BRING HER BACK is a new horror movie from the TALK TO ME filmmakers. It’s a resurrection horror movie that stays with you. It has several extremely visceral moments that reach through the screen and can be felt. Read our Bring Her Back movie review here and find it on digital now!

BRING HER BACK is now available to watch at home, and if you liked Talk to Me, then you cannot miss out on this one. It comes from the same filmmakers, and you can absolutely tell. It’s also Heaven of Horror’s first top rating of 2025.

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Our review of Talk to Me, which we also gave a top rating >>>

I loved Talk to Me in the sense that it stayed with me and terrified me. The same goes for this movie, and possibly (okay, definitely) in even more visceral ways. This is a resurrection movie with a plot not unlike Pet Sematary. Yet entirely its own creature!

Continue reading our Bring Her Back movie review below. Find it out on Digital from July 1, 2025.

From the deepest grief to the most extreme actions

With Bring Her Back, we’re in classic horror movie territory of the very emotional kind. A woman has lost her daughter and wants her back. It would seem she was otherwise a normal and kind woman (a counsellor for foster kids), but she has changed.

A lot!

Unfortunately, no one has noticed this, so it’s up to a brother, Andy (Billy Barratt), and sister, Piper (Sora Wong), duo to discover this. He is almost 18 years old and plans to become a guardian for his sister, if he is allowed, so it’s just meant to be a short stay with the foster mom (Sally Hawkins).

However short, it won’t take long for them to uncover that something strange is going on. Particularly with the foster mother’s nephew, Ollie (Jonah Wren Phillips), who is a selective mute. If only being mute were his main issue.

Instead, he’s being used in a ritual meant to bring her back. Her being the daughter of the foster mom. It’s the heartbreaking Pet Sematary notion that you can somehow bring someone back from the dead.

Not unlike the movie The Surrender on Shudder, which I also highly recommend, but this is much more terrifying!

I’m grossly oversimplifying the story of Bring Her Back, but that’s because it’s for you to experience and not me to tell you.

Perfect horror movie for Talk to Me fans

I loved Talk to Me in the sense that it stayed with me and terrified me.

The same goes for Bring Her Back which offers an even more heartbreaking story. If you’ve watched Talk to Me, you’ll know this says a lot. However, while you can see and feel that this comes from the same filmmakers, it’s very much its own thing.

Also, it works the other way around, so if you did not like Talk to Me, then we have wildly different horror movie tastes. And, if it isn’t already obvious, you shouldn’t expect to like this one. Simple as that!

If you’re not into character-driven slow-burn horror stories, then the odds of this horror movie being your jam are slim to none. The same goes if you just cannot stomach the visually terrifying horror moments with true visceral impact, especially of the dental variety.

I can’t write anything about this movie without running my tongue over my teeth in a somewhat obsessive way. Oh yeah, Bring Her Back stays with you… And your teeth!

Watch Bring Her Back on Digital now!

As already mentioned, this is the new horror movie from filmmakers behind Talk to Me. The directors are twins Michael Philippou and Danny Philippou, while the screenplay comes from Bill Hinzman and Danny Philippou.

It’s exactly the same filmmaker (directors and writers) constellation as for Talk to Me and the upcoming and highly anticipated sequel Talk 2 Me.

I don’t know that I can say much more about this horror movie except WATCH IT. And if this isn’t your kind of horror movie, then fair enough, but please don’t hate on it or claim that it isn’t good or isn’t horror.

This is textbook horror (fact) and one of the strongest, most heartbreaking horror movies I’ve watched in a long time (opinion). Bring Her Back is the kind of movie that lingers in your mind (and mouth, I’d say) for quite some time. And I applaud that!

BRING HER BACK is out on Digital from July 1, 2025. It’s also coming to Blu-ray & 4K in August 2025.

Details

Directors: Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou
Writers: Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman
Cast: Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, Jonah Wren Phillips, Sally-Anne Upton, Stephen Phillips, Mischa Heywood, and Sally Hawkins

Plot

A brother and sister uncover a terrifying ritual at the secluded home of their new foster mother.

📺 Watch trailer

BARRON’S COVE is a new crime thriller with a brutal story as it involves the death of a child and the need for revenge. This may sound very simple, but there are many layers to the character-driven story. Read our full Barron’s Cove movie review here!

BARRON’S COVE is a crime thriller about a man who wants justice (or revenge, really) for his dead son. This could be a movie that played out like many action thrillers before it. A brooding man, whom everyone roots for against the evil forces in the world.

However, with this movie, there are nuances. The dead child was innocent, as are many other people in the world presented here. And yet, it’s also a world full of violence. Often at the hands of our main protagonist. It’s a world of gray that he now sees as black or white.

Continue reading our Barron’s Cove movie review below. Find it in Theaters and on Digital from June 6, 2025.

A tragedy turns into violent grief

In Barron’s Cove, we meet Caleb Faulkner (Garret Hedlund) on the day when his son is tragically killed. It looks like an accident, but Caleb is consumed by grief and wants justice. Understandably, as it seems there’s more to the accidental death of his son.

