Christopher James 8/28/25 Christopher James 8/28/25

Check Out The Sinister September Releases For FOUND TV

Welcome to Sinister September! A month where the Found TV app becomes a vault of forbidden footage and cursed tapes, each one daring you to press play. These are not just movies, they are fragments of terror pulled from places we were never meant to see, abandoned houses, shadowed forests, and the minds of those who never made it back. Every release is a new descent into fear, where reality blurs and the camera will keep rolling long after it should have stopped. Watch carefully, some things were never meant to be found.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THESE RELEASES:

September 1: “Name the Demon” (2024) The story of David, in an effort to save his possessed wife Anna. This is the remaining footage that was painstakingly put together to help tell the story of this horrific night.

September 5: WORLD PREMIERE AND FOUND ORIGINAL “The McKinney Family Home Videos 2” (2025) Another tape is uncovered documenting the inner workings of The Church of the Holy Mother, it's leader Diana, and their God head Lilith.

September 9: “Yamidouga 4” (2012) Volume 4 in the ultimate horror video collection. The occult, the grotesque, the gruesome madness and criminal behavior of man and of course spiritualism.

September 11: “The Devil’s Door” (2022) A film crew follows a human trafficker to a tunnel for a pick-up of two illegal immigrants. When the tunnel is opened, an evil escapes leaving a trail of blood and death in its path. The crew fights to escape from a nightmare. The Devil’s Door where evil crossed the border. Only in Canada and the US.

September 15: WORLD PREMIERE “Paranoia Tapes: The Movie” (2025) YouTuber Clyde finds 'Jack Hunter's PARANOIA TAPES,' leading to terrifying scenarios tied to the number twelve. With friend Jack, they confront a malevolent force, racing to unravel a dark secret in 'Paranoia Tapes TWELVE.

September 19: “Shadows of Bigfoot” (2023) In the shadowy confines of Blackwood Forest, filmmakers exploring Bigfoot myths face their worst fears when a vengeful monster emerges, turning their project into a chilling fight for survival.

September 23: “Yamidouga 5” (2013) The pursuit of fear continues as we bring you volume 5 in the ultimate horror video collection.

September 25: “Conjuring Tapes” (2025) While sorting through their late friend's belongings, two women discover VHS tapes showing them in haunting, unfamiliar scenes, each one drawing them into the grasp of a mysterious, malevolent entity.

September 29: “Ghost Webcam” (2023) A young man under house arrest and his friends are haunted by an unknown force after logging onto a website that broadcasts images from a haunted room. Only in Canada and the US.

Whether it’s slashers in the woods, ghosts in the attic, or killers in the cornfield, ILHM Reviews brings you the frightful horror flick recommendations worth watching. Follow us on Instagram, be sure to listen to the the "I Love Horror" podcast and remember that if you’re a true fan of horror, every night can be a FRIGHT NIGHT!

Christopher James 8/26/25 Christopher James 8/26/25

Game Show Meets Gore With FANTASTIC FEST 2025 “YOUR HOST” (2025)

In the crowded landscape within the world of modern horror, it takes a bold, yet creative idea to make audiences squirm in their seats, laugh nervously, yet immediate realize you’re in for one terrifying ride. This movie does just that by delivering a brutal blend of suspense, dark comedy and unrelenting gore-fueled terror lead b a sadistic gameshow host. Recently I got the chace to check out one of Frightfest 2025’s newest submission, “Your Host”. It is directed by DW Medoff and written by Joey Miller. The movie stars Academy Award-nominee Jackie Earle Haley, Ella-Rae Smith, Jamie Flatters, David Angland and Joelle Rae.

Synopsis

“Four 23-year-old friends go on a birthday retreat to a luxury cabin, while partying, they find a VHS Camcorder filming them from the woods. During the night they are drugged in their sleep by a man in all black who stays hidden in the shadows...but when they wake up, they find themselves in an abandoned factory transformed into a gameshow-like torture room.

Their captor is a deranged host in an orange-velvet suit with a terrifying mask who forces the friends to play games and hurts them if they lose. In a twist of fate, it seems this is not random abuse. The host has a connection to one of the friends and he keeps it a secret. He gives them all a chance to admit it was them, to set three free and kill the one. When his target victim doesn’t come clean, the brutal games continue. To survive, they must play unique and deadly games that only a psychotic gameshow host would invent. The host laughs as the friends betray, hurt, and eventually start to kill each other. But the only way to escape...is to win.”

The thrill of “Your Host” lies in its relentless pace and unflinching commitment to tension. Each sadistic game feels like a meticulously designed nightmare, blending psychological pressure with brutal physical consequences. One moment, contestants are forced to answer trivia questions where every wrong answer can cost flesh or bone. Where the next, they’re staring down spinning “Wheel of Pain”, praying luck keeps them intact. These sequences are staged with a cruel elegance, keeping viewers on edge as the rules shift, the stakes climb, and alliances crumble. The unpredictability of the challenges, each more inventive and horrifying than the last ensures the audience never has a moment to breathe.

The gore only heightened the experience for me as I watched this. The story is really what got me hooked. The gore does well as it walks a fine line between shocking and artful. Practical effects deliver bone-snapping realism without tipping into gratuitous excess, grounding the violence in gritty authenticity. Then at the center of it all stands Jackie Earle Haley as The Host (the crown jewel of terror in this movie), a sadistic showman who revels in orchestrating the chaos. His unsettling blend of charm and menace fuels the intensity, turning every game into a performance and every scream into applause. It’s this balance of brutal spectacle and captivating villainy that makes “Your Host” a pulse-pounding ride from start to finish.

Jackie Earle Haley is phenomenal in this movie. He is captivating, charming yet severely terrifying. As The Host, he controls the screen with unnerving charisma that completely kept my attention every time he was on my screen. He moves between playful jabs and sinister threats effortlessly, laughing at his victims one moment before unleashing horrors the next. Haley doesn’t play The Host as a mindless monster; he’s a showman of suffering, reveling in the spectacle while carrying the weight of a deeply personal grudge. Every gesture, every line of dialogue is layered with menace and a strange, magnetic charm that makes him impossible to look away from.

Ella-Rae Smith, Jamie Flatters, David Angland, and Joelle Rae deliver strong performances as the four trapped friends, though the movie’s story intentionally makes them hard to root for. As the games escalate, their true personalities emerge as selfish, greedy, scared, and manipulative. The tension between them becomes as dangerous as the games themselves. By the time the shocking finale arrives, the audience fully understands why these characters were never meant to be heroes, and why The Host had his sights set on them from the start.

Director DW Medoff leans into a gritty, claustrophobic style that makes the abandoned factory feel alive. The rusted pipes, flickering lights, and sinister game setups that look like they were designed by a madman with a budget. The way he directs his vision of the gore is visceral but never gratuitous. Each violent moment has weight, amplifying the psychological tension of the games. Practical effects and sharp editing create sequences that are shocking without feeling cartoonish, a rare feat in modern horror. This of course is due to a perfect partnership with writer Joey Miller and his phenomenal writing talent to make this story one for the record books in horror.

I won’t give any spoiler of course, but the ending hits hard. The final reveal about The Host’s connection to one of the friends changes the entire feel of what I thought when I watched it and everything that came before. The last act is brutal, emotional, and satisfyingly cruel, just exactly what you want from a horror film that thrives on moral ambiguity.

