My Review Of “Treasure Chest Of Horrors III”

Psykik Junky Pictures horror anthology has returned with another low-budget thrills collection of chilling tales. “Treasure Chest Of Horrors III” has brought together some pretty interesting talent in the Indie community for these short films. Directors Robert Beihn, The Cousin Bros, James J. Coker, Shawn C. Phillips, Brendan Mitchell, Shane Ryan and Doug Waugh offer up some devilishly wicked stories. The anthology is framed in a wraparound that features two siblings, a brother and a sister, discovering the chest belonging to old uncle Chuck. Now for my thoughts on “Treasure Chest Of Horrors III” .

The wraparound-“"Uncle Chuck's Horror Tapes", at times, was more irritating than entertaining to watch. Mostly because of the almost incoherent babbling of the brother, which bordered on idiocy. I just wanted him to form a humorous, and understandable set-up, with a smart punch line, or shut the fuck up and put in the damn tape! That being said, this seg was well shot and worked better than the TCH2 wraparound. The last act of the wraparound was cool, and very fun to watch-even though it was pretty predictable.  Now for the first tale of terror in this trove of horrors, “So We Killed Our Parents”, a pretty wild ride through some delusional, psychorama vengeance. It was fun, creative and dark. Maybe the format or artist style of the cinematography could seem a bit distracting, for the depth of just how sinister the story was, but really I am thankful. I wasn’t wanting to get that intense right out of the gate with this anthology edition. It was filmed in a series of almost psycho –surrealism, madhouse catenations that pulled from the story’s edgy content. It could almost seem at moments to glorify the nature of the acts, but luckily the director managed to keep the tone subdued just enough that the short was not too egregious. Second up in the anthology was “I Dare You” . This short was not all that great, although kudos for Shawn and Brendan for using the story to put focus on themselves in such an exposing way. Dealing with the overweight topic, and addressing insults that apparently come up at times online from some hurtful people, they manage to take the topic and make a fun little joint. It allows them to take control of the issue, and shows how cool the guys really are. It just seemed a bit too Youtube-y for me.

In the third short “Knockers” a young guy deals with door-to-door holy nuts. This one is really low rent in quality, but the way it plays out is fun and pretty humorous. It isn't the best quality but the whole VHS styling of it made me like it a lot. Now “Fatal Fantasy” was hilarious and twisted. The short had a woman trying to spice up a relationship, but man- it comes about in some pretty twisted ways. It was fresh and very entertaining. Still on the really low budget side, with no real stylistic components that stand out, but it was fun. After that twisted flick something quite amazing happens-a truly dark and chilling short comes in to play here-“Sane-The Story Of The Boredom Killings”. This short film was so captivating that I instantly catapulted by affection for “Treasure Chest Of Horrors III” into likable superdom status. It is a found footage/video diary nightmare that brings home some pretty chilling issues, much like the films of the 90’s Gen-X, psycho-slacker era of Indie films. That whole real world nightmare realm, filled with the dark realities that surround suburbia, and youth-gone-loco aspect of society. It was both horrific and fascinating. There were moments that it felt like watching real crimes unfold, and it managed to create a little more-"fear of the children"-in my very adult ass. An awesome short film indeed.

Thank goodness for “Fatal Error” after “Sane…” because I needed a little humor to bring me back up. This short film plays on the homage/spoof mentality of the whole SYFY obsession with bad CGI alien/ monster/creature features. It wasn’t outstanding but with the humor and very ridiculous nature of the story it seemed to provide a very acceptable quality of entertainment. All in all I have to say that “Treasure Chest Of Horrors” shows a great improvement from the first two editions. The title/end credits were great and the soundtrack creepy. The shorts offered more entertainment and twisted fun than disappointment. This is really a pretty good low budget anthology with some very excellent material and talent displayed.