One that involves another child, Ethan (Christian Convery). However, this child is the son of an important politician, so the system (in a far too familiar way) fails to hold the child accountable.

This is not something Caleb can accept. At the very least, he needs to know what happened. His method means abducting the boy. It’s an act of desperation that results in a frantic manhunt.

Of course, the character-driven story will reveal deeper layers of both the story and the characters. Nothing is as simple as it looks. Least of all, the fact that Caleb failed to pick up his son on the day when he died, so there’s an element of guilt there as well.

Such a brilliant cast

Having Garrett Hedlund in the lead role as the angry, grieving father is as brilliant a casting as getting Christian Convery as Ethan, the kid who is somehow responsible. From both Sweet Tooth and The Monkey, we know Christian Convery can be eerily nuanced!

Also in the cast is Brittany Snow (The Night Agent) in a fairly small role. Or rather, it’s a meaty role as the mother of the dead boy, but she doesn’t get much screen time. Still, she is memorable!

In other key roles are Tramell Tillman (Severance), Raúl Castillo (Smile 2), Stephen Lang (Don’t Breathe 1 and 2), Marc Menchaca (Companion, The Creator), and Hamish Linklater (Midnight Mass).

Most of these roles don’t have that much screentime, but they are all memorable in their portrayals. And every one of them is important to the story. Quite impressive, actually.

Watch Barron’s Cove In Theaters or On Digital

Evan Ari Kelman is the writer and director of Barron’s Cove, which serves as his feature film debut. However, he isn’t a newcomer as he has already won awards for several of his short films.

This is a very impressive feature debut for Evan Ari Kelman, which means I’m looking forward to whatever he does next. Hopefully, he can live up to the standard he has set for himself with this one. Probably even surpass it with slightly tighter pacing.

Barron’s Cove is a mystery, thriller, crime, and drama. It will pull on your heartstrings as well as your ideas of justice and revenge. The casting of this movie is absolutely stellar, but the story itself is also worthy of your time. Even without the wonderful cast.

It does run a bit too long, which is the reason we’re not on 4 out of 5, but it was very close!

Barron’s Cove is In Theaters and on Digital on June 6, 2025.

Details

Director: Evan Ari Kelman
Script: Evan Ari Kelman
Cast: Garrett Hedlund, Hamish Linklater, Brittany Snow, Christian Convery, Tramell Tillman, Raúl Castillo, Stephen Lang

Plot

When Caleb Faulkner’s son is killed in a tragic accident, grief consumes him. But when the system fails to hold the responsible child accountable, Caleb takes matters into his own hands—abducting the boy and vanishing into the wilderness. His desperate act ignites a frantic manhunt, led by a power-hungry politician eager to twist the tragedy for personal gain. As tensions rise, Caleb must decide whether vengeance will truly bring him peace.

KAMPON on Netflix is a new Philippine horror movie with a creepy child plot and some sort of demonic force. It’s quite slow for a long time but intersects with eerie and scary moments. Read our full Kampon movie review here!

KAMPON is a new Netflix horror movie addition. This one has a runtime of just 1 hour and 31 minutes and is from the Philippines. If you’ve watched anything Phillippine, you’ll know that their speaking language is chockful of English and Spanish words.

For this horror movie, the plot unravels very slowly. And I do mean very slowly. Fortunately, we do get horror moments here and there from the beginning, but it also has a story that takes its sweet time getting there.

Continue reading our Kampon movie review below. Find it on Netflix in many countries from April 18, 2024. In the US it will be released on July 1, 2024.

A child shows up at night

As in many good horror movies, Kampon does open with a bang. A brutal scene where a woman dies and then appears to be resurrected. Well, sort of. She certainly isn’t what you would describe as dead any longer.

Then there’s a jump to a completely different place and time, where we meet the childless couple named Clark and Eileen. One rainy night, after 8 years of marriage and struggling to become parents, a little girl comes knocking on their door.

The little girl claims that she is Clark’s child and that her mother sent her to him.

Kampon, Eileen

While this is a very unexpected situation, it’s also a strangely welcomed one for Clark’s wife. She accepts the child into their home and can finally be a mother. Even if it’s only as a temporary foster situation until a paternity test can reveal if Clark is actually her father.

Clark, on the other hand, is not crazy about the situation. To be fair, he does also tend to get more of the creepy child situations. And as cute and sweet as the little girl Jade is, she can also say the strangest things. And do quite a lot of weird things.

Admittedly, I couldn’t help but giggle at the title of Kampon combined with how Eileen seems to accept strange events to continue being a mother. I found myself hearing the hit song “Come on, Eileen” and then it became “Kampon, Eileen”.

The ending of Kampon on Netflix

The Kampon ending isn’t a simple one. While Eileen’s relationship with the child, Jade, is odd and eerie, the ending is even more so. It will probably leave many viewers scratching their heads.

As a hint for the ending of Kampon, I can say that you need to pay attention to the constant flashbacks Clark has from his time as a police officer. Before he retired, he had a very odd experience with a human that did not seem human at all.

