No One Will Save You (2023)

October Challenge Day 11

Well I loved the SHIT out of this!! Let's talk about the petrifying and stellar story of:

No One Will Save You

First and foremost, this should have had some time in the movie theaters. It's a shame for us all that it didn't.

Secondly, with almost no dialog, this film, most impressively, had my rapt attention!

This is the story of a lonely young woman, socially isolated by some wrong she did in the past, who - one night - wakes up to find a comically typical looking alien in her house. 

Now, although this alien is a 1950s style alien, don't mistake its menace. These things are downright Scary! And I mean, scary scary!!

When it first started to get going, I thought to myself that it feels as if someone saw the Season 2, Episode 15 of the Twilight Zone and got inspired... and then I saw Stephen King essentially said the same thing, according to IMDB Triva, and now I have complicated but honored feels about my noticing the same thing he did.

Back to the story:

The woman and alien battle it out with profound tension (there is profound tension throughout the whole film, by the way) and things get so much more worse for her by morning.

This is a fast-paced, non-stop, thrill ride of very scary proportions. I had no idea where it was going, no idea what to expect, and the aliens managed to get more and more frightening. 

I don't think I watch a lot of alien films but when I do, I am thankful to have found gems.

Now, I would have liked to see more practical effects over the CGI, but the monsters were still pretty well done all the same. 

IMPORTANT: Watch with headphones on - or in a room with a great sound system!

This would make for a great movie watching experience at night, in a fully dark room. Pairs with theater snacks and drinks. Watch with friends and family (recommended, so you can talk about the ending, especially) or alone!

I watched this film  on the Roku Channel (in fact, Roku picked it out for me....) or use the Find It! Watch It! Links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this stellar alien invasion!

Braindead aka Dead Alive (1992)

October Challenge Day 10

The other day I went to Scarecrow Video, as it was rent one get one free day, and browsed through their staff's hand-picked Halloween choices. 

I found three I hadn't seen before and then I saw this film:

Braindead aka Dead Alive

I have seen this gruesome film before and thoroughly enjoyed it! Even added it to my 2018 50 Movies You May Have Missed List!

So I decided to re-watch it and took my selection to the front desk for check out. It was discovered then, that they were actually out of this film and it was a mix-up. 

Now, this was not a problem for me, I had seen the film already anyway and saw others I could check out. Except, the staff alerted me there was one more edition available. 

Okay, fine, I'll check that one out then. A DVD was then pulled from the back of the store.

As they were checking me out, the clerk added "Oh, and there is a $200 deposit for this", pointing to Braindead.

Me: Say what now?

I love my local non-profit video store. I love all the work they did to get me a copy. I said, "Okay".

And that was a first for me! Flushing out $200 to *rent a movie*. There is a first for everything! Apparently I rented a 2001 foreign and out of print edition!

*(Update: I later found that I had watched the German Cut or Blood Edition, of this film.)*

My brother looked at me and said "Don't break it". Such a bro thing to say to his big sister...

But this really is such a boy film. I wish I had better words. It's just so gross, over the top, gnarly, reckless, goofy, grotesquely comical, absolutely hilarious, visually over-the-top, inappropriate, vaudevillian, and did I mention GROSS GROSS GROSS?

Don't forget the dialogue which has such gems as: "I kick ass for the lord!" (slays me every time). 

This is the story of a New Zealand young man, living with his overbearing mother - a mother who is bit by a monster monkey at the zoo and turned into the living dead.

Absolute. And I mean, Absolute Mayhem proceeds. 

I watched this film first thing on a Saturday morning. May I suggest, perhaps, an evening watch, long after a meal. 

This film is so fun, the body horror and practical effects are exquisite - TOP TIER - and you can't help but find the entire film wildly entertaining. Hell, there's even a love story! Something for everyone!

I rented this film from Scarecrow, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this cult classic.