Release Date For “An American Ghost Story”

“An American Ghost Story” finally has it’s release date set. The Derek Cole directed paranormal film hits DVD shelves August 20th. Read the press release below for full details.

Press Release:

Breaking Glass Pictures and Vicious Circle Films are excited to announce the August 20th DVD release of An American Ghost Story, the critically acclaimed horror film from director Derek Cole. Written by star Stephen Twardokus, An American Ghost Story was hailed as “very well-crafted” by Fangoria Magazine and a “favorite of the year” by Horror News.

Paul Anderson (Twardokus) and his girlfriend Stella (Liesel Kopp) move into a house that is well known for being haunted. Paul, a struggling writer plans to write his first novel about his experiences with the paranormal. What starts out as a fun and exciting adventure, soon takes a very dangerous turn. They quickly realize some things are better left alone.

An American Ghost Story was a favorite on the festival circuit, playing the Living Dead Festival and Shriekfest Film Festival. At the Buffalo Screams Festival, the film took home the award for Best Editing, while Stephen Twardokus won Best Screenplay. Cole was nominated for Best Director and Best Cinematography.

The DVD release (SRP $24.99) will include deleted scenes and a commentary with director Derek Cole and actors/producers Stephen Twardokus and Jon Gale.
 

New Italian Grindhouse In “Connections”

“Connections” is a double feature from Indie filmmakers Paolo Del Fiol and Daniele Misischia. The film consists of two rhapsodies ‘Hobo’ and ‘Kokeshi’. The project is currently in post-production but the official trailer has been released. This one should be out sometime in October.

‘Hobo’ follows Albanian illegal immigrants surviving by participating in the underground wrestling matches amidst the criminal element. ‘Kokeshi’ is a more Japanese standard tale of horror and torture in the tradition of harder, more edgier grindhouse.

Theatrical Trailer Released For “Jug Face”

The official theatrical trailer for neo-primitive horror flick “Jug Face” has been released. The very folkish tale comes from Director Chad Crawford Kindle and stars Lauren Ashley Carter, Sean Bridgers, Sean Young, Larry Fessenden and Daniel Manche. “Jug Face” is due out August 9th with a simultaneous VOD released. Prior to that it will have a small VOD pre-release option on July 8th in U.S.

Jug Face tells the story of a pregnant teen trying to escape a backwoods community when she discovers that she may be sacrificed to a creature in a pit. The entity in the pit requires a life for keeping the community safe. The face of the person to be sacrificed is crafted onto a ceramic jug. When ignored, the entity unleashes an evil onto the community. Now no one is safe as tragedy befalls each member one by one and they soon realize that the pit wants what it wants.

Trailer Released For Paranormal Horror “Fason Nou”

The official trailer has been released for Sean McCarthy and Romane Simon’s “Fason Nou/Our Way”. The film is due out October 31st 2013 and stars Isaac Singleton Jr., Romane Simon,Liz Fuller, Lucy Golden, Mindy Robinson, Vanessa Ross, Shelley Starrett, Rich Rossi,Tony C. Blondell, J Kristopher, Nafisa Ford. The film’s story offers a nice little twist to the haunting paradigm and should offer up a nice bit of consequentialism to tale while giving some entertaining frights.
 
Everyone is driven to madness as two families on a weekend retreat are haunted by ghosts who have their own terrifying agenda. A weekend retreat between an interracial couple and their in-laws takes a dark turn when they discover that their house is haunted by the ghosts of an interracial couple from from the 1950's who has no patience for intolerance.

A Third Trailer For “The Conjuring” Goes Online

“The Conjuring” has released a third trailer in anticipation of the film’s July 19th release. The story is based on the Warrens and the very first case to garner them attention in the paranormal world during the 1970’s. Ed and Lorraine Warren were called upon to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in a secluded farmhouse. Forced to confront a powerful demonic entity, the Warrens find themselves caught in the most terrifying case of their lives. “The Conjuring” is a narrative of the events surrounding the Warrens attempt to help the Perron Family.

