SHELBY OAKS is now out on digital, and this found footage mockumentary horror movie is a real treat for genre fans. It’s a feature film debut that finally managed to reach a large audience when Mike Flanagan stepped in to produce. I can certainly understand why he wanted to get on board. Read our full Shelby Oaks movie review here!

SHELBY OAKS is a horror movie that utilizes many of the popular niche genres. First, it’s found footage, then on to mockumentary before finally becoming a full-blown paranormal horror movie with a demonic plot. Yeah, it’s a lot and could have been too much, but it works. It really works. For me, anyway.

Make sure you stick around all through the credits, and there are many. This horror movie was crowdfunded, and ultimately had Mike Flanagan step in to help bring it all together. After the credits, you’ll get an end-credit scene. Or, well, audio only, but I felt it made for a very nice ending, so I recommend hanging in there. The runtime is just 91 minutes.

Continue reading our Shelby Oaks movie review below. Find it on VOD and Digital from November 18, 2025.

Paranormal investigators go missing

When Shelby Oaks begins, it’s with us following four paranormal investigators, who have their own YouTube channel called “Paranormal Paranoids”. A nice found footage vibe is what sets the stage for the plot of Shelby Oaks, but this quickly evolves into a mockumentary as the YouTubers go missing.

One of these YouTubers is Riley (Sarah Durn), and her sister, Mia (Camille Sullivan), will do whatever it takes to find her. Obviously, this means following in the footsteps of the paranormal investigation that led to four people disappearing.

I really don’t want to do spoilers for Shelby Oaks, so let me just say that this is where the story begins. Soon, it will move away from found footage and mockumentary to become a full-blown horror movie. This shift occurs just after the opening credits, which come rather late, and this is where the story expands and evolves.

Such a deliciously creepy surprise

I have been wanting to check out Shelby Oaks for the longest time, but it just never happened. For many reasons, but not for a lack of wanting to watch it. Of course, getting this excited about a horror movie from a first-time feature film filmmaker is always dangerous, so I was one happy horror camper after finally watching it.

From the many different styles to the ultimate classic demonic horror story, Shelby Oaks was such a deliciously creepy surprise. It began by giving me just the right kind of Blair Witch Project vibe, but then moved into its own beast before going too far down that rabbit hole.

Also, the casting is wonderful all around. Camille Sullivan was amazing in Hunter Hunter, but is even better in Shelby Oaks. Also, I loved how we saw familiar faces in even very small roles. I always get suspicious at that, which means as a filmmaker, you keep horror fans on their toes.

You can look forward to seeing Brendan Sexton III (Boys Don’t Cry), Michael Beach (The Perfect Couple), Robin Bartlett (Shutter Island), Charlie Talbert (Rebel Ridge), and Keith David (Nope) in this movie. And, of course, Sarah Durn (Carry-On) as the missing sister, who is essentially the lead character of the found footage story.

Watch Shelby Oaks on VOD or Digital at home now

Shelby Oaks is the debut feature film from writer-director Chris Stuckmann, who co-wrote the story alongside Sam Liz (credited as Samanatha Elizabeth). Before making this horror movie, Chris Stuckman had been making short films and a lot of movie reviews, so he clearly knew what he was getting into.

Admittedly, I was a little skeptical before I finally had a chance to watch it myself. Why? Well, because this movie seemed to be a hit or miss for most genre fans. Fortunately, Shelby Oaks turned out to be a massive hit for me. Then again, anything with Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep, Midnight Mass) on board has yet to disappoint me. And I don’t see it happening any time soon.

Please note, this is not to take anything away from filmmaker Chris Stuckman, but rather to say that if Mike Flanagan saw something in this project, then I trust it would be worth my time as well.

This movie amassed over a whopping 4500 backers on Kickstarter, along with the support of executive producer Mike Flanagan to create this genre movie described as “made by horror fans for horror fans,” which I absolutely recognize. If you love a solid horror movie that doesn’t care about leaving you with a “feel-good ending”, then check out Shelby Oaks today!

SHELBY OAKS is out on VOD and digital platforms on November 18, 2025.

Details

Director: Chris Stuckmann
Writer: Chris Stuckmann
Cast: Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, Michael Beach, Sarah Durn, Robin Bartlett, Charlie Talbert

Plot

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

HELL HOUSE LLC: LINEAGE on Shudder is the latest in the HELL HOUSE LLC franchise and the first one that isn’t found footage. I don’t mind that fact, if the story or vibe was good, but it just isn’t. Read our full Hell House LLC: Lineage movie review here!

HELL HOUSE LLC: LINEAGE is a new Shudder horror movie. If the title seems familiar, it’s because there are a lot of movies that begin with Hell House LLC due to it being a franchise. I would say that it’s a found footage horror movie franchise, because it has been so far.

YOU MIGHT LIKE…

Our review of the previous Hell House LLC installation on Shudder >

However, that stops with this one, which is shot like a straight-up horror movie, but in the same universe and even with repeat characters. Just like I don’t mind remakes by default, I can’t blame a filmmaker for wanting to try something new within the franchise they’ve created. It just doesn’t do much good here.

