Mama (2013)

Starring: Jessica Chastain, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Director: Andrés Muschietti


Premise:
Two young girls are found in the woods five years after their father killed their mother and took them their. The girls say that "Mama" kept them safe while there. The girls go to live with their uncle and his girlfriend trying to adjust to their new life but "Mama" keeps making appearances.

My Take:
There's a lot to like with the movie as it's not really a typical vengenful ghost story. It's skillfully directed with a lot happening in the background and looks amazing. Plus the kid actors are great as they are transformed from wild creature like state back to some what normal. It's even a little heartbreaking at the end.

Rating: So Good


 




Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Paranormal Xperience (2011)

Director: Sergi Vizcaino


Premise:
A group of students go to an abandoned mining town said to be haunted in search of proof in the after life.

My Take:
While the film looks great there isn't much as far as substance goes. I found it to be very bland and boring.

Rating: Steaming Pile





Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Hollow (2012)

Starring: Emily Plumtree, Matt Stokoe, Sam Stockman, Jessica Ellerby
Director: Michael Axelgaard


Premise:
Two couples head to a remote village to explore a myth surrounding a twisted tree and the spirit inhabiting it which makes young couples commit suicide.

My Take:
The movie goes down the same roads as The Blair Witch with first person, camcorder shots and not revealing the evilness until right at the end (and even then it's a little murky). It does a good job of creating tension between the characters and the environment. While there is definitely a few scares, it seems I've similar scenes too often before.

Rating: In the middle






Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Dark Tower: The Long Road Home [Vol. 2]

Author: Robin Furth
Artist: Jae Lee


Premise:
The three gunslingers try to ride to safety as The Big Coffin Hunters are hot on their trail. To make matters worse, Roland gets sucked into Maerlyn's Grapefruit where he must battle demons of his own.

My Take:
An great entry into the series as the relationship between Roland and The Crimson King is revealed.

Rating: So Good





Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Black Rat (2010)

AKA: Kuronezumi

Director: Kenta Fukasaku


Premise:
Months after a girl commits suicide due to being bullied by her friends, the group receives an email telling them to meet at school one night. Then they are attacked by a person wearing a rat mask.

My Take:
Not a new tale by any means but there is enough style and twists in this one to keep the viewer interested until the credits roll.

Rating: In the middle





Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Hell's Ground (2007)

AKA: Zibahkhana

Director: Omar Khan


Premise:
Five kids on the way to a concert have their van break down and get attacked by zombies (who turn from the polluted water) and killer wearing a burqa.

My Take:
While there's nothing new here to add to the zombie or serial killer genres the joy comes from watching the influences from the Pakistani culture get melted into the story. This was labeled as the first gore film from the country and the gore is quite copious. I think it does get a tad ambitious by throwing together too many things which results in odd editing and pacing.

Rating: In the middle

 



Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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River Monsters, Season 4 (2012)

 

Starring: Jeremy Wade


Premise:
Extreme angler Jeremy Wade searches the fresh water rivers and lakes of the world in searching for answers to rumors or myth about certain fish.

My Take:
I am addicted to this show. Each week Wade takes an investigative approach to a mystery about a different fish or attack. Then he gets right in the middle trying to catch the culprit. The guy is fearless, or possible out of his mind, and always puts together an intriguing narrative.

Favorite Episode:
"Russian Killer" - Wade searches for answers to the mystery of fisherman disappearing without a trace in the Amur river. Is it a sturgeon, giant catfish, or something else?

Rating: In the middle (too many "best of" episodes)



Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Crimson (1973)

AKA: Crimson, The Color of Blood  / The Man With the Severed Head

Starring: Paul Naschy
Director: Juan Fortuny


Premise:
After a botched robbery a doctor tries to perform a head transplant on one of the criminals.

My Take:
The movie starts out decent with criminals on the run angle but it loses steams fast once they force a doctor to perform a head transplant. No one can think that is a good idea...right?

Rating: Warning






Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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More Brains! A Return To the Living Dead (2011)

Starring: Clu Galager, James Karen, Don Calfa, Linnea Quigley, Michael Nunuez Jr, Thom Matthews, John Philban, Jewel Shepard, Beverly Randolph, Brian Peck
Director: Bill Philputt


Premise:
The cast from Return of the Living Dead talk about the making the movie.

