Connect with us

News

Volumes Of Blood Is Gory Good Fun

Published

on

We’re more than halfway into 2015 and I can say with most certainty, the best horror films I’ve seen thus far are the ones you have to search for. Volumes Of Blood fell into my lap directly from one of five directors, P.J. Starks, whom also appears in the last act of the movie. Yep. You read that right, FIVE. The film is an anthology series of sorts, with a different director at the helm for each story. Much like ABCS OF Death but with each sequence much longer, spanning about ten to fifteen minutes each. The directors are as mentioned P.J. Starks, Jakob Bilinski, Nathan Thomas Milliner, John Kenneth Muir and Lee Vervoort.

 

 

vob2

 

 

The synopsis of the movie is that of four college students gather at a local library on the most beautiful of nights, Halloween, all with the purpose to create an urban legend for them to spread around the college campus. Each of the four come up with their own urban legend tales as possibilities for the tale they wish to tell to others. Each is an original concept with a bit of a throwback to the old tales we know and love, and each being set in a library. The rows of books and the setting can become a bit redundant but, for me, I quickly forgot about that tidbit as the movie progressed and gained my interest more. The film pokes fun at itself in many instances all while dishing out some of the most brutal gore I’ve seen in an indie film. The acting for the most part was decently done, by some more than others. You could clearly tell the few that had little to no experience apart from the others, but hey… for an independent horror film at the end of the day, it was pretty goddamn stellar. Without giving away spoilers, let’s talk about the individual tales told within this gem:

 

vob3

 

A Little Pick Me Up

An overly exhausted college student who is prepping for her mid term is approached by a real shady fucken salesman who clearly sees her struggles with concentrating on her work. He offers her up a questionable energy drink that he claims will give her the pep she needs and is unlike all others. Of course, she’s smart enough to actually question his motives- but ultimately accepts and this one ends up being a ‘mind blower’. Before giving in however, I have to point out how much I loved her reasoning and feisty attitude toward the creeper salesman, as I could see myself saying the exact same things had I been in the same situation. This is a story I would almost expect to see from a Tales From The Crypt episode, and as it turns out after saying this in my head; one of the tale-tellers said that exact same thing. Ok.. This film is reading my fucken mind. You’ve caught my attention. Lets move on!

 

 

vob4

 

Ghastly

Ghastly is a tale full of around the corner scares of a librarian working after hours and an unwelcome entity that is hell bent on scaring the poo out of him.  Though the scares are a bit lackluster and predictable, the ‘ghost’ itself is nicely made up with horrifying features reminiscent to The Ring. At least, for me that is what popped in my head almost immediately. My favorite thing about this sequence is definitely the cinematography. Out of the four it is the most beautifully shot. What can I say, my artsy side appreciates a nicely shot scene.

 

vob6

 

13 After Midnight 

This is the one that screams urban legend to me the most, as it follows the most simple structures of urban-ish legend-ry.The tale of a bookworm eager to get some work done for her classes while her douchenozzle guy friend persists her to leave to a party with him. His attempts fail, he leaves and that’s when shit gets weird. A monster sasquatch of sorts shows up out of nowhere in the library and a chase ensues in a John Carpenter’s Halloween type fashion.  The end has a nice twist that left me satisfied.

 

vob5

 

Encyclopedia Satanica

The final installment is by far my favorite of the four. The story takes place on Halloween night and opens up to a librarian being belittled by an older woman on the phone. After slamming the receiver down, phones used to have cords ya know, shaken and upset, she assumes her duties and comes across a necronomicon-esque like book on the occult and decides to use it to resurrect her ex-boyfriend who recently killed himself after she dumped his ass. While the spell does work and he returns, it isn’t with love but with a raging vengeance. The acting and ambiance round this one out to be the strongest of the tales and a good send off to end the storytelling.

 

As the taletelling comes to a wrap we come to see there’s an even bigger twist to this film. I said I was going to keep this spoiler free and I will but the payoff is a sweet one filled with irony, a LOT of gore and left me completely satisfied wanting more. I have to add, the musical score is absolutely refreshing and ties in well with the film. When music accompanies a horror film I always compare it to  the films of the eighties and this one took me back to that time. A time where the music set the tone and in a lot of scenes helped bring it to that brilliant climax. This film excels in this area hands down.

 

In conclusion, Volumes Of Blood is just what the title of this article states: Gory good fun and a must see for any horror fanatic. The film is currently being screened at film festivals across the country and canada and set for a VOD and DVD release date in 2016. You can follow the progress of the film here on it’s official Facebook page. In the meantime check out the trailer below to get a taste for blood!

 

[youtube id=”b7_ssT5JoLo” align=”center” mode=”normal” autoplay=”no”]

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

News

“Mickey Vs. Winnie”: A Horrific Clash of Icons from Director Glenn Douglas Packard and iHorror

Published

on

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 the boundaries of the horror genre. 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.

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Continue Reading

Movies

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

Published

on

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.”

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Continue Reading

Movies

New ‘MaXXXine’ Image is Pure 80s Costume Core

Published

on

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.

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Continue Reading