Shudder Day: Queen of Black Magic (2019)

 Back when I got DVDs from Netflix, I used to LOVE watching whatever Mondo Macabro would distribute.

In 2026, I can now check out the (sort of) Remake of one of those Films.  
This is...

A trio of men- now married and one with children- return to the Orphanage at which they were raised when the man running it is near death.

Their past comes in the form of stories about a malformed woman and her mysterious disappearance.

Along the way there, they hit a deer.

As weird stuff starts to happen, the Dad checks the car and sees...something not right.

What he sees at the place of the wreck, he sees something even worse.
No, I won't SPOIL what that is.

Attempts to call the Police- fail.
Cell Phones- they don't work.

And yes, we are still doing 'No signal out here' stuff in 2019.

What is the weird cord attached to her cell phone?

Everyone there- from the kids to the parents to the staff running the place- is in danger.

A strange force is making them confront their fears/phobias.

It gets bloody.
It gets cruel.

Who will live?  Who will die?

What happens when the truth comes out?

To find out, stream it now.

A slow burn Film that gets very, very dark by the end.

The key aspect of the Film is that it needs about 25 Characters to let them do all of the crazy kills/torture they need to do.

As such, the Film takes a while setting things up.

Once the Horror starts, it never really lets up.
The CGI and make-up work is good here- almost too good.

The Film looks too real and the body horror stuff is quite unsettling.  If that's your thing, then you'll love this one.

Fans of freaky, dark Horror are in for a treat- as long as they can deal with foreign Actors, locations and subtitles.

A Film that eventually gets to a scary and graphic place.  If you don't like blood and cruelty in Film, skip this one!

'90s Class: Trespass (1992)

 Another late Film, but very much worth the wait!

This is Trespass, specifically the 1992 Film.  Sorry, it is not the 2011 Film by Joel Schumacher (his last Feature Film).

Instead, it is the one by Walter Hill and featuring a slew of notable names for its time.

Bill Paxton!  William Sadler!  Ice Cube!  Ice T!

Yes, the Stars aligned and we got both ice-named Rappers in one Film together!  The Prophecy came true!

On top of that, this is another Film based on a Script written by a young Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis.  The previous Tales from the Crypt Film (made 3 years after this) also happened to star Sadler.  
At least his Cameo in Bordello as a Mummy does connect things!

The Plot involves Paxton and Sadler as Firemen seeking a treasure haul to change their lives.  They just happen to be at the worst building at the worst time and now a stand-off occurs!

Who will live?  Who will die?  Why was this one retitled from Looters?

To find out, read on...

Paxton and Sadler are Firefighters trying to rescue people from a burning building.

An old man gives them some papers and then flees into the room, burning alive!

In the aftermath, they figure out that he gave them a story about stolen gold artifacts from a Church...and a Map.

They take a weekend trip from Arkansas to Illinois to find it.

They have to search a large, vacant building and work hard.

Up on a nearby roof, a deal is interrupted by a crew led by Ice T and Ice Cube.

They are there because the former's brother- Lucky- was making the deal.

They toss the guy through a glass part of the roof...

...and unfortunately, Bill Paxton just happened to walk into view and look up as they looked down.

They confront him, guns drawn and Sadler steps by grabbing Lucky has a hostage!

Now they are under a siege.

With Lucky tied to the door, the gang couldn't enter.
With the gang blocking all exits, they can't get away.

They have to work with the homeless man living in the House, which gets easier when they finally find the loot!

As time passes and options disappear, tension is also raising in the group.

Ice Cube thinks that the Boss is too soft and his comrade- nicknamed Superfly- agrees.

They plan to burn the whole building down!

Guns are fired.

Lucky is killed in the crossfire.

Paxton uses his fireman skills to go down the once-blocked chimney on a rope line.
He swings back into the building Die Hard-style when Ice-T starts shooting.

Ultimately, Sadler- as the most aggressive and greedy one- dies in a shootout with Ice-T.

The rest of the gang either leaves or gets killed.

Paxton reaches the bottom when he sees the building explode- thanks to Cube's C-4- moments later!

The homeless guy manages to get out with the loot and hide it from Paxton.

He convinces him to leave- 'they don't care about me- and the man smiles when he leaves with all of the loot.

The End.

An exciting and tense Action Film from a man who surely had the formula down by now.

If you've seen the 48 Hours Films, you know what Hill can do with a mismatched duo in a tense shootout.

This one was apparently inspired by The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, which tracks.
It was also going to be released as Looters, but then the Rodney King Verdict and the LA Riots happened, so...new Title.

The Actors do a great job showing the escalating tensions between friends, gang members and mentor-mentee.  Both Ices do a good job, though T's role requires more nuance and has more of an Arc.

Ice Cube is basically a dick the whole time.  He's effective but never changes much.

Paxton and Sadler both shine too.  They were always good.

The use of a big, but isolated building is great for the tension and they used every angle possible.

Trespass is an Action Film with some nuance and a bit more than you might expect.
Ice-T also reminds me of a Christmas Film too...

