Room 237 (2013)

Director: Rodney Ascher


Premise:
Several theories exploring the hidden meaning behind Stanley Kubrick's The Shining

My Take:
A fascinating film where you hear five different takes the interpretations about the true meaning of The Shining. None of these theories are remotely connected. One says it's about the slaughter of  Native Americans. Another claims it to be Kubrick's admission to him faking the moon landing footage. Another is about the holocaust. Plus a couple of others and several other hidden items pointed out. It could have been edited better to help distinguish these theories (way too many clips from other movies) and often these people come off as obsessed fans of the movie (what are their credentials anyways). What makes it so interesting is the way each are so convinced and have proof, though some is very far fetched. Cineaphiles will enjoy these discussion.

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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Antivral (2012)

Starring: Caleb Laundry Jones, Sarah Gadon
Director: Brandon Cronenberg


Premise:
In the future a company sells viruses from celebrities to obsessed fans. One employee sneaks a virus into his system, which begins to cause his slow death. Now he must figure out a way to stop the virus and who is behind it.

My Take:
A daring movie that makes one think about how far some will go for a touch of celebrity. It is methodically paced and full of weirdness. Some outstanding visuals and looks beautifully with eye popping colors. My night be for all fans, but it is definitely an original piece of horror cinema.

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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Crimewave (1985)

Starring: Brion James, Sheree Wilson, Paul L. Smith
Director: Sam Raimi


Premise:
A pair of exterminators/hitmen murder terrorize the tennents of an apartment building after killing the owner of buglar alarm company.

My Take:
A movie set in the 30's with "Looney Tunes" type violence and comedy. Unfortunately, it doesn't work for me and ends up being rather unfunny. The two psychos are convincing characters though and movie does move with speed. A missed opprotunity by a lot talented people early in their careers.  

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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Maniac (2013)

Starring: Elijah Wood, Nora Arnezeder
Director: Franck Khalfoun


Premise:
A young man who restores antique mannequins is also a serial killer. His life changes when he meets a photographer.

My Take:
A solid remake that brings something a tad different to the table. The first person point of view forces the viewer to almost become the main character and experience the troubles and horrors he is going through. It was a bold move that in my opinion pays off. The fact the only time you see the main character is in reflection makes it all the more uncomfortable. And it is brilliant played by Elijah Wood.

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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Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th (2013)

Director: Daniel Farrands


Premise:
An indepth retrospective on the Friday the 13th series

My Take:
Clocking in at around six and half hours this is a tremendously detailed documentary which goes through not only the original installment of movies, but also the television show, Freddy vs Jason, and the remake. Packed full of interviews with actors, directors, writers, and others and lots of behind the scene stuff. A worthy documentary that isn't just for fans of the series but horror buffs in general


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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Hatchet III (2013)

Starring: Danielle Harris, Kane Hodder, Zach Gilligan
Director: BJ McDonnell


Premise:
The next installment of Victor Crowley tale picks up where the last one ends as the bloodied survivor escapes the swamp and seeks help at the local police station. The only person who believes her story is a reporter. The local cops are sent out to the swamp where they soon find out the legend is true.

My Take:
A decent sequel with lots of the same over abundant spraying viscera on the screen. The story holds up as we find out the true link between Crowley and final girl Marybeth. If you are a fan of the series, then you should enjoy

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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This Is the End (2013)

Starring: Seth Rogan, Jay Baruchel , James Franco, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, Jonah Hill
Director: Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogan


Premise:
The apocalypse comes to the world during a party at James Franco's house and a group of celebrity friends try to survive to outcome.

My Take:
I am a fan of celebrities who poke fun of themselves and their profession, and this group does it often and well. There are lots of horror homage and a crazy amount of splatter in this over the top comedy. And cameos galore from "young Hollywood" (most getting slaughtered). Not what I expected going into the movie but was a lot of fun.

Rating: Instant Classic





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

Starring: Damon Herriman, John Jarrett
Director: Cameron Cairnes, Colin Cairnes


Premise:
A group of friends with a broken down car get picked up by a man who runs an organic fertilizer company, where the special ingredient is human meat.

My Take:
A much better movie than anticipated with a comedy undertones and a decent amount of splatter. There's also a couple of distrubing moments.

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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Luther the Geek (1990)

Starring: Stacy Haiduk, Joan Roth, Edward Terry
Director: Carlton J. Albright


Premise:
A murderer is set free and goes on a killing spree

My Take:
Another oddball movie where a murderer some how convinces a parol board to be set free, then begind slaughter those around the town. And glucks like a chicken instead of talking. Yep, that basically sums it up.

