Category Archives: Movie review

Grafted (2025) review: A Haunting Exploration of Beauty and Identity

08 Tuesday Apr 2025

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Sasha Rainbow’s Grafted is an unsettling body horror film that blends themes of identity, beauty standards, and cultural pressure with grotesque yet effective visuals. The film explores the psychological and physical toll of striving for perfection, offering an eerie commentary on how far one might go to fit in.

The story unfolds at a deliberate pace, which can feel sluggish at times, making it difficult to fully connect with the protagonist’s journey. However, the film’s strong pulse comes from its commitment to disturbing imagery and practical effects, which elevate the horror elements. The lead performance is commendable, portraying both vulnerability and a creeping sense of detachment as the character undergoes a grotesque transformation.

Visually, Grafted is striking, utilising cold, sterile environments that contrast with the organic and unsettling nature of the body horror sequences. The cinematography and lighting work to create an almost dreamlike quality, amplifying the protagonist’s descent into obsession. However, the screenplay struggles to maintain a gripping narrative, often losing momentum in its quieter moments.

Despite its flaws, Grafted offers enough unsettling moments to leave an impression. Fans of slow-burning horror with a focus on psychological and body horror will find much to appreciate, even if the film doesn’t fully capitalise on its intriguing premise.

The Prognosis:

A visually striking yet sluggish horror film that explores beauty and obsession through an unsettling lens. While Grafted may not resonate with all audiences, its strong effects and eerie atmosphere make it worth a watch for genre enthusiasts.

  • Saul Muerte

Dead Sea (2025) Review – A Tense Maritime Thriller That Treads Familiar Waters

07 Monday Apr 2025

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Phil Volken’s Dead Sea takes the tried-and-true formula of oceanic survival horror and blends it with a grim and unsettling reality of human trafficking. While the film doesn’t reinvent the genre, it provides a tense and serviceable thriller that delivers a slow-building dread, punctuated by moments of sheer brutality.

The performances elevate the film above its straight-to-home-entertainment origins. Kaya, played with conviction by Isabel Gravitt, anchors the film with a blend of vulnerability and resilience. The dynamic between the three stranded friends feels natural, making their plight all the more gripping. The real standout, however, is the ship’s captain, Ray (Alexander Wraith)—portrayed with an eerie mix of menace and charm, making him a truly detestable villain.

Despite its strengths, Dead Sea treads a somewhat predictable path. The film borrows heavily from survival horror tropes, and seasoned viewers will see many of the twists coming. While the tension remains effective, the screenplay doesn’t fully capitalise on the psychological terror that could have been explored in such a confined setting. The cinematography, though competent, lacks the stylistic flair that could have made the film visually more memorable.

That said, Dead Sea still delivers enough suspense to keep audiences engaged. The film does well to maintain a sense of claustrophobic dread aboard the trawler, and when the violence erupts, it doesn’t hold back. The film’s commentary on human trafficking and black-market organ trade adds an extra layer of horror, making it more unsettling than your average lost-at-sea thriller.

For fans of survival horror and maritime thrillers, Dead Sea offers a solid—if not groundbreaking—entry into the genre. It’s a film that will keep you engaged but likely won’t linger in your mind.

The Prognosis:

A solid effort in the home entertainment space, Dead Sea delivers competent performances and steady tension but ultimately follows a familiar course without breaking new ground.

  • Saul Muerte

Available to rent or buy on Digital at Apple TV, Prime Video, Google TV, YouTube, and Fetch (AU). Own it on DVD at JB Hi-Fi and Sanity from April 9th.

From Hell House to Ashland Falls: Cognetti’s Eerie Evolution

06 Sunday Apr 2025

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The Hell House LLC director slows things down for a moody, multi-perspective mystery.

A slow-burning mystery from the creator of Hell House LLC, soaked in dread and small-town secrets.

After a family tragedy, Chuck Wilson (Joe Falcone) moves to the quiet town of Ashland Falls with his wife Maria (Elizabeth Vermilyea) and younger sister Isabelle (Kathryn Miller), hoping for a fresh start. But peace proves elusive as the trio becomes entangled in the unsettling lore of their new home—specifically the ominous mystery surrounding a woman named Helen Foster. As the story unfolds from the perspectives of each family member, the true nature of Ashland Falls begins to take shape—and it’s far from comforting.

Stephen Cognetti, best known for his Hell House LLC trilogy, steps away from the chaos of found-footage terror to deliver a more measured, psychological horror in 825 Forest Road. The scares are subtle, the pacing deliberate, and the dread seeps in slowly as the audience is invited to peel back the layers of each character’s experience. By splitting the narrative into three viewpoints, Cognetti crafts an eerie puzzle box of grief, guilt, and unresolved trauma, all tethered to a town that harbors something rotten at its core.