Not long thereafter, he met Jade’s mom and had a one-night stand. These two things are very much connected and that’s all I’ll say to avoid any further Kampon spoilers.

Watch Kampon on Netflix!

Kampon was directed by King Palisoc who also wrote the screenplay with Dodo Dayao. I can’t help but feel this movie had the potential to be better, but it would’ve required both some rewriting and tighter editing. The good story is there, but just not told in the best way. For me, anyway.

I was not crazy about this horror movie, but I do enjoy the whole creepy child vibe. Also, there are some scary moments and a very eerie vibe throughout. It’s too slow for me, and there’s too much wasted time on things that aren’t important for the horror plot.

Also, while the production is gorgeous, there are a few CGI moments that I could’ve done without. I will, however, say that the young Erin Espirity was amazing as little Jade. Also, Derek Ramsey and Beauty Gonzalez were very believable as Clark and Eileen respectively.

Kampon is on Netflix in some countries from April 18, 2024. In the US it will be out on July 1, 2024.

Details

Director: King Palisoc
Writers: King Palisoc, Dodo Dayao
Stars: Derek Ramsay, Beauty Gonzalez, Zeinab Harake, Erin Espiritu, Nico Antonio, Nor Domingo, Lui Manansala, Cai Cortez, Eunice Lagusad, Nour Hooshmand

Plot

Strange events plague an ex-cop after he takes in a girl who insists that she’s his daughter. Now he sets out to learn who she is and what she’s after.

ABIGAIL is a new vampire horror movie that packs a real punch. Sure, it’s a bit predictable, but also wildly entertaining. The characters are almost horror-comedy stereotypical, yet it suits the simple plot. Read our Abigail movie review here!

ABIGAIL is a new horror movie out in theaters, and you are in for one wild vampire horror flick. I think we all know vampire movies tend to be “hit or miss” experiences. However, I think most people will be entertained by this movie.

Well, if you surrender to the premise. After all, vampire stories aren’t meant to be too serious or compared to any real-life possibilities. Just think of the wonderful Renfield (2023), which came out in theaters last year.

With vampires, there is almost a built-in kitsch factor perfect for a genre hybrid. A horror heart, but with thriller, action, mystery, drama, and even comedy here and there. In this film, there is a bit of everything, but mostly horror, dark humor, and wild (bloody) action.

Continue reading our Abigail movie review below. Find it in theaters from April 19, 2024.

Children can be such monsters!

Although it is not revealed from the very beginning, we as the audience know very well that the title character is a vampire. It’s both the plot itself and a big part of any trailer. Even the subtitle for Abigail is “Children can be such monsters”.

And in Abigail’s case, this is very literal.

We meet a group of criminals who don’t know each other but are hired by someone they all trust. So far, so good. They “just” have to kidnap and then babysit a 12-year-old girl. Just a short 24-hour stint and then they can share a whopping $50 million ransom.

But, as is so often the case, something that sounds too good to be true is rarely without severe challenges. The little girl they hold captive ends up having the wildest party with her kidnappers. Can the kidnappers stick together and fight back? Or will they just be “picked off and drained” one by one?

Great cast full of familiar faces

First of all, I have to say that young Alisha Weir is absolutely phenomenal as Abigail. She is by no means a normal little girl. Especially not when we’re talking age, so there are some actions and lines from the little girl that make one either smile and giggle or “clutching one’s pearls” in surprise.

It is crucial to the film’s premise that the title character works, and it certainly does via Alisha Weir.

She previously played the title role in the 2022 film Matilda: The Musical and she actually made her feature film debut in the horror film Don’t Leave Home in 2018. She could very well be a future “Final Girl”, that we get to see in horror films already.

And speaking of the final girl character, the main lead role (besides the title role) is played by Melissa Barrera from the new Scream movies. I think Melissa Barrera has been wonderful in everything she has done. So even though there isn’t terribly much to work with here, she plays the character with the most depth and background.

In addition, the newer Scream Queen Kathryn Newton from the horror comedies Freaky and most recently Lisa Frankenstein also stars. She has previously starred in non-comedy horror films such as Paranormal Activity 4 (2012).

The rest of the cast, which is not overwhelmingly large since we are mostly in the same big house, also consists of familiar faces. We get Dan Stevens (Apostle) and Kevin Durand (Swamp Thing, The Strain) in the lead, while also William Catlett (Constellation, Lovecraft Country) and Angus Cloud (Euphoria) play the kidnappers.

Last, but not least, we also see Giancarlo Esposito (The Gentlemen and the upcoming MaXXXine) and Matthew Goode (Silent Night, Stoker) in minor key roles that will not be spoiled here.

Watch Abigail in theaters!

Abigail is directed by Radio Silence, which means the directing duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. They were also behind horror films such as Ready or Not (2019), Scream (2022), and most recently Scream VI (2023).

Clearly, they are a couple of directors who love the genre and want to focus on solid entertainment and wild sequences!