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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Zombie Ass: Toilet of the Dead (2012)

AKA: Zonbi Ansu


Director: Noboru Iguchi


Premise:
A group of friends come across zombies in a remote forest. They find out the zombies are caused by a parasite and being monitored by a crazy scientist.

My Take:
I am a huge fan of the director and his strange, over the top splatter flicks. And this one is way out there. One sort of knows what to expect by the title, but then it goes so much more over board. Defintiely a one of a kind movie but it's not for everyone.

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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Thale (2012)

Starring: Silje Reinåmo
Director: Aleksander Nordaas


Premise:
A crime crew clean up team is called out to a house in the middle of the forest where they find a thale, a beautiful woman like creature with the tale of a cow, being captive.

My Take:
A beautifully shot movie that holds tension and creepiness high throughout. It is a unqiue story with an interesting legend that goes to places I never expected.


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 Wailer (2006)

AKA: La Lloronas

Starring: Vanessa Rice, Nicole Danille, John Patrick Jordan
Director: Andrés Navia


Premise:
A group of friends traveling through Mexico rent out a small house where a horrible crime happened years earlier and a town legend just may be real.

My Take:
There really is not much I can say about this movie.  It is bad. And far worse than I expected. Just avoid it and all of the buffoonery by the characters, who prove they deserve to die.

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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Siberia: Season 1 (2013)

Starring: Joyce Giraud, Johnny Wactor, Ester Anderson, Neeko Skervin, Daniel Sutton, Mijan Milosevic, Sam Dobbins, Sabine Akhmedova, Irene Yee, Anne-Marie Mueschke



Premise:
A reality show puts contestants from around the globe in a remote Siberian forest in a battle to see who can last the longest. Soon weird things begin occurring and contestants start mysteriously disapperaing or dying which leads to the discovery that those remaining might be trapped and the game is no longer being played.

My Take:
A slick concept as the show is filmed as a reality contest show. The first couple of episodes rely more on the characters battling each other for a shot at the prize money at this old trading post where a mysterious disappearance happen in 1908. Then things start getting stranger by the minute and build up one by one. There are a lot more questions than answers and hopefully another season to come. Very intriguing series that demands your attention.

Favorite Episode:
"Lyin' and Tiger and Bare" - Episode three heats up with the contestants at each other's throat and then a tiger shows up to begin a series on unexplained occurences.


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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Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janseen, Peter Stormare
Director: Tommy Wirkola


Premise:
Hansel and Gretel escape a witch's house as children and grow up to be hunters who specialize in killing witches. They come across a powerful witch with a plan to make her kind fireproof.

My Take:
If you looking a for simple, non thinking, fast paced, action-horror then look no farther. Good characters and decent story.

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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The Black Waters of Echo's Pond (2009)

Starring: Danielle Harris, Robert Patrick, James Duval, Mircea Monroe, Electra Avellan, Elise Avellan
Director: Gaberiel Bologna


Premise:
A group of friends vaction on a private island. They find an old board game which unleases inner demons and real ones.

My Take:
A rather lame flick, with lots of bad writing, that some how managed to pull together a decent cast.

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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Supernatural: The Animation Series (2011)

Starring: Jared Padalecki, Annakin Slayd


Premise:
Sam and Dean Winchester hunt monsters and demons while searching for their father.

My Take:
The animation series follows along with the season one of the series. It was nice to go back to that place as Sam and Dean are reforming their relationship and the beginning of a great mystery unfolds. It adds a little bit the overall mythos of the series and fans will probably find it very appealing.


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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Buppah Rahtree Phase 2: Rahtree Returns (2005)

Director: Yuthlert Sippapak


Premise:
The spirit of a vengeful ghost and her boyfriend haunts an apartment where bank robbers are hiding out.

My Take:
I surprised by the original and how well it blended comedy and riffs from classic horror films. The sequel has some of the same charm. It brings back many of the orginal cast who live in the complex and mixes their story with Buppah.

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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Kiss of the Damned (2013)

Starring: Milo Ventimiglia, Josephine de La Blume, Roxane Mesquida
Director: Xan Cassavetes


Premise:
A screenwriter falls in love with a vampire and gets turned. Their relationship is going well until the vampire's sister arrives.

My Take:
This a stylish throwback to 70's Eurosleaze, which I enjoy. However there is more substance here as oppose to movies it is paying hommage to and a tad light on the eroticism and blood. Still its definitely worth watching.   

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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