Walking Dead: What Comes After [volume 18]

Author: Robert Kirkman


Premise:
Rick's realizes what it actually means to be under The Saviors rule. He devises a secret plan to take them out and they meet another group of allies who want the same.

My Take:
The roller coaster ride continues as this volume is a bit of breather after the high emotions of the previous issue. This one sets up the ground work for what could be a epic battle.

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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Transcendence (2014)

Starring: Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany, Kate Mara, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy, Clifton Collins Jr., Josh Stewart, Cole Hauser
Director: Wally Pfister


Premise:
Upon his deathbed, a brilliant scientist uploads his consciousness to drive a new artificial intelligence system. The super computer manifests into it's own personality and begins to transform society into its own image. Now those who helped create the system must now destroy it.

My Take:
The movie has great concept, cast, special effects but falls way short on actually explaining grand details. Still manages to be entertaining in spite of the pitfalls.

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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Ghost On Air (2012)

Starring: Zhong Qing Dennis Chew
Director: Cheng Ding An


Premise:
A successful morning DJ steers off his competition by telling ghost stories. He is also battling the memory of his deceased girlfriend. Eventually he realizes the stories were real.

My Take:
It's kind of the story we've seen a million times... a ghost seeks revenge on wrongful death. At least the radio aspect makes it a little unique.

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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Satan's Playground (2006)

Starring: Felissa Rose, Ellen Sandweiss
Director: Dante Tomaselli


Premise:
A family's car breaks down in the Jersey Pine Barrens. They get attacked by the Jersey Devil and seek refuge in an old house which is occupied by a loony family of satanists, one of which may be the creatures mother.

My Take:
This movie is a hot mess. It has the legend of the Jersey Devil mixed with satanists and so much dumbness that I don't even want to waste the words to complain about it. Needless to say when the first fifteen minutes are people arguing in a car with one of them constantly looking out the window saying "Did you hear that?", the viewer is in for bad flick.

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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Bloody Birthday (1981)

Starring: Lori Lethin, Billy Jaye, Joe Penny, Jose Ferrer, Julie Brown, Susan Strasberg
Director: Ed Hunt


Premise:
A group of children go on a killing spree. 

My Take:
Wow, this is a stinker. Three young kids start a murderous spree because they were born with no consciences (blame the solar eclipse). Apparently these 10 year old kids are smarter than every other person in the movie.

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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The Last Days On Mars (2013)

Starring: Liev Schreiber, Elias Koteas, Olivia Williams, Johnny Harris, Romola Garai
Director: Ruairi Robinson


Premise:
While on Mars, a group of astronauts makes a discovery of bacterial life existed on the planet. They decide to do an unauthorized expedition while waiting on their relief crew. Of course this turns out bad as a crew member dies and is exposed to this ancient bacteria. It changes his body composition and revives him as a murders creature which infects others.

My Take:
A stellar cast helps the movie. It's watchable but I've seen better with this familiar 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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All Cheerleaders Die (2014)

Starring: Caitlin Stasey, Siano Smith-McPhee, Brooke Butler, Amanda Grace Cooper, Reanin Johannink
Director: Lucky McKee, Chris Sivertson


Premise:
After her friend dies in a cheerleading accident, a girl joins the squad to find out what happens. But things turns strange when a horrible accident kills the squad. The girl's wiccan lover uses her powers to revive the girls and get revenge on the football players who caused the accident.

My Take:
This is a crazy movie and rather hard to explain why things are happening it on. There is gore and and tension and some humorous scenes. However it didn't click with me.

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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The Dead Matter (2013)

Starring: Tom Savini, Andrew Divoff,
Director: Edward Douglas


Premise:
A group of friends go camping and find a vampire's relic which revives the dead. 

My Take:
Zombies and necromancy and vampires do not mix well in the film. It's kind of a mess with not real explanation on how these entities are around in the same universe or how they are linked. It's a mess 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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Tik Tik: The Aswang Chronicles (2012)

Starring: Ramon Bautista, Joey Marquez, Lovi Poe
Director: Erik Matti


Premise:
A soon to be father and his friends fight of a family of aswang in his remote village

My Take:
The movie isn't really what I was hoping for as bigger budget Filipino movie (similar to Hollywood fluff). There's a lot thrown into the story with relationship between the unwed father and mother and her parents. Many situations led to somewhat comedic outcomes. And there's decent effects and actions. None of it clicked for me, which is too bad because I find the aswang myth fascinating.