“Your Host” isn’t just another survival horror flick with a game like gimmick. It is a sharp, stylish, and darkly entertaining ride that thrives on its villain’s twisted charisma. Jackie Earle Haley’s performance is reason enough to take the time out of your busy day to day life of being an adult (or adulting as people say for some odd reason), sit back and enjoy this wonderful horror movie. You’re in for a cinematic adventure of a gritty atmosphere, inventive games, and shocking ending make this a standout release.

If you’re looking for a horror film that mixes sadistic games, intense gore, and dark humor, “Your Host” delivers a blood filled, sadistic satire that I couldn’t stop recommending to fellow horror fans. This twisted survival thriller stands out and one you don’t want to miss. So, the question is, when are you going to spin that wheel of pain and watch it for yourself?

“Your Host” from Benacus Entertainment in association with RNF Productions recently had it’s world premiere this year’s Frightfest and will be available worldwide October 14th on multiple platforms.

Christopher James 8/22/25 Christopher James 8/22/25

Found Footage vs. Narrative: Why “Hell House LLC: Lineage” Will Haunt You

Every horror fan has that franchise that is high on their list of favorites. It is one we rewatch, one that we constantly suggest people to watch and excitedly rush to a horror con in hopes to meet the people from the movies we enjoy. I fell in love with Terror Films Releasing’s “Hell House LLC” franchise the first time I watched it. Within minutes I was sitting on the edge of my seat as this made me feel like this franchise is going to be a nerve-rattling masterpiece of found footage horror. The Abaddon Hotel wasn’t just a spooky setting. It was a trap, a mystery, and a living, breathing entity that watches anyone foolish enough to walk through its halls. From the iconic shot of the creepy clown turning its head to the creepy girl in the background in Paul’s bedroom, these movies delivered scares that thrived on a terrifying but subtle atmosphere.

For years, this franchise stood as one of the best examples of how found footage could still be terrifying in an age when the sub-genre often felt overplayed. It gave the impression of raw authenticity, as though someone had stumbled onto forbidden footage and should never have pressed play. That immediacy is a big part of why I love found footage so much. It’s intimate, claustrophobic, and unnervingly voyeuristic.

So, when I learned that “Hell House LLC: Lineage” would move away from the found footage format and embrace a traditional narrative style, I felt a pang of worry. Could this franchise that is so rooted in the charm of its amateur camera work, pull off such a bold shift without losing its identity? Turns out, not only could it, but it did so with style, confidence, and some of the scariest moments the series has ever unleashed.

The first three Hell House LLC movies thrived on the illusion of authenticity. Found footage horror works because it locks the audience into a limited perspective, forcing us to see only what the camera sees. That means every shadow might hide a threat, and every slow pan feels like a potential heart attack waiting to happen.

The original film built dread through subtlety. Simple things like a door slightly ajar, a figure barely visible in the background, the knowledge that the characters were often filming their own demise without realizing it. In “Hell House LLC II: The Abaddon Hotel”, the mythology deepened, and the cameras became more than just tools; they were witnesses cursed to capture the hotel’s secrets. By the time we reached “Hell House LLC III: Lake of Fire”, the franchise had become a love letter to the format itself. Simply by embracing static cams, handheld chaos, and flickering night-vision shots that dared you to blink at the wrong time.

The franchise also helped revive interest in found footage at a time when audiences were growing tired of the gimmick. It reminded horror fans that the style could still feel innovative when paired with a strong mythology and carefully constructed tension. That is why the transition to narrative filmmaking in Lineage felt risky. Found footage had been part of the franchise’s identity from day one. Removing it could have been like pulling the batteries from a flashlight in a haunted basement. Sure, you can keep walking, but are you sure you want to?

What surprised me was how natural the shift felt. The mythology has always been the real backbone of these movies, not the camera format. Abaddon Hotel’s legends, rituals, its cursed history, and its connection to the living and the dead is what keeps me coming back. Lineage leans into that mythology with a sense of freedom the found footage approach sometimes restricted. All while taking a terrifying look into the domino effect of revenge can cause.

Instead of worrying about who’s holding the camera, the movie focuses on what the camera can reveal. Narrative filmmaking lets us see more of the world beyond Abaddon while keeping the hotel’s menace front and center. The result is a story that feels bigger, bolder, and shockingly more immersive than ever before.

One of my concerns (which to be honest I barely had any since in my opinion Stephen Cognetti can do no wrong) going in was that changing formats would dilute the established lore, making Lineage feel disconnected from the franchise’s roots. Thankfully that small fear was unfounded within the first couple of minutes into Lineage. The movie understands the sacred ground it walks on, both literally and figuratively.

The ghostly feel of the Abaddon Hotel still looms large, carrying the same sense of dread that made the first three movies unforgettable. We’re reminded that this isn’t just a haunted house; it’s a cursed legacy. A place where reality bends to accommodate evil. The narrative format doesn’t erase that history, it gives the filmmakers new ways to explore it, letting the camera linger on spaces we’ve only glimpsed before or adding depth to the chilling mythology of those who came before. This approach also allows the story to feel like a true conclusion. Even one that respects everything that came before it while daring to go places the franchise has never gone.

Here’s the part that really blew me away. “Hell House LLC: Lineage” has some of the most terrifying moments in the entire franchise. Especially coming from someone who still can’t think about that basement scene in the original movie without feeling the need to look down my own basement and say “Nope!”. There are some SERIOUS SCARY moments in Lineage that not only sucked me into the story, but gleefully scared the hell out of me. All I will say is carnival, stairs, red balls and fast paced scares to vaguely connect with the people who have already seen Lineage without spoiling anything (if you know you know).

By stepping outside the limitations of found footage, Stephen Cognetti and his team had room to experiment with new kinds of scares. In the earlier movies, the tension came from not being able to see everything. Masterfully filmed moments of corners cut off by shaky frames, hallways cloaked in shadows, static shots daring us to notice the smallest movements. In Lineage, the fear comes from the opposite perspective. The camera can see more, and what it reveals is often worse than anything we imagined.

This isn’t a movie that abandons subtlety for jump scares. Instead, it blends the creeping dread of its predecessors with the precision of a narrative camera. Moments are staged to misdirect, lull, and then strike with shocking intensity. It’s the cinematic equivalent of pulling the rug out from under your feet, only to discover something reaching up from the floor.

One of the many things I adore about this franchise is how deeply it reflects the passion of the people behind it. Horror isn’t just about murderous monsters, over used gore, unnecessary female nudity, and mayhem. It is about the craft of scaring an audience, the care put into atmosphere, and the small but largely felt details that make a fictional place feel like it has a heartbeat.

Lineage carries that same dedication. The performances feel raw and human, the setting feels lived-in and cursed, and the scares are executed with precision and love. It’s a reminder that horror thrives when filmmakers pour themselves into their work. They are not just to scare us, but to make us care about the world they’ve built.

I have a huge love not only for this franchise but the people involved. I have been lucky to have many of them join me for a fun chat on my podcast, but friendships I have gotten to build with them over time that has meant the world to me. These aren’t just people looking to make a quick buck off of horror, but giant horror fans like the rest of us. There is a lot of love for the genre in these movies and it shows with every frame of this and other movies in the franchise.

At its core, the Hell House LLC series has always been about more than just the way it’s filmed. It’s about the revolving madness of the past, the lure of mysteries that beg to be solved, and the human weakness that drives people to investigate despite knowing the danger.