The Dunwich Horror (1970)

October Challenge Day 8

Well, what in the hell was that? Let's talk about the trippy little nightmare that is:

The Dunwich Horror

Is this tentacle porn? Maybe.

Is this a very 1970s late night film, best suited for shady theaters and sticky seats? Yes.

Did I like it? Maybe.

Did I respect it? Yes.

You know things are about to get raunchy when the Necronomicon is introduced right away!

Here we're at college, and two young women are tasked with taking the doomed book back to the library when a "dashing" man interjects himself and asks to borrow it. Against their better judgement, they let him, and this leads to one of the students riding to his sprawling mansion where, evidently, he has bad intentions for her and all hell breaks loose for everyone - literally. 

Allagories aside, and not to be detoured, the local town folk had this man on their radar for generations and are constantly on his ass, which was mildly amusing. Our young co-ed, however, is enamored and falls for his charms, to her detriment. 

Sex is splattered all over the place with this film, so prepare for the sounds and innuendos. It's fun for a while but also got old quick, so thankfully the film is not too long. That said, I'm just not a fan of H.P. Lovecraft and the stories often wear me out so, there's that.

Solid, standard, and fun for a late night watch - particularly with the presentation of the creature (psychedelic through and through) - it's a film to see at least once.   

Pairs with meals made out of jello. Lots of jello. Lots and Lots of jello. Best watched late at night and with someone who also appreciates the '70s horror aesthetic. 

I watched this film on Tubi or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this classy, sleazy, trippy film. 

The Hole in the Ground (2019)

October Challenge Day 4

Is it an Irish Changling or is Mom stressed out and tired! A question as old as time.  Let's talk about:

The Hole in the Ground

This is a familiar story trope: single mother is trying to make it but struggles, especially when their kid starts acting strange. I think this resonates so well because it's so real - it's day-to-day for countless people. 

My family included. Mom had her hands full, raising three kids on her own, poverty-ridden. Maybe that's why I absolutely did not have children. Maybe that's why I feel I really understand the messages of these stories.

For this film we're traveling to Ireland, where a single Mom relocates herself and her child to a remote area and strange things begin to happen - something is in the woods....

Then one day her child goes missing - but when found, more strange things begin to happen and Mom no longer trusts her child is actually her child. 

A quiet, slow burn throughout most of the film, the end picks up with a chilling display of the monsters really at work here.

I like this film for the mood and grimey atmosphere - and it actually made me miss my own Mom a bit, with her and the wonderful tales she'd share about elves, imps, and fairies. 

These are NOT the fae you want to mess with, though! Actually, you don't want to mess with any fae.... This is a good watch for those who don't want something too scary but want a little spooky for the spooky season. 

Pairs with a favorite soup, the smells of earth, and a friend or two who wouldn't doubt it if you told them you saw a changling. 

I watched this film on HBO, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this "old wives' tale" of a film. 

Resident Evil (2026)

October Challenge Day 2

My brother called up me recently and asked if I wanted to see the latest Resident Evil film. I wasn't exactly thrilled - it wasn't totally on my radar, and I had lost track of the series after the first film from a lifetime ago (aka 2002). Then he added "It's getting really great reviews". Coming from him, that's a big deal. I said, Okay. Let's go.

Let's talk about:

Resident Evil

I got us balcony tickets at the Cinerama, grabbed some popcorn and drinks, and settled in for an adventure - as I walked in completely blind.  

This film had me roaring with fears and cheers. I was bouncing all over my seat at the jump scares, cackling at the ridiculous, and overall having a great time. I was having so much fun I didn't notice my brother was sitting there .... silent.

By the end of the film I excitedly turned to him and asked, "What did you think? I loved it!"

He turned to me and said, decidedly, "I hated it."

I was dumbfounded, as we agree on most films. He added that he thought the main character was stupid and embarrassing - that nothing was scary, and overall it felt cheep and silly.

I said, "Yes, I agree - that's why I loved it!"