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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Walking Dead: Something To Fear [volume 17]

Author: Robert Kirkman


Premise:
This volume has the group agreeing to take out the nemesis of their new found group. However these enemies are already tracking the group. They have plenty of tricks and manpower to force themselves on the group. These enemies strike first and give Rick an ultimatum.

My Take:
The best thing about this comic is just when you think it's heading in one direction, the story goes into a completely different mode. Usually then major characters die in a way totally unexpected and gruesome. Death happens to two main characters in this volume and just when one thinks is about to kick ass, he retreats into self loathing mode.

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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Shiver (2012)

Starring: Danielle Harris, John Jarrett, Casper Van Dien
Director: Julian Richards


Premise:
A serial killer has one of his victims get away, but he wont give up on finding her.

My Take:
It's sad to see (the always lovely) Danielle Harris and (the under rated) John Jarrett in such a trivial, cliched movie. The first half is horrible and predictable. The second half picks up a bit, but by then it lost my interest.

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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The Conspiracy (2013)

Starring: Aaron Poole, James Gilbert
Director: Christopher MacBride


Premise:
A documentary team makes a movie about the people who believe in conspiracy theories. When one of the interviewees suddenly goes missing, one of the filmmakers digs into the secret society which may be responsible.

My Take:
A very interesting and unique take on the conspiracy theory angle. The found footage aspect didn't bother so much in the movie because it fit in with the story. Unfortunately for the main characters they find exactly what they were looking for... and much more.

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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River Monsters, Season 6 (2014)

Starring: Jeremy Wade


Premise:
Angler and explorer Jeremy Wade searches the Amazon River for the mysterious fish it holds and tries to solve a couple of long lasting mysteries it holds.

My Take:

Favorite Episode:
"Amazon Apocalypse" - Wade tries to figure out a thirty year old mystery of what ate close to 200 passengers when a river boat sunk.

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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In Their Skin (2012)

Starring: Selma Blair, Rachel Miner, Joshua Close, James D'Arcy
Director: Jeremy Power Regimbal


Premise:
A family vacation is interrupted by another family who wants what they have.

My Take:
A familiar tale is amped up by a good cast and well written characters. And it does a nice job of setting up drama before unleashing terror.

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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Would Your Rather? (2012)

Starring: Brittany Snow, Jeffrey Combs, John Heard, Sasha Grey, Enver Gjokj, Eddie Steeples, Rob Wells
Director: David Guy Levy


Premise:
A group of people in dire needs are invited to a dinner gathering where the host gives one of them a chance to win what they need. Unbeknownst to the guest, in order to win they must play a game of "Would You Rather?" where the stakes get increasingly higher.

My Take:
I honestly didn't expect much going into this film but ended up being pleasantly surprised. A stellar supporting cast is what really made it work. Plus some of the games are rather inventive. 

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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Crave (2013)

Starring:  Josh Lawton, Ron Perlman, Emma Lung, Edward Furlong
Director:Charles de Lauzirka


Premise:
A crime scene photographer starts to delve into madness and fantasies as the job messes with his mind. And when a new relationship turns bad, the man cant separate the two worlds.

My Take:
The movie was rather hard to rate for me. I liked the premise and some of the scenes but the overall execution of the material was lacking. And the running time was too long. But the main detraction was the rather annoying main character

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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She Killed in Ecstasy (1971)

Starring: Soledad Miranda, Howard Vernon
Director: Jess Franco


Premise:
A doctor commits suicide after a governing board concludes his research into human embryos is inhumane. His grieving wife decides to seek revenge on those who made the decision.

My Take:
This flick is a tad more straight forward than most by the director. And it's storyline concerning human embryos must have been cutting edge for the time. But the movie quickly sets in to the usual Franco style with long, extended sex scenes and usual camera tricks. A watchable but forgettable movie.

Rating: Middle

 






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