Trailer Manifests For “The Bake Street Hauntings”

2 million dollars to spend a 7 day stretch in some house?! Well either the rich dude wants to make your dreams come true or your gonna die! This is a horror movie so guess what – your dreams aren’t coming true! Looking at this trailer for “The Bake Street Hauntings” though would suggest that maybe the fan of killer ghost flicks will have a cool little nightmare to enjoy! The found footage film “The Bake Street Hauntings” is already available on VOD over at Amazon and the premise is just as simple and sinister as you would think. A young couple is offered 2 mil to chill in a house for one week.

Directed by Michael Rocco and starring Michael Rocco, Loren Carstens, Elizabeth Burgalassi, Jerry Horror, Matthew Hartmann and Kathy Rocco. A young couple accepts an offer of $2 million to stay in a house for a week. This is the footage. The VOD is here!

New Images For “Curse Of Chucky” Delivered

After confirmation finally came out that “Curse Of Chucky” would indeed be released on September 24th my excitement has accelerated. Not only is the demonic dolly coming back to horror fans but much like the first film, Curse Of Chucky will shun the cheeky comedy shrills and veil itself in a darker more sinister tone. As much as a movie about a doll possessed with the evil spirit of a serial killer can be. Let’s face it a movie about a killer doll is not really going to be scary to anyone over the age of 12 unless you have a natural phobia about dolls but at least the film will be a return to it’s horror roots instead of a long running bad pun. I am excited to see some new blood pumped into the classic icons of terror! Anyway check out the latest pics from “Curse Of Chucky” below.

Directed by Don Mancini and starring Fiona Dourif (The Master, “True Blood,” “Deadwood”), A Martinez (“Longmire,” “General Hospital”), Danielle Bisutti (Get Smart, “CSI: Miami”), Brennan Elliott (Flight 93, Double Jeopardy), and Brad Dourif (The Lord of the Rings, Exorcist III). 

Nica (Fiona Dourif) is grieving over the gruesome suicide of her mother when her domineering older sister Barb (Danielle Bisutti) arrives with her young family in tow to help settle their mother’s affairs. As the sisters butt heads over Nica’s plans for the future, Barb’s young daughter comforts herself with a grinning, red-haired talking doll named Chucky (voiced again by Brad Dourif) that recently arrived mysteriously in the mail. But as a string of brutal murders begins to terrorize the household, Nica suspects the doll may hold the key to the bloodshed. What she doesn’t know is that Chucky has a personal score to settle. He’s determined to finish a job he started more than 20 years earlier, and this time he’s going to see it through to the bloody and shocking end.

My Review Of “Nicotine Stains”

“Nicotine Stains” is a horror film from Gennaro Desposito which follows a man’s psychotic break after choosing to quit smoking. Charlie is a young college graduate stuck in a dead end factory job for Vellaro Tobacco. A life long smoker, he never turns down free samples from the company ‘cigarette girl’ Sugar, even if they do contain a newly developed, synthetic tobacco. Charlie’s girlfriend Jen convinces him to quit smoking but little do they know the hold the new cigarettes have on Charlie. The film stars Matthew Fowler; Lacy Hornick; Chris Ehling; Sunny Williams; Kyle Duncan Graham; Renee Sher; Chelsea Collins and Don McCutcheon.

“Nicotine Stains” is much more than a standard horror, with blended elements of surrealism, minimalism and  atmospheric grandeur, it is more like a modern grand guignol. The story, once you realize the nature of the lead character’s psychosis, seems almost laughable but it expresses the depth of struggle he has with quitting smoking. As someone who did quite, I can attest to the mind producing some pretty far out thoughts about the people around you, and all the reasons not to quit: like “if you quit then you will just be giving in to social demands” or “if I didn’t date you then I wouldn’t be forced to quit.” This movie carries that theme to the ninth level of hell. There are several film styles utilized in “Nicotine Stains” but it is at it’s core a well directed modern horror film. More cult classic than you expect going into the film.

