Plot: After a vivid dream, Maude Ashton returns to Adelaide, certain she now knows the whereabouts of her missing twin sister.
Runtime: 1 Hour 43 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Rabbit starts when Maude (Clemens) has a vivid dream about her missing twin sister Cleo. They have become so vivid she decides to return to her home town in Adelaide to see how the investigation is going. Maude teams up with Ralph (Russell) and Detective Henry (Pasvolsky) to follow the lead from Maude’s dream.
However, as Maude dives deeper into trying to uncover the truth, she finds herself facing an uncomfortable world. Each path presents a different danger and one she isn’t prepared for.
Verdict on Rabbit
Rabbit is a mystery horror following a woman who starts having dreams about her missing twin. She returns home to investigate only to find herself drawn into a strange world that she isn’t prepared for.
This movie takes us down a strange journey as Maude must deal with searching for the truth. It goes down a path which becomes something you never expected. However, certain choices can become overly complicated and not everything seems to click in the world expect. It ends up becoming a movie we could have seen a lot more from, to give a more rounded story.
Final Thoughts – Rabbit is a strange film that doesn’t quite connect.
Plot: Thirty years after her accidental death at her 1957 senior prom, the tortured spirit of prom queen Mary Lou Maloney returns to seek revenge.
Runtime: 1 Hour 37 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II starts with the tragic events of 1957s prom when Mary Lou (Schrage) is killed. 30-year-later Vicki Carpenter (Lyon) is preparing for her prom and begins having horrific nightmares.
As the prom approaches, the visions and nightmares become far deadlier as Mary Lou’s powers become strong. Meanwhile, the people who attended the fateful prom begin believing their past is coming to haunt them.
Verdict on Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II
Recap
The movie follows the spirit of a murdered prom queen returning to possess a new prom queen. She uses the connection to get her revenge on the people who killed her, leaving a pile of bodies in her path.
Best Parts
The revenge idea has plenty of scares, which drive the story forward. We get a host of nightmarish situations that could easily compare to some of the biggest ones in ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’. It has a disturbing story running through and could have easily been a great stand-alone movie. The opening sequence alone is terrifying, and the effects for the time only add to the terror.
Worst Parts
One of the biggest weaknesses comes from the fact it is sold as a sequel to Prom Night. When it has never to nothing to do with that original movie.
Final Thoughts –Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II is a chilling, scare-filled movie.
Plot: A police S.W.A.T. team investigate a mysterious VHS tape and discover a sinister cult that has pre-recorded material which uncovers a nightmarish conspiracy.
Runtime: 1 Hour 43 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict on V/H/S/94
The Empty Wake (D. Simon Barrett)
The Empty Wake follows Hayley (Legend) hosting the wake of a man whom nobody has turned up to. There is a big storm happening outside, causing power problems and Hayley finds herself alone at the morgue. Strange things start happening and Hayley is left wondering if she is alone or not.
This one takes a twisted turn after diving into the concept of being alone in a morgue. A place of death having chilling feelings and exceptional effects once the reveal happens. It is one I would love to have seen even more of, instead of just the chaotic short time we have. It’s pure horror chaos and it’s fantastic. (5/5)
Storm Drain (D. Chloe Okuno)
Storm Drain follows a news team reporting on a mysterious creature seen and heard in the sewer system. Holly (Hopkins) is reporting the story, which sees her enter the sewer system. However, the deeper they go into the sewers, the more horrors they encounter.
This is a great start to the series of stories, it feels like a desperate attempt to find a story. It plays into the curiosity killed the cat idea and by making them a professional crew, it adds even more horror to the story. It removes the trying to make a name for themselves aspect and leans into a story people would follow. (4/5)
Terror (D. Ryan Prows)
Terror follows a group of hunters with a select group of human prey. They are preparing for their latest hunt. They have used religion to lead their rampage against their victims, which sees their plan for destruction to happen. The team has been preparing to make a massive statement and today is the day the operation occurs. However, their plan goes wrong and they unleash something much more terrifying.
This plays into the extremist movement lurking in the shadows of America. It shows how they could have a big plan and things can spiral out of control because of their patriotic beliefs. While most of this is the preparations, the chaos when their plan starts to go wrong makes for an entertaining concept and one you kind of feel glad the twisted group got what they deserve. (4/5)
Holy Hell (D. Jennifer Reeder)
Holy Hell follows a SWAT team completing a drug bust and uncovering the different video tapes. However, the deeper they get the more we learn about the team and what they are searching for. It takes us to an extreme and brings everything full circle to show us a new twist in the collection.