I came to “Hell House LLC: Lineage” expecting to maybe miss the intimacy of found footage a little, but I left feeling like I’d just seen the franchise evolve without losing its soul that makes it so appealing to me and other horror fans. While I’ll always love the raw terror that comes from the POV and feel of found footage, the end of my viewing experience with Lineage feeling like the franchise had just given me the perfect next chapter we have been asking for since “Hell House Origins: The Carmichael Manor”. Lineage is bolder, scarier, and more ambitious than I dared to hope. The scares hit harder than ever, the lore feels richer, and the format shift only deepened my appreciation for what makes these movies special.

As a fan of this franchise for many years, I couldn’t ask for a better finale to a series that has given me so many sleepless nights. Do you think horror franchises should take bold risks like this, or should they stick to the style that originally scared us? Let me know online and don’t miss seeing this on the big screen, and on Shudder this fall!

Christopher James 8/14/25 Christopher James 8/14/25

FANTASTIC FEST 2025 Shares Their Epic Line Up

For two decades, Fantastic Fest has been the chaotic carnival where indie horror filmmakers trade in popcorn scares for boundary-pushing mayhem, daring audiences to embrace the bizarre. It’s where a micro-budget nightmare like “Terrifier” can carve out cult status and a fever dream like “The Witch” can cast its spell long before the mainstream catches on. With its track record of turning midnight oddities into genre milestones, could there be a more thrilling proving ground for horror’s future legends?

As a die-hard fan of both mainstream and indie horror, I nearly jumped out of my seat when Fantastic Fest dropped the news about its 2025 lineup. Last year was packed with heavy hitters, and this year looks set to raise the stakes even higher. With over 70 films announced and the promise of fresh nightmares waiting to be unleashed, Fantastic Fest’s 20th anniversary is shaping up to be nothing short of legendary. Here’s a glimpse at what’s coming:

From The Press Release:

Hear ye, hear ye! Step forth and feast thine eyes upon Fantastic Fest’s 20th anniversary lineup! Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s Fantastic Fest is celebrating its 20th edition by bringing you a treasure trove of highly anticipated cinematic wonders from around the world. Featuring 45 World Premieres, 15 International and North American Premieres, and 13 U.S. Premieres that are guaranteed to delight and surprise you, complemented by unforgettable events and magnificent special guests. Celebrate with us at the legendary Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar in Austin, TX, from September 18th-25th, 2025.

“Fantastic Fest is turning 20, and we’re turning the fest into an 8 day celebration of cinematic excellence and excess,” says Festival Director Lisa Dreyer. “We’re bringing our audience an unprecedented number of world premieres this year, from highly anticipated titles to brand new discoveries, and supporting independent filmmakers even further with an exciting new pitch competition. The fest has grown immensely over the years, and we are proud to find new impactful ways to champion genre cinema and bring our audience the best of the best.”

“We’re excited to celebrate 20 years of Fantastic Fest at Alamo Drafthouse,” says Alamo Drafthouse CEO Michael Kustermann. “Fantastic Fest was created by Alamo Drafthouse Cinema to celebrate genre and horror films. We’re thrilled that these films continue to perform well at the box office and are honored to be the launchpad for our studio partners and independent filmmakers.”

Fantastic Fest 2025 opens in spectacular fashion, featuring the world premiere of Paramount’s “PRIMATE”, from Director Johannes Roberts, in which a group of friends’ tropical vacation turns into a terrifying, primal tale of horror and survival. Featuring an incredible ensemble cast led by Johnny Sequoyah and Oscar®-winning Troy Kotsur, PRIMATE is an unbelievably entertaining horror film, filled with gory mayhem, in theaters January 9, 2026.

The closing night film will be the world premiere of Independent Film Company and Shudder’s crowd-pleasing horror film “WHISTLE”, from director Corin Hardy (“THE NUN”) and writer Owen Edgerton. A group of high-school students discover an ancient Aztec death whistle that unleashes a deadly curse upon their town. As the teens are hunted down one by one to meet their deaths in spectacularly gruesome ways, it’s a race against time to discover how to stop the demonic force before it's too late.

Fantastic Fest is also thrilled to launch Fantastic Pitches this year, a new initiative to support filmmakers by providing $100,000 in funding and a global distribution deal from new genre-label Chroma. Finalists will pitch their projects live at the fest, in front of a jury composed of notable industry professionals, including director Matt Johnson (NIRVANA THE BAND THE SHOW THE MOVIE).

Major studio films include the world premiere of Sony Pictures’ Stage 6 Films & Screen Gems’ “SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE”, the world premiere of Paramount Pictures’ chilling new horror film from writer and director Bryan Bertino, “VICIOUS”, the world premiere of Universal Pictures and Blumhouse’s highly anticipated “BLACK PHONE 2”, the U.S. premieres of NEON’s “SHELBY OAKS” and Cannes jury-prize winner “SIRÂT”, the world premiere of Lionsgate’s “THE STRANGERS – CHAPTER 2”, the world premieres of Shudder’s latest installment of their popular franchise “V/H/S/HALLOWEEN”, and two episodes from the fan-favorite series “THE CREEP TAPES SEASON 2”, the Texas premiere of A24’s kinetic “IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU”, and the world premiere of Shudder's “CRAZY OLD LADY” from producer J.A. Bayona.

An esteemed jury of filmmakers, creatives and industry insiders will join us to bestow awards in four categories: Main Competition, Horror, Next Wave, and Shorts. Notable jurors include actor Patton Oswalt, director and musician Fred Durst, author Otessa Moshfegh, filmmakers Aaron Schimberg and Mercedes Bryce Morgan, producers Brandon Hill of Lionsgate, Lars Knudsen of Square Peg, Jose Cañas of Ghost House Pictures, and Shams Mohajerani of 75East, and festival notables Lisa Ogdie of Sundance, Mònica Garcia Massagué of the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival, and Matt Pifko of Kanopy.

Other notable World Premieres include:

Ryan Prows’ “NIGHT PATROL” starring Jermaine Fowler, Justin Long, and RJ Cyler.
“COYOTES”, a survival thriller by Colin Minihan starring Justin Long and Kate Bosworth.
“HAUNTED HEIST”, Lil Rel Howery’s directorial debut, with Tiffany Haddish leading a hilarious all-star ensemble cast.
“DOLLY”, a terrifying slasher with unbelievable kills from Rod Blackhurst, shot on film.

The Events

Fantastic Fest has a variety of spectacular special events this year, including:

Castle Rat will bring their medieval heavy metal antics for the opening night party, presented by Shudder.
A celebration of the 20th anniversary of “The Masters Of Horror”, featuring Mick Garris, Don Coscarelli, and Ernest Dickerson in conversation.
A fundraiser for The Transgender Film Center, with exclusive merch from Super Yaki.
Live events throughout the week including a Ghoulish Book Fair, a medieval drag show hosted by the legendary Louisiana Purchase, Doug Benson’s “Movie Interruption”, an exclusive collection of video oddities from “The Found Footage Festival”, and more.
And finally, Fantastic Fest classics like the Fantastic Feud, the Fantastic Debates, and an epic Closing Night Party at a secret location to close out the week.

Rapturous Restorations and Other Rarities

Once again, we are partnering with our friends at the American Genre Film Archive to bring a selection of restorations to the festival, including the world premiere of the preservation of the bloody slasher “EMBALMER”, with visionary Director S. Torriano Berry in attendance, a screening of the newly restored greatest shark film of all time “CRUEL JAWS”, and a 35mm screening of the Thai action thriller “CHOCOLATE”.

Formed in 2009, the American Genre Film Archive (AGFA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to preserving the legacy of genre movies through collection, conservation, and distribution.

