This week, things are not always what they seem. The grue-crew dive into a Yuletide anthology film and head to the psych ward for some demonic mumbo-jumbo. The first film this week is ALL THE CREATURES WERE STIRRING from directors David Ian McKendry and Rebekah McKendry, featuring a variety of horrific tales for the holiday season. The second film is THE HARROWING from director Jon Keeyes, featuring a rogue detective on the hunt for a demonic secret tucked deep inside an asylum.  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 048
ALL THE CREATURES WERE STIRRING – THE HARROWING

All The Creatures Were Stirring

When an awkward date on Christmas Eve leads a couple into a strange theater, they’re treated to a bizarre and frightening collection of Christmas stories, featuring a wide ensemble of characters doing their best to avoid the horrors of the holidays. From boring office parties and last-minute shopping, to vengeful stalkers and immortal demons, there’s plenty out there to fear this holiday season.

“A Christmas horror anthology? I loved it. I had so much fun watching this!” – Vanessa

“I liked this. I liked anthologies in general and the trouble with anthologies most of the time is that they’re uneven. … This one, at least for me, 4 out of 5 are thumbs up and the fifth one, I really liked the idea, but I wanted to see a lot more.” – Jeff

“It certainly is successful for what it is, what it sets out to do. I really like the tone and the feel and the execution of the interstitials, the little theater scenes. … Of course, as much Maria Olsen as you can put into your film, do it!” – Doc

Director: David Ian McKendry, Rebekah McKendry
Cast: Graham Skipper, Matt Long, Megan Duffy, Constance Wu

Release: Currently available on SHUDDER

The Harrowing

Haunted by the ritualistic killing of his best friend, a vice detective determined to discover the truth goes undercover into a forensic hospital and is plunged into his own personal Hell where demons might be real.

“It does a really good job at keeping you unsure as to what’s going on because you get two stories here and you have to decide who’s telling the truth and who’s not.” – Vanessa

“This is a really complicated character to play and … I thought Matthew Tompkins did a really good job. I was impressed with what he did.” – Jeff

“It’s a solid entry. It’s an impressive introduction to a new director (Jon Keeyes). It will be interesting to see what he does next.” – Doc

Director: Jon Keeyes
ast: Matthew Thompkins, Arnold Vosloo, Michael Ironside

Release: Available on VOD and on Demand December 25, 2018 from Clay Epstein’s Film Mode Entertainment.

Doc Rotten

Editor-In-Chief / Founder / Podcast Producer at Horror News Radio

Doc Rotten is the founder of Gruesome Magazine. He is also a film critic for Gruesome Magazine and the podcast host & producer for Horror News Radio, Monster Movie Podcast, Decades of Horror: 1970s, The American Horror Story Fan Podcast and Hannibal Fan Podcast. He is also co-host of the Dracula podcast on TV TALK and is a contributing reviewer for HorrorNews.Net and Widescreen Warrior.

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.