Morbid Stories

And I'm back my Rotten Readers! Readers of Rotten? Gotta word shop this or fans could give us a better tag. Okay today I have been asked by writer/director/actor Phil Herman (Jacker, Jacker 2, Burglar from Hell, Tales for the Midnight Hour, HorrorTales.666, After Midnight, Into the Woods, Sickened, Tales Till the End, Hell on Earth: Arena of Death and Tales for the Midnight Hour II) invited me to see a five part anthology Horror film. This is Morbid Stories.

Patene: Fight the apocalypse with great hair.

Brought to us by Avail Entertainment, we open with some wide shot of a town resembling New Mexico. Looks like drone shooting, a bit smoother than helicopter is. Some static ridden reports over the radio seems to be pointing catastrophe in the making. A young woman, Candy (Courtney Akbar of Frontlines, NCIS, Parks and Recreation, Smoke Filled Lungs, Astro and Paradise Apartments) is enjoying a warm, sunny day with her Pomeranians. Hey I am a little irked these dogs probably get a better breakfast than I do. Candy now minus her boyfriend is moving out shortly but the house itself seems to have gotten sinister. With electrics and gas seemingly turned off, a car radio announcement confirms something is awry and danger is on the rise.

Witness an apocalyptic end of the world and Candy just finished her last car payment.

Fade to black wipe and a title card telling us New York 15 hours prior. Cut to night shot as we see an injured man with a bite in his throat where he clearly bled out and is doing some tell tale zombie shuffling. Time for some patented Tallahassee Zombieland door smacks. Of course the guy could have had a rabid squirrel bite him and he twisted his ankle. From a Satanist POV, he's destined to be worm food.

Dammit, Kool-Aid man is drunk again.

Over to a snoozing couple as the hours of the night tick tock away. Love that the ill-fated Carnival of Souls is playing on their flat screen in the bedroom. With rapping at their house's windows, the Singers Helen (Crystal Loverro of Guardian Devil, Success, Morbid Stories and Scars of Ancient Futures) and Jamie (Shane Smith of Morbid Stories) grab a deterrent (ballbat) and go investigate the mystery of who the hell is knocking at the door at this hour. A refugee from a 90s metal band?

Who is this long haired stranger (Tim O' Hearn of Dry Bones, The Legend of Six Fingers, Killer Rack, The Dummy 2, Death House, Blood Prism and Johnny Gruesome) decked out all in black complete with leather trenchcoat? He claims he and several of his friends were in an accident up the road and need to use the phone for fire and emergency to come to their aid. Jamie reluctant but eventually gives in to assist. He seems weirded out by these folk and who can blame him? They demand to be invited in. Things aren't what they appear to be and Jamie is still considerate enough to let them in the house. Now being paranoid as I am, I think that jug of holy water and my crucifix would been out about that time or at the very least a shotgun leveled at taking a head off.

In a word, badass. Helen is hell on wheels. Considering her newfound enemies are Nosferatu or Nesuferitu if you prefer.

Now unlike typical anthologies, this is edited a bit differently. It would appear Candy's story is the main one and the others are happening as the day and night progresses. I saw something simple with Tales from the Darkside and Two Evil Eyes.

NOM NOM NOM!!!

24 hours prior in California: a Japanese family are simply being a family. The kids are playing in the dirt and gravel and eldest sister Mallory (Ashley Mei of I Am a Knife with Legs, Tango Europa, Astro, Morbid Stories and Clown Fear) has her hands full with sisters Olivia (Emma Koiso of Clown Fear and Morbid Stories), Ava (Kelly Koiso of Clown Fear and Morbid Stories), Aiden (Lucas Koiso of Morbid Stories) and Jayden (Marcus Koiso of Morbid Stories).

Obsessed with the selfies, vlogging and her friends, she isn't bad at the babysitting but she could be better. Pizza ordered instead of making them a meal? Deducting points already. Friends James (Austyn Reale of Morbid Stories) and Lola (Jocelyne Daugherty of Morbide Stories) are frittering away their afternoon with an Oujia board to contact spirits. Because that never goes wrong in a horror movie...ever. James has attitude and is crashing at a buddy's house. Angsty teen boy issues. Probably body hair, his voice cracking and various body odors no doubt. Oh and he's sweet on Mallory. That much is obvious. Due to the negative vibes given out, an entity proceeds to raise a little Hell for our younglings. Something gets into Lola so you better lop off more than her wrist or maybe an exorcist. You got that on speed dial right, Mallory?

Candy is a responsible doggy mom as she is loading them up with little sips of water. Y'know instead of a big bowl of it, spilling all over the back of the car and making a mess. Exposition radio station is warning her of incoming zombies? Very Zombi 3. Without Radio DJ Fresh Zombi kicking the airwaves with some 70s funk of course.