This is the wrap-around story that has a much closer connection to anything we have seen before. It works extremely well and gives us a shocking reveal that presents the idea of the movies in a new way. (4/5)
The Subject (D. Timo Tjahjanto)
The Subject follows The Creator (Ross) performing a host of experiments on people. He has been merging humans with machines creating a host of disturbing creatures. However, his operation has been targeted by a SWAT team who closed down his experiments. However, they discover one of his deadliest creations is waiting to take on anyone who gets in its way.
This one takes us through the crazed doctor trying to make the perfect creation. It shows horrendous merges between humans and machines. The camerawork is the standout here as see the first-person chaos that works extremely well for the chaos that is unleashed. (5/5)
Overall
V/H/S/94 gives us another nice selection of short horror stories. Each one brings something different to the table, presenting a different vision of horror. It has become a franchise that brings a host of different directors to show their talents off. This is no different and becomes another excellent addition to the collection. The most important thing is, even if you don’t like one story, they usually offer plenty of others you can enjoy.
Plot: Four friends become hunted by a giant killer snake during a canoeing trip on the Chattahoochee River and must overcome their differences in order to survive.
Runtime: 1 Hour 16 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Snake Creek starts when Bill (Bash), Kevin (John), Patrick (Ogletree) and Aylmer (Rockwell) head off on a canoeing trip. However, it turns into a nightmare when they clash with a giant killer snake. Their attempts at rescue see them clash with a redneck family with plans of their own.
It becomes a race to survive from the deadly snake and the crazy family. Can they make it out alive before it is too late?
Verdict on Snake Creek
Recap
The movie follows four friends who go on an adventure weekend. However, they clash with a killer snake and locals who want to keep him around. It becomes a race to survive in a wilderness of the unknown.
Best Parts
The wilderness elements of the film are fun, using the idea of exploring the world and being free from modern society.
Worst Parts
While the concept is good, the film doesn’t give us enough investment into the characters. Their relationship never feels that close and things are too generic. Elsewhere, the attacks never feel like a threat and more protection of land.
Final Thoughts –Snake Creek is a generic by-the-book creature feature.
Plot: An author returns to his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot in search of inspiration for his next book, only to discover that the townspeople are being attacked by a bloodthirsty vampire.
Runtime: 1 Hour 54 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Salem’s Lot starts when author Ben Mears (Pullman) returns to his hometown to focus on his latest novel. Susan (Leigh) takes a quick shine to him. Elsewhere, a strange figure makes an order to a rented home, and local schoolboys deal with bullies.
When one of the schools vanishes, the town begins a panicked search. However, the children continue to be the targets as a vampire begins their bloodthirsty attack on the town. Ben must team up with Susan and other residents to fight back and protect the town.
Verdict on Salem’s Lot
Recap
The movie follows a small town coming under attack from a group of vampires. They must band together to fight back against the creatures who have been turning their own against them. It becomes a race against time to escape and stop the spread of the vampire outbreak,
Best Parts
The characters are well designed as you would expect from an original Stephen King novel. Everyone gets a chance to be flushed out and we add in the shock value for certain things which happen. We also get strong performances, which help develop the characters.
Worst Parts
The story of a vampire outbreak in a town could be interesting, but this feels slower and lacks that impact. The shock value work, but they are more for a shock value only. It also lacks the scares you would imagine too.
Final Thoughts – Salem’s Lot doesn’t have the horrors you would expect from the events.
Plot: Vacation turns disaster when Houston grad, Kyle and her friends escape a plane crash in the desolate Louisiana everglades, only to discover there’s something way more dangerous lurking in the shallows.
Runtime: 1 Hour 27 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Gator Creek starts when a group of students go on a vacation Kyle (Strates), Alice (Aragao), Malika (Applebaum) and Sam (Mansaray). Kyle is facing the grief of losing someone close to her, while her friends believe it could help her relieve some of the trauma.
However, their trip turns into a nightmare when the plane they are travelling in crashes in the Louisiana everglades. They must work together with the fellow survivors to find safety. Meanwhile, the shallows are filled with human gators, who are relentless on their spree.
Verdict on Gator Creek
Recap
The movie follows a group of plane crash survivors who must survive the local gator population. They are hungry, angry and fast, meaning it becomes a race against time to survive their attacks.