Continue reading our Hell House LLC: Lineage movie review below. Find it on Shudder from October 30, 2025.

Discover the origin of Hell House LLC

The tagline of Hell House LLC: Lineage is “A blood bond rooted in evil, ” which (along with the full title) gives us an idea of how some familial bond will come into play in this story. Before we get to this, we follow Vanessa Shepherd (Elizabeth Vermilyea), who is struggling after a near-death experience years earlier.

Vanessa is haunted by visions and tormented by recurring nightmares, but still finds herself living in the town of Abaddon, which has a strange hold on her.

KEEP UP WITH HELL HOUSE LLC

The second movie in this franchise was titled Hell House LLC II: The Abaddon Hotel. The character of Vanessa was in the third movie titled Hell House LLC III: Lake of Fire.

In any case, we’re following Vanessa’s struggles, which are about to get a whole lot worse. Soon, people around her begin to die. As she tries to discover how it’s all connected to her, she must confront the terrifying truth.

Especially her own connection to the Abaddon Hotel, the Carmichael Manor, and the decade-long mysterious murders. Sure, this all sounds intriguing enough, and the story isn’t bad as such. The execution, on the other hand, leaves a lot to be desired, and it gets in the way of the story.

If there’s one thing you can get away with in a found footage movie, it’s lingering shots. After all, the concept of found footage is that something has been recorded, and that’s what we get to see. Slow and strange as it may be.

Once you lose the found footage element, you ought to also tighten up on those lingering shots.

Does Hell House LLC work without found footage?

With Hell House LLC: Lineage shaking it up and making the shift from found footage to classic horror movie, it begs the question: Does the found footage horror movie franchise still work without the found footage element?

Well, first, I have to say that I have absolutely no problem with this change in style. As a rule, I mean. Just like I’m okay with remakes, sequels, and requels. My only demand is that it should only be done if the story can handle it.

So, is Hell House LLC: Lineage as good as the previous movies in the franchise?!

Well, that’s a loaded question, as they have differed quite a bit in quality already. And as someone who liked the first one from 2016 for what it managed on a minimal budget, I don’t think this latest Lineage installation lives up to that.

Watch Hell House LLC: Lineage on Shudder

Stephen Cognetti is the writer and director of Hell House LLC: Lineage, just as he has been the director of the previous four movies in the franchise. Just before this latest, and non-found footage installation, he also directed the Shudder horror movie 825 Forest Road (2025), which you’ll want to check out as well.

For me, this is the weakest of the franchise, but mostly because I felt it had lost some of the nerve it otherwise excelled at. Sure, those creepy clowns are still creepy, but seeing them in this different light didn’t do much good for me.

Also, the ending of Hell House LLC: Lineage felt like a let-down. I won’t go into the how and why of it (to avoid spoilers), but it just didn’t reach the creepiness of previous movies. Much of it also felt strangely choppy, and it suffered from the earlier-mentioned “lingering shots syndrome“.

Hell House LLC: Lineage is on Shudder from October 30, 2025.

Details

Director/Writer: Stephen Cognetti
Cast: Elizabeth Vermilyea, Searra Sawka, Mike Sutton, Joe Bandelli, Cayla Berejikian, Victoria Andrunik, Gideon Berger

Plot

After a near-death experience, Vanessa Shepherd faces nightmares in Abaddon. As mysterious deaths occur around her, she discovers her connection to the Abaddon Hotel, Carmichael Manor, and decades of unexplained murders.

DAMNED IF YOU DO is a new horror comedy with a diabolical twist about choices. Screamqueen Kate Siegel and deliciously campy Harvey Guillén star in this dark comedy premiering at Screamfest 2025. Read our Damned If You Do movie review here!

DAMNED IF YOU DO is a dark horror comedy premiering at SCREAMFEST 2025 in Los Angeles. As a longtime fan of the kitsch horror-comedy hybrid genre, I am always ready for something new.

Of course, this movie won me over with the cast alone, so the fact that it features dark comedy was just an extra treat. For me, this movie is perfect for Halloween with its campy and kitsch vibe. Plus, the moral of the story highlights the good and bad about us humans.

Continue reading our Damned If You Do movie review below.

Made a Deal with the Devil, now I’m a Success

With Damned If You Do, we meet a group of friends just as they’re graduating from High School. They’ve managed to summon a demon that is offering them a deal: Sell your soul to the devil now, and you can have 25 years of whatever you want, then you die.

Obviously, the “whatever” part does come with a few limitations. Also, you have to be very specific. If you ask for an umbrella, you’ll want to include lots of particular wishes to avoid something useless or downright dangerous.

Other than that, your path to success will be an easy one, and you can get out of any trouble. The demon who managed to get their signature on the diabolical contracts is practically a genie, who will show up as soon as you ask for something.

However, he is also a demon and wants to have fun by torturing his subjects.

