Matriarch is a Must See [Review]

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Wicked Horror is the author of Matriarch is a Must See [Review]. Wicked Horror is the internet's only horror fan site for free original horror movies, news, review & more.

A Mother’s love knows no bounds in Scott Vickers’s low budget gem, Matriarch, where laid back Matt and mom-to-be Rachel seek refuge after a car crash leaves them stranded on a remote Scottish road. When they stumble onto a farm, the owners are hesitant to help at first but eventually welcome the couple with open arms. What starts off as pleasant, if not a little strange, quickly goes downhill. Especially when Rachel realizes the family’s “daughter” is a local girl who went missing years earlier. Armed with this new knowledge, Rachel and Matt try to escape when the unthinkable happens: They are held at gunpoint while Rachel goes into labor. Will their child’s first day on earth be the couple’s last? Also See: You Won’t Want to Be Buried in This Pet Graveyard [Review] Scott Vickers is a raising star with his clever directorial style, exemplary writing as well as his harrowing role as husband Matt. Does this guy ever sleep?! It’s truly the stuff of nightmares: Matriarch takes a scenario that is in no way remarkable and could happen to anyone and morphs it into a horrific life or death situation. All while proving that you don’t need a big budget to make a must see movie. The suspense of this picture builds up slowly in the first half hour, then unleashes an absolute whirlwind horror and dread. And when Rachel’s baby is finally born? What else can one do but scream?  And don’t be surprised if you feel the plot becomes almost predictable after a certain point. I encourage you to embrace your skepticism. It’ll intensify the entire experience when you’re faced with a serious curve ball that includes a ghoulish plot twist that doesn’t actually occur until the final minutes of the movie. While Vickers has proven himself to be a breath of fresh air, it’s the ladies of Matriarch that really give this movie that extra jagged edge. Also See: Blood on my Sofa: Revenge Rachel shows she is more than just your standard ‘final girl’ with her dramatic, fast-paced character development: from helpless housewife to sick of everyone’s s**t. Every blow, drop of blood, and tear is well earned and better than the last. Her direct counterpart, Agnes, from the very beginning brings a performance that is nothing short of sinister when it’s not gorgeous and compelling. As for my personal favorite Faith: She is a masterful blend of creepy and enjoyable energy. A combo I didn’t know I needed but a combo I love dearly. With so much to love about this movie, I feel it’s only fair to play devil’s advocate for a second. If I had to complain about anything it would be the lack of backstory with Stu and David, the Fairbarin’s “sons”.Viewers learn pretty early on how the Fairbarin’s cross paths with Faith and why they can’t have children of their own. Keeping with that momentum I would’ve liked to have seen how the boys fell into the clutches of Bob and Agnes. Just for my own curiosity’s sake. Besides that? It’s a thrilling movie that will not disappoint. It is definitely worth a watch. And another. And another. And another. And one more for good luck. I urge potential viewers not to research this movie too deeply before watching. Don’t look up reviews with spoilers, don’t look up ratings, I even urge you take my opinion with a grain of salt as I feel I’ve already given too much away with this (mostly) spoiler free article. Go in with an open, clear mind then strap in for this crazy ride. I think you’ll love it. Also See: Jordan Peele Does it Again with Us (Review) Matriarch is available on DVD, Digital and On Demand April 9th via Lionsgate! Wicked Rating: 8/10 Director(s): Scott Vickers Writer(s): Scott Vickers Stars: Charlie Blackwood, Scott Vickers, Thoren Ferguson, Alan Cuthbert, Cameron Fulton, Briony Monroe, Julie Hannan Studio/Production Company: Lionsgate Language: English (with Spanish Subtitles) Run Time: 92 minutes

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Mega Time Squad Has Mega Pacing Problems

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Wicked Horror is the author of Mega Time Squad Has Mega Pacing Problems. Wicked Horror is the internet's only horror fan site for free original horror movies, news, review & more.