That's when I realized:

My brother is a gamer, and when he played this video game he was scared. It was a fun game for him to play.

I am not a gamer, and I think what I saw and experienced from the film was as if I was a player in the game. See, this young man here, our protagonist, is hapless, bumbling, and just making bad decision after bad decision as he navigates a hellscape of creatures and nightmares - like in a game. The same mistakes and misshapes a player would make. 

The monsters were frightening and fun because the film *felt* like a video game, and should I be playing it, I would shout, holler, and laugh too if a man-beast-thing came rolling up the wall after me on it's 15 legs.

In short, I think my brother was looking for a deeper experience, based on his gaming experience. I didn't know what to expect and still play the original Dr. Mario from time to time, and found it a rock n' roll great time. I would recommend this film on the big screen, however!!

Watch this film with friends if you can, laugh and scream together - it's fun. Pairs with very very very buttery popcorn and your favorite drink. 

I caught this film in the theater but I anticipate it will be streaming soon. Or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this wild ride.

Blades (1988) or How I Spent My Summer Vacation

HELLO

Happy Summer. I'm melting. Hope everyone is doing well!

I went back home to South Dakota for the 4th. Had to put eyes on Dad and check in on my brothers, nieces and nephews. We're a motley crew - a hilarious bunch who terrorizes Dad and his house once a year. We also take care of the yard:

This field has seen a lot of wayward discs.

Happy to report everyone is fine and our home-grown Frisbee golf game continues to test/delight everyone!

Most people departed right after the 4th of July, which left a brother and I with Dad -  this brother and I love to coax Dad into watching horror films. He raised us on them, after all, so while it initially wasn't hard to do ... a killer lawnmower was oddly a hard sell at first.

My brother found this GEM and I said "Yes" immediately after hearing the synopsis. Dad said "WTF?". Let's talk about:

Blades

I know Piranha is the favored schlock response to Jaws but this one must be at least an honorable mention! I mean, it's about a rouge lawnmower that kills people on a golf course. 

BRILLIANT

This choice was made more funny because Dad was riding his lawn mower the other morning. I checked in on him, shouting over the blades, "How's it going, Dad?!"

Dad, shouting back over the blades: "JOLIE! I GOT INTO SOMEONE'S IPA!"

Me: "DAD! You can't be drinking those!" It's also 10 AM but that never stopped him before. 

Shortly after, my sister-in-law walked up to me, very serious: "Jolie. Your Dad is playing with a chainsaw. He said 'I think I got the chain on backwards'."

Me, dramatically adding: "No! Dad also got into the IPAs!"

After several quick calls with brothers we ambushed Dad, took over the chainsaw, and cut the dead tree down as he slept off his IPA shenanigans. 

So I howled at the idea of this movie, Blades. Because family and shenanigans. It felt full circle.

This film mirrors Jaws in every way, except, again, it's about a possessed riding lawn mower terrorizing a golf course gated community, instead of a shark in a vacation village. 

Absolutely brilliant sums of this wacky adventure - silly, creative, cheap and rich with wit, this is a highly recommended summer watch. Particularly with your goofy family. 

I was a fan of the end, particularly. They ran out of sh*ts to give and went full turbo wack-a-doddle. FUN STUFF!!

Best watched after doing yard work with a group of your best people who love to have fun with their horror films. Pairs with popcorn, steaks, perhaps a little gardening and of course beers. IPAs might be a bit too heavy, I recommend the cheaper, lighter stuff. 

Have a wonderful summer, everyone! The count down to October begins now!

I watched this film on Tubi, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this diamond in the rough. 

Primate (2025) or How I Said Goodbye to An Old Friend

Happy new year my little buckets of blood!

While things are off to a rocky start for the new year, politically, economically - well, in general, I wanted to take a moment in my disconnection (for my health) to talk about: 

The Varsity Theater

Friends and family know I am a history fan, an architectural fan  - even wrote a book about it! So when I heard on a Tuesday that the last movie theater in the University District of Seattle was closing on Thursday, I asked my brother "want to see a movie?"