While some may find the pacing too slow or miss the jolting immediacy of Hell House LLC, there’s a quiet confidence in Cognetti’s restraint. He’s developing his voice beyond found footage, proving that he can unsettle audiences without relying on the genre’s usual tricks. The performances—especially Vermilyea as the emotionally fraying Maria—ground the film and help build a creeping sense of paranoia.

The Prognosis:

825 Forest Road may not fully capitalise on its premise, and its ambiguity might frustrate some, but it marks another intriguing step in Cognetti’s horror journey. It’s a film that whispers rather than screams—but it leaves behind a chill all the same.

  • Saul Muerte

825 Forest Road is now streaming on Shudder.

The Bell Keeper (2025) – A Hollow Ring to its Terror

01 Tuesday Apr 2025

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Urban legends and supernatural slashers have long been a staple of horror, but The Bell Keeper, directed by Colton Tran, struggles to summon anything beyond the familiar. With a premise that hints at The Evil Dead meets Final Destination, the film follows a group of friends venturing to a secluded campsite to film a documentary about a haunted bell. The legend? Ring it at midnight, and you’ll awaken a vengeful killer. What follows is a mix of ghostly folklore, possession horror, and slasher tropes, but the result never quite coalesces into a satisfying whole.

The film boasts an interesting cast, including UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture and horror mainstay Bonnie Aarons, best known as the sinister nun from The Conjuring series. However, despite their genre credibility, their presence does little to elevate the script, which leans too heavily on exposition and underdeveloped character dynamics. The group’s descent into paranoia and infighting—key to the film’s horror—feels more obligatory than organic, leaving little emotional investment in their fates.

Visually, The Bell Keeper has moments of eerie atmosphere, with shadowed forests and flickering lanterns providing the requisite setting for a campfire horror tale. Unfortunately, the tension fizzles under the weight of generic jump scares and predictable plot beats. The titular Keeper, a hulking menace overseeing the cursed land, should have been an imposing figure, but the execution feels lacklustre.

There’s an attempt to blend supernatural horror with slasher brutality, but the film never leans far enough into either to make a lasting impression. The involvement of Final Destination creator Jeffrey Reddick as an executive producer suggests a promise of creative kills or unique horror set pieces, but these never materialise in any memorable way.

The Prognosis:

At its best, The Bell Keeper is a late-night curiosity for undemanding horror fans who enjoy the ritual of watching a group of victims fall prey to an ancient curse. At its worst, it’s a forgettable effort that rings hollow.

  • Saul Muerte

The Rule of Jenny Pen (2025) – A Chilling Game of Fear and Manipulation

23 Sunday Mar 2025

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Shudder continues its streak of unsettling original films with The Rule of Jenny Pen, a psychological horror-thriller that sinks its claws into the vulnerability of aging and the horrors lurking in the quiet corners of a retirement home. Anchored by powerhouse performances from Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow, this eerie and claustrophobic tale crafts an atmosphere thick with dread, proving that terror knows no age.

The film follows Judge Stefan Mortensen (Rush), a once-powerful legal mind now reduced to a shadow of himself after suffering a debilitating stroke. Sent to a secluded rest home to recover, Mortensen soon finds himself at odds with Dave Crealy (Lithgow), a seemingly affable resident whose innocent facade masks a twisted, controlling presence. Crealy rules the facility through an insidious game known as “The Rule of Jenny Pen,” using a disturbing dementia doll as both his mouthpiece and his weapon. As Mortensen fights to expose the horrors unfolding around him, he realises that no one believes him—leaving him to take matters into his own frail but determined hands.

What makes The Rule of Jenny Pen so compelling is its setting—an elderly care facility rarely seen in horror, yet rife with an inherent sense of powerlessness. The film leans into that, drawing horror not just from Crealy’s psychological torment but from the indifference of the staff, the isolation of its residents, and the fear of losing one’s agency. Director James Ashcroft (Coming Home in the Dark) masterfully builds tension, blending psychological horror with moments of outright terror as Crealy’s grip over the home tightens.

Rush and Lithgow are mesmerising, delivering two of the most sinister performances in recent memory. Lithgow, in particular, is chilling—his portrayal of Crealy is equal parts charming and horrifying, a villain who wields his dementia doll like a twisted totem of authority. Meanwhile, Rush imbues Mortensen with a tragic, desperate resilience, making his struggle against Crealy both gripping and deeply affecting.

While The Rule of Jenny Pen does veer into some familiar horror tropes in its final act, it remains a uniquely unsettling experience. With its fresh setting, masterful performances, and an unnerving psychological edge, reminding us that the most dangerous monsters aren’t always supernatural, and that horror can fester in the most unexpected places.