Now, the group of friends is meeting again for their 25th high school reunion. In other words, this night also marks the end of their life, as their deal with the devil comes to an end.

Can they escape Hell’s grasp before the deadline expires? Well, you’ll have to watch Damned If You Do to find out.

You had me at Kate and Harvey!

As much as I love both the horror-comedy hybrid genre and the actual plot of this movie, the cast of Damned If You Do was what truly won me over.

With fan favorite (and a personal favorite) Kate Siegel in the lead, I was a very happy camper. Kate Siegel has starred in The Haunting of Hill House, Hush, The Fall of the House of Usher, and many other productions.

MORE WITH KATE SIEGEL

Check out the Shudder docuseries Horror’s Greatest >

As that fun-loving and torturing demonic presence, we have Harvey Guillén in what just may be his campiest role yet. And I loved it. You’ll recognize Harvey Guillén from the What We Do in the Shadows series, Werewolves Within, and Companion.

Also in the cast of Damned If You Do, you’ll get to enjoy Molly Bernard (Younger), Ginger Gonzaga (She-Hulk), Paulo Costanzo (Upload), Beth Dover (Helen’s Dead, Orange is the New Black), and Ed Weeks (Drop).

Plus, Mike Flanagan, who is an absolute favorite genre director (and writer) of mine, shows up in a wonderful cameo.

Damned If You Do premiere at Screamfest 2025

The dark and diabolical comedy is directed by Jake Rubin & Evan Metzold. This is the feature film debut for both directors, and I like what I see. The pacing and the overall style are right up my alley.

Storywise, we’ve got the pleasure of writers Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde. They wrote the screenplay, and this is yet another debut. You may recognize their names as actors, but this is their first writing credit.

While the plot of Damned If You Do isn’t wildly innovative, it is a lot of fun and works on all the important levels. That’s all anyone can hope for, really. If I had been part of making this movie (I wasn’t in case you’re wondering), I would be very proud.

As of writing this, I don’t know any specifics about its release. The movie is premiering at Screamfest, which will probably result in more information about a wider release. We’ll make sure this review is updated with information on when and how you can watch it.

Damned If You Do premiered at Screamfest 2025 on October 15, 2025.

Details

Directors: Jake Rubin & Evan Metzold
Cast: Kate Siegel, Harvey Guillén, Molly Bernard, Ginger Gonzaga, Paulo Costanzo, Beth Dover, Ed Weeks, Michael Flanagan

Plot

A group of friends who sold their souls to the devil years ago must reunite before their 25th high school reunion to try and escape Hell’s grasp before the contract’s deadline expires.

TRAUMATIKA is a new horror movie that shows trauma as a demonic manifestation. It’s dark and brutal – as it should be. It’s essentially a trauma horror anthology movie. One that hits hard with a short runtime. Read our full Traumatika movie review here!

TRAUMATIKA is a horror movie that plays out like an anthology with multiple stories connecting over decades and continents. The common denominator is trauma, and yes, it does get very dark.

The fact that kids are among those experiencing trauma only makes it all even more sinister. For this horror movie, the runtime is just 81 minutes, which is good. Especially because this is a tough (but important) watch.

Continue reading our full Traumatika movie review below. Find it in theaters from September 12, 2025.

How evil is born

In Traumatika, we experience how trauma inflicted on children can result in adults who continue the vicious cycle. It asks whether anyone is born evil or if maybe evil is born out of trauma.

For this horror movie, a demon called “Volpaazu” becomes the physical manifestation of trauma. Or a metaphor, if you will. We see childhood trauma experienced from the child’s POV as well, which is a powerful grip.

I have no doubt that Traumatika will hit harder for some viewers, while others may be able to watch it with less of an impact. Despite never having experienced trauma close to what this movie shows, I could relate.

It also has to do with empathy, and some have more of that than others. I’m not saying it’s better to have a lot of empathy, as it can result in more pain, but it will help you relate to the characters in this movie.

Hurt people hurt people

It’s a very well-known and recognized phenomenon that people who have been hurt will often end up hurting others. This has resulted in the “Hurt people hurt people” statement. One meant to highlight the importance of help.

People who have been through traumatic experiences need help to deal with the consequences. Without this, they continue to hurt, which can in turn (far too often) result in them inflicting pain on someone else.

For Traumatika, trauma is a visceral and physical manifestation. We’re dealing with primal fears and what happens to people once they have been made to experience those at an early age.

The face and consequences of trauma

The title of Traumatika gives away that the core plot driver of this movie is trauma. And yes, it is relentless in this focus, but it never becomes gratuitous or shocking in any way meant “only” to shock.

This is the nature of trauma, and we see the consequences on the face of a little boy and a young woman, as well as an adult man, who cannot deal with untreated traumatic experiences.

If you think this goes too far in any way, then you should also recognize that you have been lucky in life. Traumatika shows actions that result in trauma, but always with the intention of making the audience recognize the evil of it.

