Life After Beth (2014)

Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Paul Reiser, Cheryl Hines
Director: Jeff Baena


Premise:
A young man is grieving from his girlfriend's recent accidental death when he finds out she has returned. However something is different about her.

My Take:
A film that uses zombies more in the rom-com format. At times it works and others it doesn't. The cast is enjoyable and plays it straight which helps. The third act brings the story to more of an epic scale, but then tries to wrap it all up in a happy ending. It's a watchable flick.

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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Jodorowsky's Dune (2014)

Starring: Alejandro Jodorowsky
Director: Frank Pavich


Premise:
The story of how director's Alejandro Jodorowsky's passion project Dune got closed down after pre-production during the early 1970's and lasting impression it made for future science fiction cinema.

My Take:
The story is fascinating and packed full of lots interviews with many people involved in the process. Jodorowsky himself steals the show as his in depth discussion on how he wanted the movie to play out. This unmade movie was a vital part in cinema and it's ideas have been implemented in several movies over the years.

Rating: So Good

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/

Nightbreed [The Director's Cut] (2014)

Starring: Craig Sheffer, David Cronenberg, Anne Bobby, Charles Haid
Director: Clive Barker


Premise:
A serial killer psychiatrist pins his murders on an unstable patient with delusions of a mythical world full of mutants.

My Take:
It's been years since I saw the original film, but I remember it being fairly uneven. With this new director's cut, I sort of feel the same. It's the same film yet different in many ways. At least this version is closer to Barker's original idea.

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 Guard Post (2008)

Starring: Ho-jin Chun
Director: Su-chang Kong


Premise:
An investigative team is sent to a guard post, which over looks the DMZ, when the entire squad is murdered. Upon arrival the find one survivor

My Take:
A solid story where things are never what it seems to be. It keeps the viewer guessing with alternating between current time and flashback to the murders. And throws a bunch of different horror elements in the mix. What seems on the surface seems to be a slasher ends up being a mystery with many supernatural elements. It's very stylish and fairly gory too. Dont expect any long hair ghosts in this flick.

Rating: So Good

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/

Z Nation, Season 1 (2014)

Starring: Kelilta Smith, DJ Qualls, Keith Allan, Russell Hodgkinson, Pisay Pao, Nat Zang, Tom Everett Scott, Anastasia Baranova, Michael Welch


Premise:
A group of people attempt to escort a man, who may hold the antivirus for a zombie outbreak in his blood, from New York to California.

My Take:
A zombie apocalypse tale which never takes itself too seriously. For those looking for compelling drama and a thought provoking story, well look elsewhere. In this series the viewer gets zombie tornadoes, radiation filled zombies, old west shoot outs, nuclear missiles, and lots more craziness. I was mostly put off by the lack of details in the scripts and the huge gaps which don't make sense. The season finale did manage to leave me wanting to see what happens next.

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/

Lucky Bastard (2014)

Starring: Don McManus, Betsy Rue, Jay Paulson
Director: Robert Nathan


Premise:
A porn website offers a fan the chance to be in sex scene with one of its stars. When the fan is unable to perform, he snaps and starts murdering the crew.

My Take:
An interesting idea on found footage sub-genre though there are some familiar trappings. The cast is likable and does a good job with the material, especially Don McManus. It manages to produce tension and creepiness once the groundwork is laid.

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 Initiation (1984)

Starring: Daphne Zuniga, Vera Miles, Clu Gallagar,
Director: Larry Stewart


Premise:
A college female plagued by nightmares is pledging for a sorority. A patient from her family's past escapes from the mental institution. Soon bodies start piling up.

My Take:
A standard slasher from the early 80's that does have a nice twist in the third act. If you make it to the end.

Rating: Warning

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/

Rites of Spring (2011)

Starring: AJ Bowen, Anessa Ramsey, Katherine Randolph
Director: Padraig Reynolds


Premise:
A group of people kidnap the daughter of wealthy couple for a ransom. They hide out in an abandoned building waiting for the payout. What they dont know is the farm next door in the process of a yearly sacrifice to the monster who watches over their crops.

My Take:
Two fairly thought out story lines (kidnapping for ransom and a kidnapping for a sacrifice) meet up in the third act of complete chaos. It's interesting and watchable.

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/