The screenplay is written by Stephen Shields (The Hole in the Ground, Hunted) and Guy Busick (the Scream franchise, Castle Rock season 2 and Ready or Not). Guy Busick is also one of the writers behind the upcoming Final Destination: Bloodlines, which revives that franchise – just like he did with Scream – and is expected to come out in 2025.

With all these familiar horror folks both in front of and behind the camera, one can only imagine they had a party making Abigail. And it has also become an entertaining, wildly bloody, and violent vampire film.

Is there anything new or crazy surprising? No, not really.

But is it even a requirement for fun entertainment? Not at all.

Watch it and enjoy the craziness. There are some wild scenes along the way. Not least when we have to find out which vampire rules apply in this movie. Our characters are, of course, familiar with everything from Buffy to Twilight, but that “knowledge” is only theory until they test it in practice.

On a more serious note, this was one of the last films for the actor Angus Cloud, and therefore the movie also ends with a dedication to him.

Abigail is out in US theaters on April 19, 2024.

Details

Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Writers: Stephen Shields, Guy Busick
Cast: Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Alisha Weir, Kathryn Newton, William Catlett, Kevin Durand, Angus Cloud and Giancarlo Esposito

Plot

After a group of would-be criminals kidnap the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, all they have to do to collect a $50 million ransom is watch the girl overnight. In an isolated mansion, the captors start to dwindle, one by one, and they discover, to their mounting horror, that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl.

THE SEEDING is a new horror thriller that takes place in the desert. Well, at the bottom of a canyon mostly. It’s a slow-burn movie that gets very dark and sinister. Read our full The Seeding movie review here!

THE SEEDING is a new genre-hybrid that might feel a bit out of this world, but there is nothing supernatural about it. Instead, it’s a very dark horror thriller that ends up evolving in extremely sinister ways.

The story is slow-burn but it goes places that are sure to keep your attention. With a very small cast and a story that plays out almost entirely at the bottom of a canyon, it’s a claustrophobic experience. The runtime is 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Continue reading our The Seeding movie review below. Find it in theaters and on VOD from January 26, 2024.

The Canyon has Eyes

In The Seeding, we meet Wyndham Stone. A man who is out in the desert to get some great photographs of an eclipse. As he hikes back to his car, he meets a young boy, who seems to be lost.

In his effort to help the boy, the man gets completely turned around and ends up being lost in the desert. Suddenly, he discovers a woman living in a house at the bottom of a canyon.

He takes refuge with this woman, Alina, who is living alone, but welcomes the company and offers him food, water, and shelter. Unfortunately for the man, he wakes up to discover that getting out of the canyon is a more difficult matter.

Also, the woman may not exactly be there willingly. Though we’re not quite in the same universe, it did make me think of The Hills Have Eyes. Only set in a canyon, so I guess it’s more of a “The Canyon Has Eyes”-deal.

The two leads of The Seeding

As the man, Wyndham, we see Scott Haze (Antlers, What Josiah Saw) who delivers a very strong portrayal as a man who isn’t very likable. If things aren’t going his way, he finds it impossible to understand that he isn’t in control.

The woman, Alina, is portrayed by Kate Lyn Sheil (Swarm). She won Best Actress at the Sitges Film Festival, which was great for her. I think she was more fascinating in She Dies Tomorrow and not as interesting in this.

But hey, that’s just my opinion. And I still liked her performance in The Seeding!

Simple but so very dark

While The Seeding is essentially a very simple story, it is so dark and sinister in ways that I could not shake. Against my expectations, it turned out to be the kind of movie that has stayed with me longer than I expected. That’s always a compliment.

It means it struck a nerve and somehow kept applying pressure even after the end credits. I have to address this as it usually means more than what you might feel or experience while watching the actual film.

We follow one man from the beginning until the end, but at the same time, it’s just a slice of life for the other characters. They had a whole world without him and will continue to have a new kind of world after him.

Watch The Seeding on VOD or in theaters

Barnaby Clay is the writer and director of The Seeding. He previously directed a lot of music videos over the past two decades and that really does tend to be a great way to start.

This is his feature film debut and I’m actually excited to see what he does next. As this is his feature film debut, it also goes without saying that Barnaby Clay (a cool name, by the way) is a relatively new filmmaker.

However, with his music video experience and a great eye for both character and world-building, he has what it takes. That all-important filmmaker/storyteller talent that a movie like The Kitchen desperately lacked!

The Seeding is in US theaters and on VOD from January 26, 2024. In the UK & Ireland, the digital release date is February 12.

Details

Director: Barnaby Clay
Writer: Barnaby Clay
Cast: Scott Haze, Kate Lyn Sheil, Alex Montaldo, Charlie Avink, Thatcher Jacobs, Michael Monsour

Plot

In THE SEEDING, a hiker lost in the desert takes refuge with a woman living alone, and soon discovers that she might not be there willingly.

RUN RABBIT RUN on Netflix is a new horror movie from Australia. It’s a brutal psychological horror mystery. Sarah Snook is amazing, but equally breathtaking is the young Lily LaTorre. It’s a slow burn but never boring. Read our full Run Rabbit Run movie review here!