I was not sure what to expect from Traumatika, but it still managed to somehow deliver something beyond that. A truly dark and fascinating exploration of trauma and how it has a relentless grip on its victims.

Watch Traumatika in movie theaters

The director of Traumatika is Pierre Tsigaridis, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Maxime Rançon. This is only the second feature film from Pierre Tsigaridis, following his 2021 folk horror movie Two Witches.

Both movies have starred Rebekah Kennedy (The Veil, The Lincoln Lawyer series) in key roles, and I hope the two continue collaborating. It’s obviously a strong match.

Also in Traumatika are Emily Goss (Snapshots, The House on Pine Street), Ranen Navat, AJ Bowen (The Old Ways), Sean O’Bryan (Good American Family), Susan Gayle Watts, and Sean Whalen (The People Under the Stairs).

If you’re ready for a horror movie that hits hard on real-life trauma, but uses a demonic metaphor, then this is definitely for you. It is a tough watch, but also one that deals with important issues.

Traumatika is out in movie theaters from September 12, 2025.

Details

Director: Pierre Tsigaridis
Writers: Pierre Tsigaridis, Maxime Rançon
Cast: Rebekah Kennedy, Emily Goss, Ranen Navat, AJ Bowen, Sean O’Bryan,
Susan Gayle Watts, Sean Whalen

Plot

A young boy’s night terrors become reality when his mother begins showing signs of demonic possession. What he’s about to experience will haunt him for the rest of his life and claim countless lives across generations.

THE CONJURING: LAST RITES is the final chapter in James Wan’s franchise about Ed and Lorraine Warren. And it ends on a high (and quite nostalgic) note, so you’ll want to watch it. Read our full The Conjuring: Last Rites movie review here!

THE CONJURING: LAST RITES is out in movie theaters worldwide with the final chapter about Ed and Lorraine Warren. Fortunately, it offers a story that feels back on track. And it’s always good to end on a high note.

THE PREVIOUS MOVIE OF THE FRANCHISE

Check out our review of chapter 3: The Devil Made Me Do It >

In other words, even if you weren’t too crazy about the previous movie in the franchise, you’ll want to watch this fourth and final chapter. Sure, there are other movies in the franchise, but the core The Conjuring movies are ending with this one.

Continue reading our The Conjuring: Last Rites movie review below. Find it in US theaters from September 5, 2025.

Judy Warren is at the center

For their final case, Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) are in Pennsylvania. It’s the Smurl family’s home, and the year is 1986. Before we get that far, we meet Ed and Lorraine on one of their first cases in the 1960s.

And yes, the experience of The Warrens in the 1960s will tie into this latest case. It should also be said that the opening scene shows us a very pregnant Lorraine, so for The Conjuring: Last Rites, we see the birth of Judy Warren, as she is the key.

Of course, Judy Warren has already played a huge role in several movies in The Conjuring franchise. Not least stories involving Annabelle… and most stories in this franchise do ultimately involve that demon doll or a nun.

In this fourth chapter about Ed and Lorraine Warren, their daughter Judy Warren (Mia Tomlinson) is now a young adult woman. She even has a boyfriend, Tony Spera (Ben Hardy), and is very happy.

However, she has her mother’s talents and struggles with keeping visions at bay.

The final case of the Smurl Family

Getting back to the Smurl Family, this was what made The Conjuring: Last Rites work so well for me. Mostly, because it brought this core franchise back to a classic family and their house.

This was what made the very first The Conjuring such a powerful story. You feel for the family and want them to get help. Again, the same was the case with the sequel.

The third movie took a legal turn with a killer that claimed to be possessed (hence the subtitle of The Devil made Me Do It), and I much prefer the family angle. Life for the Smurl Family is very loud with eight people and Simon the dog living together.

We have the parents, their four daughters, and the patriarch’s parents, all living under the same roof. It’s a small house, where love is bountiful. And again, so is the noise level, but that is to be expected.

For the eight Smurl family members (or nine, if you include the dog, and I always do), life is about to take a violent turn as something sinister and malevolent has gotten inside their house.

Watch The Conjuring: Last Rites in theaters

This is the ninth entry to The Conjuring universe, and it’s a veteran of the franchise and its spin-offs at the helm. The director of The Conjuring: Last Rites is Michael Chaves, who previously directed The Curse of La Llorona, The Conjuring 3, and The Nun 2.

Producers on The Conjuring 4 are still James Wan and Peter Safran, who have been labeled the franchise architects. Writers of the story for this fourth chapter about the Warrens are Ian Goldberg & Richard Naing, and David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick.

The story is the brainchild of David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick & James Wan, based on characters created by Chad Hayes & Carey W. Hayes.

And yes, this final story has a lot going for it. Not least thanks to the cast, which includes a few characters returning for the story. Plus, I don’t want to give away spoilers, but the final part of the movie is clearly a big goodbye to the franchise.