***Who pulls off the look better?***

Next up, it is time to revisit an '80s Film with Harrison Ford.  Can he keep a woman safe in a tight-knit community unlike our own?  Stay tuned...

Tubi Thursday: Men (2022)

 It has been a weird week for me Film-wise.

That only gets worse as I decided to watch...

A woman named Harper goes off to a private English Cottage in the wake of some recent trauma.

The Holiday this is not.

Geoffrey (Rory Kinnear) is the Owner and is a bit wonky, but not a threat.

The strange, naked man (who looks like if Rory Kinnear played Baron Harkonen) is slightly more of a threat, seemingly stalking her back to the House.

She tries to enjoy the lovely Cottage and put the strange incident behind her.

However, other people in Town- like the Cop- seem odd and somewhat threatening.

A better biblical allegory than 'Mother!'

Even the Vicar- Rory Kinnear looking like George Washington, sans donkey teeth- tells her that she's 'responsible' for the suicide of her Husband.

That was the inciting incident for her trip and she has been reliving the moments in orange-tinted flashbacks throughout the Film.

A final night at the Cottage gets...weird.

I could say more...but it wouldn't prepare you for it.

Seriously, words don't this one justice.

To see how weird (and somewhat vague) this gets, stream it now.

A visually engaging Film that definitely could have been much less vague.

Seriously, I haven't been as confused by a Film since, well, the last Film I watched for this site.

This is an A24 Film and this is quite evident.  Alex Garland doesn't care if you want clear answers.

If you can accept that this Film is just weird, full of visual metaphors and not going to really answer things all that well, this Film is quite a sight.

The Acting is great.  Rory Kinnear is great.  Jessie Buckley is great.

Is it intriguing that the Film just happens to star a past Frankenstein Actor and a future Bride of Frankenstein Actress?  Yes.

I can only recommend this Film to fans of Arthouse Horror (it gets freaky and gross at times in Act 3) and Alex Garland.

For anyone else, this is your future...

A Film that sure gets weird by the end...and is not exactly easy to decipher.  That said, it looks amazing and is quite enchanting at times.

Streaming Standard: HIM (2025)

 A Film with a vastly different Audience and Critics Score.
A Film that I meant to cover last Month.

I am He and this is...

Cameron Cade is a can't miss Football prospect.

Amazing in High School.
Amazing in College.

About to go into the NFL when...

An attack to his head keeps him from taking part in the 'Combine.'
It is a Public Workout designed to let Coaches/GMs see a Player and then try to recruit them.

With that out, he's offered a last chance to do a Weeklong tryout for the Saviors, the winningest team in the League.

He also knows that he's potentially there to replace Isaiah Washington (Marlon Wayans).
He's won 8 Super Bowls and this is likely his last Season.

Will he train his potential replacement?

Cameron is going through some intense training- mentally and physically.

Will he sacrifice everything for his lifelong dreams?

Or will all the strange dangers in his life make him meet his end?

Will he retain his insanity?

Will this all wrap up neatly?

To find out, stream it now.

This one is weird- intense, crazy and weird!

The first Movie that comes to mind is Sorry to Bother You.
That should tell you about what kind of Movie this is.

The Plot is fairly simple and the aspect of seclusion that comes into really seals things.  Cameron is cut off from everyone he knows and this is classic Cult behavior.

While watching the Film, I kept expecting many of the crazier moments to be analogies or hallucinations.  Apparently, that is not the case.
Everything you see is something that apparently did happen.

Maybe.

If you're up for something crazy intense, crazy strange and just plain crazy, this is a must-watch.
Even if I'm not sure when I plan on watching it again, I have zero regrets about seeing it.

It is super intense, has a crazy visual style at times and made me kind of scared of Marlon Wayans!  This is the real Scary Movie 6!

Did that Title drop get me on the algorithm?

A Film that was a really hard sell, given that it is a Psychological Horror Film about Football.  That said, even this non-Sports Fan kinda dug its crazy energy!

Shudder Day: Founders Day (2023/4)

 From a Scream to a Whisper?

This is a 2024 Slasher Film that technically came out in Theaters (so Wikipedia says), but I have zero memory of it.

Since America is in a Slasher mood, let's check out...

The Film begins with establishing a few things.

A small Town is nearing a contentious Mayoral Election.
The Daughter of one of the Candidates is dating...a girl?!?  Gasp.

As they talk about how the girlfriend is going to leave, a masked man shows up and attacks the Daughter!

She's thought dead after being tossed off of a small bridge.

In the aftermath, the ire between the Candidates grows even greater!

As tensions rise, so does the body count!

People connected to the Candidates are targeted.

Things take a big turn (which I won't SPOIL) and now things are even more complicated.

Who are the killers?

Things get really tense as everyone is a suspect.

Well, not the dead people- of course.

As the finale approaches, who is behind the killings and why?
In lieu of a SPOILER, here's one of the many Character Posters for the Film that I totally picked at random.

The End.

A Film that doesn't feel all that original...but does have some stuff to say.

