First off I want to apologize for the extreme delay of this review. Two weeks ago I watched the Dutch horror/slasher “Sneekweek (2016)” in theaters with my sister. I was anticipating the release of this movie for a long time. Mainly because Dutch slashers are a rarity these days and only a handful of them are being made every decade. The trailer for Sneekweek looked promising and exciting, but at the same time it felt like I had just seen the entire movie. With no high expectations I went on to see it and I have to say that it was SO MUCH better than I expected! As it turns out the trailer didn’t reveal many important plot points and the fate of some characters. It’s I Know What You Did Last Summer meets Scream in the best possible way and that results in an awesome whodunit.

The cast is super good looking and the actors do the best they can with the material they’re given. The standouts to me were: Carolien Spoor, Jord Knotter, Holly Brood, Marly van der Velden, Sanne Langelaar, David Lucieer and Jelle De Jong. I love how bad-ass the characters were, to the point where they had to fight hard for survival. The kills were graphic and surprisingly innovative. The murder weapons that were used in the movie are really inventive. Sneekweek has a running time close to 2 hours – which is a little longer than usual for slashers, but you can clearly see that it worked as a mood setter and I honestly wasn’t bored for a second throughout the movie. This movie features quite some winks and homages to Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer and it’s evident that the director is very passionate about the genre. This movie scores high on the laughs and scares. The murder mystery is well crafted and at some point every character could’ve been the killer. The soundtrack is stylish and features lots of popular songs. The camerawork and cinematography in this movie are nothing but superb. The final act is exciting and satisfying at the same time and that’s when the shit literally hits the fan with the twists and turns. This movie doesn’t hold back on the (male) nudity, which is always a good thing with these type of movies.

Most critics panned Sneekweek and I was expecting nothing more than a campy guilty pleasure, but I was in awe by how much I ended up loving it! Is it perfect? No. Does it require a lot of thinking? No. Did I have a fun time while watching it? HELL YES! It easily became my favorite Dutch slasher and I suggest every horror/slasher fan to seek it out give it a view, but be sure to keep your expectations low. Hope to see it in theaters one more time before I purchase the Blu-ray. I could watch it over and over again. A future classic!

–Ferdi Akkulak

In most slasher films there is always that moment in the end when the killer and their motive is revealed. From there comes a very lengthy, dialogue-filled scene between the killer and the final victim. As an audience we sit and wait for them to shut up and get on to the big fight between our final girl/guy and the killer. But then there are also times when you ask yourself why after almost 90 minutes, the killer finally has the main target in their clutches, and instead of finally killing them, they talk their ear off, giving the victim the chance to escape. This leads me to the question of whether Scream actually got it right in its discussion of motives. Was Billy right when he said it’s a lot scarier when there isn’t a motive? Or do the “incidental” motives that Randy speaks of earlier in the film something that adds to it? Keep in mind that films mentioned here are not necessarily bad, this is purely on the topic of motives.

Throughout the history of slasher films, there have been numerous ones that do have a motive and some that don’t. With Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Happy Birthday To Me, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Urban Legend, Scream, etc. These films all had killers who had a particular motive for why they are on this killing spree. More often than not, the motive for killers in slashers are always due to revenge. This fact in itself makes motives very tiring and adds nothing new. Even Halloween, which initially had no motive for Michael’s killings, changed in the sequels and gave Michael a motivation to kill, even though to the series’ credit, the motive here was different. I believe that this motive is used most often is because it helps incorporate the twist of who the killer is. And granted sometimes it works, I’m not going to lie, I didn’t see the identity of the killer in Urban Legend coming at all, same with a lot of the reveals in Scream. They were most definitely shocking, but they were all seeking revenge in some form. When there isn’t the revenge motive, there is also the motives that are just plain stupid. Examples being Urban Legends: Final Cut, Sorority Row (even though I loved this one), Bloody Homecoming where the killer wants to take credit for another person’s film project, the killer is doing it “for his girlfriend”, or the much older gym coach wants revenge for the death of the student she was screwing (yes, it’s revenge but it is still stupid). With all of this said, motives can make or break the final act, or even slow it down.