We saw the second to last film shown in this 80+ year old gem of Americana. And it was:

Primate

*I would post a photo of the poster but IMDB and Blogger no longer allows it. I .... have thoughts*

Was it the best film to say goodbye to? No. 

Was it hilariously appropriate for this theater?

Yes. 

I fell in love with this theater when I walked in, over 20 years ago, and realized it's more than a little messed up - in all the best ways. It's grungy, grimy, crooked, sloppy, and totally overrun by locals and cinephiles.  

It takes an alarmingly long time to take the stairs up to the two other smaller theaters that were created in the 70s (??). The bathrooms are wildly haunted. Haunted by ghosts or something else is debatable - they were always scary places. 

But my fondest memory is when I had a laughing attack (in the same theater I was sitting in on Thursday) during a film festival. It was a very serious film, theater was packed, and I just lost it in a laughing fit. 

I escorted myself out of the theater and laughed until I couldn't breathe and had tears running down my face. The feeling of the carpeted walls that I desperately clung to, remains in my veins.

That's how I'm going to remember this place - which is likely going to be torn down, to rest its tired bones. This is one building where I am okay to see it go. It carried too much and couldn't let things go. The place felt like a trap and that's what I gathered from the one and only person running the entire theater on that Thursday.

Which brings me to all the fun I had, watching Primate, as one of three people in the entire theater. 

This film is ridiculous. Silly. And the effects are rather spectacular.

While money was not spent in more solid character development, it was certainly spent on the practical effects and pure brutality. 

I let loose with this film - and this theater. I reacted to the jump scares with vigor, I screamed, jumped, my friends kept texting me and I didn't turn the sound down on my phone, I ate nearly the whole bag of popcorn and drank the large soda, threw my hands up in the air and talked aloud. I sat in discomfort a few rows in front of the seats that were ACTIVELY DECAYING - roped off for security reasons - in front of me.

This was MY theater and I was sending it out with a salute to its decades of entertainment and communal connection. 

Little sad it was Primate as the film but I also laughed about it. This film, while not good, was excellent entertainment for entertainment purposes. 

The story follows a family who lived with a chimpanzee for most of their lives. And then the chimpanzee gets bit, gets rabies, and their entire privileged life falls apart. 

The film is absurd in many ways - my brother and I laughed through most of it - but a serious acknowledgement to the work that went in to to the gore, the chimpanzees' decline, and general malice. 

This film is excellent entertainment if you just want to loose yourself for a little while.; just.... just to be in this rich, liminal space and recline to the chaos that is created from chance. 

While tragic, this film also gives CEOs dying in the ocean vibes. So. Take that for what it's worth. 

RIP Varsity! You were a noble dame who saw 80+ years of people through heart ache, hope, fear, and empathy. Rest now.

You will be missed. 

MadS (2024)

October Challenge Day 21

OH MY GOD.

THiS iS AmaZING! Let's talk about:

MadS

What an absolute bat shit ride this was! Filmed in one tracking shot with no breaks, this one will grab hold of you the instant it starts and won't ever let go.

I say it all the time - I have a love hate relationship with French horror, and this is one I love. 

This story jumps starts at a drug dealers house, where a spoiled little rich boy takes a snort of some drugs before he heads off to his birthday party. On the way to the party, a creature of a woman suddenly jumps in his car and he can't tell if he's having a bad trip or not. 

This is when the monstrous chaos begins!

I really can't get over the way this was filmed. I really can't. It's perfection. 

Deranged, fast-paced, and diabolical - if you're looking for a psychotic trip through chaos mountain, time to book your ticket. 

Bonus: I can promise you'll hate all the characters in this film!

Best watched while drinking on an empty stomach or after a wild weekend. Pairs with the sustenance of bad decisions from your youth. 

