Grue-Believers, The first trailer for GODZILLA VS KONG has finally dropped. You’ve likely seen it and wow’ed at the EPIC showdown. Doc and Vanessa sit down to share their first reaction to the trailer. Welcome to the first GRUESOME HOT TAKE.
Gruesome Reviews
Review: CBS All Access: ‘The Stand’ – Where Things Are Three Episodes In
Everyone knows – I’m Gruesome Magazine’s resident Stephen King fan. I have been a fan of his written word – and the projects derived from them – since Carrie and although I love the original Mick Garris directed mini-series, like many fans I have longed for a more elaborate visual retelling of this horror classic. […]
[Review] 13 Slays Til X-Mas: Holiday Horror Anthology
Horror anthology film 13 Slays Til X-Mas is a barroom blitz of yuletide frights as a group of patrons swap terror tales about creatures and curses, Faustian bargains, slashers, killer dolls, crazed disc jockeys, and more in a Santa’s bagful of dark humor and gore galore. Producers P.J. Starks and Eric Huskisson know their way […]
[Review] Bedtime Story (Another Hole in the Head Film Festival): Spanish Horror Short Sees a Family Haunted by the Possibility of a Witch Neighbor
Two young brothers drive their mother crazy in Bedtime Story (El Cuento), a Spanish horror short from cowriters/codirectors Lucas Paulino and Ángel Torres, but that’s nothing compared with what the night ahead holds for the trio. This atmospheric slice of supernatural fear fare is gripping from the beginning, and boasts an eerie, unsettling atmosphere of […]
[Review] PARALLEL: Alternate Realities Bring Out the Worst in Four Friends in This Terrific Science Fiction Chiller
I have been a big fan of director Isaac Ezban’s work since seeing his first two features The Incident (2014) and The Similars (2015) during their film festival runs, and have been anticipating his third feature at the helm, Parallel (2018), since first hearing about it. Whereas Ezban wrote and directed those first two Spanish-language […]
[Review] Circle of Stone (Another Hole in the Head Online Film Festival): Fae Folk Prove Deadly in Riveting Action-Horror Short
Legendary creatures of the distant past clash with modern-day cops in writer/director Mark Andrews’ Circle of Stone, a superb action-horror short. From its eerie premise to its gorgeous look and the terrific job from its cast, the short delivers plenty of thrills and gory goods. Deputy Dan (Vic Mignogna) is on his rural rounds when […]
[Review] Attack of the Killer Scarecrow (Blood in the Snow Film Festival): Teen-Crafted Terror Finds an Urban Legend to Be True
Attack of the Killer Scarecrow delivers exactly what the title promises. Written, directed, and edited by teenager Octavian Kaul — who also stars as one of the three leads — this Canadian horror short has a nice 1980s vibe that doesn’t overdo that angle. On Halloween night, Aaron (Kaul) and two of his fellow high […]
When Vince Vaughn Gets Cast As A 17-Year-Old Girl – You Know Things Are Going To Get ‘FREAKY’
As we all struggle through this year – and through the personal and financial struggles that COVID has brought with it, more than ever we need something to take our minds off the real-life horrors going on around us – and Universal Pictures and Blumhouse are happy to oblige with the fun as hell body-swap […]
[Review] MORTAL: Dark, Entertaining Superhero Origin Story Delves into Scandinavian Mythology
Norwegian/U.S./U.K. production Mortal is a breathtaking origin story boasting engaging characters and performances, a wonderfully crafted story, rich visuals, and impressive special effects. Director André Øvredal (Troll Hunter, The Autopsy of Jane Doe, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark) returns to Scandivian mythology and crafts a dark take on a man coming to grips […]
[Review] Tales of the Uncanny (Popcorn Frights Wicked Weekend): Superb Documentary Looks at the History and Draw of Horror Anthologies
Severin Films’ documentary about horror anthology films Tales of the Uncanny started out as a bonus feature for the company’s upcoming release of The Theatre Bizarre. Then along came COVID-19, and the idea struck director and Severin Films chief David Gregory to use the Zoom platform to expand the film by reaching out to more […]
[Review] THE RETREAT (Popcorn Frights Wicked Weekend): Trippy Psychological Horror and Creature Feature Mash-Up Impresses
In his previous film Monstrous, writer/director Bruce Wemple combined a Bigfoot creature feature with other horror elements. In his new feature The Retreat, he tackles another North American legend in the Native American Wendigo, again adding other fear-fare ingredients to the mix. The result is a trippy film with an unreliable, not very likable main […]
[Review] Benny Loves You (Arrow Video FrightFest’s Digital Edition 2): U.K. Killer Doll Film Boasts Side-Splitting Comedy and Blood-Splattering Gore
No matter where you stand on killer doll movies, prepare to give your heart — or whatever piece of your anatomy the titular animated evil stuffed toy wishes to take — to Benny. Benny Loves You is a riotous, grue-heavy U.K. horror comedy that is the winning result of a five-year labor of love for […]
[Review] The Greatest Horror Film Ever Made (Wreak Havoc Horror Film Festival): Comedy Short Serves as a Satirical Primer on How to — Or How Not to — Make a Horror Film
Writer/director/star Brandon Jordan takes a light-hearted look at the frustrations of being a filmmaker in his horror comedy short film The Greatest Horror Film Ever Made. A fun look at the creative process and at current thoughts on fright-fare tropes and trends, the short is a hilarious journey through the mind of Jordan as he […]
[Review] REDWOOD MASSACRE: ANNIHILATION – Cranks the Tension Up to 11
A group of people heads off into the woods to track down a deranged killer who, according to urban legend, slaughtered dozens of people a decade ago. Some of them have a direct connection to one of the victims, some are just there for the thrill of the hunt. One of them is there for […]
[Review] Abduction (North Bend Film Festival/Nightstream): Shaming and Blaming Follow a Young Woman’s Otherworldly Experience
Australian short film Abduction combines social messages regarding shaming and victim blaming with a science-fiction setting. Frances Elliott’s screenplay and Paul Komadina’s direction masterfully balance these two elements, not allowing the science fiction elements to overpower the serious messages and vice versa. Mathilda (Alexandra Nell) enjoys a night out drinking and listening to live music […]