Mega Time Squad follows John (Anton Tennet) as he attempts to pull of the perfect crime with the assistance of an ancient, Chinese artifact and several alternate versions of himself. Unfortunately, John (and all of his alternate selves) can barely put on a pair of shoes without catastrophe ensuing.  I was so eager to check this film out. The reviews out of the festival circuit were mostly positive and the cover art made Mega Time Squad seem like a nod to the grindhouse flicks of the ’70s and ’80s. As it turns out, I am at odds with the majority of critics on this one and there is not all that much resemblance to the grindhouse pictures of yesteryear. The flick has its moments but uneven pacing makes it a bit of a chore to sit through.   In spite of being amusing at times, Mega Time Squad isn’t all that funny and the majority of the characters aren’t all that likable. The main protagonists (all different versions of the same character from alternate timelines) are so clueless that you can’t help but laugh at their bungled attempts at everything they set out to do. However, the film is rarely out-and-out hilarious and that’s a problem. Writer/director Tim van Dammen’s script relies too heavily on the comedic elements of the flick to carry the sluggish and repetitive story along and the comedy isn’t funny enough to do that. Though the pacing picks up a bit in the third act, it’s really too little, too late. A movie that only runs 79-minutes shouldn’t feel this long.  It’s important to note that humor is entirely subjective and that some viewers may very well find that the comedy is enough to carry the story along but for this critic, it was simply not sharp-witted or clever enough to distract from the fact that the repetitious storyline wasn’t really all that compelling.   Also See: Larry Fessenden’s Depraved is His Best Directorial Effort Yet [Review] The horror elements in Mega Time Squad are somewhat scarce. It’s much more in the realm of sci-fi comedy than horror comedy. There are a few brilliant moments of onscreen bloodshed and they are impressively rendered. But if you’re going into the film looking for gore, you are likely to be left disappointed.  I must give props to Luke Haigh for his prowess as an editor. The man had multiple shots to splice together to create the illusion that there are multiple versions of the same person onscreen at the same time and the end result is seamless. It’s ultra realistic and never appears choppy or slapped together.   The romantic subplot is somewhat endearing but it’s not enough to save the film from its own pacing issues. Hetty Gaskell-Hahn is likable as John’s romantic interest and she’s scripted as a strong and resourceful character but she really doesn’t get enough time to shine.  The primary special feature included in the film’s Blu-ray release is a series of deleted scenes, none of which really add anything to the film (some of which slowed it down even more) and were rightfully cut from the final version.   Mega Time Squad may be someone’s cup of tea but it really wasn’t mine. I would have been much happier rewatching Timecrimes for the 30th time. Mega Time Squad is now available on DVD, Blu-ray, and VOD from Dark Sky.  WICKED RATING: 4/10Director(s): Tim van DammenWriter(s): Tim van DammenStars: Anton Tennet, Hetty Gaskell-HahnRelease Date: April 9, 2019 (Blu-ray)Studio/ Production Co: Dark SkyLanguage: EnglishLength: 79-Minutes 

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Mega Time Squad

Original Source via Wicked Horror

Wicked Horror is the author of Mega Time Squad. Wicked Horror is the internet's only horror fan site for free original horror movies, news, review & more.