  • Saul Muerte

The Rule of Jenny Pen will start streaming on Shudder from Fri 28th March

Bloody Axe Wound (2025) – A Slasher with Sharp Ideas but a Blunt Edge

17 Monday Mar 2025

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Shudder’s latest exclusive, Bloody Axe Wound, comes swinging with a promising concept—mixing slasher horror with media satire—but ultimately stumbles in execution. Set in the quiet yet bloodstained town of Clover Falls, the film follows Abbie Bladecut (Sari Arambulo), a teenager struggling with the weight of her family’s gruesome legacy. Her father, Roger Bladecut (Billy Burke), has turned murder into a business, capturing real-life killings and distributing them to eager viewers. But as Abbie begins questioning the family trade, she’s forced to decide whether to embrace the cycle of carnage or carve out her own path.

At its best, Bloody Axe Wound delivers a wickedly fun premise, bolstered by strong performances. Arambulo shines as Abbie, balancing vulnerability and determination, while Molly Brown (Dexter: Original Sin) brings a sharp edge as her friend Sam Crane. Billy Burke’s Roger exudes a sleazy charisma, making his character’s justifications for his twisted business both unsettling and eerily believable. There’s also a noteworthy cameo from Jeffrey Dean Morgan, whose presence adds some weight to the film, even if his role is fleeting.

However, despite its engaging setup, the film begins to veer off course as it struggles to sustain its own momentum. The biggest issue lies in its execution of the central premise—who exactly is filming these supposed “real” murder videos? The film flirts with the idea of voyeuristic horror and true crime obsession but never fully commits to exploring the logistics of its own mythology. Instead, it throws in a few late-game twists that feel more like distractions than revelations.

Director Matthew John Lawrence (Uncle Peckerhead) crafts some effectively gory set pieces, but the film’s tone wavers between biting satire and straight-up slasher mayhem, never fully committing to either. 

The Prognosis:

When it works, Bloody Axe Wound is an enjoyably grim ride with moments of inspired horror. When it falters, it leaves you questioning the gaps in its own logic. Still, there’s enough blood-soaked fun to make it worth a watch—just don’t expect it to leave a lasting mark.

  • Saul Muerte

Silent Zone – A Surprisingly Effective Action Horror Thriller

11 Tuesday Mar 2025

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In a genre often filled with predictable scares and uninspired post-apocalyptic settings, Silent Zone manages to stand out as a surprisingly engaging action horror film. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it does well to hold your attention thanks to a gripping premise, solid pacing, and some commendable performances from its cast.

Set years after a devastating outbreak that has turned the world into a desolate wasteland, the film follows survivors Cassius and Abigail, who have managed to stay alive by sticking together. Their fragile sense of safety is thrown into chaos when they encounter a pregnant woman, forcing them to risk everything on a dangerous journey to find a secure refuge. As tensions rise and threats emerge from both the mutated infected and desperate survivors, Silent Zone builds tension effectively, never letting its characters—or the audience—feel truly safe.

The film’s biggest strength lies in its performances. While action horror can sometimes suffer from thinly written characters, the central trio here delivers enough emotional depth to make their struggle compelling. The cinematography also does an admirable job of capturing the bleak, unforgiving world they inhabit, and the action sequences are staged with enough energy to keep things engaging without descending into chaos.

While Silent Zone doesn’t break new ground in the post-apocalyptic horror subgenre, it delivers enough suspense, emotion, and well-crafted action to make it worth a watch. If you’re in the mood for a tense survival thriller with a strong human core, this one is worth checking out.

SILENT ZONE (2025) will be Available on DVD & Digital in Australia & New Zealand from MARCH 12th.

  • Saul Muerte

Inside Man (2025): A Stylish but Uneven Dive into the Ruthless World of Roy DeMeo

04 Tuesday Mar 2025

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Crime dramas based on true events often walk a fine line between gripping realism and cinematic exaggeration. Inside Man, directed by Danny A. Abeckaser, leans into this challenge with a gritty portrayal of undercover work in 1980s New York. Emile Hirsch leads the film as a troubled detective whose attempt at redemption drags him deep into the underbelly of the mob, where survival means losing himself in the very world he’s trying to dismantle.

Hirsch, known for his intense performances in Into the Wild and Lone Survivor, delivers a solid turn as a cop struggling with his identity while infiltrating the DeMeo crew—one of the most feared factions of the era. His internal conflict is the film’s strongest element, though at times, the script doesn’t allow for deeper psychological exploration. Lucy Hale adds some emotional weight to the story, though her role feels underdeveloped, while Robert Davi and Jack Cannavale bring a welcome menace to their mobster personas.