Fantastic Fest is proud to work with distributors dedicated to the art of preservation, and the lineup includes world premieres of the new 4K restoration of “THE BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR” from Eagle Rock Pictures, Chroma’s 4K restoration of “BEFORE THE FALL” from alumnus F. Javier Gutierrez, the French oddity “FOLIES MEURTRIÈRES” from Bleeding Skull, the new digital preservation of Doris Wishman’s “DILDO HEAVEN” from Muscle Releasing, the 4K restoration of “HIDE AND GO SHRIEK” from Graveface Films which is a subsidiary of Terror Vision Home Video, and the 4K restoration of “FREAKED” starring Alex Winters from Drafthouse Films. More notable restorations include the 4K restoration of the cult classic animation “ANGEL’S EGG” from GKids.

Burnt Ends, Fantastic Fest’s sidebar dedicated to micro-budget outlier cinema, is back for its third year with an animation block that features the world premieres of the stop-motion masterpiece “THE SHRINE OF ABOMINATIONS” from Skinner & Ross Kennedy, a hand drawn wonder “ANIMAL MATH” from Robbie C. Ward, and the comedic “GIRLS NIGHT OUT” from Ashley Sengstaken, world premieres of the horror comedy “THEATER IS DEAD”, and the inventive thriller “DINNER TO DIE FOR”, and “TIE MAN”, a pulpy and offbeat crime thriller.

We are grateful to our partners at Shudder for supporting Fantastic Fest this year including sponsoring the opening night party. As they celebrate their 10th anniversary, they have screened films and/or acquired films every year out of the festival, truly ringing in a decade of screams in the heart of the genre festival community.

Fantastic Fest is proud to present 78 feature films, as well as a variety of short film selections to be announced at a later date — all showcasing World, North American, U.S. and Regional Premieres. See below for the full lineup of feature film programming at this year’s festival.

FILM LINEUP FOR FANTASTIC FEST 2025:

“13 DAYS TILL SUMMER”

Poland, 2025

International Premiere, 80 min

Director - Bartosz M. Kowalski

Two siblings and their friends fight for survival when a masked killer breaks into their home, intent on hunting them down one by one.

“ANGEL’S EGG”

Japan, 1985

US Premiere of 4K Restoration, 73 min

Director - Mamoru Oshii

The 4K restoration of Mamoru Oshii and Yoshitaka Amano’s masterpiece, ANGEL'S EGG, lands on our screens for its US premiere four decades after its initial release.

“APPOFENIACS”

USA, 2025

North American Premiere, 88 min

Director - Chris Marrs Piliero

The use of AI technology reaches its most violent and bloody conclusion after a series of deepfake videos are unleashed into the world.

“BAD HAIRCUT”

USA, 2025

World Premiere, 110 min

Director - Kyle Misak

On what will become the strangest night of his life, Billy's new haircut escalates into a fight for survival as the eccentric behavior of his local barber, Mick, slowly gives way to reveal a deeply troubled mind.

“BEAST OF WAR”

Australia, 2025

North American Premiere, 87 min

Director - Kiah Roache-Turner

Australia, WWII. After escaping their sinking ship, a group of Aussie soldiers left adrift on a life raft find themselves hunted by a relentless, deadly great white shark.

“BEFORE THE FALL”

Spain, 2008

World Premiere of Chroma’s 4K Restoration, 93 min

Director - F. Javier Gutierrez

A 4K restoration of BEFORE THE FALL, the previously hard-to-find seminal work from Fantastic Fest alumnus F. Javier Gutiérrez, is an apocalyptic sci-fi horror that will scare you for at least tres días.

“BLACK PHONE 2”

Canada, 2025

World Premiere, 114 min

Director - Scott Derrickson

Four years ago, Finn killed his abductor and escaped, becoming the sole survivor of the Grabber. But true evil transcends death…As Gwen begins to receive calls in her dreams from the black phone and experience disturbing visions, her determination to solve the mystery will lead her and Finn to a snowed-in winter camp and a shattering discovery about the Grabber and their own family’s history.

“BODY BLOW”

Australia, 2025

World Premiere, 99 min

Director - Dean Francis

An undercover cop finds his commitment to the force tested when he falls for a young twink deep in debt to a vicious drug lord in this kinky neon-noir.

“BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR”

USA, 1990

World Premiere of 4K Restoration, 96 min

Director - Brian Yuzna

Dr. Herbert West’s existential crisis… err… quest to create life continues in this cult classic, lovingly restored in 4K, as he and fellow doctor turned mad scientist Dan Cain attempt to create the perfect woman.

“BULK”

UK, 2025

North American Premiere, 92 min

Director - Ben Wheatley

Ben Wheatley is back with a truly unique and genre-bending film that will take you through a kaleidoscopic lo-fi sci-fi fever dream.

“CAMP”

Canada, 2025

World Premiere, 111 min

Director - Avalon Fast

Emily takes a job as a counselor at a summer camp and finds a coven of witches ready to show her a path to healing.

“CHOCOLATE” (Presented by AGFA)

Thailand, 2008

35mm Screening, 110 min

Director - Prachya Pinkaew

AGFA presents a 35mm screening of the 21st century Thai martial arts classic.

CINEMA RECOMPOSED -“ YEAR ONE: The Work of Max Fleischer”

World Premiere Special Event, 75 min

Composers - Alana Reale, Eloise NG, Fiona Gerhke, Iggy Rosado, Kevin Leysath II, Riya Kumar, & Somesh Yatham

Seven composers between the ages of 17 and 24 compose new scores for silent classics under the mentorship of some of the industry's top professionals.

“COYOTES”

USA, 2025

World Premiere, 91 min

Director - Colin Minihan

A kinetic thriller with teeth led by real-life partners Justin Long and Kate Bosworth.

“THE CRAMPS: A PERIOD PIECE”

USA, 2025

World Premiere, 89 min

Director - Brooke H. Cellars

A vibrant collision of horror, comedy, and aching personal truth as seen through the eyes of a young woman dealing with the pain of her menstrual cramps.

“CRAZY OLD LADY”

Argentina, Spain, 2025

World Premiere, 94 min

Director - Martín Mauregui

A man is held captive by his ex-girlfriend’s senile mother, who mistakes him for her husband from the time of the Argentine dictatorship after forgetting to take her medication.

“THE CREEP TAPES” Season 2 (Two Episodes)

USA, 2025

World Premiere

Director - Patrick Brice

Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice, writers and executive producers of the fan favorite CREEP franchise, are back for an exclusive first look at two episodes from the series’ highly anticipated second season, which will continue to unravel the mind of this secluded serial killer (Duplass) who lures videographers into his world with the promise of a paid job documenting his life. Unfortunately, as the tape rolls, the killer’s questionable intentions surface with his increasingly odd behavior and the victims will learn they may have made a deadly mistake.

“CRUEL JAWS” (Presented by AGFA)

Italy, 1995

Texas Premiere of Restoration, 93 min

Director - Bruno Mattei

AGFA presents Severin Film's brand-new restoration of Bruno Mattei's frenetic Italian ripoff of the original sharktastic classic.

“CRUSHED”

UK, 2025

North American Premiere, 101 min

Director - Simon Rumley

A family is suddenly thrust into an unimaginable nightmare when their young daughter is kidnapped. As they relentlessly search for her, they uncover a dark underbelly of society that will shake them to their core.

“THE CURSE”

Japan, Taiwan, 2025

World Premiere, 94 min

Director - Kenichi Ugana

A Japanese girl, Riko, travels to Taiwan to track down the motive behind a friend's bizarre death, which seems linked to strange social media posts in this violent curse movie.