Meanwhile in Delaware, a published novelist/teacher is correcting writing errors on his works. Yeah just truckloads of run-on sentences and those dreaded dangling participles. The Horror of it all!!! Improper grammar aside, Robert Zirn (Will Devokees of Macabre Medicine, Agent Emes 8: Agent Emes and the Shavous Trial, The League of Science, The Perils of Posting and Morbid Stories) has the expression of a man burned out. Trying to bash his new novel out, the house he's staying at doesn't promote the warmest atmosphere. Hell it's just missing a cannibalistic family with a homemade human chili fetish and I can see it getting great YELP reviews.

Being isolated from everything and anything, Robert is trying to make the new book work, if his paranoia or random creepy sounds would stop happening. His assistant assures him this was the best place for him because there isn't anything else available 50 miles in any direction. Here's hoping he doesn't find a book bound in human flesh and inked in human blood. After all, such a book was never meant for the land of the living. The pitter patter of feet on the roof is disturbing. Caretaker Don (Ryan W. Phillips of Macabre Medicine and Morbid Stories) drops by to hear Zirn kinda whine and bitch. This guy's helping you out, dude. Little more gratitude, man. That being said, Don may need a good smack. No cable no beer makes Zirn something something.

The house has been making odd noises during a thunderstorm. Could be the wind or a mess of Chupacabras. Who can say? 

 Don gives a cryptic warning to not go in the attic. My first thought? Mom's chained and gagged up in that attic. Fate is playing silly buggers with Zirn and clearly he has had a few things on his mind. Nightmares are hounding him or are they nightmares? Again foot steps sounding like it's coming from the attic. Scooby gang of one decides he's gonna see what is a-goin' on there.

Reports of zombies and vampires roaming about. Lock your doors, bolt your windows and pray to your deity of choice.

Cut to arty pale goth girl attempting a rare steak and well it didn't go down well or even at all. Instead of food, she simply has an injection of dubious fluid or liquid. Guess she has a taste for the crimson stuff in our veins. Methinks she is a fledgling to go all Radu there. Armageddon is well into swing as more vampire and zombies seem to be attacking one another. Just a vampire girl living or nonliving in this lonely world. I loved the incidental humor, excellent camera work and the credited acting. This felt like a bizarre rom com.

Is Candy crushing the apocalypse? Will Angel get his soul? How many more pop culture references can I do?

Just in time for Halloween, our movie has been released already to Amazon as of October 22^nd. What we have is five talented stories being told injunction with the main story. The world as we know is gone and these are the final tales to be told. Another example of indie directors managing a good, solid story on a minor budget. Just seeing this you want to give them a huge budget and watch for the wonder to unfold. 

OMG! the apocalypse took my bars!

Axemas 2: Blood Slay

It's a tough life in my racket. Hey folks back again for another blog and this time around director/writer/producer/actor John Ward (Chapman's Storage: Fake Commercial, Axemas, Frames of Fear 2, and Meathook Massacre 4) has entrusted me to give his newest creation of the Axemas series a review. Will it be as enjoyable as the first? Dare we hope it surpasses the original? This is Axemas 2: Blood Slay.

A holly, jolly homicide!

Under Dark Park Films and Always Out of The Box Entertainment we open with some good VST for soundtrack and eerie chords as grumpily guy in mid-twenties is chucking the Christmas Tree when he is grappled by Uncle Kris (Drew Marvick of Astro Zombies: M4- Invaders from Cyberspace, Scared to Death, Bob Freeman: Exterminator for Hire, Get Hansel!, It Stains the Sands Red and Pool Party Massacre) and feel some Silent Night Deadly Night 2 vibes are coming our way. Hopefully not awesomely bad as Eric Freeman a.k.a. Ricky Caldwell of the Silent Night Deadly Night 2.  One garbage day quote and I will wince. Well just note his death scene made me smile.

With a morning investigative report on Chapman Storage confirming the timeline that it has been one year later. Surviving girl Sarah (Ashley Campbell of Any Body Can Dance 2, Distortion, Guard Dog, The Trust, Death to False Hipsters, Axemas, Drug Z and My Mom's a Joke) feels a bit more Sydney of Scream and less Laurie of Halloween.  Sarah has still been considered a suspect in these brutal murders...OF HER FRIENDS and yet the cops couldn't find enough evidence to link her to the killings. Surprised they just didn't fabricate some evidence, craft a story to fit their needs and then break for lunch.

Just want to meet a guy that doesn't want to ax murder me.

Montey Chapman of Chapman Storages(Phillip Trickey of House of Pain, Clown Motel Massacre and Axemas 2: Blood Slay) is channeling his inner Mayor Vaughn from Jaws, assuring us those weird mishaps of the year prior has just been an isolated incident, units are available to rent and it's a damn fine day...to move heavy objects.