The most notable qualities about “Nicotine Stains” that worked for this film were, the sound track-classic 80’s giallo sounds of creepiness, The use of various colors to express different heightened emotional moments in the film- very Argento-esque but the gore sets it off! It hold’s up to more classic grindhouse horror films of splatter,guts and gruesome vivacity. The acting in the film has it’s moments that seem mediocre but not to the point it makes it hard to connect with the characters. For the most part the acting is quality. The story, all though based in a very exaggerated beginning, is fresh and very modern-most of us have been that person trying to quit, or dealing with someone who is trying to quit. It always seems to consume everything about the relationships and environment. The only downside to the film dealt with the synthetic nicotine. It was only casually mentioned once, maybe twice and it would have been nice to see that element played up more in the story. It didn’t really hurt the film that it wasn’t I just think it would have been cool to see it driven in more. The horror in this film is more of visual gore than scary. All in all “Nicotine Stains” is a really cool Indie film and Desposito deserves props because he has a style that is already a modern cult classic.

Crowd Funding Kicks Off For “Burden”

“Burden” is a thriller/drama from the creative force behind “Deadly Presence”, Shane Cole and Megan Lynn. Right now there is a crowd funding campaign going on over at Indiegogo.  The duo also have unleashed a teaser trailer for the flick to give you some idea about their vision for the project. “You Can’t Choose Your Family” is all that hints to the film’s story line. Based on the teaser the family angle seems to fall on the “Brother’s Keeper” theme to nth of fucked-upedness! But maybe it is a fake out sich! Check out the promo below. Also you can check out the film company, Masked Films, website.

Check Out The Trailer For “Hell Baby”

The first trailer for “Hell Baby” has been released. The horror comedy follows a couple starting out in a starter home as first time parents-to-be. With familiar faces from ‘Reno 911’ and today’s top comedians the film should be actually funny. Not gonna hold my breath on that but hey I have found most of Garant’s stuff funny –on screen and as a writer. As for Lennon, I have yet to find anything he has done not funny! The cast includes both Garant and Lennon, along with Rob Corddry, Leslie Bibb, Keegan Michael Key, Riki Lindhome, Paul Scheer, Rob Huebel.

Jack (Rob Corddry) and Vanessa (Leslie Bibb) are an expectant couple that moves into the most haunted fixer-upper in New Orleans -- a house with a deadly demonic curse. Things soon spiral out of control for Jack and Vanessa, as well as their-not-so-helpful neighbor F'Resnel (Keegan-Michael Key), Vanessa's friendly psychiatrist (Michael Ian Black), Vanessa's Wiccan sister Marjorie (Riki Lindhome) and the detectives assigned to look into the rising body count (Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer). Only the Vatican's elite exorcism team (Garant and Lennon) san save them -- or can they?

“The Axeman At Cutter’s Creek” Finds Distribution

“The Axeman At Cutter’s Creek” has found distribution. It seems that Acort International has picked up the worldwide rights for Joston Theney’s 80’s throwback slasher. The film stars  Elissa Dowling, Tiffany Shepis, Brinke Stevens, Jamie Bernadette, Erin Marie Hogan, Arielle Brachfeld, Chantelle Albers, and Scot Pollard as the Axeman. I have been excited to see this one come out ever since the first whispers of the film’s production and cannot wait to see this flick! You can read my interviews with Theney and some of the cast by clicking the highlighted links in the cast list.

In this 80’s style horror with a new school twist, nine vacationing twenty-somethings travel to a posh timeshare cabin in Big Bear for a hedonistic weekend. But their weekend of drinking and debauchery soon turns to horror when an axe-wielding local legend comes to life!

Desperately clawing for any chance at survival, these once estranged friends must band together to take on the bloody beast that’s kept these woods desolate and the townspeople terrified.