If there isn’t a motive to the killer, we just have a straight-up psychopath. Such psychopaths are mentioned in Scream like Norman Bates, no clear cut motive here because he was just a psycho, or Hannibal Lecter, no real motive here either. As mentioned above, the original Halloween didn’t have a motive for Michael Myers, he simply returned home and began stalking these young women. Black Christmas is also a perfect example with Billy murdering the unsuspecting sorority sisters for no real reason. Even the delightfully bad Slumber Party Massacre featured a killer who had no motive for his killings. Some could say that even Jason in the Friday the 13th sequels had no real motive after murdering Alice in the opening of 2. The idea of a psychopath stalking people and murdering them is chilling and makes you very wary and wanting to lock up your house. But does this also leave the viewer wanting more? I have no doubt in my mind that there are people who will get pissy if a killer doesn’t have a motive and they think “that’s it”? Or maybe it could just seem repetitive for some. Even as I wrote those examples, it was semi-amusing that I was writing the same thing for each title. They’re just a psychopath.

Now of course this is all going to depend on the viewer and what they prefer to see in a slasher film and what effects them. But looking at the bigger picture, the question remains, is it scarier or more appealing to have a motive and the killer is someone they know, or scarier to have a person unknown to them stalking and killing people around them? Both can also have their flaws, but is there a concrete and agreeable answer as to which is much more terrifying?

–Cody Landman

On Saturday night I watched The Final Girls (2015) for the very first time. This movie was never released in theaters where I live and I had to wait a little under three months until it was finally available on DVD and Blu-ray format. In those three months I’ve heard many great praises from the horror community and by the looks of the amazing trailer I wouldn’t have expected anything else.

The Final Girls is directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson (A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas). The cast includes: Taissa Farmiga (American Horror Story), Malin Ã…kerman (Watchmen), Adam DeVine (Workaholics), Thomas Middleditch (Silicon Valley), Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development), Alexander Ludwig (The Hunger Games), Nina Dobrev (The Vampire Diaries), Angela Trimbur (Halloween II) and Chloe Bridges (The Carrie Diaries). I have finally seen The Final Girls and I absolutely loved every second of this masterpiece. Easily one of the best horror comedies I’ve ever seen in my life. It turned a smile on my face and it even had me on the verge of shedding a tear in some scenes. It is innovative and altogether nothing short of excellent. The acting performances are very solid and the standouts were without a doubt: Taissa Farmiga, Malin Ã…kerman, Thomas Middleditch, Nina Dobrev and Angela Trimbur. Especially the chemistry between mother and daughter (Farmiga and Ã…kerman, respectively) was really strong and believable. The script is brilliant and features many winks to cheesy dialogue of horror movies from the 80’s. Totally quotable! The direction from Todd Strauss-Schulson is superb, as he really manages to capture a perfect camp setting without trying too hard. The cinematography is gorgeous and the soundtrack is outstanding. The song “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes has been stuck inside my head ever since I’ve heard it in this movie. I’m definitely planning to purchase the Soundtrack CD. The Final Girls features many iconic moments, the characters are relatable and the visuals look stunning. The picture quality on the Blu-ray looks fantastic.

My main complaint with this movie is the lack of blood, gore and nudity. The PG-13 rating could’ve easily been an R rating. I feel like it’s a missed opportunity, but a bigger audience can be reached with a PG-13 rating and I think the makers were having the exact same idea. The Final Girls is a near perfect horror/comedy with a heart in the right place. I highly recommend it to everyone! Destined to become a cult classic, it’s only just a matter of time. The ending makes room for a sequel, which we’ll hopefully get one day. I fully support that idea.

