Frightening Strikes

Reina: Simone Policano Cory: Jeff Ayars Zeke: Drew Beckas Director: Omri Dorani Writers: Omri Dorani & Rob Harmon Release: 2019 "This is Our Home" explores the dynamics of a fractured relationship, against a backdrop of mystery and emotional discord. As the story of Reyna and Cory unfolds, we are met with flashes of their past interwoven with a present bedevilled by unresolved issues and an unsettling encounter with a boy who claims he is their son. It kicks off with Reyna (Rey) and Cory heading out to her childhood home for some space to try and repair their relationship, with just a hint as to what lies behind their current struggles. They seem to be genuinely in love but vacillate between displays of affection and vicious bickering so clearly, there is work to be done. We are given glimpses of happier times but it's clear that they harbour a traumatic secret creating a tension that lingers throughout the film. On their first night at the property, after a plea...

  Kate: Lora Burke Beth: Tessa Kozma Hal: Colin Paradine Mary: Kristen MacCulloch Lewis: Nick Smyth Director: Craig Wallace Writer:  Craig Wallace & Ian Malone Release:  2021 From the opening scene this is an intriguing tale where nothing is as it seems to be. And "seems to be" is a theme running through the story which is the beauty of "Motherly", weaving a narrative through a labyrinth of secrets managing to be both intriguing and entertaining. Kate and her 9 year old daughter Beth have escaped a traumatic past and now find themselves hiding in isolation in a rural area. From the start, it's evident that there's tension between them, with Beth displaying defiance and a longing to be with her dad and Kate, who is protective but somewhat controlling and prone to outbursts of frustrated anger.  They are not entirely alone as help is on hand in the form of Hal who is there to keep an eye on them and ensure their safety, especially when Kate suspects that a...

Estrella: Paola Lara El Shine: Juan Ramon Lopez Morro: Nery Arredondo Tucsi: Hanssel Casillas Pop: Rodrigo Cortez El Chino : Tenoch Huerta Caco: Ianis Guerrero Director: Issa Lopez Writer: Issa Lopez Release: 2019 Tigers Don't Cry isn't a horror film in the strictest sense. The horror is more of the human kind although it's interwoven with del Toro-esque fantasy visuals and supernatural visions, creating a modern fairy tale that will both enrage you and break your heart. The story opens, in an un-named Mexican city, with Estrella (Paola Lara) at school with her and her classmates having to take cover as a gunfight erupts outside. We are quickly exposed to the world of violence that surrounds Estrella and it’s clear that this is commonplace as she walks home past a dead body without flinching. On her return home, Estrella finds an empty apartment and waits for her mother to return. After many hours, she is driven to seek refuge with a gang of orphans who have built ...

Rose: Sophie Rundle Sam: Matt Stokoe Amber: Olive Gray Director: Jennifer Sheridan Writer: Matt Stokoe Release: 2021 Rose: A Love Story tells the tale of Rose (Sophie Rundle) and Sam (Matt Stokoe) who lead an isolated and challenging, albeit cozy, life in a small cottage in the wilds of a forest in Wales. You could be forgiven for thinking that they have survived some sort of post-apocalyptic event but their living conditions owe more to Rose’s mysterious medical condition than an external event. Rose’s condition is never fully explained but we get a clue as to what it might be very early on when you notice their different dietary requirements . They have very little contact with the outside world and live off the land with Sam trapping rabbits and growing vegetables while Rose spends her days tapping out a novel on an old-fashioned typewriter. As they move through the timescape of their strange little world, it’s clear that the couple are devoted to each other to the extent that...

  Summary and Review of Smile Dr Rose Cotter: Sosie Bacon Trevor: Jessie T. Usher Joel: Kyle Gallner Dr Madleine Northcott: Robin Weigert Laura Weaver: Caitlin Stasey Director: Parker Finn Writer: Parker Finn Release: 2022 After witnessing a bizarre and traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can't explain. As an overwhelming terror begins taking over her life, Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality. "Smile" gets to the point without preamble when Rose, a committed but overworked hospital therapist, witnesses the horrific suicide of a patient, which deeply affects her as she experienced her own mother’s suicide as a child. Before dying, the patient jabbers in a terrified fashion about something that has been stalking her. As she dies, she smiles in the most terrifying way and then the horror really begins. Soon after, frightening o...

Scott: Jon Foster Penny: Sarah Jones Mr Jones: Mark Steger Director: Karl Mueller Writer: Karl Mueller Release: 2013 Not so long ago, this was billed as a must-watch by “best horror film” lists and I eagerly looked forward to giving “Mr Jones'” a spin. It’s essentially a found-footage film with cabin-in-the-woods/folklore horror themes providing an interesting take that gives the genre a shot in the arm but doesn’t live up to its early promise.  Scott (Jon Foster) and Penny (Sarah Jones) are a couple in crisis. Their relationship needs a kickstart and Scott’s documentary-making career has stalled so, to breathe new life into both, the couple set off to live in a remote woodland cabin for a year to mend their relationship and provide Scott with some much needed inspiration to make a new nature documentary. After an initial honeymoon period, the cracks start to reappear and Scott sinks into a state of lethargy. Penny, who has been a source of support and encouragement, becomes ...

