We kick off a new year of horror with a new indie release “Angel Baby” and a look back at the 2000 hidden found footage gem “Blackwood Evil”.
We begin, as always, with a discussion of the latest horror news.
It has been a tumultuous few weeks for Scream VII. After losing its two leads, the movie was rocked with the news that its director had quit. There will still be a future for the popular franchise, but should there be?
American television is a strange thing. Shows either go on for too long or are canceled before their time. It is rare to see a series come to a satisfactory end. But it looks like that is exactly what is going to happen with What We Do In the Shadows.
Then, it’s on to our featured reviews, including our first new horror film of 2024.
When we spoke about the trailer for Angel Baby a few weeks ago, we both agreed it looked like generic fun. Well, we were half right. Filled with familiar tropes, the film is perfect for Escape to the Woods subgenre. It is its attempt to do something different where things fall apart. Filled with interesting ideas but little else, it ends up being a huge disappointment.
You can currently rent Angel Baby on VOD.
As for our second feature, we go back to the turn of the century.
We love found-footage movies. Even the flaws that come with them are easy to forgive. The origins of the genre are murky. While there is no doubt The Blair Witch Project brought it to the mainstream, it certainly was not the first found footage film. What people choose to count as found footage is where the confusion comes in.
One thing there is no debate about is that Blackwood Evil is the first found footage movie to attempt to capitalize on the success of Blair Witch (well, if nothing else, it is one of the first). There is, however, a reason most people have not heard of it. The production is awful; some scenes cannot be seen, while others are impossible to hear. The acting is atrocious, and there is not a hint of anything scary until over an hour has passed.
So, why did we like it so much?
This is definitely a movie you have to grade on a curve. It was released over two decades ago when there was not much of a template to follow. The characters may be the most realistic ever seen in found footage, and the lack of polish actually works to its benefit.
It would not be accurate to say that Blackwood Evil is a good movie, but it is one that should be seen.
Watch it for free on Tubi.
Every week AIPT Movie Editor Nathaniel Muir and his cinema partner in crime Blake Heath discuss indie and genre movies you have have never heard of, the ones you cannot hear enough about, and the ones you never want to hear about again.
Blade Runner is one of the most revered science fiction films of all time. It has spawned video games, books, a sequel, and an upcoming Prime series. People LOVE the movie. We talk about a major casting decision for the show and how the original movie is overrated.
The Strangers is one of the best home invasion movies of all time. Surprisingly, it did not lead to a larger franchise. As a matter of fact, there will be more installments this year than there have been in the previous decade and a half. That includes a potential four and half hour long cut of all three movies that will be coming out this year. Some horror is all about making audiences feel uncomfortable, but that may be a little too much.
Haunted house movies is one of the most popular sub-genres in horror and will will never go away. People love to hear stories about homes with violent pasts. This sub-genre has gone beyond just scaring people as more comedy horror movies may be about haunted houses than any other subject.
For Sale has a lot going for it. Its use of effects proves there is more that the practical vs CGI argument does not always matter. Essentially, it does more with less. It also has two great leads that have tremendous chemistry. There is an overall charm to the entire film.
Regrettably, it does not manage to close the deal. There are some genuinely funny moments and some really creepy ones, but the whole thing never settles on a tone. For Sale also never recovers from a major decision leading into the third act. Things grind to a halt leading to an ending that is more confusing than anything else.
As we head into the home stretch of Bruceploitation Month, we finally get to Dragon Lee. A few shows back, Blake talked about how much he was looking forward to covering the actor. Kung Fu Fever is a revelation and a disappointment. Dragon Lee is even more awesome than either of us could have imagined, but the print is of very poor quality.
Blake also presents a theory that is as zany as any of the films we have covered. It may be too far out there for some listeners to accept, but after watching Kung Fu Fever, some listeners may not think it is so ridiculous. One thing everyone will agree on; this is one of the most tasteless Bruceploitation movies ever made.
Adventures in Movies! is a part of the Morbidly Beautiful Podcast Network. Morbidly Beautiful is your one stop shop for all your horror needs. From the latest news and reviews to interviews and old favorites, it can be found at Morbidly Beautiful.
Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror. You can reach us personally or on Twitter @AdventuresinMo1.
Music in the background from https://www.FesliyanStudios.com
Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror.
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