Female Film Critics 24/375
Rock, Paper, Scissors is one of the most unsettling films of the year. Magdalena is trapped in her childhood home by her eccentric half-siblings. Control, guilt, emotional abuse; sounds like a normal family dynamic to me. Perhaps, the relationship between Magdalena and her step-siblings Jesus and María José is slightly more volatile.
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With a style that feels like half documentary and half horror, Dementer is a bone-chilling watch. The score and sound editing make your skin crawl. This film is one of the most disturbing watches of the year so far. The mystery of Katie’s past rolls out slowly. It’s a truly disturbing way to tell this story. As a Mom of a child on the spectrum, this film felt extra vile, and I do mean that as a compliment.
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The writing is absurdly amusing. Just when you think a joke has run its course, think again. The quick take editing keeps you completely engaged. There is no denying Hawk and Rev is fun to watch. Fingers crossed this is the beginning of a solid Hawk and Rev franchise.
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Nothing But The Blood dives headfirst into the invasive nature of religious culture. That sheep-like mentality that creates a bigger monster that has a habit of eating its young. It isn’t truly until 53 minutes into this film that the realization hits. This particular story is slimier than most.
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Shadow play, things coming and going, visions, all make for an interesting build-up. Add in the guy who has a paranormal podcast, the clueless boyfriend, the dickhead jock, an ex-boyfriend, the girl just trying to help, and the girl who is literally haunted by the death of her twin brother and you’ve got yourself the makings of typical haunted cabin meets local legend scenario.
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Tingle Monsters is a short film that tackles online abuse in a new and frightening way through the gaze of horror and Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (aka ASMR), the popular YouTube phenomenon. An ASMR artist uses whispers into sensitive microphones or make intense noises by tapping on the microphone to cause a sensation often referred to as ‘tingles,’ a sort of euphoria. Alexandra Serio’ terrifying tale pulls from personal experience that reveal the gross culture of individuals hiding behind a keyboard.
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While grieving for the loss of their mother, the Connolly Sisters suddenly find they have a crime to cover up, leading them deep into the underbelly of their salty Maine fishing village. Blow The Man Down is filled with surprises and its very own version of a Greek chorus in Maine fisherman form.
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After a meteorite lands in the front yard of their farm, Nathan Gardner (Nicolas Cage) and his family find themselves battling a mutant extraterrestrial organism as it infects their minds and bodies, transforming their quiet rural life into a technicolor nightmare.
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As an orphan living with his abusive grandfather (Timothy Bottoms) and always under the watchful eye of the local sheriff, life sucks for Stan (Jay Jay Warren). But he’s got it better than his best friend Dommer (Cody Kostro) whom he regularly defends from the school bullies. Additionally, their best friend Roxy (newcomer Sofia Happonen, Stan’s schoolboy crush, has fallen in with the cool crowd, who constantly harass Stan and Dommer.
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Mary brings sea-faring scares but might be a sinking ship. Genuinely frightening visual moments and a fantastically effective score by The Newton Brothers add to the atmosphere of terror. What I was missing is the clarification between the siren legend and missing children specifically. Sirens tend to temp sailors to their death, while adding in an entirely separate curse aspect into the story feels a bit muddled.
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