RUN RABBIT RUN is a new Netflix horror movie from Australia. This one is bound to leave a deep impact on many viewers. If you have kids around the age of seven, you may want to skip this. Kids say the strangest things, and in this psychological horror movie, it gets pretty intense.

The movie stars Sarah Snook as the mother and the young talent, Lily LaTorre, as her daughter. This girl is absolutely mind-blowing and can be both sweet, sassy, and downright terrifying within the same scene. With a psychological mystery at the heart of this story, it is a bit of a slow burn. However, it does result in a roaring fire before the diabolic ending.

Continue reading our Run Rabbit Run movie review below. Find it on Netflix from June 28, 2023.

A brutal psychological horror mystery

Sarah (Sarah Snook) is a fertility doctor and a single mom of her daughter. Dad is still in the picture as is a stepmom, so she’s not entirely alone with her daughter Mia (Lily LaTorre). And yet, the recent loss of her beloved father has stirred something in her.

This life-altering event – losing her father and dealing with being a single mom on a daily basis – is then combined with an increasingly strange behavior from her young daughter. The seven-year-old Mia insists that she misses her grandma Joan and wants desperately to see her.

However, the two have never met, and Sarah is very estranged from her mother.

This is just one of the stranger things Mia starts talking about. She also insists on wearing a bunny mask, which isn’t nearly as cute as it may sound. Also, Sarah has a lot of ghosts in her own past which seem to be impacting her daughter in strange ways.

The answer clearly seems to be that Sarah must confront her own childhood trauma, but she isn’t quite ready. At first, anyway, but one can be forced into facing the past.

Sarah Snook and Lily LaTorre are mesmerizing

As already mentioned, Run Rabbit Run stars Sarah Snook (Succession, Black Mirror episode “Men Against Fire”) and Lily LaTorre (Hulu’s The Clearing) as mother and daughter respectively. Most of the movie is focused on these two characters and the actors are absolutely mesmerizing in their roles.

MORE WITH SARAH SNOOK

Be sure to check out Winchester co-starring Helen Mirren >

As Mia’s father, we see Damon Herriman (Mindhunter, The Tourist) with Greta Scacchi (The Terror) as the mother of Sarah. Neither of these two amazing actors is in many scenes, but they are still very important to the story. Especially Greta Scacchi manages to deliver a few truly heartbreaking scenes.

In quite different ways, I might add.

The ending of Run Rabbit Run on Netflix

Whatever you might think the ending of Run Rabbit Run will be, when you watch it on Netflix, it still hits hard.

As this horror movie features a mystery and lots of psychological horror elements, there are clues throughout the story. That means the Run Rabbit Run ending will sneak up on you and you’ll probably realize a few answers to the mystery just as they play out on screen.

When the end credits come, you might want to scream at your screen to let you keep watching. Mostly because, yes, it is a somewhat open ending. You will get answers, but Run Rabbit Run definitely also ends on a cliffhanger of a sort. Or a very definite ending, if you feel like the outcome is a given.

Watch Run Rabbit Run on Netflix now!

Directed by Daina Reid (Shining Girls, The Handmaid’s Tale, Helstrom) this is a powerful Australian horror movie that also shows the nature of Australia in amazing shots. When considering the many amazing TV series Daina Reid has worked on, it’s obvious that this is a director who knows how to show complicated and nuanced female characters.

Run Rabbit Run was written by Hannah Kent, who is the author of the novel “Burial Rites”. That novel is currently being adapted into a feature film starring Jennifer Lawrence and directed by Luca Guadagnino (Bones and All). In other words, we should probably expect to see more from Hannah Kent in the future as she is just getting started.

Netflix bought the rights for Run Rabbit Run just before it premiered at Sundance, but it isn’t a complete global release as some countries will have it out of VOD instead. The US, UK, and Australia (along with most other countries) will be able to watch it on Netflix.

Run Rabbit Run is out on Netflix in most countries worldwide (though not all) from June 28, 2023.

Details

Director: Daina Reid
Writer: Hannah Kent
Cast: Sarah Snook, Lily LaTorre, Damon Herriman, Greta Scacchi

Plot

A fertility doctor has her values challenged and must confront a ghost from her past when she notices strange behavior from her young daughter.

TIN & TINA on Netflix is a new Spanish horror movie. The story features twin children that interpret the Bible verbatim. This obviously causes quite a few problems for everyone. Read our full Tin & Tina movie review here!

TIN & TINA is a new horror movie on Netflix. It is a Spanish production and we do tend to enjoy those here at Heaven of Horror. In this particular story, the title characters are young twins who take the Bible literally after they’ve been raised in a convent.

The movie is based on the director’s own award-winning short movie from 2013. In other words, much like husband and wife duo, David F. Sandberg and Lotta Losten, who had their short film Lights Out go viral and then they made it into a feature film.

WANT TO WATCH THE SHORT FILM?

Click here to find it at the bottom of this review >

Continue reading our Tin & Tina horror movie review below. Find the feature film on Netflix from May 26, 2023.

