brettkins Reviews

Killer Party (1986)

A Ridiculous and Entertaining Mess

[7/10 · 23 May 2024]

Pledge pranks, bitchy college girls, MTV decadence, and frat-boy shenanigans ensue as we follow Jennifer, Vivia, and Phoebe auditioning for their spots in a sorority. The set-up is slow and a majority of the film acts like a typical college comedy until a spiritual force is awakened during initiations at the abandoned Pratt house on campus.

It's far from perfect, but I was highly entertained by the likeable cast. The last 15 minutes are bonkers with its Evil Dead inspired shenanigans. The death scenes are heavily edited due to the MPAA and it really holds the film back from being the lean, mean, gory machine needed to gel things together. Still, it's definitely one of the more interesting films in the slasher genre. It attempts to be different and it's shot rather well. You'll probably be surprised that this one slipped your radar and be more enthusiastic about it knowing to expect fun characters, edited deaths, cheesy comedy, and demonic possession in a messy form that doesn't always work.

Ticks (1993)

A Low-Budget Creature Feature With Heart

[7/10 · 6 May 2024]

I must say, Ticks was an enjoyable, gooey, and gross time. The special effects were pretty ambitious for a movie of its caliber. I was not expecting them to be as fun, which is why I had put off watching this film for so long. The cast happened to be pretty likable and I was surprised to see so many familiar faces. I found myself actually rooting for most of them to survive. This is the kind of movie you can laugh at while watching with friends, sharing pizza, and having drinks. It's a B movie bonanza that manages to hold your interest throughout its short runtime.

Pleasantly surprised, overall.

The Beach House (II) (2019)

Above Average Environmental Body Horror

[7/10 · 23 April 2024]

The Beach House's relatively short runtime is filled with a sense of impending doom. It's slow to get started, but once the infection begins the film manages to offer up enough dread to keep you locked in. Well-acted and plenty of eerie atmosphere. Overall, this turned out to be a pleasant surprise. It's far from perfect and suffers from a few cliches and dumb character moments. There is one particular reveal in the last block that disturbed me. I always find the scariest films revolve around body horror and what Mother Nature could have in store for us. I highly recommend watching something a little more upbeat after you finish it. The film has managed to stay on my mind the last few days.

The Exorcist: Believer (2023)

A Whole Lotta Meh

[4/10 · 6 October 2023]

PROS: Strong performances from most of the cast. A solid set up in the first block of the film that makes us empathize with the characters.

CONS: After the set up and possessions, the film flatlines. There seem to be too many ideas floating around that never get handled properly. The creepy factor was null and void. A couple of jump scares are thrown in. Perhaps the film's biggest mistake is having the legacy character, Chris (Ellen Burstyn), wasted here as the studio's cliche cash grab for nostalgic fans. An overall weak script, cringe dialogue, and plenty of corny group exorcism moments to go around. The film really treats its audience like they're stupid. Skip this and watch the original instead.

Jakob's Wife (2021)

A fun little mix of horror, comedy, and romance

[8/10 · 18 May 2021]

Barbara Crampton chews every bit of scenery in this film and takes us on a journey from repressed housewife to liberated vampire vixen. I thoroughly enjoyed the indie vibe, old school special effects, stellar cast, and nods to Salem's Lot. It felt like a labor of love and Barbara Crampton really gave it her all in every frame she was in. Jakob's Wife has a lot of heart and is a great little film that will provide you with laughs, gore, and plenty of Barbara slaying the screen.

Suspiria (I) (2018)

Tedious, Gloomy, and Beautifully Crafted

[9/10 · 9 December 2020]

Suspiria (2018) will not be everyone's cup of tea. I found it to be an unnerving descent into madness, yet beautiful and poetic at the same time. I felt that the director was trying to make this film a love letter to the original film while still carving out his own original path. Admittedly, I do think the film is a tough watch. It's incredibly slow and there are some parts I would have cut down, but this isn't the kind of film you put on to have a good time. I appreciated the director's attention to detail and the incredible score. The last 20 minutes of the film are where things really take a turn and I think those final visuals were absolutely entrancing. If you're in the mood for something on the tedious side, then block out 3 hours of your evening to take in this project.

Tilda Swinton gives a tour-de-force performance, Dakota Johnson carries a naive charm throughout, and Mia Goth really shines through with vulnerability in her character Sara.