This week, the Grue-Crew fall prey to a cult of demon worshipers and avoid the trappings of a serial killer with dastardly intentions. Two new films are reviewed this week. The first is THE HERETICS from director Chad Archibald follows a young woman who is running from her past only to be abducted once again to face a fate worse than death. The second film is THE CLOVEHITCH KILLER from director Duncan Skiles tells a coming-of-age story where a young boy suspects a notorious killer’s identity may reveal the monster to be too close to home. Doc Rotten and Vanessa Thompson from Horror News Radio along with Jeff Mohr from Decades of Horror: The Classic Era share their thoughts about this week’s awesome collection of streaming horror films.
Gruesome Magazine Podcast – Episode 043
The Clovehitch Killer – The Heretics
The Heretics
A notorious cult kidnaps a young girl, and sacrifice themselves by the light of the locust moon. The next morning the girl awakes, caked in dried blood and surrounded by corpses…but safe – or so she thinks. Years later, the locust moon is about to rise again and the girl is captured once more by a surviving member of the cult. She is taken to a remote cabin where she learns that a demon has been growing inside of her all these years, and before the dawn, it will rise.
“From beginning to end, I was engaged in the story, so yeah, kudos to the director and everybody in The Heretics!” – Vanessa
“It was a fun watch. I was in it the whole way. … It’s definitely worth a watch.” – Jeff
“Chad Archibald did a great job and I’m looking forward to more from him. … This has definitely solidified him as one of the talents to keep an eye on.” – Doc
Director: Chad Archibald
Cast: Nina Kiri, Ry Barrett, Jorja Cadence
Release: The Heretics available on Demand November 6 and DVD January 5 from Uncork’d Entertainment.
The Clovehitch Killer
A shocking revelation turns a teenage boy’s world upside down in this chilling look at the evil that can lurk below even the most wholesome surface. Tyler Burnside is a Boy Scout, a volunteer at his local church, and the dutiful son of an upstanding, community leader dad. Only one thing troubles the quiet Kentucky town he lives in: the unsolved murders in which ten women were brutally tortured and killed by a psychopath known as Clovehitch-that rocked the community more than a decade ago. When Tyler discovers a cache of disturbing images in his father’s possession, he begins to suspect that the man he trusts most in the world may be Clovehitch-and that his deadly rampage may not be over. With unrelenting tension, director Duncan Skiles crafts a picture-perfect vision of the all-American family-and then piece by piece rips it to shreds.
“Two minutes in and I was in love with Dylan McDermott. I’ve never seen him do anything like this before. He’s almost completely unrecognizable because he so becomes this character.” – Vanessa
It’s not your everyday serial killer movie. I think the script and the acting and the direction are excellent at taking you on the journey through this film and keeping you guessing. I think Dylan McDermott, Charlie Plummer, and Madison Beaty really excel.” – Jeff
“This is a great surprise because it is not what the trailer suggests it is. It is a far richer, far deeper, far more interesting piece of film and the relationship between these characters is a big part of what makes this work.” – Doc
Director: Duncan Skiles
Cast: Charlie Plummer, Dylan McDermott, Samantha Mathis
Release: In Theaters, On Demand and Digital HD: November 16, 2018 from IFC Midnight
Doc a lifelong fan of horror films, sci-fi flicks and monster movies first discovering Universal Monsters and Planet of the Apes as a young child in the 1970's searching out every issue of Famous Monster of Filmland (and, later, Fangoria). Favorite films include Jaws, The Car, The Birds, The Tingler, Vampire Circus and The Exorcist. Still a huge fan of horror films from the 70s, Doc continues consuming horror films to this day for the site, for the podcasts and for the fun of it all.
