The Happenstance Horror Film Festival (Salem, Massachusetts) offered a block of films from the greater New England area. The eleven-film lineup covered plenty of ground, from surreal escapes and unsettling television to workplace frustration with a body count. Some stories connected with me more than others, but there was no …
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When horror fans think of Wes Craven, films like A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) and Scream (1996) usually dominate the conversation. Those movies transformed the genre and established Craven as one of horror’s greatest filmmakers. Yet one of his most unusual and ambitious works arrived between those landmarks: 1991’s …
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Part of being human is our relationships with each other. Part of any relationship is trust. What happens when we can’t trust the ones we love? What happens when the person we love isn’t who they present themselves as? These are just some of the questions Ciara finds herself asking …
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Killer videotapes, vampire gunslingers, and bands performing in places where you probably shouldn’t wander alone. Happenstance Horror Fest’s animation and music videos block offers an unusual alternative to your Saturday morning cartoons. The collection moves between animated shorts and horror-themed music videos, with mixed results. Some entries have stronger visuals …
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So let’s face it, there are a great number of movies about holding hostages. I mean, I could think of at least five in a few seconds of preparation. However, I have never seen a movie like Breeder; it makes Buffalo Bill look like a cute little character, with a …
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It’s a tale as old as time: friends going away on a camping trip, motivated by alcohol and the opposite sex, messing around in woods that are haunted by a masked killer. This formula almost always finds a home with horror hounds, especially when it’s peppered with characters and a …
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Witchcraft, creepy dolls, royal secrets, and monster bugs. Happenstance Horror Fest’s International block covers plenty of horror territory across six short films, moving from supernatural silliness to darker, more unsettling material. As with most collections, some entries stood out more than others, but the variety keeps things interesting. Dizzy Spell …
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I was 7 years old when Mighty Morphin Power Rangers first premiered on Fox. I was a huge fan of the series growing up and Jason David Frank’s Tommy Oliver, the Green/White Ranger was always my favorite. I remember a couple years before Jason David Frank died, Legend of the …
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Leaving a religion can sound straightforward to someone who has never had to do it. If you no longer believe, you stop going to church and move on. But what happens when that church is tied to your family, your friendships, and much of how you understand yourself? Heathens follows …
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New Zealand has a history of gooey horror comedies such as Dead Alive, Bad Taste, Black Sheep, and Deathgasm. The latest film in this long running tradition is Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant, a unique mix of body horror and slacker humor. I’ve been ridiculously excited for it ever since I …
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