When taking the Bible verbatim

In Tin & Tina, we meet Lola and her husband Adolfo on their wedding day. It’s all lovey-dovey until Lola bleeds through her crisp white wedding dress. She has a miscarriage and is told she’ll never be able to have children due to complications.

Adolfo suggests they visit the nearby convent where there are always children looking for loving parents. Lola (Milena Smit) isn’t as hooked on the idea, but once there, she feels drawn to some music. The music is being played by twin brother and sister, Tin & Tina, and when they run to Lola, it’s all over.

Now it’s Adolfo (Élite‘s Jaime Lorente) who isn’t crazy about the idea. The kids are pale white and have equally white hair (they clearly have albinism). Also, they’re nowhere near being the infant twins the couple lost within the past year. In other words, they’re too old.

However, Lola has made up her mind, so it’s a done deal. On the car ride home, it becomes apparent that the kids are very religious. They have lived a very strict and secluded life, so everyone needs to adjust to this new situation.

The main issues come because the twins interpret the Bible verbatim. This obviously causes quite a few problems for everyone. Also, they are still kids, so they don’t understand the consequences of their actions.

In other words, the boy and girl aren’t just “Damian doubled”. In fact, they’re more confused and brainwashed by their ultra-catholic education than anything else.

A few surprises along the way

I have to admit that I wasn’t too happy with this Spanish horror movie overall. Maybe my expectations were just too great. However, having a runtime of around two hours also requires quite a lot.

For Tin & Tina, there’s a huge problem with the characters. They are quite irritating in various ways and so it’s difficult to really like any of them.

On the very positive side, I do want to highlight that even though Netflix has [appropriately] labeled this movie with “animal harm”, it isn’t as bad as I feared.

Yes, there is animal harm – and yes, the dog does die in Tin & Tina (we only do spoilers about whether animals die here at Heaven of Horror) – but we don’t see it directly. Also, there’s no whimpering or direct torture involved.

This is actually just one of the surprises in this Spanish horror movie on Netflix. As a rule, this movie doesn’t make it too easy for the audience.

Watch Tin & Tina on Netflix now!

The writer and director of Tin & Tina on Netflix is Ruben Stein. As mentioned earlier, he also wrote and directed the short film of the same name in 2013. Here, 10 years later, a feature film version is getting a wide release.

I really wanted to like this movie, but I can’t say I enjoyed it much. For me, the characters kept doing things that irritated me or that felt forced. Also, that runtime of two hours is just too much to keep it strong all the way through.

I did like that it wasn’t just a classic “evil kids” story but rather a “creepy kids” that may just be misunderstood. But also, who are extremely dangerous. Even though I wasn’t too thrilled with the move watching experience this horror story had to offer, I’m sure it’ll draw in plenty of viewers.

Give it a shot and see what you think. Maybe it’ll hit differently for you.

Tin & Tina is on Netflix from May 26, 2023.

Details

Director: Rubin Stein
Writer: Rubin Stein
Stars: Milena Smit, Jaime Lorente, Carlos González Morollón, Anastasia Russo

Plot

After a traumatic miscarriage, a young couple adopts two peculiar twins from a convent whose obsession with religion soon disturbs the family.

BAYI AJAIB on Netflix is a new horror movie from Indonesia. It has a certain style and vibe that people will either love or loathe. Sort of like an Indonesian take on Sam Raimi movies. However, it can also feel like a spoof. Read our full Bayi Ajaib movie review here!

BAYI AJAIB on Netflix is a new horror movie from Indonesia. It’s actually a remake of the 1982 movie of the same name. Translated, the title would be “Magical Baby” which makes perfect sense when it comes to the actual story.

Overall, this movie can feel very theatrical. Sort of like a horror adventure as the time period feels undefined and yet familiar. Also, there are touches of both religion and superstition, which is typical for folklore and fairytales. The runtime is just over an hour and a half, which works to its advantage.

Continue reading our Bayi Ajaib movie review below. Find it on Netflix from May 19, 2023.

An Indonesian Sam Raimi vibe

I couldn’t help but think of Evil Dead and other Sam Raimi stories as I watched Bayi Ajaib. Mostly due to the use of practical effects, demonic beings, and over-the-top characters. Both heroes and villains are skewed just a bit more toward good or evil.

Also, there is quite a lot of cackling. When someone evil laughs, it really could only be described as cackling.

I found myself both enjoying this and feeling that it was a bit too much. Maybe that’s why I’m left with the notion that people will probably enjoy this and take it all in, or they this will be lost on them.

Personally, I was a little bit of both. I loved the cackling villains and the “old baby” as this reminded me of the wacky Sam Raimi vibe that I love.

Also, it does take a swerve into The Exorcist lane, when religion is used to help the family battle a demon. Only, as this is in Indonesia, the Quaran is used rather than the Bible. That’s the only difference really.

Having recently watched The Pope’s Exorcist, this was particularly fresh in my mind.

Watch Bayi Ajaib on Netflix now!

The director of Bayi Ajaib is Rako Prijanto and the screenplay comes from writer Alim Sudio. I don’t believe I’m familiar with any of their previous projects, but the quality of this one is commendable. If you like the style, that is. Then again, isn’t that always the case?