–Ferdi Akkulak

On Friday night I watched The Burning (1981) for the very first time as part of ‪#‎80sHorrorWeek‬ together with the awesome Midnight Society crew. I own this movie on Region 1 DVD since last spring, because it never got a home video release where I live. The Burning is directed by Tony Maylam (Split Second). The Weinstein brothers had written and produced this movie through their production company: Miramax Films. The cast includes: Brian Matthews (The Young and the Restless), Leah Ayres (Bloodsport), Brian Backer (Fast Times at Ridgemont High), Larry Joshua (Dances with Wolves), Lou David (Over the Brooklyn Bridge), Ned Eisenberg (Law & Order), Jason Alexander (Seinfeld), Fisher Stevens (Short Circuit) and Oscar-winner Holly Hunter (The Piano). A plethora of young actors made their acting debuts with this movie. The Burning has been recommended to me a lot in the past few years. As a devoted lover of 80’s horror/slasher movies, I knew I had to watch this movie as soon as possible. And I’m glad that I did, cause I absolutely LOVED it! The story is interesting enough and doesn’t feel like it tries to rehash or rip-off the concept of the original Friday the 13th. The death scenes are bloody, brutal and shocking. Tom Savini did an outstanding job with the blood and make-up effects and in that department it’s truly a step up from Friday the 13th. His creation of Cropsy is sheer genius.

If you happen to own the MGM DVD, than watch the special feature: “Blood ‘n’ Fire Memories”. You can thank me later! The murder weapon (hedge clippers/scissors) is creative and effective. The camp setting in this movie looks beautiful and I love the “upstate New York” locations. The characters are stereotype and none of them really stand out (this hurts the “final girl” aspect), but you can’t help but love these goofball characters. The camerawork is solid and the cinematography is eye-catching. I feel like the movie loses some steam towards the end, but The Burning is a purely entertaining 80’s slasher none-the-less. I also must note that the soundtrack is wonderfully composed and creates a good atmosphere. It’s truly a shame we never got to see a sequel to this movie, or even a possibility for a franchise as Cropsy is an interesting villian and I wanted to see more of him. The ending definitely left the door for a sequel wide open.

I honestly don’t want this movie to ever get remade. They’ll never manage to dethrone the campy 80’s style. If you’re a fan of horror/slasher movies, than I highly recommend you to give The Burning a chance. It shouldn’t be labeled as a clone to Friday the 13th, as both movies have plenty of redeeming qualities and are equally fun to watch.

–Ferdi Akkulak

Have you ever wanted to be a slasher star? Here’s your chance! Auditions are currently underway for the upcoming 80’s style slasher, Party Night. We here at Slasher Studios have had the chance to read the script and let’s just say…it’s to die for. Check out the requirements below and slash on!

From the official press release:

Have you ever wanted to put your screaming ability to the test? This is your opportunity! We are seeking auditions for our very first feature film, the 80’s throwback slasher Party Night. The film, which promises to be full of scares and blood, will focus on six friends who become prey for a sadistic psychopath when they decide to ditch their school’s after prom party for their own celebration at a secluded house. The film is tentatively scheduled to be filmed in the Houston, TX area June 11th-20th, 2016. Meals, transportation, and lodging will be provided to the cast. Additionally, cast will receive an IMDB credit, a copy of the final film, film material to add to their reel, and the chance to be viewed in a feature that will be viewed via a variety of outlets, including film festivals.

If you are interested in auditioning for a role in Party Night, please contact us at info@frightmeterfilms.com. The list of roles and character descriptions are listed below. Let us know what role(s) you are interested in auditioning for, and we will send you the character sides and instructions for completing and submitting your video audition. We will accept auditions until March 1st, 2015, however, casting decisions may be made before that time depending on the submissions we receive. We look forward to hearing from you and having you potential be part of our very first feature production!