  Summary and Review of a Spoonful of Sugar Rebecca: Kat Foster Jacob: Myko Olivier Millicent: Morgan Saylor Johnny: Danillo Crovetti Dr Welsh: Keith Powell Director: Mercedes Bryce Morgan Writer: Leah Saint Marie Release: 2022 “A Spoonful of Sugar” is something of a roller-coaster ride in that it will have you feeling either queasy or exhilarated by the end. Also like a roller coaster, it's not to everyone's taste but it is a strangely compelling mix of dysfunctional family dynamics and sinister intentions. The film kicks off with Millicent (Morgan Saylor) undergoing an interview for an unusual babysitting job with Rebecca (Kat Foster) and her husband, Jacob (Myko Olivier). The charge is their young son, Johnny (Danillo Crovetti), who suffers from a range of allergies and is also non-verbal. There are hints that more specialist intervention is required for Johnny but Rebecca is adamant that he can be treated at home. Rebecca's career as a successful author means frequ...

Summary and Review of Bloody Hell Rex Cohen: Ben O'Toole Alia: Meg Fraser Mother: Caroline Craig Father: Matthew Sutherland Uncle: Jack Finsterer Director: Alister Grierson Writer: Robert Benjamin Release: 2021 A bit mad, slightly bad and reasonably dangerous to know, Rex Cohen ( Ben O'Toole)  is an army veteran who finds himself on the receiving end of an armed bank robbery and, drawing on his military skills, turns the tables on the bad guys. He takes them out and saves the customers but, in the process, incurs a civilian casualty. This earns him eight years in prison, in spite of his hero status in the eyes of many. On his release, to escape his past, Rex takes a flight to Finland for a new start, unaware that he has been marked out by fellow passengers for an unusual fate. After being kidnapped and drugged, Rex awakens in a basement chained to the ceiling and with an important appendage missing (no, not that one). He realises he's been kidnapped by a deeply dysfunc...

Mary: Christie Burke Jack: Jesse Mosse Rachel: Rebecca Olson Tim: Sean Rogerson Dr Neilson: Michale Ironside Director: Brandon Christensen Release: 2017 It has to be said that I avoided this film for a while as, when it first came to my notice, a handful of reviews didn’t rate it very highly. But after being impressed by "Z" and "Superhost", also directed by Brandon Christensen, I made it my business to take a look and was glad that I did. Still/Born opens with Mary (Christie Burke) giving birth to twin boys, with her husband, Jack (Jesse Moss), in attendance. S adly, one dies so Mary and Jack return to their new home with their surviving son, Adam, and try to rebuild their lives. Mary is not only grief-stricken but struggles with parenthood and feels like a failure as a mother. She goes through the motions as she tries to come to terms with her loss and suffers sleepless nights while she struggles to meet the demands of a new baby. It’s not long before Mary st...

Summary and Review of Welcome to Hell Christine: Margaret Clunie Elizabeth: Jessica Webber Freddie: Timothy Renoulf Victor: Charlie Robb George: Tom Bailey Director: Jack McHenry Release: 2019 Jack McHenry, director and co-writer of “Here Comes Hell", clearly has a passion for vintage horror films and it shows in this affectionate tribute to the genre, interwoven with modern day horror techniques without losing the spirit of his homage. Following the jaunty 1930s big band style opening theme and a “trigger warning” announcer, “Here Comes Hell” opens with hip-flask wielding George (Tom Bailey) on a train to Westwood Manor to meet his friends. He chats to a fellow traveller, who tells him of the mystery surrounding George’s destination and the hell-summoning activities of its former owner, occultist Ichabod Quinn. As the cast of characters assemble at the Manor, there are tensions and old rivalries bubbling under the surface. Christine (Margaret Clunie) has history with both F...

Summary and Review of The Free Fall/The Voices Sara: Andrea Londo Nick: Shawn Ashworth Rose: Jane Badler Director: Adam Stilwell Release: 2022 (released as “The Voices” in Canada) After witnessing an horrific and traumatic event at her parent’s home on the eve of their anniversary, Sara is saved from a suicide attempt and awakens to find her loving husband protecting her from the outside world while she recovers. Unfortunately, she has no memory of this or anything before that. In fact she doesn’t really seem to know her husband, Nick, but in a weakened state, she succumbs to his care. To provide additional help in the house, Nick hires Rose, who doesn’t seem to care for Sara at all.  Within the confines of their modern gothic home, Sara drifts through her recovery in a dream-like state experiencing nightmares and frightening visions until she's not sure where they end and reality begins. She has no contact with others, including her sister, whom Nick describes as “unforgivable...