WANT MORE INDONESIAN HORROR?

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Even though I feel quite confident that this Indonesian horror movie will be a hit or miss for most, the production quality is impressive and the style is well-defined. In other words, do check it out for yourself to discover if this is right up your horror alley. Or not.

Bayi Ajaib is on Netflix from May 19, 2023.

Details

Director: Rako Prijanto
Writer: Alim Sudio
Stars: Vino G. Bastian, Adipati Dolken, Sara Fajira, Desy Ratnasari, Teuku Rifnu Wikana, Rayhan Cornelis Vandennoort, Anantya Rezky Kirana, Willem Bevers

Plot

A newly rich and recently married man’s comfortable life threatens to crumble when his infant child is possessed by an unholy spirit with a grudge.

CHILDREN OF THE CORN is a new horror movie. It was made in 2020, but has been waiting on a release, which is coming here in 2023. First in movie theaters and weeks later on Digital. It’s still based on the Stephen King short story. Read our Children of the Corn 2023 movie review here!

CHILDREN OF THE CORN is yet another take on the Stephen King short story from 1977. First, it was released in Penthouse (yes, the so-called “men’s magazine”) in 1977 and then in a collection of short stories in 1978. However, this horror movie was made in 2020 and has been waiting to be released. In recent years, financial issues have played a part, but not in this case.

In this case, however, I think there’s another reason this new Children of the Corn has been on the shelf since 2020. Just getting released now in the earliest days of spring 2023. This movie is extremely choppy, largely incoherent, and just an overall irrelevant take on the Stephen King story.

Continue reading our Children of the Corn movie review below. You can find it in Theaters on March 3, 2023, and On Demand and Digital on March 21, 2023.

Did we need another Children of the Corn movie?

Whenever we see yet another remake of a familiar story (often one that comes from Stephen King), we quickly wonder; Do we need another take on this? Well, sometimes we absolutely do. The latest IT is a much stronger adaption than the made-for-TV production that was rushed out to build on the original book release.

The same can be said for the 2020 series adaption of The Stand. However, a first-time adaption like the Carrie (1976) movie has yet to be beaten. Some might have come closer than others, but the original is still brilliant and, well, better! And the 2019 Pet Sematary didn’t do much to improve on the original either.

And yet, I felt like a new and fresh take on the Children of the Corn story was – in theory – a very welcomed addition to the movies based on Stephen King stories. I mean, even the first attempt at an adaption from 1984 (starring Linda Hamilton and Peter Horton) only has an IMDb rating of 5.6. In other words, it could be improved upon.

And yet, it really hasn’t been. I’d watch the original again instead. Well, okay, maybe with the exception of Kate Moyer, who does a brilliant job of being a murderous child in this 2023 release.

Kate Moyer is amazing!

While I’m not crazy about this latest take on the Children of the Corn plot, it’s through no fault of the actors. Due to the nature of this story, much of the main cast is obviously made up of young actors.

For me, Kate Moyer is the absolute star of the movie. Both for the obvious reason of her playing a key character, but also because I just loved seeing her on screen. I can think of several other horror movies they could remake with her in a leading role. She’s creepy and scary, but – even more importantly – she also comes across as fierce.

You’ll want a character portrayed by Kate Moyer on your side in any horror movie. And you really don’t want to get on her bad side. You may recognize Kate Moyer from the horror movie Our House (2018) or the HBO mini-series Station Eleven (2021-2022). Hopefully, we’ll see her in plenty more genre productions.

Focusing on other characters

Unfortunately, the character played by Kate Moyer wasn’t really as much in focus as she could (and should?) have been. Instead of focusing on this villain-with-a-purpose character, the focus is on the teens siding with the adults and fighting against the children.

Mainly through the character portrayed by Elena Kampouris (Jupiter’s Legacy). She does what she can with the script, but the story is just chopped and weak in so many ways. Also, while it may be a minor thing, the hairstyle chosen for the character played by Elena Kampouris is just strange. She’s supposed to be a 17-year-old girl living in a very rural small town.

Finally, we also have Callan Mulvey (Till Death, The Gray Man) and Bruce Spence (The Dry, Love and Monsters) playing key characters. Two strong actors who play important characters but are being used in scenes that are overly dramatic. For the most part anyway. There are some golden horror moments featuring these two as well – especially Bruce Spence!

Watch Children of the Corn in theaters – or On Demand soon!

Kurt Wimmer is the writer and director of Children of the Corn. Obviously, the movie is still based on the Stephen King short story, but “inspired by” might have been more appropriate. It takes place in our present day and a lot has been changed for Stephen King’s original story.

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This 2023 release has a very abrupt beginning and just jumps around from one “big scene” to the next. Building characters or letting us get close to anyone is impossible. There is plenty of juicy stuff at the core of this story, but it’s only hinted at. Also, the CGI alien-like creature that lives in the corn is anything but scary. Which is a shame!