“DAWNING”

Norway, 2025

World Premiere, 109 min

Director - Patrik Syversen

Norwegian director Patrik Syversen weaves an unsettling, genre-bending tale of terror set deep in the isolated Nordic wilderness.

“DEATHGASM 2: GOREMAGEDDON”

New Zealand, Canada, 2025

World Premiere, 102 min

Director - Jason Lei Howden

DEATHGASM is fucking back, baby, and the only way Brodie can win the Battle of the Bands is to bring his band back from the dead. This time the fiery furnaces of Satan's anus have brought forth nothing short of a GOREMAGEDDON.

“DEATHSTALKER”

Canada, 2025

North American Premiere, 99 min

Director - Steven Kostanski

When a ruthless warrior named Deathstalker steals a mysterious amulet from a dying man, he’s unwillingly thrust into a quest to stop the dark sorcerer Necromemnon and save the world from destruction.

“DECORADO”

Spain, 2025

World Premiere, 95 min

Director - Alberto Vázquez

The team behind UNICORN WARS returns with the feature-length adaptation of Alberto Vázquez’s DECORADO for a darkly comic reflection on the artifices ruling our lives.

“DILDO HEAVEN”

USA, 2002

World Premiere of Restoration, 79 min

Director - Doris Wishman

Three young roommates, Lisa, Beth, and Tess, share the same goal of hooking up with their respective male bosses in this unreleased—and newly preserved—final film from the legendary "Queen of Sexploitation," Doris Wishman.

“DINNER TO DIE FOR” (Burnt Ends Selection)

South Africa, 2025

World Premiere, 75 min

Director - Diana Mills Smith

Diana Mills Smith goes off-menu for her first feature. A sexy culinary horror meets true crime fantasy role-play that will leave you licking your lips.

“DISFORIA”

Spain, 2025

World Premiere, 82 min

Director - Christopher Cartagena

Live-streamed games of torture on the dark web collide with a desperate mother’s fight for survival.

“DOLLY”

USA, 2025

World Premiere, 84 min

Director - Rod Blackhurst

A young woman, Macy, fights for survival after being abducted by a deranged, monster-like figure who wants to raise Macy as their child. A daring blend of New French Extremity and 1970s American horror.

“DON’T LEAVE THE KIDS ALONE”

Mèxico, 2025

US Premiere, 97 min

Director - Emilio Portes

Brothers Matías and Emiliano are left to their own devices in their new family home—what starts off as an exciting adventure quickly gives way to the existing fraternal tension and turns into a nightmare in this chilling psychological horror.

“DRACULA”

Romania, 2025

North American Premiere, 170 min

Director - Radu Jude

Radu Jude, arguably Romania’s greatest living filmmaker, sinks his teeth into redefining Dracula for a new generation. In 14 chapters and over the course of three hours, Jude holds nothing back, especially genitalia.

“EMBALMER” (Presented by AGFA)

USA, 1996

World Premiere of Preservation, 83 min

Director - S. Torriano Berry

AGFA presents a new preservation of the essential '90s horror gem with director S. Torriano Berry in person.

“THE EVIL THAT BINDS US”

Chile, Mexico, 2025

World Premiere, 97 min

Director - Nico Postiglione

In 1950s rural Chile, 13-year-old Daniel is sent to live with his German relatives while his father is away on business—only to clash with their rigid ways and uncover a dark secret that ignites his fury.

“FIND YOUR FRIENDS”

USA, Italy, 2025

US Premiere, 93 min

Director - Izabel Pakzad

A girls trip goes terribly wrong in this exciting first feature that’s part hangout film, part revenge thriller.

“FOLIES MEURTRIÈRES” (Presented by BLEEDING SKULL)

France, 1984

World Premiere, 49 min

Director - Antoine Pellissier

Bleeding Skull presents a restoration of the dreamlike 1980s slasher from France.

“THE FORBIDDEN CITY”

Italy, 2025

US Premiere, 138 min

Director - Gabriele Mainetti

A martial artist, an Italian chef, a gangster, and about a hundred henchmen walk into a Chinese restaurant. Fighting ensues.

“FREAKED”

USA, 1994

World Premiere of 4K Restoration, 80 min

Directors - Tom Stern & Alex Winter

Show business collides with carnival magic when a vain megastar, his pal, and a bleeding-heart environmentalist are transformed into the latest attractions at a mad scientist’s freak show in Alex Winter and Tom Stern’s Gen X surrealist comic cavalcade.

“FUCK MY SON!”

USA, 2025

US Premiere, 96 min

Director - Todd Rohal

Irreverent does not even begin to describe this X-rated adaptation of Johnny Ryan’s eponymous graphic novel. Kidnapped by a deranged old woman, a young mother looks for the least unpleasant way to save herself and her daughter.

“HAUNTED HEIST”

USA, 2025

World Premiere, 87 min

Director - Lil Rel Howery

Four dysfunctional ex-friends reunite at a shady Airbnb—only to learn one of them dragged the others there to help steal a hidden antique. Too bad the place is haunted by racist ghosts.

“HER WILL BE DONE”

France, Poland, 2025

North American Premiere, 99 min

Director - Julia Kowalski

Nawojka has a secret. Well, two, if you count her confusing crush on the bad girl next door, but mostly it’s the inescapable, blood-craving curse she inherited from her mother.

“HIDE AND GO SHRIEK”

USA, 1988

World Premiere of 4K Restoration, 90 min

Director - Skip Schoolnik

A group of teens lock themselves inside a furniture store to party after graduation, unaware that a killer is lurking among the mannequins. As the lights go out, the night turns into a deadly game of hide-and-seek as they fight to survive.

“THE HOLY BOY”

Italy, Slovenia, 2025

International Premiere, 125 min

Director - Paolo Strippoli

After the loss of his son, Sergio accepts a teaching position in a quiet Italian town—where he meets a boy with a mysterious ability to ease his grief.

“HONEY BUNCH”

Canada, 2025

US Premiere, 113 min

Directors - Madeleine Sims-Fewer & Dusty Mancinelli

Is your love strong enough? The filmmaking duo behind VIOLATION returns with a gauzy, fragmented throwback to ‘70s psychodramas.

“THE ICE TOWER”

France, 2025

US Premiere, 118 min

Director - Lucile Hadžihalilović

A runaway orphan finds refuge within a surreal film set in Lucile Hadžihalilović’s haunting, dreamlike reimagining of The Snow Queen—a hypnotic tale of identity, obsession, and cinematic enchantment.

“IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU”

USA, 2025

Texas Premiere, 113 min

Writer-Director - Mary Bronstein

Cast - Rose Byrne, Conan O’Brien, Danielle Macdonald, with Christian Slater and A$AP Rocky

With her life crashing down around her, Linda (Rose Byrne) attempts to navigate her child's mysterious illness, her absent husband, a missing person, and an increasingly hostile relationship with her therapist.

“LUGER”

Spain, 2025

World Premiere, 95 min

Director - Bruno Martín

Two low-level fixers contend with an art collector, a greedy lawyer, a pack of Neo-Nazis, and a host of other shady characters when they end up in possession of a valuable German Luger in this bloody thriller.

“LUNATIC: THE LUNA VACHON STORY”

Canada, 2025

International Premiere, 105 min

Director - Kate Kroll

Chaos reigns in this documentary exploring the life, mental health, and career of longtime fan-favorite wrestler Luna Vachon as she struggles to balance being a wife, mother, and pioneer of legitimate women’s wrestling.