For the TEEN roles (the principal cast), we are looking for actors between the ages of 18 and 25 or those who can reasonable pull off resembling and acting like a high school senior.

Make sure to follow the film on Facebook for updates: Party Night on Facebook

Party Night Character Descriptions:

Amy Sanders: High School Senior. Quiet, an introvert who wears her shyness and lack of confidence reluctantly. She wants to break out of her shell, but feels that school work, approaching college, and her boyfriend should be more important focuses for her. Nelson’s girlfriend. (Final girl).

Nelson Hardison: High School Senior. Handsome with boy next door good looks. Slim and athletic, but embraces his intelligent and mature side first and foremost, as evidenced by the manner in which he carries himself and his attire. Amy’s boyfriend.

Andrew Messner: High School Senior. Blond, blue eyed. Verges on being a complete jock, but his jokester side and easy going nature makes him more approachable and instantly likable. Olivia’s boyfriend. (Shirtless scene and mild sex scene required)

Olivia Duncan: High School Senior. Friendly and genuine. Very attractive, but it not “in your face” about it. Has the tendency to be high strung and anxious in certain situations. Andrew’s girlfriend. (mild sex scene required; willing to go topless preferred, but negotiable)

Molly McBryant: High School Senior. Bright and beautiful and quite aware of it. Can be called a “diva,” but not overly obnoxious about it. Used to getting what she wants and can turn quite bitchy when she doesn’t. Travis’s girlfriend.

Travis Bock: High School Senior. Very handsome and mature looking; often mistaken for being quite older than eighteen. Possesses an intense and almost hard exterior, but genuinely cares about those who are close to him. Molly’s boyfriend.

Benson: 40’s-50’s. Rugged, used to a hard day’s work.

There is a forest in Japan where people are said to enter only to commit suicide. The spirits of those who die are left within. When a young woman learns that her twin sister has entered the forest, she quickly flees to Japan in order to save her. Entering the forest with knowledge of its history, she learns the legends are true. 

The Forest tells almost the same story as The Grudge 2. But there’s no real “curse” or anything. In this case, there only lies madness. The film jumps into the story immediately and we get little snippets of the twin sisters’ past. Combining that along with what the locals are telling our protagonist, it’s easy to sense that this will come into play at some point. The first half of the film is our lead Sarah going around looking for answers and hearing the same stuff over and over. It’s around the middle of the film when she’s in the forest when things actually start to happen. Unfortunately there is zero suspense or good build up. The jump scares in this film are well done if you’ve never seen a horror film before.

However, I will give it credit for its fantastic use of the forest setting. I am a HUGE sucker for horror films that take place in the woods/forest. The way they filmed certain scenes made the forest seem extra creepy and leaves you with the thought of isolation like our characters and the concept of being lost. Almost the same way Blair Witch made me feel (but Blair Witch did a much better job of course). The film also made you question what is and isn’t real along with the characters. Some of it was obvious, but then there were times where I was questioning whether it was a hallucination or not. Unfortunately that’s where it’s pros are cut off. Everything else in the remainder of the movie is Sarah running into ghosts and is completely rushed. When the ending rolls around, it ends up pretty predictable, but not entirely how I thought it was going to play out. So in that respect it was a relief. But I will say it does end with the infamous jump scare we all know and love. Yes, that one.

In terms of performances, Natalie Dormer tackles on the role of our lead Sarah, and her twin sister Jess. Quite frankly I was more interested in Jess, whom we obviously don’t get to know very well. And then there is Sarah who is very bland and uninteresting. Dormer does what she can with Sarah, but there really isn’t a lot to do with the role and no real emotional pull. Whereas when she played Jess, it actually seemed clear that Dormer has something to work with that involves acting. The only one who I thought gave the better overall performance was Taylor Kinney as Aidan whom Sarah enlists to help her. What Kinney does is leave us questioning whether or not he’s really reliable and he does a fine job at it. From the get -go he’s comes off as charming but there’s also something sketchy about him. So that at least gives some life to the story in terms of character.