Best Parts
The location for the crash is the highlight of the movie, it is nice seeing an American threat for once, instead of a distance rainforest. It proves dangers can be found they’re in the wrong places.
Worst Parts
The attacks a shot in an overly shaky cam way, which doesn’t always click and often with way too many cuts. Elsewhere, the gators look CGI, which for a slightly bigger budget isn’t as good as ti should be. The motivation for the trip comes off as confusing too, as it is one-part full celebration, the other is a grieving party.
Final Thoughts – Gator Creek is a typical late night monster horror.
Plot: Obsessed with living up to her dead father’s legacy, a young sheriff finds her mettle tested when locals are found ripped to shreds.
Runtime: 1 Hour 23 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Rippy starts when a small town begins getting mysterious attacks. Local Sheriff Maddie (Haubrich) tries to honour her father’s legacy and solve the case. However, Schmitty (Biehn) believes the town is under attack from a deadly killer kangaroo.
Maddie puts together a team to investigate. However, the team discovers the deadly kangaroo and its vicious nature that rips the locals apart. It becomes a race against time to save the town before it is too late.
Verdict on Rippy
Recap
The movie follows a group of small-town residents facing off against a deadly zombie kangaroo. It has been killing the locals, and now the threat must be stopped before it takes out any more of the locals.
Best Parts
This fits the concept of a B-movie monster film. It has a small town fighting an unstoppable monster or animal, and doesn’t hold back on the blood and violence of the attacks. The performances are good for the style of movie.
Worst Parts
The idea is fun and works for B-movies, but it doesn’t have too much fresh to the idea. Yes, we get a zombie kangaroo, but the character arcs are generic and don’t add too much to supporting the characters or diving into what caused the kangaroo to act the way it does.
Final Thoughts – Rippy is a fun B-movie horror movie.
First Reaction – God of Frogs struggles with the chapter breaks, while trying to show a generation of connections.
Director: Adrian Bobb, Ali Chappell
Writer: Adrian Bobb, Matthew Campagna, Ali Chappell, Max Francis, Foad H.P. Ilana Haley (Screenplay)
Cast
Kate Vernon
Erika Prevost
Lynne Griffin
Corteon Moore
Sean Sullivan
Plot: Deep in the heart of the jungle exists an elemental creature with an eternal hunger. Once every quarter century it emerges to feed, and every time its fate is entwined with the same human family.
Runtime: 1 Hour 44 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: God of Frogs starts when a group of filmmakers head into the heart of a jungle. They stumble upon a group of people who have been living in the area and have a connection to an elemental creature.
However, they make a disturbing discovery that they have become connected to the bigger spiritual belief and chosen to become the name sacrifice.
Verdict on God of Frogs
Recap
The movie follows a group of filmmakers who make an unlikely connection with a spiritual group that worships an elemental creature. However, things spiral out of control when the truth about what they want begins to appear.
Best Parts
The creature design is creepy and disturbing. Elsewhere, the location works well to create the isolation feeling throughout the near by jungle.
Worst Parts
The jump between stories is less interesting to watch and never lets the dread full take over. Meanwhile, this struggles to give us a close enough connection to the characters, as the chapters break down the story too much.
Where to Watch
God of Frogs is on UK digital 2 March from Miracle Media
Final Thoughts –God of Frogs struggles with the broken chapters.
Plot: A teenager just trying to make it through life in the suburbs is introduced by a classmate to a mysterious late-night TV show.
Runtime: 1 Hour 40 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: I Saw the TV Glow starts when school student Owen (Smith) meets older student Maddy (Haven). They are both outsiders and bond over enjoying a late-night TV show. However, Maddy vanishes when the show ends.
8-years-later Owen still doesn’t know what happened to Maddy, but she reappears with a message for him. It drives Owen back into their favourite show in search of answers, only to uncover a disturbing truth.
Verdict on I Saw the TV Glow
Recap
The movie follows a student who meets another outsider and the pair enjoy a television. However, when she vanishes, he finds himself alone and wondering what happened to his friend. When he meets her again, she presents a disturbing story that connects their show and reality.
Best Parts
The connection between the two leads is great and shows how outsiders can come together to find a positive in life. There are uncomfortable moments and unusual sequences. Along with a bigger message that hits home for anyone who has enjoyed television shows from different eras. The performances are great and help carry the story throughout.
Worst Parts
It is slow-moving and might not hit home for people expecting more in-your-face horror moments.
Final Thoughts –I Saw the TV Glow is a calm patient horror movie.