I watched this film on Shudder or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this acid trip.

Wolfkin (2022)

October Challenge Day 19

Long time readers know I have a loving beef with French horror. So lets check out what this Belgium/Luxembourg film has to say:

Wolfkin

It has a lot to say....

This story opens with two lovers loving in the woods - and then the man gets all up in his feelings and literally runs off. 

10 years later we have a single mother struggling to raise her troubled son. Left with no other options she contacts the father's parents and introduces herself and the grandson they never knew about - and things take a spiral from there.

While this is a werewolf film is also isn't. It is also a raw look into the troubles of a troubled child and the very real hardships a single parent can face even in the best of circumstances.

This is a visually stunning film, complete with a few scenes that nearly crossed some big boundaries. One in particular revolves around the mother remembering her absent lover. Don't worry - you'll know it when you see it!

While I felt the ending was a bit sloppy, it still had solid gore (and heartfelt) elements throughout; best watched alone or with single parent, on a quiet Sunday night away from the elements. 

I watched this film on Shudder or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this folklore tale.

The Brides of Dracula (1960)

October Challenge Day 18

It's Saturaday and you know, you can't really go wrong with a Hammer film! Let's talk about:

The Brides of Dracula

Here we have the classic tale of a manipulative man and the pick-me girls who adore him!

I got myself really set up for this film too - very excited to watch it. I turned all the lights off, turned my floating battery-operated candle sticks on with my remote control wand, had one of my cats curl up next to me, and basked in the bright, beautiful, Gothic dream that is this movie.  

This is a perfect spooky season film for pretty much everyone!

This Dracula tale introduces us to a fresh-faced young woman traveling through the Transylvanian country side on her way to be a school teacher. Village folk are concerned for her safety and a kind-hearted baroness takes her into her castle until she can complete her journey. That's when she meet's the baroness's son who the baroness describes as "sick".

Guess who seeks out this fair young maiden and love bombs her so hard she accidentally releases/validates him? Now everyone is in trouble - that is, until Peter Cushing as Van "mutha facking" Helsing shows up!

Like all vampire stories, this is another analogy for toxic relationships and addictions, which is glaring in this film. Hat's off to this Dr. Van Helsing, though, for demonstrating the most bad ass way to metaphorically set boundaries that I've ever seen in a vampire film. 

 In all, this is just a delightful film and a perfect one for the whole family or for a social gathering of low-level "horror" fans. Pairs with cognac and a hearty stew.

I rented this film from Scarecrow Video, or use the Find It! Watch It! links in Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this delicious feature.

28 Years Later (2025)

October Challenge Day 17

OH MY Sh*t! This film was a wild ride! It's Friday night, let's talk about: 

28 Years Later

Right away you're going to notice the soundtrack. Who ever came up with the soundtrack: I can't tell if you're insane or brilliant. Good job!

Next you're going to notice the unique filming style. My brain couldn't process it at first but I soon caught on and squealed with glee. 

Then you're going to notice the gore, the glory, the graphic adventures of it all. 

Finally, you'll notice the shlongs.

Here we have the story of a small, isolated community just trying to survive life a full generation after the original outbreak. They are protected on this island but every once in a while they have to go to the main land to obtain supplies, train to kill, etc. 

That's when pops and is young son embark on his first trip to the mainland - and that kid sure does learn a lot on this adventure! There's plenty to discuss here, in a group, about the parallels of adolescence. 

I had so much fun watching this film. It's a little all over the place and traverses a lot of different emotions. One minute I'm checking my heart rate because fast zombies, next I'm crying because: very sad.

This is a gritty blood bath that is splattered in humor, heart, and striking settings. Best watched in a small group - preferably fans of the first two films but not necessarily! This film almost stands alone. Pairs with apples, mead, and scrambled eggs. 

I watched this film on Netflix or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this absolute knockout!