LOOK OUT FOR SHANNON KOOK AND STEVE COULTER

The two have been in all four movies alongside Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, portraying as Drew and Father Gordon respectively >

That’s when you need to really keep your eyes open, if you want to catch all the cameos of characters and actors from the previous installments. It’s a real trip down memory lane, and most of the key people do show up.

It’s quite nostalgic. It certainly was for me, but I was also (still am) a huge fan of that very first The Conjuring movie. As someone who is not a big fan of religion, this is no small feat. If you loved that first movie, then you’ll enjoy this one too.

For the record, it may be “Ed and Lorraine Warren”, but we all know these movies are really all about Vera Farmiga’s Lorraine. She’s the one with the gift. In the world of horror, she is, in all practical matters, a real-life Final Girl.

The Conjuring: Last Rites is out in theaters and IMAX® in North America on September 5, 2025, and internationally beginning September 3, 2025.

Details

In Theaters: September 5, 2025
Director: Michael Chaves
Writers: Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick
Cast: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Mia Tomlinson, Ben Hardy, Shannon Kook, Steve Coulter

Plot

In 1986, the Smurl family’s home in Pennsylvania is haunted. Eight family members are subjected to malevolent occurrences and fear for their lives. Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine become involved in the case, only to discover that they are facing an old and sinister adversary.

SHAMAN is a 2025 horror movie with an exorcism plot that includes more than one religion. And this is the innovative twist of the movie, which isn’t nearly enough to get me interested. Despite a good cast, I felt like I had seen it all before. Read our full Shaman movie review here!

SHAMAN is a horror movie that takes place in Ecuador. English is spoken for the most part, but a little Spanish is in the movie as well. The brief explanation of the plot would be to say that a teenage boy becomes possessed. And, unfortunately, it all felt very familiar.

The movie is only around an hour and a half long, but I have seen people mention longer runtimes, so maybe it has been re-edited after its festival run. If that’s the case, I think I would rather have watched the longer version. This one certainly didn’t do much for me.

Continue reading our Shaman movie review below. Find it In Theaters and on digital from August 8, 2025.

Which religion should you turn to?

With Shaman, it seems self-evident that a shaman will come into play. So, despite the main characters being a Missionary family, other religions will appear. Of course, as someone who isn’t big on organized religion, we’re not off to a great start.

After all, the family of missionaries has gone to an Indigenous community in a remote Ecuadorian area near a volcano. And honestly, missionaries rarely do much good for an indigenous community in the long run.

As it turns out, it isn’t a good thing for the teenage son of the missionaries either. After he goes into a cave that the locals never go near, he appears to be possessed by some dark force that requires more than one religion to battle. Or, at the very least, Christianity won’t cut it here.

A paint-by-numbers exorcism story

Despite not being a fan of organized religion, I do actually enjoy a good exorcism movie. The operative word being “good”, and Shaman is not it. And really, I don’t even care what the religion used for the exorcism story is.

As long as the plot is good and the story is well-written with interesting characters, then I’m on board. Unfortunately, I don’t feel Shaman delivers on any of this.

WANT A GOOD EXORCISM MOVIE?

Check out the Mexican horror movie No Voltees on Tubi instead >

From the husband having asthma and using his inhaler like a binky (as someone who has asthma, this is a real pet peeve of mine) to the missionaries believing they know better than the locals, I am not a happy camper.

With a cast featuring Sara Canning (Influencer) and Daniel Gillies (Coming Home in the Dark), I was hoping for a story that had much stronger characters. Instead, it’s the stereotypical possessed kid with black veins and black blood coming out of every facial orifice.

It does nothing for me. And, as a result, Shaman did not work for me. I simply did not care what happened to these characters.

Watch Shaman in theaters or on digital

Antonio Negret is the director of Shaman, but in recent years, he has been directing a lot of TV series. From Lincoln Lawyer to Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and Riverdale, so he’s stayed busy. His previous feature was the 2017 thriller Overdrive starring Scott Eastwood and Ana de Armas.

The screenplay was written by Daniel Negret, and while I wasn’t a big fan of the directing, the story is just weak. Or maybe it’s just too predictable. The directing often felt like it was forcefully trying to evoke feelings the story couldn’t. In other words, it just did not get under my skin.

This is the first feature film written by Daniel Negret, who has previously produced some very strong genre films. I mean, he was an executive producer on Talk to Me and Bring Her Back, which are some of the best movies with possession-adjacent plots in recent years.

Of course, he also produced Elevator Games, which didn’t do much for me either. Hopefully, the next movie written by Daniel Negret will be stronger than this first one, which is okay, but nothing more.

Shaman (2025) is out In Theaters and on Digital from August 8, 2025.

Details

Director: Antonio Negret
Writer: Daniel Negret
Cast: Sara Canning, Daniel Gillies, Jett Klyne, Humberto Morales, Alejandro Fajardo

Plot

A missionary family travels to rural Ecuador to convert the indigenous population. All is going well until their son ventures into a forbidden local cave and comes back with a demonic spirit in tow. Candice (Sarah Canning) believes that an exorcism in the Catholic tradition will free her boy from the evil bonds that bind him. The local shamans know that this spirit is older than her religion and must be dealt with or the demon will take them all.

