HorrO's Gory Reviews

The company of wolves is better than that of man." Once upon a frenzied time, Woman meets Man. Woman dances with Man. Man kisses Woman. Man grips Woman. Woman escapes Man. Man chases Woman - Nothing new. Or is there? Starring: Arieh Worthalter, Lucie Debay, and Ciaran O’Brien  Directed by: Vincent Paronnaud Written by: Vincent Paronnaud, and Lea Pernollet A Fantasia International Film Festival Review   We’ll see who is really hunting who by the end of “Hunted.” Eve (Lucie Debay) is stressed out by her job, and heads to a bar for some drinks to relax. It isn’t her intention to meet anyone, but somehow ends up befriending a man (Arieh Worhalter). She makes the mistake of getting in a car with him, and his supposed brother (Ciaran O’Brien). When things get weird, she insists on getting out, so they leave her at a gas station. No harm as it appears she can go on her way.   Not so fast, as the man comes into the gas station fooling the employee int...

After losing their only grandson in a car accident, grief-stricken Audrey and Henry, a doctor, kidnaps his pregnant patient with the intentions of performing a “reverse Exorcism”, putting Jackson inside her unborn child. It doesn’t take long to figure out Jackson isn’t the only ghost the grandparents invited into their home. Now it’s a race against time for the couple, as well as the pregnant woman to figure a way out of the haunting they’ve set upon themselves. Starring: Sheila McCarthy, Julian Richings, Konstantina Mantelos, and Yannick Bisson Directed by: Justin G. Dyck Written by: Keith Cooper A Fantasia International Film Festival Review   It doesn’t take long to realize that “Anything for Jackson” really means anything for Jackson. The opening scene sets the tone, as it appears to be just another morning for Audrey (Sheila McCarthy) and Henry (Julian Richings). Before anyone knows it, the elderly couple is kidnapping a pregnant woman, Becker (Konsta...

An innocent nurse, a tortured maniac and a suspicious hostage face off against a wave of violent intruders as they descend upon their place of refuge on Halloween night. Starring: Lora Burke, Nick Smyth, and Colin Paradine Directed and written by: Gabriel Carrer, and Reese Evenshen A Fantasia International Film Festival Review   It’s weird to say, but “For the Sake of Vicious” might have been made just for the sake of being viciousness, and that isn’t a bad thing. Romina (Lora Burke) is a nurse that’s just finished her shift at the hospital. She heads home with hopes of later picking up her son to go trick or treating on Halloween night. However the trick is on her when she comes home to a stranger in her house. The two struggle before Chris (Nick Smyth) makes it clear he’s not there to hurt her.   So why is he there? He wants her to save Alan (Colin Paradine), who he’s brought with him after apparently beating him up. Chris is convinced Alan is the ma...

Evelyn, a young Filipina nurse, is living on an isolated estate while taking care of Dena, the aging matriarch of a Texas family. As Dena slips deeper into dementia, Evelyn begins to sense something ominous lurking behind the walls. Is the house a conduit for supernatural forces? Or is she just hearing things? As Evelyn’s paranoia pushes her to uncover her employer’s aw- ful past, she may not be prepared for the havoc her curiosity will unlock. Starring: Aina Dumlao, Justin Arnold, and Jayne Taini Directed and written by: Xia Magnus A Fantasia International Film Festival Review   “Sanzaru” brings a slow burn haunted house story with a few twists, and a sad ending for some. Evelyn (Aina Dumlao) is a long way from home trying to be the best caretaker she can for Dena (Jayne Taini). Dena is battling with dementia, and maybe some other things. They aren’t the only ones in the home, as Evelyn’s nephew Amos (Jon Vikor Corpuz) has been sent there to regroup after tro...

Something terrifying is happening off the coast of Block Island. A strange force is thriving, influencing residents and wildlife alike. Starring: Michela McManus, Neville Archambault, and Jim Cummings Directed and written by: Kevin McManus, and Matthew McManus A Fantasia International Film Festival Review   “The Block Island Sound” sets up a lot of strange happenings, but will give the audience plenty to think about once it concludes. Harry (Chris Sheffield) might not be perfect, but like any good son he loves his father (Neville Archambault). He kind of ignores some of his father’s odd behavior, and just thinks it’s him getting older. His father’s behavior isn't the only thing odd in Block Sound, as there have been changes in the environment and animals discovered dead all over the place.    Audry (Michaela McManus), Harry’s sister, comes back to town to visit, but also to investigate some of the animal deaths. She has brought along her young dau...