Mega Time Squad follows John (Anton Tennet) as he attempts to pull of the perfect crime with the assistance of an ancient, Chinese artifact and several alternate versions of himself. Unfortunately, John (and all of his alternate selves) can barely put on a pair of shoes without catastrophe ensuing.  I was so eager to check this film out. The reviews out of the festival circuit were mostly positive and the cover art made Mega Time Squad seem like a nod to the grindhouse flicks of the ’70s and ’80s. As it turns out, I am at odds with the majority of critics on this one and there is not all that much resemblance to the grindhouse pictures of yesteryear. The flick has its moments but uneven pacing makes it a bit of a chore to sit through.   In spite of being amusing at times, Mega Time Squad isn’t all that funny and the majority of the characters aren’t all that likable. The main protagonists (all different versions of the same character from alternate timelines) are so clueless that you can’t help but laugh at their bungled attempts at everything they set out to do. However, the film is rarely out-and-out hilarious and that’s a problem. Writer/director Tim van Dammen’s script relies too heavily on the comedic elements of the flick to carry the sluggish and repetitive story along and the comedy isn’t funny enough to do that. Though the pacing picks up a bit in the third act, it’s really too little, too late. A movie that only runs 79-minutes shouldn’t feel this long.  It’s important to note that humor is entirely subjective and that some viewers may very well find that the comedy is enough to carry the story along but for this critic, it was simply not sharp-witted or clever enough to distract from the fact that the repetitious storyline wasn’t really all that compelling.   Also See: Larry Fessenden’s Depraved is His Best Directorial Effort Yet [Review] The horror elements in Mega Time Squad are somewhat scarce. It’s much more in the realm of sci-fi comedy than horror comedy. There are a few brilliant moments of onscreen bloodshed and they are impressively rendered. But if you’re going into the film looking for gore, you are likely to be left disappointed.  I must give props to Luke Haigh for his prowess as an editor. The man had multiple shots to splice together to create the illusion that there are multiple versions of the same person onscreen at the same time and the end result is seamless. It’s ultra realistic and never appears choppy or slapped together.   The romantic subplot is somewhat endearing but it’s not enough to save the film from its own pacing issues. Hetty Gaskell-Hahn is likable as John’s romantic interest and she’s scripted as a strong and resourceful character but she really doesn’t get enough time to shine.  The primary special feature included in the film’s Blu-ray release is a series of deleted scenes, none of which really add anything to the film (some of which slowed it down even more) and were rightfully cut from the final version.   Mega Time Squad may be someone’s cup of tea but it really wasn’t mine. I would have been much happier rewatching Timecrimes for the 30th time. Mega Time Squad is now available on DVD, Blu-ray, and VOD from Dark Sky.  WICKED RATING: 4/10Director(s): Tim van DammenWriter(s): Tim van DammenStars: Anton Tennet, Hetty Gaskell-HahnRelease Date: April 9, 2019 (Blu-ray)Studio/ Production Co: Dark SkyLanguage: EnglishLength: 79-Minutes 

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Are YOU Brave Enough to Watch Jaws on the Water?

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Wicked Horror is the author of Are YOU Brave Enough to Watch Jaws on the Water?. Wicked Horror is the internet's only horror fan site for free original horror movies, news, review & more.

Only the truly brave among us could see an event entitled Jaws on the Water and not run for the nearest patch of dry land. It takes a certain kind of person to want to up the ante of watching the most terrifying shark of movie of all time by doing so while simultaneously floating in open water. And yet, that’s what lucky attendees of the self-explanatory event can look forward to when they rock up to either the Volente Beach Resort or Beachside Billy’s, both in Texas, this summer. The event is being held for the fifth consecutive year, with screenings kicking off June 8, 2019 and continuing each Saturday (excluding July 6) until August 17, 2019. Event attendees will enjoy “access to the Volente Beach attraction”, a “shark-ified” inner tube, fireworks display, and “the thrilling, one-of-a-kind experience of watching cinema’s greatest Great White with your feet dangling dangerously and deliciously in the water” for a not-too-shabby $55 a piece. Your very own Jaws-themed inner tube, which you can take home with you to display proudly alongside other shark-based merchandise, is included in the price along with an illustrated Jaws pint glass, while dinner can be enjoyed for an extra $12. As someone who’s afraid of sharks lurking in the bathtub, I’m not sure this is something I would be brave enough to do but it’s definitely a one of kind style movie-watching experience guaranteed to make the Spielberg classic shine even brighter in watchers’ eyes. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the movie starts after sunset (8:45 p.m. or thereabouts) because watching Jaws while it’s still bright out robs the film of at least some of its scare appeal…right? Upcoming dates are as follows: Friday, June 15, 2018 Saturday, June 16, 2018 Friday, June 22, 2018 Saturday, June 23, 2018 Friday, June 29, 2018 Saturday, June 30, 2018 Friday, July 13, 2018 Saturday, July 14, 2018 Friday, July 20, 2018 Saturday, July 21, 2018 Friday, July 27, 2018 Saturday, July 28, 2018 Friday, August 3, 2018 Saturday, August 4, 2018 Grab tickets for Jaws on the Water HERE!