THE BONDSMAN on Prime Video is a new horror series starring Beth Grant and Kevin Bacon. Not only are they mother and son, they are also both bounty hunters and make for a very dynamic duo. I loved it. Read our The Bondsman Season 1 review here!

THE BONDSMAN is a new Prime Video horror series starring Kevin Bacon in the title role. However, to me, what really made this a surprisingly funny and entertaining experience was Beth Grant. Or rather, the two of them together in this crazy plot.

This is a supernatural horror series, and those can typically become a bit too silly for me. Yes, even as someone who adores the horror comedy hybrid. And yet, this Prime Video just hit all the right notes for me. Season 1 has eight half-hour episodes, and even that runtime is a plus.

Continue reading our The Bondsman Season 1 review below. Find it on Prime Video from April 3, 2025.

Bounty Hunter for Hell

In The Bondsman, we meet bounty hunter Hub Halloran (Kevin Bacon) just as his life ends. While hunting down a criminal, those very same people set a trap for him, and he is killed. However, for reasons we will learn later, he is sent to Hell and strikes a deal with the Devil.

The murdered Hub is resurrected by the Devil with one specific job: He is to trap and send back escaped demons to Hell. If he fails, he will himself be sent to Hell for good. This is his one chance of staying alive and on this Earth.

In other words, he’s still a bounty hunter, but now he hunts to send demons back to Hell and is employed by the Devil. An employer who rewards Hub by letting him stay alive.

Of course, it doesn’t make matters easier that demons do their demonic thing of possessing other living human beings. So, while Hub is killing demons, he also takes down whoever is possessed at the time.

Kevin Bacon and Beth Grant make for a great duo

While this Prime Video series is obviously about Kevin Bacon as the title character of The Bondsman, I was very happy to see Beth Grant in a huge role as well. She plays his mom, Kitty, who has some of the best lines.

Often directed towards her son, Hub, and with perfect timing. I had laugh-out-loud moments in every episode. Usually from whatever Kitty (Beth Grant) was saying to her son.

While Kevin Bacon has been in horror and genre productions throughout his career, so has Beth Grant.

Kevin Bacon was in the very first Friday the 13th, the original Flatliners, Stir of Echoes, and he played the title character in Hollow Man (2000). More recently, he was in They/Them (2022) and You Should Have Left (2020).

Beth Grant has been in the 2021 Grave Intentions anthology and Willy’s Wonderland. Also, she was in Child’s Play 2, The Ungodly, and has a small part in Flatliners. 

Also playing key roles in the Prime Video series The Bondsman are more familiar faces. We have Jennifer Nettles (The Exorcist: Believer), Damon Herriman (Mindhunter), Maxwell Jenkins (Lost in Space), and Jolene Purdy (Unseen). All of them are brilliant in their respective roles.

Watch season 1 of The Bondsman on Prime Video

The creator and writer of The Bondsman is Grainger David. He has written and directed five short films before this Prime Video series. Other writers include Satinder Kaur, Nina Kim, and Erik Oleson (The Man in the High Castle).

The directors of the season 1 episodes are Sanaa Hamri (Gen V), Thor Freudenthal (The Hunting Party), Lauren Wolkstein (Dead Ringers), and Catriona Mckenzie (The Boys, Outer Range).

​​​​​​​This new supernatural horror series comes from Blumhouse Television, which always tends to be a good sign. Not least when it comes to genre productions. Blumhouse Television also produced The Sticky and The Horrors of Dolores Roach.

All 8 episodes of The Bondsman premiere exclusively on Prime Video on the premiere day. I loved that they are half-hour episodes. Perfect bite-size entertainment that you cannot help but binge-watch. Enjoy season 1 now – hopefully, we’ll get a season 2 of The Bondsman later.

The Bondsman Season 1 is streaming on Prime Video from April 3, 2025.

Details

Creator: Grainger David
Directors: Sanaa Hamri, Thor Freudenthal, Lauren Wolkstein, Catriona Mckenzie
Cast: Kevin Bacon, Jennifer Nettles, Damon Herriman, Beth Grant, Maxwell Jenkins, Jolene Purdy

Plot

Hub Halloran, a murdered bounty hunter, is back from the dead after being resurrected by the Devil to trap and send back demons that have escaped from the prison of Hell; by chasing them down, Hub learns how his own sins got his soul condemned.

THE DAMNED is a new psychological horror movie that takes place in Iceland but is in English. A brutal tale of survival that plays out like an ominous and chilling thriller. One that includes superstition and folklore in the most terrifying ways. Read our full The Damned movie review here!

THE DAMNED is a horror thriller with a dark psychological survival story. One that shows us how folklore can become poisonous when you’re already starving and struggling with the elements.

We’re in Iceland during the winter and nothing is easy or safe. The weather is one thing you struggle with, food is scarce and superstition can get the best of anyone when things go from bad to worse.

