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Movie Review: ‘Out of the Shadows’

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A pregnant mother confronts a nightmare in Out of the Shadows, the new supernatural horror film from Australian director/co-writer Dee McLachlan.

Eric and Katrina Hughes (Blake Northfield, Kendal Rae) have found their dream home in an old, abandoned midwifery until Katrina begins to suspect both she and her baby are being targeted by something evil from the building’s past.

Eric, of course, is unconvinced and begins to suspect her sanity is slipping as her behavior becomes more erratic, but after a while even he can’t deny the activity in the home and they soon find themselves in a battle for all their lives to protect their unborn child.

If you’re thinking you’ve seen this movie before, you’re partially right. Out of the Shadows follows a pretty standard pattern, but that certainly doesn’t mean it isn’t worth watching. The film is a taut horror/thriller with plenty of tension to keep its audience on the edge of its seat.

Blake Northfield and Kendal Rae as Eric and Katrina in Out of the Shadows (Photo by Michaela Johnson-Carroll-Blue Fox Enter)

Much of its success falls upon the shoulders of her substantially talented cast.

Rae plays Katrina with raw emotional depth; you can palpably feel each emotional shift as the film progresses while Northfield’s Eric is equally convincing and it was interesting to watch him slowly shift from disbelief to confusion to belief to fear.

The film’s real standout, by far, is Lisa Chappell as Linda Dee, a motorcycle-riding, leather wearing, badass demonologist enlisted by the Hughes to help them when they are turned away by the church.

It isn’t often that we see a woman in this type of role and it was not only refreshing, but highly entertaining as she prepared for spiritual battle with the forces inside the old widwifery. Chappell’s performance heightens what we’ve come to expect in this type of role, and it was a much needed breath of fresh air.

And then there’s Goran Kleut…I can’t say much about Kleut’s character, Mr. Augusta, without spoilers so I’ll just say that he is both menacing and terrifying onscreen, and deserving of the attention that he will no doubt receive from this role.

The action of the film is perfectly complemented in its score by Christopher Gordon, who previous work can be on heard on film such as Daybreakers and the 2004 mini-series adaptation of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot. Gordon’s work here is starkly beautiful and haunting with a classic style that creates an audio landscape as enigmatic and breathtaking as the film’s setting.

As I said before, Out of the Shadows has not re-invented the wheel, here. Many of the tropes we’ve come to expect from this type of film are present and accounted for throughout this story of menacing spirits/demons, but they have certainly created an entertaining and scary film with a few tweaks to the norm here and there.

My one complaint comes at the end. It was rather like seeing a gymnast performing a complicated, successful routine beautifully and then failing to stick the landing.

The last ten minutes or so of the film are a bit of a mess as the plot unravels in a sudden and intense rush of over-the-top special effects, and while they managed to quickly knit some of it back together for the final scene, I’m afraid it wasn’t enough to save them completely from the damage that had been done.

Still, if you’re a fan of things that go bump in the night, of restless spirits and disembodied voices, and of stories of families who stand together and fight the unseen evils menacing their homes, then Out of the Shadows is a journey that is totally worth taking.

You can see Out of the Shadows on Amazon Streaming and other VOD services right now with a physical release set on September 11, 2018. Check out the trailer below and let us know what you think in the comments!

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“Mickey Vs. Winnie”: Iconic Childhood Characters Collide in A Terrifying Versus Slasher

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iHorror is diving deep into film production with a chilling new project that’s sure to redefine your childhood memories. We’re thrilled to introduce ‘Mickey vs. Winnie,’ a groundbreaking horror slasher directed by Glenn Douglas Packard. This isn’t just any horror slasher; it’s a visceral showdown between twisted versions of childhood favorites Mickey Mouse and Winnie-the-Pooh. ‘Mickey vs. Winnie’ brings together the now-public-domain characters from A. A. Milne’s ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ books and Mickey Mouse from the 1920s ‘Steamboat Willie’ cartoon in a VS battle like never before seen.

Mickey VS Winnie
Mickey VS Winnie Poster

Set in the 1920s, the plot kicks off with a disturbing narrative about two convicts who escape into a cursed forest, only to be swallowed by its dark essence. Fast forward a hundred years, and the story picks up with a group of thrill-seeking friends whose nature getaway goes horribly wrong. They accidentally venture into the same cursed woods, finding themselves face-to-face with the now monstrous versions of Mickey and Winnie. What follows is a night filled with terror, as these beloved characters mutate into horrifying adversaries, unleashing a frenzy of violence and bloodshed.