My Take:
I think the producers got nearly every person who is still alive and associated with making this movie on camera for a very in depth discussion on what it took to make this now classic horror flick.

Rating: So Good






Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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The Black Room (1935)

Starring: Boris Karloff, Marian Marsh
Director: Roy William Neill


Premise:
A twin murders and impersonates his brother igniting an old family curse.

My Take:
It's nice see Karloff not all made up but still in a rather notorious role. He is simply awesome here playing two completely different twins. The movie still holds a decent punch dispite the age.

Rating: In the middle






Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Game of Thrones, Season 3 (2013)

Starring: Peter Dinklage, Lena Headley, Emilia Clarke, Richard Madden, Kit Harrington, Sofia Turner, Jack Gleason, Maisie Williams, Isaac Hempstead Wright


Premise:
Noble families fight for control over the land of Westeros.

Season Three has Daenrys Targaryen raise her dragons and an army while moving closer to Westeros; the Stark family is still in disarray and scattered as King Robb battles with King Joffrey, The Lanisters try to restore the family name through marriages, The Nightwatch are overtaken by while the Wildings move in for an attack from the North, and so much more.

My Take:
The plot of this show gets thicker with every passing second. I am amazed at all the different storylines and multitude of characters which enter and exit. It's just a fun show to watch.

Favorite Episode:
"The Rains of Castamere" (Episode 9) - This felt like the season finale as the ten minutes left me astondished.

Rating: So Good

 
Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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The ABCs of Death (2013)

Premise: One lettter of the alphabet for one director to make a short film concerning horror with complete freedom but under a budget restraints. 

My Take: No doubt there is a lot of talent on display. But as with most anthology films, some are far better than others. It's an interesting experiment.



Favorites include: "O is for Orgasm" by Bruno Forzani & Helene Cattet, "R is for Removed" by Srdjan Spaspjevic, "L is for Libido: by Timo Tjahajanto


Rating: In the middle  




Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License An affiliate of http://seankimmel.com/

The Walking Dead: Here We Remain [vol. 9]

Author: Robert Kirkman


Premise:
A group of people fight for survival in an world over taken by zombies.

Volume 9 sees Rick and his son trying to find shelter at an old familiar place in the aftermath of the prison onslaught. Along the way they find some old friends and a new group with headed to Washington DC.

My Take:
This volume sort of feels like a new chapter point in the story. Those from the group still alive get back together on Herschell's farm and are told of about a new glimmer of hope.

Rating:So Good






Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Night Train Murders (1975)

AKA: Last Stop On the Night Train

Starring: Irene Miracle, Flavio Bucci
Director: Aldo Lado


Premise:
A trio of psychos torment and eventually murder two girls on an over night train before sneaking away undetected, only to receive help from the girl's parents who are unaware of their crime.

My Take:
The movie reminds me of an Italian version of Last House On the Left. While it's not quite as hard to watch, it still has some very uneasy moments of tension.

Rating: In the middle






Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Isolation (2011)

Starring: Eva Amurrri, David Harbour, Greg Henry
Director: Stephen Kay

Premise:
A medical student wakes up in an isolation room at a hospital but has no memory as to why she is there. Her only contact is a doctor and an orderly.

My Take:
A very predictable and not extremely interesting film. The two leads do a decent job but the material has been hashed over several times before and doesn't add anything new.

Rating:Warning






Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Airborne (2013)

Starring: Mark Hamill, Billy Murray, Alan Ford, Gemma Atkinson
Director: Dominic Burns


Premise:
A flight from London to New York goes off course as passnegers start to disappear. Soon they discover an ancient evil is the reason.

My Take:
This movie ended up being better than I anticipated. There's a lot set up and side stories before the final act reveals what is really happening. There is lots of talking but it managed to keep me interested.

Rating:In the middle






Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Mad Gods

Author: Anthasios


Premise:
Secret organizations have corrupted humanity since the beginning of time in order to steal souls for a master plan. All that stands in their way in a one man and one lost soul. 

My Take:
This is a dense novel which combines all sorts of religous beliefs and historical facts into a fascinating tale that jumps around over time and mold an entirely new take on faith and all religions. It's a daunting and daring task that is well researched and ends up being very interesting. To tell more would spoil the enjoyment. 

Rating:So Good






Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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