“MĀRAMA”

New Zealand, 2025

US Premiere, 89 min

Director - Taratoa Stappard

A Dark Sky Films & Watermelon Pictures release

Mary, a young Māori woman, travels to Victorian England after receiving a letter promising information about her birth parents. As she peels back the layers of colonial deceit, Mary is driven to avenge her shattered ancestry.

“MEAT KILLS”

The Netherlands, 2025

World Premiere, 86 min

Director - Martijn Smits

The night takes a dark turn when a group of activists break into a pig farm to free mistreated animals and find themselves face-to-face with an extremely angry farmer.

“MOTHER OF FLIES”

USA, 2025

US Premiere, 93 min

Directors - Toby Poser, John Adams, & Zelda Adams

A young woman suffering from a life-threatening illness ventures deep into the woods to seek the help of a mystical healer offering an unconventional cure.

“NESTING”

Canada, Switzerland, 2025

International Premiere, 103 min

Director - Chloé CINQ-MARS

A new mother is plagued by visions as her life spirals out of control.

“NIGHT PATROL”

USA, 2025

World Premiere, 104 min

Director - Ryan Prows

An LAPD officer assigned to his old neighborhood is drawn back into gang life after his brother witnesses a brutal murder linked to the city's infamous gang task force.

“NIGHT STAGE”

Brazil, 2025

Texas Premiere, 117 min

Directors - Marcio Reolon & Filipe Matzembacher

A young actor competes with his roommate and fellow actor for a coveted role while striking up a charged relationship with a closeted politician with a fetish for sex in public places.

“OBSESSION”

USA, 2025

US Premiere, 112 min

Director - Curry Barker

A desperate wish for love goes terribly wrong in this horrific cautionary tale from Director Curry Barker.

“PENANCE” (Burnt Ends Selection)

USA, 2025

World Premiere, 117 min

Director - Nikolas Pelekai

A blood-soaked tale of brotherhood and retribution. Guaranteed to be the most fists flying in 2025.

“THE PIANO ACCIDENT”

France, 2025

North American Premiere, 88 min

Director - Quentin Dupieux

A social media star hides out in a mountain chalet looking for respite when a call from a ruthless journalist drastically alters the course of her solitary getaway.

“THE PLAGUE”

Romania, USA, 2025

North American Premiere, 95 min

Director - Charlie Polinger

It’s survival of the fittest at a pre-teen summer water polo camp, where rigid hierarchies and social alienation give way to psychological torment in Charlie Polinger’s searing and masterful debut feature.

“PRIMATE”

USA, 2025

World Premiere, 89 min

Director - Johannes Roberts

A group of friends’ tropical vacation turns into a terrifying, primal tale of horror and survival.

“REFLECTION IN A DEAD DIAMOND”

Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, France, 2025

Texas Premiere, 87 min

Directors - Hélène Cattet & Bruno Forzani

An aging superspy with a fading memory recounts his past life in this stylish blast of Euro hyper-pulp from masters Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani.

“THE RESTORATION AT GRAYSON MANOR”

Ireland, 2025

World Premiere, 90 min

Director - Glenn McQuaid

After losing both hands in an accident, Boyd Grayson becomes the prime candidate for an experimental replacement procedure in this queer, campy, erotic horror.

“ROAD TO VENDETTA”

Hong Kong, Japan, 2025

World Premiere, 108 min

Director - NJO Kui Ying

From the mean streets of Hong Kong to the nightclubs of Tokyo, a lone unnamed assassin tears a bloody swathe through Asia’s neon-drenched underworld in this eye-catching debut from a noteworthy new voice in genre filmmaking.

“SHELBY OAKS”

USA, 2025

US Premiere, 91 min

Director - Chris Stuckmann

A woman’s obsessive search for her missing sister leads her into a terrifying mystery at the hands of an unknown evil.

“SHRINE OF ABOMINATIONS” (Burnt Ends Selection)

USA, 2025

World Premiere, 38 min

Directors - Skinner & Ross Kennedy

A stop-motion cosmic horror from artists Skinner and Ross Kennedy.

“SILENCIO”

Spain, 2025

North American Premiere, 56 min

Director - Eduardo Casanova

Generations of vampires face persecution, meditate on the nature of human disease, and fall in love in this stylish, century-spanning tale of blood.

“SILVER SCREAMERS”

Canada, 2025

World Premiere, 94 min

Director - Sean Cisterna

When filmmaker Sean Cisterna discovers a subsidy to support senior activities, he rallies a group of retirement home residents to create a horror short film.

“SIRÂT”

France, Spain, 2025

US Premiere, 115 min

Director - Oliver Laxe

A father and his son journey to an illegal rave party south of Morocco, searching for his missing daughter. As they follow a group of ravers deeper into the desert, trouble begins to unfold.

“SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE”

Finland, USA, 2025

World Premiere, 88 min

Director - Jalmari Helander

A wall-to-wall cinematic action event, a sequel to the original sleeper hit SISU. Returning to the house where his family was brutally murdered during the war, “the man who refuses to die” (Jorma Tommila) dismantles it, loads it on a truck, and is determined to rebuild it somewhere safe in their honor. When the Red Army commander who killed his family (Stephen Lang from DON’T BREATHE) comes back hellbent on finishing the job, a relentless, eye-popping cross-country chase ensues - a fight to the death, full of clever, unbelievable action set pieces.

“SKYLINE: WARPATH”

UK, France, Indonesia, 2025

World Premiere, 96 min

Director - Liam O’Donnell

Iko Uwais leads a group of humans in a fight against an extraterrestrial threat in the latest installment in the SKYLINE franchise, bringing Scott Adkins along for the no-holds-barred, action mega-brawl.

“THE STRANGERS – CHAPTER 2”

USA, 2025

World Premiere, 98 min

Director - Renny Harlin

The Strangers are back – more brutal and relentless than ever. When they learn that one of their victims, Maya (Madelaine Petsch), is still alive, they return to finish what they’ve started. With nowhere to run and no one to trust, Maya must survive another horrific chapter of terror as The Strangers – driven by a senseless, unceasing purpose – pursue her, more than willing to kill anyone who stands in their way.

“THEATER IS DEAD” (Burnt Ends Selection)

USA, 2025

World Premiere, 88 min

Director - Katherine Dudas

When a young would-be starlet lands the lead in a prestigious production, she quickly finds the dark side of the limelight. Who knew such a large intersection existed between theater kids and horror freaks?

“TIE MAN” (Burnt Ends Selection)

Canada, 2024

International Premiere, 99 min

Director - Rémi Fréchette

The psychotronic vigilante revenge rollercoaster we have all been waiting to ride. If Frank Henenlotter and David Cronenberg remade ROBOCOP, they would only be edging on TIE MAN.

“THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE”

Portugal, France, 2025

World Premiere, 100 min

Director - Eugène Green

Gaspard, a teenager from the suburbs of Lisbon, falls into the hands of the Ogre, a man who has made a pact with the Devil.

“A USEFUL GHOST”

Thailand, 2025

US Premiere, 130 min

Director - Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke

A luminous genre hybrid that blends supernatural fantasy with dark romantic comedy and heartfelt human drama.

“V/H/S/HALLOWEEN”

USA, 2025

World Premiere, 115 min

Directors - Bryan M. Ferguson, Casper Kelly, Micheline Pitt-Norman & R.H. Norman, Alex Ross Perry, Paco Plaza, Anna Zlokovic

A collection of Halloween-themed videotapes unleashes a series of twisted, blood-soaked tales, turning trick-or-treat into a struggle for survival.