Glenn Douglas Packard, an Emmy-nominated choreographer turned filmmaker known for his work on “Pitchfork,” brings a unique creative vision to this film. Packard describes “Mickey vs. Winnie” as a tribute to horror fans’ love for iconic crossovers, which often remain just a fantasy due to licensing restrictions. “Our film celebrates the thrill of combining legendary characters in unexpected ways, serving up a nightmarish yet exhilarating cinematic experience,” says Packard.

Produced by Packard and his creative partner Rachel Carter under the Untouchables Entertainment banner, and our very own Anthony Pernicka, founder of iHorror, “Mickey vs. Winnie” promises to deliver an entirely new take on these iconic figures. “Forget what you know about Mickey and Winnie,” Pernicka enthuses. “Our film portrays these characters not as mere masked figures but as transformed, live-action horrors that merge innocence with malevolence. The intense scenes crafted for this movie will change how you see these characters forever.”

Currently underway in Michigan, the production of “Mickey vs. Winnie” is a testament to pushing boundaries, which horror loves to do. As iHorror ventures into producing our own films, we’re excited to share this thrilling, terrifying journey with you, our loyal audience. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to transform the familiar into the frightful in ways you’ve never imagined.

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Mike Flanagan Comes Aboard To Assist in Completion of ‘Shelby Oaks’

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shelby oaks

If you have been following Chris Stuckmann on YouTube you are aware of the struggles he has had getting his horror movie Shelby Oaks finished. But there’s good news about the project today. Director Mike Flanagan (Ouija: Origin Of Evil, Doctor Sleep and The Haunting) is backing the film as a co-executive producer which might bring it much closer to being released. Flanagan is a part of the collective Intrepid Pictures which also includes Trevor Macy and Melinda Nishioka.

Shelby Oaks
Shelby Oaks

Stuckmann is a YouTube movie critic who’s been on the platform for over a decade. He came under some scrutiny for announcing on his channel two years ago that he would no longer be reviewing films negatively. However contrary to that statement, he did a non-review essay of the panned Madame Web recently saying, that studios strong-arm directors to make films just for the sake of keeping failing franchises alive. It seemed like a critique disguised as a discussion video.

But Stuckmann has his own movie to worry about. In one of Kickstarter’s most successful campaigns, he managed to raise over $1 million for his debut feature film Shelby Oaks which now sits in post-production. 

Hopefully, with Flanagan and Intrepid’s help, the road to Shelby Oak’s completion is reaching its end. 

“It’s been inspiring to watch Chris working toward his dreams over the past few years, and the tenacity and DIY spirit he displayed while bringing Shelby Oaks to life reminded me so much of my own journey over a decade ago,” Flanagan told Deadline. “It’s been an honor to walk a few steps with him on his path, and to offer support for Chris’ vision for his ambitious, unique movie. I can’t wait to see where he goes from here.”

Stuckmann says Intrepid Pictures has inspired him for years and, “it’s a dream come true to work with Mike and Trevor on my first feature.”

Producer Aaron B. Koontz of Paper Street Pictures has been working with Stuckmann since the beginning is also excited about the collaboration.

“For a film that had such a hard time getting going, it’s remarkable the doors that then opened to us,” said Koontz. “The success of our Kickstarter followed by the on-going leadership and guidance from Mike, Trevor, and Melinda is beyond anything I could have hoped for.”

Deadline describes the plot of Shelby Oaks as follows:

“A combination of documentary, found footage, and traditional film footage styles, Shelby Oaks centers on Mia’s (Camille Sullivan) frantic search for her sister, Riley, (Sarah Durn) who ominously disappeared in the last tape of her “Paranormal Paranoids” investigative series. As Mia’s obsession grows, she begins to suspect that the imaginary demon from Riley’s childhood may have been real.”

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New ‘MaXXXine’ Image is Pure 80s Costume Core

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A24 has unveiled a captivating new image of Mia Goth in her role as the titular character in “MaXXXine”. This release comes approximately a year and a half after the previous installment in Ti West’s expansive horror saga, which covers more than seven decades.

MaXXXine Official Trailer

His latest continues the story arc of freckle-faced aspiring starlet Maxine Minx from the first film X which took place in Texas in 1979. With stars in her eyes and blood on her hands, Maxine moves into a new decade and a new city, Hollywood, in pursuit of an acting career, “But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.”

The photo below is the latest snapshot released from the film and shows Maxine in full Thunderdome drag amid a crowd of teased hair and rebellious 80s fashion.

MaXXXine is set to open in theaters on July 5.

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