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The Rabid Dog’s House: Mother’s Boys (1993)

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Wicked Horror is the author of The Rabid Dog’s House: Mother’s Boys (1993). Wicked Horror is the internet's only horror fan site for free original horror movies, news, review & more.

The Rabid Dog’s House is a new reoccurring feature here at Wicked Horror. WH contributor Justin Steele has created a video series for horror fans to uncover hidden gems, lost classics, and overlooked indie offerings. He will discuss an array of topics covering film, literature, and television. Check out the latest installment below. In this episode  we’re looking back on the all but forgotten Jamie Lee Curtis starrer, Mother’s Boys! Kes Madigan (Luke Edwards) and his two brothers (Colin Ward and Joey Zimmerman) have been struggling for the past three years, living with only their father Robert (Peter Gallagher). They love their dad but a broken family is hard on any kid. The situation seems to be slowly be getting better now that Dad’s relationship with a woman named Callie (Joanne Whalley-Kilmer) has grown more serious. While it is not a perfect situation, Callie is their principal and she has earned their respect. Just as the wounds of adolescence are beginning to heal, Mother (Jamie Lee Curtis) has decided to return. Curtis plays Jude Madigan, a woman who does not like to lose anything she perceives as hers. After leaving her family behind three years ago, Jude has discovered that Robert plans to divorce her and marry Callie. And that is just not going to work for Jude. Even if she does not want her boys  anymore, she will not let anybody else have them. They belong to her. And she will do anything she can to keep them. Anything. Also See: Non-Horror Films that Deliver High-Level Suspense Without Gore Released by Dimension Films, Mother’s Boys is a 1993 psychological thriller directed by Yves Simoneau. Officially released in the U.S. in 1994, this feature plays with the them of “evil women” while featuring an irresistible performance by Jamie Lee Curtis. The actress shows off her unexpected dark side in a role that is fabulously evil. Check out the newest episode of The Rabid Dog’s House below as we discuss Mother’s Boys and the appeal of late ’80s and early ’90s psychological thrillers:

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Not Quite Horror: Thoroughbreds (2017)

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Wicked Horror is the author of Not Quite Horror: Thoroughbreds (2017). Wicked Horror is the internet's only horror fan site for free original horror movies, news, review & more.