This one is interesting in many ways and very generic in others.

This straight-up feels like a Modern Slasher, coming out after Scream's return.  This one really focuses on the mystery over the body count, which is at least nice.

Thankfully, this is one of those Slashers where there are still a few likable/redeeming Characters and not just assholes.  There are obviously SOME, but having less of them means more.

Day has some decent kills, complete with obvious setup and a few that subvert expectations.  The Masked Killer reminds me of the last Episode of Batman: The Animated Series though.

Without any SPOILERs, this one has quite a few twists in the last hour or so and keeps you guessing somewhat.

Considering that I've seen so many low-Budget Slashers on Tubi, seeing this one rated at 4 on IMDB sems a bit low.  I'd say that a high 6 or low 7 is more accurate.

Take us away, Japanese Poster!

A Film that appeared and disappeared into Streaming Purgatory very quickly.  Even so, I think it is pretty good and definitely better than its online Rating would suggest.

2025 Catch Up: Predator- Badlands (2025)

 After Prey revitalized the Franchise and proved doubters wrong, we got an Animated Film.

After that, we got this Film by the Director of Prey.

Do the hits keep coming?

Let's find out...

Dek is a Yautja (aka Predator).

As the smallest of Clan, he is designated as worthless and supposed to be culled.

Instead, his Brother sends him on a last chance mission.

Survive a super-deadly Planet and kill an Apex Predator OR never come back at all.

Some choices!

The Planet is full of deadly plants and animals.

It is like a much more interesting version of After Earth.

As things look bleak, he finds an unlikely ally.

An android/synth named Thia has been stranded there as well, separated from her group to boot.

The Weyland-Yutani Corporation has interests in this Planet too.
As luck would have it, the same thing that separated Thia from her legs is the creature he's after.

Team-up!

Good news- they find the Kalisk.

Bad news- this is the Kalisk!

Of course, I won't reveal all of the twists and turns that happen in this one.

To find out how this all plays out, stream it now!

A very enjoyable Film that definitely feels like a fresh experience.

I love the Predator Films.
The Alien vs. Predator Films are...sometimes a different Story.

How do you make the Franchise feel exciting again?
You make it from the point of view of said Predator, as opposed to them being the Villain/Heavy.

It is so simple and yet no Film (obviously the Books did) did it until now!

The Film looks amazing, making the alien worlds feel real.  The creatures are vibrant and lively.
This version of the Predator/Yautji is a great use of CGI as making his mouth...um, spikes move constantly in wide shots would be next to impossible.

I like that the Film has depth to it- like featuring the Weyland-Yutani Corporation- but also feels inviting.  If you don't know what said company is, the Film gives you a simple explanation that doesn't require 'homework.'

Predator fans will love this.
And yes, it is PG-13 since all of the blood is green and the 'people' are synths.

Try not to get hung up on it.

A Film that proves that switching owners from Fox to Disney didn't neuter the Franchise.  If you missed it in Theater, give this one a watch!

Tubi Thursday: TNT Jackson (1974)

 Let me hit two events at once here!

In honor of Black History Month and the beginning of Chinese New Year, I present...

In a Cold Open, a black man is killed by some bad guys and ends up onstage during a Show!

TNT Jackson comes to Hong Kong and pretty much immediately finds trouble!

She meets up with a guy named Joe Wong, who agrees to help her.

This Film was originally Written by Dick Miller to be made in China, but was then rewritten to be shot in The Phillipines.

As such, Joe actually gets TOP BILLING on that version- Dynamite Joe Wong and TNT Jackson.

He'd also hold Elected Office in his hometown of Makati!

Jackson reveals to him that the dead guy from the beginning was her Brother.

He agrees to help her get close to the bad guys, since they were likely the culprits.

Said bad guys include Charlie (left) and, of course, the Token White Bad Guy.

They deal in drugs, but are running into issues.

All but Charlie immediately blame TNT for this...for no good reason!

She proves herself to Charlie in a fight and he agrees to hire her.

However, she's then not there for the next drug drop (at Charlie's request).

Lots of chopping.
Lots of shooting.

It all comes down to TNT Jackson vs. Charlie again and she basically reenacts how Darth Maul killed Qui-Gon- just with her fist alone.

Also, as these usually go, the Film just immediately ends right there.
Kind of like this.

A fun time, even if it is shallower than a puddle.

Long stretches of this Film are people circling each other and fighting.
It is fun.  There's just SO much of it.

They occasionally stop for the Plot- which involves the blonde lady being a Cop- and then it is back to fighting.

Our Lead- Jeanne/Jeannie Bell- looks good and bad here.  Her fake fighting looks very fake, but she does look good while doing it.  
She's apparently an Instagram Fitness Influencer going into her 80s, so good for her.

This is pure exploitation fun for 42nd Street or to watch between making out at a Drive-In.  Don't expect anything complex or deep her.

Thems the breaks.

A fun bit of exploitation and mindless violence.  Lots of real fighting, lots of fake fighting and everything you'd expect from a Movie from this time and with this Title.