Scanners is a sci-fi thriller released in 1981. It came to the attention of The Story Monster through a YouTube compilation of the scariest scenes from horror movies. A man’s head swelled up like a balloon and exploded in front of a crowd of people, which warranted a Google search for context. After viewing the entire film, it’s safe to say Scanners earned its place … Continue reading Scanners (1981) Review
Easily, one of the most boring films of 2022. Directed by David Bruckner, The Night House is a mystery, thriller which follows a recent widow Beth (Rebecca Hall) as she uncovers dark secrets about her husband. Thriller is the wrong word as little to none is present. Predictable jump scares make it less enjoyable along with the abstract form of storytelling. Surprised this project got the green … Continue reading The Night House (2020) Review
In the 90s, Pet Sematary (1989) came on every day in October. Movie marathons aired on network television and premium channels. Stephen King adaptations dominated the movies made for television genre. In 2019, two directors, Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer, dared to reimagine the film. This entry is a lot more visceral and simplified. This Pet Sematary is a far cry from the original. Certain … Continue reading Pet Sematary (2019) Review
Before Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story took Netflix by storm, there existed a low-budget production called The Poughkeepsie Tapes. This comparison is not hyperbole. Directed by John Erick Dowdle, the found footage, documentary style film is about a fictional serial killer and his collection of VHS tapes. The story itself is mysterious, nerve wrecking, and available to stream on Prime Video. Definitely one for the … Continue reading The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007) Review
Ethan Hawke is extremely underrated. He’s a versatile performer capable of playing both a convincing hero and villain. In The Black Phone he plays the role of a child murderer named The Grabber. His performance is unpredictable and deeply unnerving. The director, Scott Derrickson, known for Doctor Strange and Deliver Us from Evil does not shy away from showing child abuse in this film. Kids can be evil assholes. This is highlighted in great detail with one of the main characters, Finney (Mason Thames), who is bullied both at home and in school. His younger … Continue reading The Black Phone (2022) Review
October is a few months away, and the season of the witch is nigh. Horror fans are no doubt itching to watch content filled with gore, jump scares, and supernatural creatures. Clowns often get a bad reputation in the media. Partly due to real-life serial killers who used this disguise in addition to creeps trying to lure kids into the woods back in 2016. Since … Continue reading Top 6 Killer Clowns You Have to Watch
The story picked up exactly where the last one left off. The director, Bartosz M. Kowalski, retconned the final scene to make this (the sequel) possible. Immediately turned me off. How the hell he thought it was a good idea to ruin the protagonists from the previous film astonished me. In this installment, the mutant cannibalistic twins literally did nothing but sit on their asses. … Continue reading Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight 2 (2021) Review
The trailer for this film reminded me of slashers like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer. What separates it from the two is time. The story is set in modern day, which is extremely relevant. There’s Someone Inside Your House is not only a long ass title that should get someone fired in marketing. It is also a commentary of how dangerous … Continue reading There’s Someone Inside Your House (2021) Review
I have to say this is one of the worst vampire movies I’ve ever seen. I know it came out in the late 90s but damn. The protagonists were one-dimensional middle-aged men with no clear motivation. Sure, evil bloodsuckers are bad but you have to have a reason to hunt them. I’m certainly not putting my neck on the line for a big payday. Jack … Continue reading Vampires (1998) Review
Netflix really stepped their game up this year. From foreign films to indie horror. His House is a about a married couple that escaped South Sudan to seek refuge in London. It is full of jump scares and suspense. Don’t expect your typical monster movie. This narrative is told from the perspective of not one but two unreliable narrators. The protagonists, Bol (Sope Dirisu) and … Continue reading His House (2020) Review