Not Quite Horror is back from the dead. After resting for a bit in its kind-of creepy but still-normal-enough-to-pass-as-regular crypt, our biweekly series returns. In each installment, Joey Keogh will argue why a chosen film not generally classified as horror actually exhibits many of the qualities of a great flight flick, and therefore deserves the attention of fans as an example of Not Quite Horror. This week, it’s Cory Finley’s super-stylish, and blackly funny, debut Thoroughbreds. Thoroughbreds’ title is two-fold. It first refers, at least nominally, to the horse Olivia Cooke’s sociopath slaughters in its wordless opening moments. Taking the film’s wider scope into account, however, the title alludes to Cooke and Anya Taylor-Joy’s immaculately coiffed, but secretly monstrous, teenage girls. They might be well-bred, their lives existing within the confines of an elite gated community in Connecticut, but inside, these two are rotten to the core. Related: Not Quite Horror: You, Season 1 There’s an overwhelming feeling of encroaching menace in playwright Cory Finley’s assured debut feature, which bleeds into every corner of the expertly-curated frame. The styling is eye-wideningly gorgeous, from Joy’s nautical-themed ensembles (all starched collars and perfectly curled hair) to Cooke’s less structured elegance (messy hair, short summer dresses, a forest-green hunting jacket). When it comes time for Joy’s scheming Lily to commit an act of hideous violence, blood splatters all over her crisp white jumper-dress. The murder is both the catalyst for Thoroughbreds and its least important plot point. The act itself occurs off-screen, with the audience privy only to the aftermath, which sees Cooke’s Amanda voluntarily passed out on the sofa while Lily covers her in blood to implicate her friend in the crime. Finley builds to the moment for much of the movie, as various elements threaten to sabotage the girls’ end goal. But when it does eventually happen, the first time filmmaker dedicates just a few minutes to the killing. The (black) heart of his film is the toxic friendship between Lily and Amanda, a society girl looking to off her horrid stepfather and a careless outsider who values nothing about her privileged lifestyle respectively. The two enjoy a level of privilege such that maids swoop in to pick up after them but nobody notices when they’re casually plotting murder in the pool, or by the massive outdoor chessboard (the basis for much of the movie’s marketing, and rightly so — it’s a gorgeously shot, brilliantly constructed sequence). Only Anton Yelchin’s low-level crim, Tim, smells a rat with these two, agreeing first to take part before legging it when the time comes to actually kill the man. It’s on him much of Thoroughbreds more insidious violence is inflicted, whether it’s via Amanda’s snarky comments (when Tim argues they have no idea where he comes from, she deadpans “Westchester” without missing a beat) or, in one blackly hilarious moment, when he’s in the bathtub with a gaping head wound being instructed to simply wear a hat for a while. Thoroughbreds is about privilege and the dark obsession of teenage friendships in the same way Heathers, Mean Girls, and Jawbreaker are. Lily sees in Amanda someone who’s willing to take action, while Amanda, understandably, looks at her friend’s massive mansion and fashionable duds with thirsty resentment. Each believes the other is their missing piece. Even though it’s Lily who commits the actual murder, it’s Amanda who takes the fall. And willingly so, understanding her societal role better than even Lily does. Although Amanda doesn’t crack a smile until the very end of the movie, it’s Lily who proves to be the more monstrous of the two, her true intent hidden beneath a veneer of perfectly-preserved upper class sophistication. Lily’s more malicious side comes out in how she condescends to Tim in the film’s final moments, and in her attempted drugging of Amanda (deep down, she must know her BFF would do anything for her, though, right?). This entitled young lady doesn’t consider others’ feelings not because she feels nothing, like her obnoxious friend, but because she doesn’t have to. See Also: Not Quite Horror: Destroyer Finley’s film is a remarkably confident, and sophisticated debut powered by two vanity-free lead performances (Yelchin, in his final role, makes for a sweet, borderline pathetic counterpoint as a man let down by society in every conceivable way). Rather than casting judgement on his characters, the writer-director leaves it to us to decide whether the girls deserve what’s coming to them. He forces us to look inward and ask ourselves whether we’re horrified by what’s happening onscreen, or secretly envious of all the opulence on show. By the film’s end, it’s kind of hard to decide.

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New on Netflix: April 5, 2019

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Wicked Horror is the author of New on Netflix: April 5, 2019. Wicked Horror is the internet's only horror fan site for free original horror movies, news, review & more.

Welcome to New on Netflix, a feature here at Wicked Horror in which we provide the latest updates on what’s coming to the streaming service for the week. In recent times, Netflix’s shift in content has been interesting. While many fan-favorite movies and TV shows have been Netflix staples for the better part of a decade, they’ve been taken off the service with more frequency. Some of them return, some of them don’t, and while these are all simply the result of licensing deals that were already in place before these properties even hit the service, they do shed some light on the content provider’s new focus. Netflix is continuing to shift gears away from movies and TV shows owned by other studios or companies and is producing their own content with staggering frequency. As we continue to provide updates on what’s been added to the service, it will always be interesting to note the balance between original and licensed content being added to the Netflix library. With that in mind, here are the latest Netflix additions for the week of March 22nd, 2019. Freddy vs. Jason  Following on the heels of Jason Goes to Hell and Jason X, Freddy vs. Jason has made its way onto Netflix. While it was a massive hit at the time, fans are still divided on this pretty fun, stylish crossover between two of the biggest titans of horror. If anyone hasn’t seen it in a while and has been curious to revisit, now’s the time. Friday the 13th (2009) The Friday the 13th reboot has also been added to Netflix. Fans are also very divided about this one, with many complaining that it felt too much like a polished 2000s slasher and others loving the fact that it played like a greatest hits collection and went back to basics after Jason’s detours into Manhattan, Hell, space and Elm Street.

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