Abeckaser, who has experience with crime dramas (Mob Town), crafts an authentic 1980s New York atmosphere, full of dimly lit bars, smoky back rooms, and bursts of brutal violence. However, while the film captures the aesthetic well, it sometimes struggles with pacing, feeling more like a series of key moments rather than a fully cohesive narrative. The tension builds effectively, but some scenes drag, making the film feel longer than its runtime.

The Prognosis:

For crime thriller enthusiasts, Inside Man offers a serviceable look at the high-risk world of undercover police work. It doesn’t break new ground, but the strong performances and stylish execution make it worth a watch, especially for fans of mob dramas.

Inside Man will be available on DVD & Digital, including Apple TV, Prime Video, and Google Play from March 5, 2025, in Australia & New Zealand.

  • Saul Muerte

The Monkey (2025) – A Misfire That Claps to Its Own Beat

01 Saturday Mar 2025

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Osgood Perkins has built a reputation for moody, atmospheric horror (The Blackcoat’s Daughter, I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House), crafting eerie slow burns that settle under your skin. So it’s baffling that his adaptation of Stephen King’s The Monkey swings so wildly in the opposite direction, embracing an oddly comedic tone that is both its saving grace and its Achilles’ heel.

The film follows twin brothers who, after discovering a cursed wind-up monkey, become entangled in a series of grotesque and improbable deaths. Decades later, the sinister toy resurfaces, forcing the now-estranged siblings to confront their past—and the murderous primate—before its deadly rhythm consumes them completely.

As someone who was deeply impacted by King’s short story during my formative years, this adaptation feels like a tonal misstep. While Perkins injects moments of dry, almost absurd humour that occasionally land (I’ll admit, I chuckled more than once), the film never fully commits to either horror or comedy, leaving it feeling strangely weightless. The sense of dread that should accompany a tale about an unrelenting, supernatural force is missing, replaced with an offbeat energy that doesn’t quite fit.

Visually, The Monkey does retain some of Perkins’ signature flair. There are pockets of eerie imagery, particularly when the toy is in motion, its drum banging in ominous slow motion as its glassy eyes seem to bore into the characters’ souls. However, the film’s pacing stumbles between moody horror and slapstick absurdity, undercutting its tension just as it starts to build. Instead of letting the horror breathe, it often pivots to a joke or exaggerated reaction, as if second-guessing its own scares.

The performances do their best to sell the concept, with the lead actors committing to the madness, but there’s a disjointedness to the storytelling that prevents any real emotional weight from forming. Without a stronger anchor—whether it be a grounded sense of familial trauma or a truly nightmarish atmosphere—the film lacks the staying power of both Perkins’ previous work and King’s original story.

With The Monkey, Perkins seems to be playing against type, but instead of reinventing the demonic toy subgenre, he fumbles it. The film claps along to its own beat, but much like the monkey itself, the rhythm grows tiresome—thumping away long after the terror has worn off.

  • Saul Muerte

Heart Eyes (2025) – A Charming Yet Predictable Slasher

21 Friday Feb 2025

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Josh Ruben’s Heart Eyes (2025) continues the director’s increasing track record of blending horror with sharp comedic sensibilities. With a strong cast featuring Olivia Hoult, Mason Gooding, Jordana Brewster, and Devon Sawa, the film injects energy into a genre that thrives on familiar tropes but struggles to fully subvert them.

The film follows two co-workers working late on Valentine’s Day who find themselves mistaken for a couple by the elusive “Heart Eyes Killer.” What should have been a routine night of overtime turns into a desperate struggle for survival as they attempt to outwit a murderer with a romantic vendetta. Ruben, alongside the influence of Christopher Landon, crafts a thrilling yet darkly comedic atmosphere, elevating the film above standard slasher fare.

One of Heart Eyes’ strongest assets is its cast. Olivia Hoult and Mason Gooding deliver an engaging dynamic, their chemistry adding an element of screwball charm reminiscent of classic comedies like His Girl Friday, which fittingly plays at the local drive-in. Jordana Brewster and Devon Sawa add gravitas, balancing the film’s mix of humour and suspense. Each actor brings a spark that keeps the film’s momentum going, even when the script leans into predictability.

When it comes to slasher sequences, Heart Eyes delivers with some truly creative and intense set pieces. Ruben ensures that the kills are visually engaging and suspensefully executed, but the film often treads a fine line between homage and predictability. While it never loses its charm, seasoned horror fans may find the plot’s trajectory a little too easy to anticipate.

The Prognosis:

Heart Eyes is a fun, well-acted, and stylish slasher that balances humour and horror with flair. The chemistry of its leads and its nods to classic cinema add a refreshing touch, but it ultimately doesn’t push the boundaries of the genre enough to be truly groundbreaking. Nevertheless, it’s a solid entry in Josh Ruben’s growing filmography and a Valentine’s Day horror treat worth watching.

  • Saul Muerte