The Uncanny (1977)

October Challenge Day 15

Oh YEEEAH! You all know your gurl has cats, right? Let's talk about:

The Uncanny

What an absolute hoot of an anthology series - an anthology series where cats reign supreme. Also Peter Cushing is such an excellent paranoid writer. Charmingly entertaining. 

Here we have three stories of where a cat, or cats, wreck havoc on diabolical people. The stories span years and are expressively relayed through tongue-in-cheek cat fandom creativity. 

10 out of 10. No notes. 

I watched this film with my two cats at my side, until they didn't want to sit there anymore, so they wandered off, but then they came back and stared at me. So I called them my babies, that I love them, and they walked away again. One straight up turned her back to me. The other went to the kitchen to wait for wet food because I was eating dinner at the time and they heard the sound of plates and they think that means they also get treats or wet food.

These are really original stories! We've got corpses mutilated by cats, we have witch craft that ends in stomping someone to death, and we have a movie set that KILLS.

Surprisingly graphic, especially the first story, but also whimsy and wacky, this is a great watch for non-scary horror movie lovers, particularly cat lovers. 

Pairs with meatloaf and mashed potatoes, surrounded by cats.

I watched this film on Tubi, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this blood-soaked furry feature.

Vampyr (1932)

October Challenge Day 11

Do not watch this film while doing something else. Let's talk about:

Vampyr

So yeah, like I said - don't try to watch this while doing other things. Don't make the mistake I did and take on baking projects while watching this for the first time. It won't work. You'll just have to watch it again.

There's something about this film that doesn't seem real. Almost as if it's an AI generated movie - projecting what it thinks German 1930 vampire horror films were like. 

It's a surreal experience and not always a great one, but an experience all the same. 

Here we have the story of a young man who, while staying in a hotel, has a strange man enter his room in the middle of the night proceed to tell him "She's going to die" and then dips. 

Here be: vampires

So, because of this nightly visitor, the young man then finds himself in a secluded house with a small group of people haunted by nightly horrors and a draining atmosphere. 

The special effects are spectacular, particularly for the time! The story line is slow, moody, and downright strange most of the time. The use of shadow, the camera work - all remarkably innovative and I tip my hat to it.

This is certainly a classic that should not be missed, particularly for students of horror and cinema appreciation in general. This is not going to be everyone's cup of tea, however. I dare say this isn't even a fun film but rather work.

Best watched alone on a dark and rainy night then wash the experience down with a lighthearted or favorite film. Paris with wine, apples, or a hearty stew. 

I watched this film on HBO Max or use the Find it! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this menacing feature. 

The Bray Road Beast (2018)

October Challenge Day 6

Happy Harvest Moon!!

In celebration, I dove into a collection of werewolf films, recently. I'm picking this one to post a review about, for a couple of reasons. 

But first! Please do not mistake this one for The Beast of Bray Road (2005). I talked about that one already and and still find it hilariously entertaining. There also appears to be a new film, released recently, as a horror comedy.  

No, I want to talk about this one:

The Bray Road Beast

This is a documentary! It's the story of how the beast rather became a legend - how the flames of rumor and evidence stoked publications and made locals take a second look over their shoulder.

As a werewolf story fan I can't turn any away from any of them, even the cringe ones, which makes this one refreshing because it's just a respectfully made look into the lore. 

I'm a believer that people really saw *something*. It's hard to wrap my mind around creatures such as these actually existing but you know, there's some strange ass shit out there. 

So if you're settling into a chill evening and not in the mood for a slasher or haunted house, check this one out. 

And or alternatively, some other werewolf films I've seen recently:

Werewolves (2024): a nice go at recreating the practical effects of Dog Soldiers (which I LOVE), but overall a meh from me. This story follows a disease outbreak where people, on one night of the year, turn into werewolves if they are in the moonlight. So hunker down or get slaughtered. BUT, there are scientists out there frighting for the cure and from the devil hounds.