Overall, The Forest has very few moments that grip you, but it’s definitely one that you won’t be missing out on if you choose to not see it. Excellent setting and good mind play were the strengths of this film but it’s not enough to make up for its many weaknesses. 

–Cody Landman

The 2015 Fright Meter Award nominations have been revealed and It Follows, Spring, and We Are Still Here lead the 2015 nominations with seven each, including Best Director and Best Actress.

The Fright Meter Awards have been presented annually since 2007 by the Fright Meter Awards Committee, a registered non profit organization dedicated solely to honoring the best in horror each year. Nominees and winners are determined by the committee, which consists of horror bloggers, actors, directors, producers, and others involved in the industry.

Without further ado, the 2015 Fright Meter Award nominations:

Best Horror Movie
The Final Girls
Goodnight Mommy
It Follows
Spring
What We Do In The Shadows

Best Director
Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead (Spring)
Guillermo del Toro (Crimson Peak)
Severin Fiala & Veronika Franz (Goodnight Mommy)
Ted Geoghegan (We Are Still Here)
David Robert Mitchell (It Follows)

Best Actor In A Leading Role
Mark Duplass (Creep)
Lou Taylor Pucci (Spring)
Ryan Reynolds (The Voices)
Kurt Russell (Bone Tomahawk)
Taika Waititi (What We Do In The Shadows)

Best Actress In A Leading Role
Barbara Crampton (We Are Still Here)
Taissa Farmiga (The Final Girls)
Nadia Hilker (Spring)
Maika Monroe (It Follows)
Lin Shaye (Insidious: Chapter 3)

Best Actor In A Supporting Role
Larry Fessenden (We Are Still Here)
Matthew Fox (Bone Tomahawk)
Richard Jenkins (Bone Tomahawk)
Leigh Whannell (Cooties)
Rainn Wilson (Cooties)

Best Actress In A Supporting Role
Malin Akerman (The Final Girls)
Jessica Chastain (Crimson Peak)
Deanna Dunagan (The Visit)
Lisa Marie (We Are Still Here)
Sierra McCormick (Some Kind Of Hate)

Best Screenplay
Bone Tomahawk
The Final Girls
It Follows
Spring
What We Do In The Shadows

Best Makeup
Bone Tomahawk
Crimson Peak
Deathgasm
We Are Still Here
WolfCop

Best Special Effects
Crimson Peak
Deathgasm
Headless
Insidious: Chapter 3
Stung

Best Score
Crimson Peak
Deathgasm
The Editor
The Final Girls
It Follows

Best Editing
The Final Girls
It Follows
Spring
Unfriended
We Are Still Here

Best Cinematography
Bone Tomahawk
Crimson Peak
It Follows
Spring
We Are Still Here

Best Short Horror Film
Chomp (Directed by: Lynne Hansen)
The Confession Of Fred Krueger (Directed by: Nathan Thomas Milliner)
The Package (Directed by: Damon Rickard)
Ronald McDonald Playground Slaughter (Nominees to be determined)
Selfie From Hell (Directed by: Erdal Ceylan)

For more information about the Fright Meter Awards, visit www.frightmeterawards.com or find the awards on Facebook: www.facebook.com/frightmeterawards or Twitter: @Frightmeter.

On Saturday night I watched Kristy (2014) for the very first time. This movie didn’t get a DVD release where I live until last month. I immediately picked up a copy, because I’ve been excited to see it for quite some time. It’s been circulating on my Facebook and Instagram feed for over a year now and for most part received high praises from the horror community. The cast is interesting enough and Haley Bennett is an extremely underrated actress in my opinion. Kristy marks the second feature film of director Oliver Blackburn, who previously directed the British slasher Donkey Punch (2008). Which I haven’t seen yet, but own on DVD.