“VICIOUS”

USA, 2025

World Premiere, 103 min

Director - Bryan Bertino

When Polly (Dakota Fanning) receives a mysterious Box from an unexpected late-night visitor, it comes with a simple instruction: place three things inside: something you need, something you hate, and something you love. What begins as a strange ritual quickly unravels into a waking nightmare. Trapped in a terrifying world where reality bends and memory betrays, Polly must navigate a series of impossible choices. As time slips away, she’s forced to confront the darkness not just around her, but within her—before it consumes everything and everyone she’s ever known.

“THE VILE”

UAE, USA, 2025

World Premiere, 97 min

Director - Majid Al Ansari

Amani, a devoted wife and mother, finds her life slowly unraveling when her husband returns home with a second wife—bringing with her an insidious darkness that begins to infiltrate every aspect of Amani’s existence.

“WHEN WE WERE LIVE”

USA, 2025

World Premiere, 93 min

Director - John Spottswood Moore

Austin, Texas is home to the oldest continuously operating public access TV station in the country, and this documentary celebrates the original creators who made the station such a vibrant, unique community.

“WHISTLE”

Canada, Ireland, 2025

World Premiere, 85 min

Director - Corin Hardy

A misfit group of unwitting high school students stumble upon a cursed object, an ancient Aztec Death Whistle. They discover that blowing the whistle and the terrifying sound it emits will summon their future deaths to hunt them down. As the body count rises, the friends investigate the origins of the deadly artifact in a desperate effort to stop the horrifying chain of events that they have set in motion.

“A WOMAN CALLED MOTHER”

Indonesia, 2025

World Premiere, 119 min

Director - Randolph Zaini

Vira and her family move to a new city for a fresh start after a difficult few years, but the demon following them will force them to confront their most primal fears.

Stay tuned to I Love Horror Movie Reviews for the reviews of these amazing movies lined up for Fantastic Fest 2025!

Christopher James 8/13/25 Christopher James 8/13/25

TERROR FILMS RELEASING Teams Up With Thor Moreno For Psychological Thriller “SCHISM”

Terror Films Releasing isn’t just in the horror business, they’re in the business of making your nightmares binge-worthy. With a fearless appetite for offbeat, boundary-pushing scares, they pluck the creepiest, most original visions from the shadows and catapult them into the spotlight. Their movies don’t just entertain, they crawl under your skin. They’re movies can even set up camp in your mind, and dare you to sleep with the lights off. So, what’s your favorite Terror Films Releasing movie?

Recently Terror Films Releasing shared some news with me regarding a new release to their newest addition to their line of already great horror movies. The new movie they have coming out is the upcoming psychological thriller. The movie stars Cait Moira, Annette Duffy, Hunter Phoenix, and Jesse Moreno. It is written/directed by Thor Moreno. The movie follows Nola Riggs, a young woman battling mental illness, who uncovers sinister truths in a psychiatric facility. Moreno shared his thoughts about the making of the movie in a recent press release from Terror Films Releasing:

From The Press Release

“Schism is a thriller that explores the unsettling fractures between perception and reality, a narrative that refuses to offer easy answers. As the director, I’m proud of how the film invites the audience into a world that’s both intimately human and eerily off-kilter. Every frame is designed to feel like something is slightly wrong, even in moments of stillness, mirroring the emotional dissonance of our protagonist. Schism is not just a story; it’s an atmospheric descent into the quiet madness that lies just beneath the surface of ordinary life.”

TFR will premiere the movie across multiple platforms on September 5th, 2025, including Chilling, Scare Network TV, Kings of Horror, Watch Movies Now, Shocks & Docs, TFR’s official AVOD YouTube channel, and many more. Stay tuned here for the review for this movie coming out soon.

Whether it’s slashers in the woods, ghosts in the attic, or killers in the cornfield, ILHM Reviews brings you the frightful horror flick recommendations worth watching. Follow us on Instagram, be sure to listen to the the "I Love Horror" podcast and remember that if you’re a true fan of horror, every night can be a FRIGHT NIGHT!

Christopher James 8/11/25 Christopher James 8/11/25

“MEATHOOK” Is A Blood-Soaked Slasher You Need To See

Horror movies aren’t usually in on their own joke. They sprint straight to the point: there’s a killer, there are victims, and—if the horror gods smile on us—a decapitation or two. Every so often, though, we’re treated to the rare brilliance of meta horror, a film that knows exactly what it is and has fun with it. Ever since Wes Craven’s genre-shaking Scream carved its way onto the big screen, self-aware scares have become a fan-favorite sub-genre. Most directors try to bottle that same lightning; few get close, but every now and then, one comes surprisingly near. The latest to sharpen its blade in that self-aware arena is “Meathook”, Terror Films Releasing’s newest addition, bringing together Rene Leech, Havon Baraka, Buddy “Doc” Clements, and David Alan Graf under the wickedly imaginative writing/directing of Jermy Ashley.

Synopsis

“Two years after the horrific massacre of her friends by an infamous killer, recluse Jordyn (Rene Leech) grapples with her past. When a string of similar murders occurs, Jordyn must face her fears head-on with the help of a true-crime podcaster Grayson (Havon Baraka).”

When I first sat down to watch “Meathook”, I expected another serviceable slasher with a catchy title and a pile of bodies. What I didn’t expect was a brilliantly sharp, hilariously self-aware, and surprisingly heartfelt ride. Its as much about survival after the carnage as it is about the carnage itself. Jeremy Ashley, both writing and directing, takes the well-worn "final girl" trope, drags it kicking and screaming into the spotlight. It forces us to consider what happens when the credits roll, not for the killer, not for the cops, but for the person left standing when everyone else is gone. And let me tell you, he does it with style.

Ashley’s approach to horror is the kind of fresh thinking the genre is constantly craving but rarely gets. Sure, I’ve seen “aftermath” explored in horror before, but not with this much wit, confidence, and perfectly judged meta-comedy. The humor never undercuts the fear; it sharpens it. Every part of the plot lands like a scalpel—precise and designed to make you both feel the fear of the main character, and chuckle at the jokes they throw in. I found myself grinning at clever digs at horror clichés one minute, then clutching the armrest in genuine dread the next. That balancing act is no easy feat, but Ashley makes it feel effortless, like he’s been steering a blockbuster horror franchise for decades rather than making what is, somehow, only one entry in his growing cinematic arsenal.

The heart of the movie is Rene Leech as Jordyn, and I’ll say this without hesitation that this is a career-defining performance. Leech manages the tricky duality of being both brittle and unbreakable. Jordyn is not some screaming caricature of trauma; she’s layered, complicated, sometimes infuriating, and always real. You see the toll those two years of trauma have taken, and you feel the way her paranoia seeps into every breath she takes. It’s in the way she flinches at the sound of a dropped pan, in the way her eyes dart when someone knocks on her door, and in the way her voice catches mid-sentence when the past sneaks up on her. Leech makes Jordyn a flesh-and-blood person first, horror heroine second, and that makes the film’s scares hit even harder.

Then there’s Havon Baraka, who absolutely crushes it as the true-crime podcaster who coaxes Jordyn back into the world. I’ve seen plenty of “quirky sidekick” characters in horror, but Baraka sidesteps the stereotype. His character has a natural charisma that feels genuine, not manufactured for comic relief. When he drops a joke, it’s not a wink at the audience—it’s part of the rhythm of who he is. Baraka’s energy is infectious, and his chemistry with Leech is the kind of slow-burn trust-building that makes their dynamic believable. They’re not instantly bonded by the situation; they circle each other warily until necessity forces them to close the gap. You also get to see his depth when it comes to him suffering from his own past trauma. You can see that he and Jordyn are two sides of the same coin.

