Deep in the Darkness (2014)

After spending the afternoon watching my talented daughter Genesis perform at the West Virginia University high school honors band performance, I decided to sit back and watch some mindless creature feature as I dissected my homework assignments for the weekend. My next selection was the 2014 Chiller Films entry Deep in the Darkness.

Plot/ A doctor and his family move to a quiet, small town. Soon he discovers the town's dark secret: A terrifying race of controlling creatures that live in the darkness in the forest behind their home.

Sometimes you find movies that just keep popping up, and that was the case with this one. What I found was something I did not expect. A lowered budget creature feature, this movie did have some positive moments with some decent performances, some common sense, and a decent concept within a weird atmospheric premise. Unfortunately, it was also somewhat predictable, the creatures unveiled early, and it felt like it ran a touch long. In the end, this one came off better than I originally expected and did have a few entertaining moments. While it is not the best in the genre, it is also better than most low budget creature features that have overtaken the genre. Give it a shot; you could do worse.

Animal (2014)

Saturday should be a day of rest. Unfortunately, for me, I had to make the trip to the institute for an open house event. Now that I am finally home relaxing, I felt it was time to dive into something rather mindless; my choice was the 2014 Chiller Films flick Animal.

Plot/ When plans for a weekend vacation hit a dead end; a group of close-knit friends find themselves stranded in unfamiliar territory, pursued by a menacing and bloodthirsty predator.

OK, so, I needed to watch something rather mindless, and this one definitely fit the bill. While it is not a terrible film by any means, it is just nothing special. In fact, it is rather cliché throughout, with the typical cardboard characterizations one comes to expect in most horror films in this genre. Sure, the performances are decent and the cast is all right, but other than that, there is nothing new to get anyone excited. The effects are uneven, the scripting predictable, and the decisions made by the characters make zero sense. In the end, this one is not bad and has some entertaining moments; it just does nothing to make it stand out within the genre. If you are a giant fan of this genre, give it a shot; if not stay away.

The Monkey's Paw (2013)

After spending too much time on cheesy creature features, it was nice to find some other flicks that took me into different categories. One such film is my next review, the 2013 horror / thriller The Monkey’s Paw.

Plot/ Jake is given a monkey's paw that grants three wishes. After the first two wishes leave his friend Cobb undead, Cobb pushes Jake to make a final wish.

I am starting to become a huge fan of Chiller Films. This movie was definitely much better than what I expected to find. There was a lot to like in this one with solid acting, a decently original storyline, and cinematography that worked to create a heavy atmosphere. Sure, there were some cliché moments and some of it was predictable, but that did very little to bring the overall product down. In the end, this one may not win an Academy Award but it is an entertaining flick that does a great job at bringing a classic tale into the modern world. Give it a shot!

Chilling Visions: 5 Senses of Fear (2013)

After a long night that featured voting, teachers conferences and car that is acting possessed, I decided to take an evening away from movies and blogging. I did watch an episode of Jericho, so I was able to quench my conspiracy / apocalypse thirst. Tonight was a different story, I was back at it with an interesting anthology, 2013s Chilling Visions: 5 Senses of Fear.

Plot/ From the people that brought you Steve Niles' Remains and Dead Souls comes a terrifying new anthology film based on the human senses.

I love short films and am often amazed by what can be accomplished in them. This collection of shorts creates an original anthology that is rather entertaining. Yes, these were not traditional horror tales and are more character studies than straight terror, but it all works well within the confines of the idea. The films go together and have some interesting twists and effects. More importantly, there is some quality filmmaking taking place on a minimal budget and shooting schedule. Yes, there could have been more scares and more gore, and there could have been a better wrap-up at the end, as all of the movies have some small tie points, but the flaws are but minor. In the end, if you are looking for an interesting suspense driven horror flick, give this one a shot. It is worth the rental.