RLJE Films is releasing this latest Children of the Corn movie, and if you’re a fan of the original story (or movie franchise), then surely you need to watch this as well. The same goes for all the movies in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise, though that has often let us down as well. But hey, you’ve been warned of its issues now, so maybe you can enjoy it more.

CHILDREN OF THE CORN is in Theaters on March 3, 2023, and On Demand and Digital on March 21, 2023.

Details

Director: Kurt Wimmer
Writer: Kurt Wimmer
Cast: Elena Kampouris, Kate Moyer, Callan Mulvey, Bruce Spence

Plot

Possessed by a spirit in a dying cornfield, a twelve-year-old girl in Nebraska recruits the other children in her small town to go on a bloody rampage and kill all the adults and anyone else who opposes her. A bright high schooler who won’t go along with the plan is the town’s only hope of survival.

THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CHILDREN is a new horror movie out on VOD now. As indicated by the title, you’ll get plenty of creepy kids moments. It works brilliantly, so be sure to check it out. Read our full There’s Something Wrong with the Children movie review here!

THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CHILDREN is a horror mystery featuring some very creepy kids. And yes, it does work remarkably well. Both due to the adult actors and the young ones. Also, the story works really well with wonderful nuances and social commentary.

LOVE STORIES WITH CREEPY KIDS?

Be sure to check out our “creepy kids” tag here >

It’s absolutely worth checking out and with a runtime of around 90 minutes, it even has a strong and solid pace. Plus, it’s from producer Jason Blum which should please many horror fans.

Continue reading our There’s Something Wrong with the Children movie review below. Find it On Demand from January 17, 2023.

So deliciously creepy

The story takes place when Margaret (Alisha Wainwright) and Ben (Zach Gilford) take a weekend trip with longtime friends Ellie (Amanda Crew) and Thomas (Carlos Santos). The latter couple has two young children (Briella Guiza and David Mattle) and all four adults enjoy having kids along.

However, after a particularly strange experience during a hike, Ben begins to suspect that there’s something wrong with the children. He goes straight to believing it’s a supernatural thing, which you can absolutely understand as we see what he sees.

There’s just the issue of his past mental issues that come into play. Nobody believes Ben and, frankly, we as viewers can’t be sure what to believe at first either. Don’t worry though, you’ll know what’s going on before the movie is over.

I also loved that the very basic decision to have kids (or not!) is a core subject. As is how you decide to be with your kids when you have made the decision to have them. Don’t worry, these latter social commentary elements don’t take away from anything creepy. It’s just a detail that you will probably be able to relate to – both if you’re someone who has kids or who has opted out of this.

The cast makes it all come together

With a story this simple – and yet with supernatural elements – the actors have to really sell the story. You need to be able to stay in this weird little universe and not be distracted by any performances that feel off.

Fortunately, There’s Something Wrong with the Children has a stellar cast for this purpose.

Alisha Wainwright (Raising Dion) and Zach Gilford (The Midnight Club) work really well as the adventurous couple Margaret and Ben. They’re trying to live their best life while also having some personal issues to keep in check. Meanwhile, their friends Ellie and Thomas are equally believably portrayed by Amanda Crew (Freaks) and Carlos Santos (Ghost Team One).

The latter couple is working through some marital hick-ups and needs to reconnect. All the adult relationships (romantic as well as friendships) are very natural thanks to the chemistry between all four adult actors.

And then we have the kids. Those deliciously creepy kids, who are just very normal children at first. Briella Guiza (Ambulance) plays the big sister Lucy with David Mattle (Life & Beth) as Spencer. The shift from normal and rather charming kids to dangerously creepy is elegant and efficient in that delicious horror way we love.

Watch There’s Something Wrong with the Children now!

The director of There’s Something Wrong with the Children is Roxanne Benjamin. You’ll probably have come across her work before as she’s directed various horror anthologies. These include Southbound (her debut in 2015), XX (2017), and two episodes of Creepshow (2019).

The feature film debut of Roxanne Benjamin (as writer and director) came with the 2019 genre-hybrid Body at Brighton Rock. The screenplay for There’s Something Wrong with the Children comes from T.J. Cimfel and David White, who also co-wrote the 2015 horror movie Intruders (aka Shut In).

As mentioned earlier, this new horror movie is produced by Jason Blum, but other executive producers include Josh Reinhold, Jeremy Gold (Mr. Harrigan’s Phone), and Chris McCumber (Nanny).

If you’re wondering if this movie is for you, then the answer is a resounding yes, if creepy kids work for you. And again, kudos for getting such an awesome cast for this intriguing story!

There’s Something Wrong with the Children is available on Digital and on Demand from January 17, 2023.

Details

Director: Roxanne Benjamin
Writers: T.J. Cimfel, David White
Cast: Alisha Wainwright, Zach Gilford, Amanda Crew, Carlos Santos, Briella Guiza, David Mattle

Plot

When Margaret (Wainwright) and Ben (Gilford) take a weekend trip with longtime friends Ellie (Crew) and Thomas (Santos) and their two young children (Guiza and Mattle), Ben begins to suspect something supernatural is occurring when the kids behave strangely after disappearing into the woods overnight.