Sarah still haunted of the ghosts of the past; seeks advice and counseling from Laura (Donna Hamblin of Mark of the Astro-Zombies, Killer Biker Chicks, Demon Haunt, Dead Ink, Sinister, Blood Mercury and Project M). The previous events are shrouding her every waking thought.   Plus, dead boyfriend manifesting to creep her is really off putting. Yeah I am relatively sure those are just hallucinations. A bit of dating advice from Laura seems to put Sarah in a better frame of mind. FYI, Sarah. Don't open a conversation with, "Hi I'm Sarah and my last boyfriend was brutally ax murdered by a lunatic in a Santa costume," Pro tip!

With a jaunt to a used bookstore (the intellectuals' hunting ground, ladies) Sarah roams through the aisles in search of MAN...or possibly a good paperback. Maybe some Charlaine Harris. Who knows. Bumbling into each other, Eric (Ben Stobber of Unwritten, The Immortal Wars, Axemas 2; Blood Slay, The Immortal Wars: Resurgence, Dress Code, Art of the Dead, Reversal and Los Angeles Shark Attack) makes his move after startling Sarah with his Dickens. A Christmas Carol that is. Nothing pervy. Sheesh. Hey this easy going guy even gives her a window of opportunity to bounce if he is a boring plebeian. Rock star move, brohan!

No! Go find your own storage unit for that! Ew!

Prepping for the big date, Sarah's nervous. So begins the first dating dance!!! muahahaha!!!! No, I'm not bitter. After cocktails and dinner, Sarah opts for a night cap.   The end of that puts Sarah on familiar stomping grounds.   She awakes for a new night of terror and the killers (oh yes, plural) are going to take their time with Sarah and drag it out.

Did I mention some kids making their way around this place?  You'd think one Santa slaying episode that happened only a year prior would be giving off hot neon light warnings, but hormones never listen.  Darn you pesky kids!! Git outta my murder place!

Fate is a fickle mistress as Tara (The lovely and talented Tommie Vegas of Project M, The Trust, Date Breakers, Party Night, Nite Nite, Can I Kil You?, Virus of the Dead, Vice Squad: Las Vegas and Vice Squad: Chicago) who pulls the greater Hail Mary save, and gets Sarah on her feet. Now they only have to survive the night and run the gauntlet of this massive complex that is no doubt, locked down for the night. Sarah and Tara (Hey that rhymed!) meet up with Tara's boyfriend James (Nicholas Jackman of Party Bus to Hell, Social Girls, Classacts, Finding Sara, The Auction and Murder 4 Dummies).

Both kids are homeless and were just looking for a place to crash but now it looks like murder is filling their stockings tonight. Wow that last line was pretty cheesy. In fear of Uncle Kris, the threesome are trying to find a way to stay alive and must band together to deal with a crazy Santa.

As was previous for the original, this is logged as a short film for an anthology series. We have solid performances, over the top slasher villain, some great gore scenes and good dialogue. This manages to stay within the same old school cut to gore gag shots and actually gives off a bit of terror. With a bit of a Scream and Silent Night Deadly Night 2 theme, this 34 minutes of evil could easily be deemed substantial work. With an easy premise to follow and an environment with proper mood lighting, you could easily see this in a full length feature. Minor CGI spatters, otherwise old school blood packs and bladders. Not surprising that John Ward has kept the same momentum as the first. 

He seems...less jolly.

 

Sneak Peek Preview: Axemas

Ah me, the demanding life of a film reviewer.  Hey folk, welcome back to the blog.   So thanks to Dustin Ferguson and the Nemesis 5 review, a colleague and friend of Dustin's asked if I could give his film a viewing while he is already working on the sequel.  Now how can I ignore that level of hard work, am I right? Today's film belongs to director/writer/producer/actor John Ward (Chapman's Storage: Fake Commercial, Axemas, Frames of Fear 2, and pre-production of Meathook Massacre 4 and post-production of Axmas 2: Blood Slay). His film is clearly part of a segmented five-part film highlighting five separate directors. This is Axemas.

I'm no doctor but you might want that sucking chest wound looked at.

Our opening title cards is followed by a mild xylophone playing as we look at a storage unit being broken into by a bad boy on the naughty list. Our thief (Tommy Sihavong of Axemas and Frames of Fear 2) didn't hear sleigh bells ringing and tingling but hears something metal being drug across the concrete. Naughty or nice, our thief is ready to defend himself and his ill-gotten gains when "Santa" pitches him in the storage unit, closes the door and we hear the thief's screams and that same ripsaw going to work. Yeah that may have even grossed out Rick and Billy of Silent Night, Deadly Night 1 and 2.  The irony of this comment I wrote, is there are two off-camera characters are named Rick and Billy.