I have finally come around to see Kristy and it was everything I expected and more! This has to be one of my favorite modern horror/slasher movies. The story doesn’t try to be original and that’s what I mainly liked about this movie. The acting performances are excellent, especially by Haley Bennett and Ashley Greene. Justine (played by Haley Bennett) is hands down one of the strongest final girls in horror movie history, up there with Erin (Sharni Vinson) from You’re Next. Such a likeable and relatable character. Ashley Greene played against type as the stonecold cult leader and the result was nothing short of amazing, even though her character was underdeveloped. The character development isn’t the strongest, as we’re mainly focused on Justine throughout the movie. Lucas Till was also pretty decent in this movie, even though his screentime was limited. The tension and suspense in Kristy was heartpounding with many well executed chase scenes and effective jump scares. Oliver Blackburn did a terrific job in the director’s chair. I also thought that the soundtrack was superb, as we get a chilling score mixed with modern songs like: Lana Del Rey – Blue Jeans and NONONO – Pumpin’ Blood. Kristy didn’t bore me for a second and literally kept me on the edge of my seat throughout its short running time, which oddly didn’t felt all that short to me. I really liked the girl power aspect in this movie as we witness our lead girl fight back after literally going to hell and back again.

The final confrontation between our protagonist and antagonist is bad-ass and outstanding. This is one of those movies where you have to pay close attention from the very beginning in order to pick up some clever references and choices that characters make. The cinematography in this movie is rock solid and I loved the campus setting and the beautiful exterior shots. Everything seemed to work for me with this movie, even though I wish it had more character development and a longer running time. There is a scene after the credits that may or may not suggest a possibility for a potential sequel. I would love that idea, but only if Haley Bennett reprises her role of Justine. Kristy is a thrilling and exciting adrenaline ride that I suggest everyone should take. It even takes place on Thanksgiving, so it’s technically a holiday horror/slasher. Definitely a movie I wanna watch at least once a year. For those that are interested in seeing it, Kristy is now streaming on the American Netflix. I highly suggest everyone to give it a watch, as it’s a cult classic in the making. It’s The Strangers meets The Purge meets You’re Next.

–Ferdi Akkulak

Slasher Studios was proud to be a part of this awesome horror anthology. Filmmakers from around Wisconsin were asked to create this loving nod to grindhouse and exploitation, John Waters style. We hope you have a sick, twisted, and most importantly, fun time with it!

DESCRIPTION:
7 nightmarish films from the people that brought you SWAMPHEAD, INCEST DEATH SQUAD, THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH THE DEAD, FLESH EATING FOG, and DON’T GO TO THE REUNION.

A brute shows a local boy hell through his haunted ax, the streets of Madison are stalked by a deranged sexual psychopath, Ed Gein is resurrected as a dentist with a penchant for extraction, the flipside of the American family screams itself to life, and an elicit drug transforms a singer into the angel of death!!!

Directed by:
Derrick Carey – Rabid Child FIlms
Cory J Udler – Shalenn Productions
Greg Johnson – Two Horned Unicorn
Rob Michels / Carolyn Baker – Screaming like Banshees
Steve Goltz / Kevin Sommerfield – Slasher Studios

INCLUDED ON DVD:

– 80 minute Uncut version of film
– 30 minute Behind the scenes featurette
– 2 audio commentaries with the directors
– trailer
– Splatreel

Hole in the Wall

DVD $15.00 USD

In the outrageous horror anthology “In the Dark”, two female assassins hiding out in a rundown motel find a bag of unmarked videotapes and enter a twisted world inhabited by an axe wielding maniac, a murderous matchmaker and a sin-slaying creature from hell. Slasher Studios had the chance to check out two of the anthology horror flick segments at Chicago Fear Fest and they easily the standout horror flicks of that weekend. The anthology is written and directed by Chris St. Croix and David Buchert and

Now available to rent or buy on video-on-demand from Amazon: In The Dark (Video on Demand)