Again, a win for me for the effects. The rest .... entertaining.

Scream of the Wolf (1974): This is for all those who are looking to settle into some classic '70s made-for-TV delicious trash. Do not expect to see transformations or bloody conflict. Do expect to smell the cigarette smoke and polyester from your screen. 

Werewolf of London (1935): This one is fun!! With some very hilarious moments, which I shared on my TikTok. Cute, quirky, classic, this is a perfect film for the non-Very scary fans and recommended for a crisp night in. The story follows a scientist who scienced too much and ended up turning himself into a werewolf. 

I watched these films through various platforms. Use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else can find all these howling good time features. 

Winterbeast (1992)

October Challenge Day 4

What in the.... WHAT IS THIS?

At least that's what you'll say right off the bat with this one. The tag line "It must be seen to be believed" is TRUE. Let's talk about:

Winterbeast

First of all, this film is inappropriate in so many ways. I lost count.

I mean, it's about a giant "totem pole" that goes on a killing rampage in the woods. Sorta. Kinda. Uh, to summarize, this film doesn't know what it's doing regarding native North American cultures. BUT it is  humiliating white people, so....

This film is a child's drawing come-to-life. 

Complete with claymation, an utterly ridiculous story that just rambles on, and all told with an unchecked and deranged amount of enthusiasm and creativity. 

So folks are being killed by a mystical creature in the woods - I really wanted to watch a creature feature tonight so that caught my attention already - and right after I told myself "sold", then pushed play, immediately my senses were assaulted with abstract chaos.

This is a film you experience. 

You'll be unprepared for everything, and I mean, everything! It carries a sort of "...oh so you like obscure horror, have you seen Winterbeast?!" final boss energy, and then you'll laugh and laugh about all the weird rabbit holes you've been down. Not dissimilar to Slaughter Farm. Oh hey, actually, make this a double feature!

Inappropriate, WILD, creative, Very Bad, Very Good, and just soaking in the juices of it's own making - this is a film to watch for a cinephile movie night. The entertainment will never stop.

Personally, I would like to show this film to a group of friends and just watch them loose their minds in laughter and good times.

I watched this film on Tubi or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this wild creature feature ride. 

PS and unrelated: Typing this up as I'm watching the Mariners in their playoffs - go Mariners! My brother just told me that they may or may not have hired an Etsy witch to win these latest games, and I kinda really love that. Happy Saturday night!

Cobweb (2023)

October Challenge Day 2

Autumnal. It's such a great word. One of my favorites, and best describes the feel of:

Cobweb

We're fresh into October and I was so delighted to stumble across this one at this time! Here we have the story of a little boy who is hearing things in the walls of his home. His parents dismiss him as having a fantasy episode. But wait! He's not wrong. 

This feels like a book we'd curl up to as a teen to scare ourselves at night. This feels like dessert. Like an escape.

My brother and I talk a lot about how childhood is actually really terrifying. And it is - when you think about it. We're vulnerable, dismissed, still learning what is and is not safe, wandering the world with eyes trying to focus and interpret, in all: literal babes in the woods. 

This film captures that feeling very well, and then it goes off the rails because the thing in the wall comes out and I, frankly, had no idea what to do with it. 

It's scary, it's weird, it's metaphorical somehow, and classic. Also the parents are terrible but they didn't deserve that.

A great film to watch with your family, if your family is a horror loving one like mine. Pairs with something made in the slow cooker. Best watched in your cozy clothes. Talk to your kids about their fears.

I watched this film on Netflix, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can catch this creepy crawler. 

The Demon Disorder (2024)

October Challenge Day 14

There is just something about generational trauma films that scares the piss out of me. 

Let's talk about:

The Demon Disorder

Here we have three brothers who regroup under the decaying family home, after the youngest brother starts developing symptoms of their dead father. 

This film is absolutely disgusting. I mean, The Thing levels of practical effects. There's something lurking in the family home and it's gross AF. 