This weekend will be one to be dismembered. Because this weekend, these friends will meet the terror that is… the Axeman at Cutter’s Creek!
 

Trailer Drops For “Willow Creek”

An official trailer has finally dropped for Bobcat Goldthwait’s “Willow Creek”. The film stars Alexie Gilmore and Bryce Johnson, telling the story of a young couple. Jim and his girlfriend Kelly are in Willow Creek, California, to retrace the steps of Bigfoot researchers Patterson and Gimlin, who, in 1967, recorded the most famous film of the legendary monster. Kelly is a skeptic, along for the ride to spend time with her boyfriend between acting gigs. Jim, a believer, hopes to capture footage of his own, so his camera is constantly rolling. Check the trailer out below.

My Review Of ‘To Jennifer”

“To Jennifer” is James Cullen Bressack’s continuation of the horrors of realism, maybe from an heir of surrealistic design but more real than most horror tends to journey. The film is a low tech documentation of one man’s trip to confront his girlfriend’s infidelity. Shot completely on iphone5, “To Jennifer” is a video diary of a road trip into places where nightmares breed. The synopsis follows Joey, a young guy heartbroken, because he is convinced that his girlfriend of two years is cheating on him. He and his cousin decide to take a trip to confront Jennifer while documenting the entire journey. This is the plot line that I had going into the film and this will be the one I keep with in writing this review, because to spoil this film with in-depth review would really be to spoil this film.

“To Jennifer” begins as a casual display of comradery, benign puckish banter and very little theatrics-much as a normal life and simple, innocent adventure would be. The story is almost comical by nature with apparent improv dialog, that does more to fill the moments of an otherwise pointless atmosphere of life alive, than to set purpose to journey’s intent. It creates a false comfortability  that makes you forget that the film is to be a horror story. I found myself just simply caught up in the video diary format of watching these guys try to make it to Jennifer’s house. There are moments of mild drama that seem to rise to more darker moments of drama along the way, but with Bressack’s character Steven as a consummate jokester, you find even those moments more entertaining than unnerving. Still this all just part of a careful ruse, to keep you off guard, as a slow sinister cloud builds over the story, edging it’s way closer to the destination. It is the last act of this rhapsody that goes truly dark, and reminds us of just who James Cullen Brasseck is – someone who isn’t afraid to drive straight into terror, and uncomfortably intense situations, through the camera lens.  It is also during this last episodic death rattle of corrupted life that finds the true nature of this piece.

How do I feel about “To Jennifer”? The story was a truly smart and creative out play that twists into an even more creative nightmare. I-even though I don’t watch reality television-found myself completely absorbed in the affairs of Joey and Steve. I also related to the fact of trips with unpredictable people not going quite the way I expected, and finding it almost impossible to conceive the desired outcome. I never had it result in such a gruesome resolution, but still I related to the entertainment value of a screwed up turn of events. Added to the fact that Steve found everything happening too funny to take serious, or to see any signs of the true horror in front of him, made the film seem more like watching Youtube video of goof offs- which was clever. You never see the wall until your about to hit it and then it is always too late. The acting in this film isn’t really polished but don’t mistake it for amateurish, because the unpolished feel of the characters just lends to the notion that it is a documentary situation of regular guys on a mission. The use of the iphone5 as a filming format is brilliant, and is probably what made the most of this movie viewable, considering it is a slow build to the terrifying outcome as opposed to a set ‘em up – knock ‘em down horror film. The hidden motive that lay under the falderal of the story,(because face it-whining over a break up and wasting energy to pursue this type premise is foolish),  was perfectly timed in it’s slow reveal. It wasn’t until the rundown hotel and hookers that I started to question the lead character Joey. By then  I was so hooked on watching everything play out that, when the ending came, there was no way to prepare for the impact. I found myself once more held in tight anxiety and awe as Bressack brought back that familiar feeling of horror that I normally associate with his work. It was an experience that started from beginning to end in “Hate Crime” but wasn’t accentuated until the last scenes of “To Jennifer”, but the effect was the same powerful experience. I think Bressack has found a niche in horror filmmaking. It plays on realism, twists it into almost surrealistic nightmares that, almost feel to real, and yet are completely entertaining. Even in there brutal exposition, of how the really scary shit that happens is a result of really scary people and not monsters, Bressack’s film’s -“To Jennifer” no exception-always manage to define a true sense of horror lying in Man.