A simple fade to black (don't start quoting the song), brings us to a kid on the phone bored out of his skull, calling buddies over to party the night away.  When you think about it, clean up will be a breeze, cans will go to recycling and hopefully they aren't using other people furniture to make out and screw. Oh man, they are totally going to use that furniture, aren't they?

A planned get together will lock the place down at 11 and apparently no major security with exception of cameras on the outside of the building.  Hopefully at least a security guard and a dog?

David (Dillon Wieshuhn of Daywalker: Blade Origins, Axemas, Drug Z and Amygdala Warrior) has the keys to the castle...well the storage place and invites his friends and girlfriend over for some Christmas cheer, in the form of booze and partying.

"Santa" and his magic murder bag, dripping of blood from now we can assume chopped up thief parts are probably making their way to disposal of the body.

Psst, let's go rattle the walls. Hmm? Ya feel me?

The storage center overall looks to be almost two, maybe three blocks in length so our young couples are looking forward to a bit of fun, drink and some of each other later.  Guys, honestly rent a couple of hotel rooms.   Maybe get a cabin for the weekend.  They're pretty reasonable rates if you book months in advance.

As the kids explore the massive maze that is the center, somewhere in this huge complex is a blood spattered Santa (John E. Seymore of Water in the Bay, Tangled 8, Blessid, The Weed Detective, Drug Z and Frames of Fear 2 )creepily singing to himself, enjoying some cookies in his chair when he hears a few giggles from the girls and guys.  Not wanting his festivities to come to an end, Santa decides to look on these boys and girls. And THANK YOU for not revealing Santa's face prematurely!

Seriously I cannot thank John Ward enough to make the proper decision to keep our killer's face concealed. Maybe he enjoyed the original Black Christmas. God knows you can't sit through the remake.

Our couples along with David and Sarah (Ashley Campbell of Atelophobia, Guard Dog, Designated, Unwritten, Atelophobia: Chapter 2 and Alien Domicile ) are Chuck (Nathan Scott of The Weed Detective, Drug Z and Frames of Fear 2) and Liz (Lindsey Cruz of Atelophobia, Rust, Rust 2, The Radiant One, Atelophobia: Chapter 2 and Drug Z) and Lee (Mikey Anthony O' Brien of Drug Z, Frames of Fear 2 and Alice) and Linnea (Kamiko Kawada of Shadows, Not a Care in the World, Into Paradise and Frames of Fear 2)

The party starts winding down and Chuck and Liz go off to find their own locker to get busy.   Don't blame them.  Probably had to see white folk dance.   Trust me, I'm white and it bugs the crap out of me to see that gyrating mess.

One by One, Santa's coming for you all. He's checking his list and scratching off those bad kids.

Can they flee to save themselves? Does one of these units belong to a paranoid NRA gun nut?

Ah mistaken for firewood.  It happens.

Okay on technical lighting choices and the fact I have rented a storage unit before, they cannot actually have the lights off in sections. With that comment out of the way, the less lighting actually makes the film look creepy. With more shadows to work with, sounds being amplified by the doors and walls of corrugated steel, would confuse the hell out of anyone without a proper sense of direction or carrying a compass.

The subtle touches with the music played VST (Virtual Studio Technology. Yeah I am becoming an audiophile.) giving synthesizer and sound effects at the ready for editing is a Indie budgeted director's dream come true. Good mood setting, easy story to bring more into it, decent gore effects and props, I think we got a budding director that simply needs a bit more funding behind him and he'll spatter the walls with some real nasty effects. Ward has suspense building, decent tension build up and proper music stingers.

Cranking out at 25 minutes, the tone was set, characters are in place and giving decent performances. This is part of an anthology set (A collection of short stories) showcasing multiple talents and different directorial styles.

I honestly think with a bit more of a longer script and maybe two or three more cast members, you could make a gore fest but I like the more subtle encounters. This isn't that typical overblown Hollywood Hack'em up with far too many jump scares, one dimensional characters and far over the top gore effects.

Now yes, you can argue well they didn't have the length of time as a standard gallon of gore of at least 75 to 90 minutes of bad CGI penetration shots or CGI blood gags.

Ward could buy that software for editing but I prefer the cut scenes with the aftermath established. It provides a better visual and the death grimaces on your actors will always look nastier.

Had some influence from the first Silent Night, Deadly Night and Halloween 2 to it.  Nothing wrong with that at all.

An old recipe of horror elements, teens doing dumb things and the enraged psycho made this a fun viewing. Personally, I hope to see more of what John Ward and his crew have to offer.

Don't think even the Ice Cream Bunny will work with Santa now.