Buddy "Doc" Clements deserves his credibility also. His role (without spoiling too much) starts as a background player, but by the midpoint, he’s a fully immersed character in the movie’s intricate plot. Clements brings a subtle gravitas. He grounds his scenes that could have easily tipped into absurdity, simply by bordering a not too serious but campy cop. His presence has that rare, yet old-school horror charm. The kind that makes you feel like the movie is whispering, “Don’t get too comfortable, things may go off the rails.”

Of course I would be crazy not to highlight David Alan Graf’s performance as Wayne Carver aka Meathook. He takes what could have been a straightforward frightening role and injects it with a dangerous unpredictability. Graf’s performance is the kind that keeps you guessing about his character’s motives until the final reel. He has this uncanny ability to make even the most innocent line of dialogue feel like it’s hiding something sinister. He takes a hybrid approach of blending Michael Myers with Jason Voorhees, but completely makes it his own. Watching him work is like trying to read a horror novel where someone has ripped out every third page. You can’t stop watching while he is on screen, and you need to know what his next move will be. It makes you never want to look away, even for a moment.

What elevates “Meathook” beyond a clever concept and strong performances is Ashley’s absolute mastery of tone. This is a horror film that’s not afraid to be playful, but it’s never frivolous. The kills are creative without tipping into parody, brutal without being gratuitous. There’s a craftsmanship in how they’re staged, with Ashley understanding that sometimes the most terrifying thing is what you don’t see. He’ll let a shadow move in the background, or hold the camera just long enough for your mind to fill in the worst possible image. I could practically feel my pulse slow and then spike on cue.

The meta-comedy elements are where Ashley really flexes his creativity. There’s a running thread with the glances at the camera, or the behind the scenes filming look that hits perfectly. The movie also does well with poking at our fascination with the macabre true crime elements that fascinate most people, but it does so without shaming the audience. Instead, it slyly reminds us that behind every sensationalized “story” is a living, breathing person, someone like Jordyn. Someone who doesn’t get the luxury of skipping to the end of the episode.

One of my favorite aspects of “Meathook” is how it resists the urge to turn Jordyn into a superhero by the finale. Yes, she fights back, but it’s messy, desperate, and fueled as much by fear as by bravery. There’s no tidy catharsis here, and that’s exactly why the ending sticks. Ashley understands that true horror doesn’t wrap itself in a neat bow. It lingers. It festers. It forces you to carry it home with you.

Visually, the movie is a treat. The cinematography leans into contrasting an almost fogged light filtered the movie. All of this perfectly highlights Jordyn’s isolating home life, saturated reds and deep shadows for some of the violent sequences. It’s the kind of visual storytelling that makes you feel the emotional temperature of each scene without a single word spoken. The camera often lingers on Leech’s face just a beat longer than comfortable, letting you watch the flickers of thought and memory play across her expression. It’s a small but potent touch that deepens the film’s emotional weight.

I also can’t ignore the score, which oscillates between moody, minimalist piano and sudden jarring stabs of synth. It’s not just background noise. It’s a pulse, an extra character in the film, pushing and pulling at the audience’s nerves. There were moments where the sound design alone made me grip my seat, convinced something awful was just out of frame.

By the time the credits rolled, I realized “Meathook” had pulled off something rare: it made me laugh out loud, shiver in dread, and genuinely care about its characters. It did this all without undercutting a single one of those emotions. Jeremy Ashley is not just dabbling in horror; he’s building the foundation for a franchise that could stand shoulder to shoulder with the genre’s greats. If “Meathook” is any indication, we’re witnessing the early chapters of a filmmaker who understands that horror works best when it’s not afraid to be both a mirror and a funhouse.

So yes, I’m calling it now. This movie is going to be one of those cult favorites that people recommend with an almost evangelical fervor. The kind of movie you show a friend with the caveat, “Just trust me,” before watching their jaw drop halfway through. It’s a slasher for people who love slashers, a meta-comedy for people who think they’re too savvy to be scared, and a character study for anyone who’s ever wondered what happens when the scream queen goes home and the silence sets in. This movie isn’t just worth your time, it demands it and if Ashley’s next project is even half as good, I’m ready to line up on opening night, popcorn in hand, heart racing in anticipation of whatever he’s about to throw at us next.

“Meathook” from Terror Films Releasing is now available on streaming services like including Chilling, Scare Network TV, Kings of Horror, Watch Movies Now, Shocks & Docs, TFR’s official AVOD YouTube channel, and many more.

Whether it’s slashers in the woods, ghosts in the attic, or killers in the cornfield, ILHM Reviews brings you the frightful horror flick recommendations worth watching. Follow us on Instagram, be sure to listen to the the "I Love Horror" podcast and remember that if you’re a true fan of horror, every night can be a FRIGHT NIGHT!

Christopher James 8/11/25 Christopher James 8/11/25

Check Out FOUND TV & Their Accursed August Releases

When the sun's blazing heat is upon us and the air is thick with the scent of sunscreen and sweat, found footage horror movies find new ways to make your skin crawl. Simply by turning lakeside retreats, summer camps, and dusty road trips into grainy, scream-soaked nightmares. There’s something deliciously cruel about watching sun-drenched vacation bliss spiral into shaky-cam chaos, where every laugh around the campfire might be your last. Who knew the biggest summer bummer wouldn’t be sunburn, but discovering your getaway was filmed as a snuff documentary? Ready to rewind the tape and see what really happened?

When that itch for shaky cams, eerie whispers, and shadowy figures creeps in, I turn to FOUND TV. This app is the haunted haven for found footage fanatics like myself. It’s my digital séance, summoning new terrors each month while giving some very talented indie horror filmmakers a blood-soaked spotlight. From cursed tapes to abandoned asylum footage, FOUND TV keeps the scares fresh and the screams coming. So, what sinister selections are waiting for us in the shadows this month? Here is what you get to sink your teeth into:

August 4: “The Ghost of Jim Bray” (2025) - A man vlogs his attempts at proving to his wife that their family home is not haunted.

August 8: “The Ouija Experiment” (2011) - Film student Brandon and four friends play with a Ouija board, unwittingly opening a portal to the spirit world and a drowned girl's deadly mystery. Only available in the USA and Canada.

August 12: “Yamidouga 2” (2012) - The second installment of the Yamidouga series. Terrifying, shocking, and taboo footage captured by cameras.

Off Rentals, Streaming on August 15: “Looky-loo” (2025) - An aspiring filmmaker stalks women with his camera. His crimes escalate from voyeurism to murder as he becomes obsessed with a woman named Courtney, making her the star of his deranged film.

August 18: “The Devil’s Forest” (2021) - Rachel and her team of filmmakers travel to Transylvania, Romania, to document the paranormal phenomena within Hoia-Baciu Forest. Only available in the USA and Canada.

August 22: “Perfect Horror” (2016) - An ambitious film director, Mr. Gang, brings his crew to an abandoned factory, which is reputed to be one of the most haunted places in northern China, to shoot a horror film. Only available in the USA, Canada, and the UK.

August 26: “Yamiduga 3” (2012) - The third installment of the Yamidouga series. Terrifying, shocking, and taboo footage captured by cameras.

August 28: “Taped Up Memories” (2023) - The following footage was recovered from a damaged camera found at the side of a main road in the south of England in 2003. The camera was found close to the scene of multiple murders. What you are about to see is this tape in its entirety. The footage has not been edited or altered in any way.