I found myself reacting to the morbid '80s style of the house, the sibling connection (as I have several brothers) and the courage it takes for children to face their generational demons - bestowed to them against their will. 

This is a complex film and I wouldn't recommend it unless you've healed from a traumatizing religious background and/or from taking care of an aging parent. 

It's also oddly funny at times. Funny in the way you'll have a case of the giggles at the most inappropriate time, odd.

Again, profoundly graphic, gruesome, and shudder inducing. This is a film for HORROR fans and not light horror fans. 

Best watched with siblings or friends with parents in a nursing home, suffering from dementia.  Pairs with a bad looking cake and some soup.

I watched this film on Shudder or use Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this heart-wrenching, gut punching feature.

Daddy's Head (2024)

October Challenge Day 10

Oh holy smokes, this one is FRIGHTENING. Let's talk about: 

Daddy's Head

My oh my, movies about grief are just some of the scariest for me. I have a lump in my throat as I'm screaming with these....

Here we have the heart crushing story about a young boy and his step mother, as they process life after the boy's father and her new husband dies suddenly in a tragic accident. 

The child is now an orphan, and she never wanted kids. But here we are, with a creature lurking in the woods and crawling around their home, trying to lure the child into the woods. 

And this is a scary creature!! 

And let's just talk about the title of this film for a second. It's horrifying! Who comes up with a title like this [crying in fear]?

The nightmare of grief is already terrifying but adding an actual monster - ugggggggggg!

My heart ached for this kid. I kept thinking of my husband, who is now deceased, what life was like at that age when he became an orphan himself. And then I kept remembering what it was like when I took my husband off life support.... he would have been 49 in a few days.

The heart ache. The pain. Sometimes it creates A Monster.

This was a little bit difficult for me to watch, just for personal reasons, but it's a stellar, stellar horror film for anyone!

This slow burn is best watched alone. Pairs with wine and food that should sound good but you're just not hungry. 

I watched this film on Shudder or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this absolute frightening feature. 

Werewolf (1995)

October Challenge Day 8

Well.  So my quest for a quality werewolf films continues.... 

Let's talk about:

Werewolf

So werewolf films are hard. I get it. They ... even on the surface, are silly. But when you really dig into the history and role this monster plays across all humanity and history, it should be the most frightening thing. 

Yet, here we are. With another ho hum werewolf film.

Here we have the story - and even opening scenes - of a white man beating an indigenous person after they unearthed a werewolf skeleton. 

Off to a terrible start.

This film is working on a different trope in that the werewolf is also part of a scientific experience gone wrong? I think?

It got so silly for me that I made a TikTok video about it. 

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTFudSS8u/

I can't say I liked this film. I can say I was entertained though. It ... was ... something. 

I rented this film from Scarecrow Video or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this .... movie.

A Return to Salem's Lot (1987)

October Challenge Day 7: 

This film is UNHINGED. 

I love it. Let's talk about:

Return to Salem's Lot

Leave it to Larry Cohen to bring us to a small town full of vampires - with his typical scathing humor and spit-your-drink out bluntness. 

This film is feral. 

Absolutely feral.

I'm catching up on all the Salem's Lot movies/shows before I begin on the one that just came out. I was not prepared for this film. Not Prepared!

This film has the same energy as that one rural, wild, small town bar when that one guy everybody knows walks in and it's either going to be a laugh or bottles might be thrown. Chaotic. Curiously entertaining in that cutesy chaotic way. 

Michael Moriarty is a HOOT. This man is so accidentally on purposes full entertainment.

Well, folks, here we have the story of a father and son who are looking to move back to the father's rural home town and whoops. Turns out it's flooded with vampires. Vampires with a purposes for both father and son....

Utterly ridiculous and a wild fun ride, I am so delighted by how much this film surprised me in such a fun way.

I watched this film on HBO Max, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this wild, feral feature.