcano Choir – Another side project of Justin’s.
Kanye West’s Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is one of the best albums ever made. Of any genre. And Bon Iver is on two tracks on this album including a sample of “Woods.”
The Tallest Man on Earth – Bob Dylan of Sweden. Mikey from Bon Iver went on to play violin for them.
James Vincent McMorrow – Basically Irish Bon Iver.
Cautious Clay – A phenomenal singer from Ohio with similar vocals.
Sleep Token – a British rock band from London. The song on this playlist is reminiscent of “Woods” where they use their vocals as the instrument.
Justin Nzouka – A singer-songwriter from Canada.
Francis and the Lights – Modern day Huey Lewis and the News. Has collaborated with Bon Iver.
José González – A phenomenal Swedish indie sfoll singer songwriter from Gothenburg. You have definitely heard “Heartbeats” before. His band, Junip, is also great.
Rogue Wave – A great band featured in some great movies.
Taylor Swift – You might have heard of her. Aarón Dessner, of The National, has been producing Taylor Swift for a few albums now and encouraged her to reach out to Justin and get him on a track from her album, Folklore.
The National. Get to know them. They founder Boston Calling with Bon Iver and Eaux Claire, the festival in Justin’s hometown in Vermont.
Iron & Wine – Very similar style. Received worldwide recognition with his Postal Service cover.
Ben Howard – Bon Iver of London with a fantastic guitar styling.
Gregory Alan Isakov – Bon Iver of Colorado.
Novo Amor – Welsh Bon Iver.
S. Carey – The solo project of Sean Carrey, the drummer of Bon Iver.
A few weeks ago, Bon Iver teased something on Instagram that got a lot of people excited. Including myself.
I first heard Bon Iver at a get together in college. I visited my friend at his school in New Hampshire and there was an option of Jack Daniels whiskey or marijuana. I was not a whiskey guy. I knew what I liked and didn’t like. I got high and then Bon Iver came on and everything changed forever. OK, maybe that is a little dramatic. But I have said that I want to create a bumper sticker that reads: Bon Iver was my therapist before I was in therapy.
I was obsessed. I still am. My ex had bought me a biography of his and I never got around to reading it because I didn’t feel like I really needed to. I could tell you everything about Justin. How he came up with the name for the band. The three original members. Every side project of his. Every project that his former band members and current band members have gone onto form. I even went to Eau Claire Wisconsin back in the day to see the festival that they put on with The National.
Justin recently announced a new EP, Sablet. The three-track album will come out on October 18th. The first single, “S P E Y S I D E,” has been released accompanied with a music video. The other two songs, “Things Behind Things Behind Things,”and “Awards Season,” will be released soon. The EP marks a return to Justin Vernon’s acoustic roots, reminiscent of For Emma, Forever Ago. The decision to strip back the sound comes after years of experimentation with a fuller band. Collaborators on the EP include producer Jim-E Stack and Rob Moose, who contributes viola.
Only 16 more days until we are blessed with three new tracks from one of the best musicians in history.