Pre-Production Begins On “Peste”

Pre-production has began on Mark Tonderai new monster movie “Peste”. The ex disc-jockey, now famous writer/director/actor is best known for his thrillers “Hush” and “The House At The End Of The Street”. In “Peste”  teenager Emma Drakeford, struggling after a recent family tragedy, begins a video documentary about her life for a school project. Her life is turned upside down as a terrifying virus sweeps through her small town, turning her friends and neighbors into vicious monsters.  Quarantined with her family, Emma believes they are out of harm’s way but when the contagion finally infiltrates their home Emma and her family are faced with an impossible decision - if someone you love becomes a threat, do you kill them in cold blood or save them at the risk of your own life?  From the executive producer of Cloverfield and the director of genre hit House at the End of the Street Mark Tonderai comes a terrifying new twist on the monster movie that is the first in a trilogy.

Trailer Released For “A Dark Souvenir”

“A Dark Souvenir” is directed by documentarian/indie filmmaker /activist Matthew Pillischer. The horror/drama follows the content life of a young couple begins to spoil after they return from their honeymoon in Scandinavia. Frieda and John experience fits of illness and memory loss, and share the same visions of a faceless, hooded figure present in their home.

The couple struggles for a return to normalcy as something seems to be pushing its way into their life. An explanation may come from pictures they took while visiting an old island fort outside Copenhagen, the Trekroner Søfort. The newlyweds must figure out what they've brought home with them before their sanity completely unravels, and before the sinister presence is fully born into their reality. Check out the trailer below.

Trailer Released For Bolivian Horror “Dead But Dreaming/Muerta Pero Soñando”

“Dead But Dreaming” is Bolivia’s first ever vampire flick. Horrorbug presented us with the alternative English poster for the film only days after the official trailer was released. The film is directed by Jac Avila and stars Veronica Paintoux, Amy Hesketh, Mila Joya, Jac Avila, Jorge Ortiz, Claudia Moscoso, Rhobess Pierre, Eric Calancha, Alejandro Loayza Avedaño, Carlos Alberto Rojas. Check out the trailer below.

A priest suspects that the mysterious murders are the work of a demon that appears to be a young and beautiful woman who attracts young people and drinks their blood. He makes it his mission to find that woman, who goes by many names in the ancient writings, but who calls herself Nahara. She is believed to be the mythic Lilith, first wife of Adam, banished from paradise for her wickedness.

Meanwhile two vampires, Asar ,  who was the first to drink the blood of Nahara  and Aphrodisia, who was created by Asar in the year 57 BC, hatch a sinister plan. They want to use  Varna, the virgin niece of the priest, to catch the immortal to finally obtain the source of his power.

The night before she is scheduled to be executed, Moira is visited by Nahara (Veronica Paintoux), a mysterious woman with the power of rescuing her from death.

Zombie Apocalypse Comedy Takes The Madness To New Places

We have seen the zombie horrors unfold in numerous locations forcing survivors to hold up in some pretty if-y places. I think that “Stalled” has hit on the one location for sticking it out during the zombie apocalypse that no other film has gone before-the ladies room. That is right one man must survive the hordes of undead with only the partition of a toilet stall between him and the ferocity of the undead. “Stalled” is a new Brit zomedy directed by Christian James and starring Dan Palmer, Antonia Bernath, Tamaryn Payne, Mark Holden. This flick hits U.S. repositories theatrically this October along with On Demand formats . The trailer looks pretty cool so this little satire may be a cut above the rest of it’s compadres.