Continue reading our The Damned movie review below. Find it in Theaters from January 3 (US) and January 10, 2025 (UK).

The horror of winter

The winter has always been tough in countries where it gets very cold, but it was still much worse if we go a century or two back in time. In The Damned, we follow Eve (Odessa Young) during one 19th-century winter in Iceland.

Along with her crew of fishermen (she inherited her husband’s business), they are not having any luck fishing. In fact, they’ve already started to consider eating the bait instead of using it for fishing.

Things take a turn for the worse when they come across a shipwreck. Or rather, they see a ship singing right off the coast of their cabin. It should be possible to save them, but is it really in their situation?!

The moral dilemma of survival

While they could probably save the people being shipwrecked from drowning, they can’t do anything else. Meaning they have no food or even enough room to offer them shelter. In fact, they can’t even manage to bring them to shore as their own boat is too small.

The shipwrecked survivors would drag everyone down if they tried to get on board the boat, so really, saving them isn’t possible. But can they live with doing nothing?

This may sound like a moral dilemma and nothing much like an actual horror movie. However, superstition will come into play and as people die, bodies also enter the lives of the fishermen.

And while bodies should stay dead, superstition says this may not always be the case. Believe me when I say that The Damned is definitely a horror movie!

Watch The Damned in theaters in the US and UK

The writer and director of The Damned is Thordur Palsson. This native Icelandic director has a great grip on the cold and ice, making it palpable through the screen. He was also the creator of the Netflix series The Valhalla Murders, which you should definitely watch.

Alongside Oddesa Young (The Stand) we see Joe Cole (Black Mirror) in a key role. This isn’t the first time Joe Cole has been in the chilling circumstances of surviving in ice and snow. He was also in Against the Ice with Nicolai Coster-Waldau. However, the story was very different.

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Overall, The Damned worked remarkably well in terms of horror and setting an eerie and ominous vibe. Also, the cast was wonderful in all their respective roles. Truly some terrifying performances.

However, it also had a few lulls along the way despite its relatively short runtime. Seeing it in a theater will probably improve the viewing experience, so do watch it on the big screen if you can.

The Damned is out in US Theaters on January 3, 2025, and in UK cinemas from January 10, 2025.

Details

Director: Thordur Palsson
Writers: Jamie Hannigan, Thordur Palsson
Cast: Dessa Young, Joe Cole, Rory McCann, Siobhan Finneran

Plot

The Damned, an ominous and chilling thriller, follows Eve and her crew as they come across a shipwreck and are faced with the moral dilemma to either help, or prioritise their own survival.

JURNAL RISA BY RISA SARASWATI on Netflix is a new horror movie from Indonesia. It has a short runtime and features a documentary-style supernatural plot with a found footage vibe. Read our full Jurnal Risa by Risa Saraswati movie review here!

JURNAL RISA BY RISA SARASWATI is a new Netflix horror movie with high production quality and a very interesting plot. It’s not difficult to follow and manages to utilize some of the most popular horror subgenres.

This is an Indonesian horror movie and we have watched (and reviewed) quite a lot of those over the past couple of years. If you’ve watched both good and bad horror movies from Indonesia, I can tell you that this is one of the better. And it isn’t even by Joko Anwar, which is usually a sign that it will be good. The runtime is just 92 minutes.

Continue reading our Jurnal Risa by Risa Saraswati movie review below. Find it on Netflix from November 8, 2024.

A mockumentary-style horror movie

Everything about Jurnal Risa by Risa Saraswati is presented as a documentary. Not unlike The Blair Witch Project (1999) though this is very different. Instead of looking for a witch in the woods, Risa Saraswati is doing a show where people have volunteered to be in a haunted place. 

The purpose is to see if these people succeed at communicating with the ghosts that are supposedly there.

Risa herself is known to have supernatural abilities that enable her to communicate with ghosts and other supernatural beings (usually of the more demonic variety). And as this is a horror movie, things will obviously turn out badly.

Solid and efficient scares

Among the people who challenge themselves to be in this haunted place, one of them succeeds to such an extent that she becomes possessed.

Or does she?

This is really the core plot of Jurnal Risa by Risa Saraswati on Netflix.

It’s a horror movie that doesn’t have too many special effects of the CGI variety. And the ones that are there, tend to work remarkably well. Extremely efficient at creating that eerie and creepy vibe where something is moving around in the corner or background for a few seconds.

In other words, keep your eyes open for those little chilling horror treats that are sprinkled throughout.

Watch Jurnal Risa by Risa Saraswati on Netflix now!

The director of Jurnal Risa by Risa Saraswati is Rizal Mantovani, who has directed plenty of horror movies over the past few decades. The screenwriter is someone we’ve become quite familiar with as she has written several of the Indonesian horror movies we’ve covered here on Heaven of Horror.

Her name is Lele Laila and she has written some impressive and very recommendable horror movies in the past. Previous movies written by Lele Laila include Qorin (2022) and Do You See What I See (2024).