KRIYA is the nightmare odyssey of a young DJ named Neel who is picked up one fateful night by the beautiful Sitara, only to be thrust into a hallucinatory world of ritual magic surrounding the imminent death of her father. Starring: Avantika Akerkar, M.D. Asif, Noble Luke, and Kishan Bahurupiya Directed and written by: Sidharth Srinivasan A Fantasia International Film Festival Review   Oh “Kriya” is definitely a nightmare for Neel (Noble Luke). He’s out one night just being a DJ at a club, meets an attractive woman named Sitara (Navjot Randhawa), and is excited to be going home with her. Maybe he should have taken her to his house because his life changes the second he walks into the house. Instead of spending time with her, he comes into a room where her father lies dying with several family members around him.   Of course this is a very uncomfortable situation to be in so he wants to leave. However, they’re bound by many traditions and rituals, and a...

During a winter getaway at an isolated cabin, a self-destructive young woman becomes convinced that her best friend is stealing her blood. Starring: Lee Marshall, Lauren Beatty, and Aris Tyros Directed and written by: Amelia Moses A Fantasia International Film Festival Review   “Bleed with Me” sets up in the very familiar horror setting of a cabin out in the woods, and a group of young people taking time to relax there. Emily (Lauren Beatty) and her boyfriend Brendan (Aris Tyros) have come there after some tough times for Emily, and a chance for them to work on their relationship. However, that becomes a little challenging because Emily has brought along a new friend, Rowan (Lee Marshall). She’s a shy young woman who tries to fit in as a third wheel.   They spend the first night together getting to know each other better, and dropping the first clues of the strangeness that’s coming. Rowan tells an odd story or two before getting drunk and passing out....

A hilarious portrayal of online dating, DON’T TEXT BACK is the story of a naive young woman who seeks the help of an energy healer to rid herself of a cursed necklace that strangles her every time she doesn’t text back her bad Tinder date. Starring: Danielle Lapointe, and Nancy Webb Directed and written by: Mariel Sharp, and Kaye Adelaide A Fantasia International Film Festival Review   Many people have experienced the horrors of online dating. Sometimes you find that person that isn’t your type, but you can’t get rid of them. In “Don’t Text Back,” Kelly (Danielle Lapointe) is having trouble ditching a guy she met on Tinder. It should be as easy as not texting back, but unfortunately for her she put on a cursed necklace that strangles her if she doesn’t text him back. This story begins when she visits Jaren (Nancy Webb), an energy healer, for help.    Jaren is definitely an interesting character, as she’s a straight shooter, and set in her unusual...

In 1962 Taiwan during the White Terror martial law period, Fang Ray Shin, a female student at the hillside Greenwood High School is attending  counseling with teacher Mr. Chang, and they gradually fall in love. It was a dangerous period where sensitive books were banned and free speech were restricted, Mr. Chang secretly organized a study group for banned books, together with fellow teacher Miss Yin and male student Wei Chong Ting. Starring: Gingle Wang, Meng-Po Fu, and Jing-Hua Tseng Directed by: John Hsu Written by: Shih-Keng Chien A Fantasia International Film Festival Review   “Detention” creates a creepy atmosphere similar to “Silent Hill,” and somehow manages to weave a beautiful love story in the middle of all the madness. It starts with what might seem like a military base, but is really a high school. While there are teachers present, there are also soldiers making sure that certain books and free speech are banned. Everything is strictly mo...

A kid is being interviewed for a job at the local mortician’s office and is asked to tell his scariest stories. What results is a collection of 4 of the scariest stories ever told spanning into 4 decades starting from the 50s to the 80s. Starring: Clancy Brown, Caitlin Custer, and Christine Kilmer Directed and written by: Ryan Spindell A Fantasia International Film Festival Review   The stakes have risen as far a horror anthologies. There have been so many good ones over the last few years, and now “The Mortuary Collection” has a chance to join them on the top side of the list. Any good anthology should have a good central story, and that’s definitely the case here. It all starts with Montgomery Dark (Clancy Brown), who’s everything you would expect in a strange mortician. After a funeral for a young boy, he finds that someone has stayed behind. At first it seems Sam (Caitlin) is there for the funeral, but she says she’s there for the job opening. They sit do...

Two sisters vie for the affections of a man who may or may not be a vampire. Starring: Ginger Gilmartin, Mary Buss, and Benn Hall Directed by: Mickey Reece  Written by: Mickey Reece, and John Selvidge A Fantasia International Film Festival Review   “Climate of the Hunter” is all about the hunt for the answer to one question: is Wesley (Ben Hall) a vampire or not? The hunt begins with sisters Alma (Ginger Gilmartin) and Elizabeth (Mary Buss), who are in very different places in their lives. Alma is out of work, and living in a vacation cabin seemly to hide from the world. Elizabeth is more of the opposite, as she’s a very successful lawyer living in the city. The only reason they're together is that Elizabeth has come to the cabin to check on Alma. Alma may be going through a rough patch in life, or it might be a little worse and she’s suffering from mental issues.    Enter Wesley, who hasn’t seen the ladies in about 20 years. Before he ev...