It’s Christmas Eve and a soon to be shit-canned maintenance man (DAN PALMER) is changing light bulbs and cleaning toilets, instead of drinking egg-nog and making out with drunk receptionists at the annual office party.

Unfortunately for this forlorn floor-sweeper he chooses to use the LADIES’ RESTROOM the very second a ZOMBIE OUTBREAK occurs! Will he bowl us over and flush away the undead or (li
ke in his pre-apocalypse life) simply remain …’STALLED’?
He’s in the perfect place to be scared sh*tless…
 

Finally All The Boys Will Get To Love Mandy Lane

“All The Boys Love Mandy Lane” is a film that has been a long time coming. The movie saw an initial release back in 2008 but until now has seen no love from American horror fans. Well now all the boys will get to love Mandy Lane as word comes out that Jonathan Levine’s revenge/slasher horror will be released on Sept. 6th on VOD. Afterwards there will be a limited theatrical run on Oct. 11th. “ATBLML” stars Amber Heard, Anson Mount, Whitney Able, Michael Welch, Edwin Hodge, Aaron Himelstein, Luke Grimes, and Melissa Pric.

A group of high-schoolers invite Mandy Lane, a good girl who became quite hot over the summer, to a weekend party on a secluded ranch. While the festivities rage on, the number of revelers begins to drop quite mysteriously.

Teaser Poster Released For “Don’t Fuck In The Woods”

Shawn Burkett unveiled the teaser poster for his new horror project. “Don’t Fuck In The Woods” pretty much is self explanatory from the title alone. If you don’t want to die don’t go into the woods and if you're dumb enough to venture into that dark spooky forestry then don’t fuck in the woods or you will die! The story follows a group of friends are going on a camping trip to celebrate graduating college. But once they enter the woods, the proverbial shit starts to hit the fan! The film will blend classic horror with creature feature.

Stills From Short Films “Speeches” And “Play Me”

“Speeches” comes from Indie filmmakers Consequence Pictures and “Play Me” is from Mostly Harmless Pictures. Check out the images below and gear up for the premiere of these shorts along with the rest of “The Collective Vol. VI” at Days Of The Dead in Indianapolis.

“Speeches”






“Play Me”

Images For “Mercy” And “Insomniac”

Check out these production stills from Liberty Or Death Productions “Mercy” and Toetag EFX’s “Insomniac”. Both short films have their place among the new anthology featured in “The Collective Vol. VI”.

“Mercy” is based loosely on the true story the 1987 Stephen Small murder. The short follows the kidnapping of indie filmmaker Jim Manden who is kept in a box underground while his kidnapper retrieves a ransom.





“Insomniac” focus lies with that classic disorder a lot of us share- What do you do when you can’t sleep? This story gives one horrific example of how a person deals with insomnia. Shot entirely on iphone 4 in L.A. The story follows Ink, an insomniac who finds that her idle hands lead to mischief. Two things stand out in this short that I love- classic noir style and silent movies ( a TCM Sunday night thing of mine).

Images From Horror Shorts “Devotion” And “I Am No One”

Check out these images from the horror shorts “Devotion” and “I Am No One” both of which are featured in this years anthology series “The Collective Vo. VI”. The series features ten directors challenged to create an original story based on a common theme. This year the theme was “Ultimate Fear”.

“Devotion” –Faith Is A Powerful Drug





“I Am No One” –Follow Me Into Darkness

Poster & Stills From Graphik 13’s “Skeleton”

“Skeleton” is a horror short from Graphik 13 Films which is one of 10 short films featured in “The Collective Vol. VI” . The short tells the story of a family about to face a storm. A darkness surrounding the family manifests but is that presence coincidental or premeditated? Directed by Dead Moines.