This latest movie is definitely one of the better Indonesian horror movies we’ve covered. Also, the story should work well globally. Haunting, challenges, and trying to communicate with “the other side” is something that happens all over the world.

Jurnal Risa by Risa Saraswati is on Netflix from November 8, 2024.

Details

Director: Rizal Mantovani
Cast: Risa Saraswati, Prinsa Mandagie, Ranggana Purwana, Nicko Irham, Riana Rizki

Plot

Risa is known to have supernatural abilities that enable her to communicate with supernatural beings. This film will present horror events packaged like Paranormal Activity.

BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE is out on PVOD. If you still haven’t watched it, now is the chance. Otherwise, rewatch this genre gem. The first movie is a cult classic while this is a kitsch treat – and equally iconic. Read our full Beetlejuice Beetlejuice movie review here!

BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE can now be watched on PVOD in perfect timing for Halloween. Watching the two Beetlejuice movies is ideal for a splendid Halloween. The fact that many will undoubtedly dress up as characters from these movies is just a bonus.

The soundtrack alone for this movie is brilliant. Not least, an iconic song from that first movie in a new (and quite unique) version. When the end credits came, I was thinking two things; First, I can’t wait to watch this again. Second; I need to get that soundtrack.

Continue reading our Beetlejuice Beetlejuice movie review below. Find it on VOD (everywhere from Apple TV and Prime Video to Vudu/Fandango at Home) from October 8, 2024.

A deliciously gross and wonderful sequel

In Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, we meet the Deetz family just as an unexpected family tragedy has happened. And yes, we do see this tragedy in a flashback, though not a classic kind of flashback. It is, however, a very Tim Burton kind of flashback, so it’s perfect for this movie.

Anyway, the tragedy results in three generations of the Deetz family returning home to Winter River. Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) has managed to make a career of her ability to see ghosts. However, she has also recently begun to be haunted by Beetlejuice, who has never given up on her.

Lydia also has a daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), who does not believe in her mother’s abilities. At all! Fortunately, Delia Deetz (Catherine O’Hara) is also still there and remembers everything that happened in that house decades ago.

Being the rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid quickly discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic. And also, in a roundabout way, comes to learn of the portal to the Afterlife.

This time around, Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) also has trouble of his own. That one story isn’t explored too much, but that’s hardly a problem for the overall plot. And, of course, with all the trouble of both worlds, someone is bound to call out for Betelgeuse.

As always, this will result in mayhem, but Beetlejuice also has a way of helping. For a price, obviously!

From cult to kitsch and utterly iconic

To say that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a long-awaited sequel doesn’t quite cut it. The original Beetlejuice came out in 1988, and since then, people have been hoping for – but never quite dared to expect – a sequel. And in 2024, we finally got it!

The story was originally about a ghost recruited to help haunt a house. Or well, Betelgeuse, which is the actual name of the title character, as shown in both movies, is actually more of a demon than a ghost. A hybrid, if you will.

While the 1988 movie is a cult classic, I found this 2024 Beetlejuice sequel to be more kitsch. And also, dare I say it, even better! It so rarely happens, but examples do exist. Of course, part of it has to do with the evolution of filmmaking. The pace is just faster now than in the 1980s.

Also, there are so many meta layers in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and not one opportunity is missed. From joking about why certain characters can’t be in this sequel to the classic horror-comedy elements. I absolutely adored this sequel!

Watch Beetlejuice Beetlejuice on Digital now!

Tim Burton is obviously back to direct this sequel. I cannot imagine it would’ve been made without him at the helm. As stated in some of the press material, Tim Burton is “a genre unto himself”. Trying to have anyone else direct, while he is still here, would be an imitation.

The screenplay comes from Alfred Gough & Miles Millar (Wednesday) with the story by them both and Seth Grahame-Smith (The LEGO® Batman Movie). Of course, based on characters created by Michael McDowell & Larry Wilson.

Aside from Jenna Ortega (X) joining the cast, we also get the pleasure of a few other newcomers. These include Justin Theroux (The Girl on the Train), Monica Bellucci (Spectre, The Matrix movies), Arthur Conti (House of the Dragon), and Willem Dafoe (Poor Things).

I expected to be happy with this sequel based purely on the cast and the trailer. However, I didn’t expect to actually love this movie. And I do. I really do!

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice premiered in Theaters on September 6, 2024. Now, just over a month later, it’s out on PVOD & Digital release from October 8, 2024. 

If you want to own a physical copy on DVD, the release of the Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice DVD is slated for November 19, 2024.

Details

In Theaters: September 6, 2024
PVOD: October 8, 2024
Genres: Horror, Comedy
Director: Tim Burton
Writers: Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Seth Grahame-Smith
Cast: Jenna Ortega, Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Monica Bellucci, Willem Dafoe, Catherine O’Hara, Justin Theroux, Filipe Cates

Plot

After a family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her teenage daughter, Astrid, accidentally opens the portal to the Afterlife.