BLACK PHONE 2 is a horror sequel that stays in the same universe but borrows from several iconic horror franchises. This approach to continuing a successful horror story worked for me, but probably won’t be for everyone. Read our full Black Phone 2 movie review here!

BLACK PHONE 2 is a horror movie that continues the story from The Black Phone, set a few years later. That original movie, which was based on a Joe Hill short story, ended with kids winning over a sadistic serial killer.

However, in horror movies, the villains tend to stick around. Even after they’ve died and been defeated. That’s also the case with this horror sequel, and since the two main child characters had paranormal powers, it makes even more sense.

Continue reading our Black Phone 2 movie review below. Find it on Digital from November 4, 2025.

Depressed and haunted

When Black Phone 2 begins, it’s with Finn (Mason Thames) struggling to get back to a “normal” life after his encounter with The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) in the first movie. He seems depressed and numbs himself constantly. Not least as he’s also still haunted.

Everywhere he goes, random pay phones – that are out of order, mind you – will start ringing. Meanwhile, his sister, Gwen (Madeleine McGraw), is trying to protect and help him. She is still absolutely brilliant and curses like a sailor.

Oh yes, I relate to her. Very much. Unfortunately, she also struggles with her own issues. Mainly getting visions in her sleep and sleepwalking. Soon, she will also be answering an important phone call from inside a dream.

Finally, their father (Jeremy Davies) has stopped drinking and is approaching three years of sobriety, so things are looking up as well. Of course, this isn’t a feel-good movie, so all good will soon be overshadowed by evil.

Trapped in nightmares at a camp

Very soon, Gwen’s visions will take her (along with her brother and a trusted friend) to a camp. A Christian camp where Gwen believes some children were murdered, and they are calling out to her.

In Black Phone 2, we’re getting Gwen haunted by nightmares and finding it impossible to escape them, while also soon to be trapped at a camp. Oh yes, it’s very much A Nightmare on Elm Street meets Friday the 13th, but only in good ways.

If anything, this setting and element feel like an homage to past iconic horror movies. To me, Black Phone 2 is still entirely its own beast. And yes, it is very much a supernatural horror movie.

Even more than in the first movie. In that one, ghosts helped Finn to defeat The Grabber. In this Black Phone sequel, both ghosts and The Grabber are calling out to Finn and Gwen.

Especially Gwen is getting physically tormented by the deceased serial killer in her dreams. But she’s tough, so he can’t defeat her mind, which is their only hope of fighting back.

Watch Black Phone 2 on VOD and Digital now!

Director Scott Derrickson (Sinister, The Exorcism of Emily Rose) is still at the helm of this horror franchise, which I hope isn’t over with this sequel. The screenplay comes from Scott Derrickson & C. Robert Cargill.

For me, Black Phone 2 was physically and emotionally more brutal. However, the original dealt more with child abuse as we saw The Grabber kidnap and groom his victims. This was darker and scarier, while this is more supernatural and action-filled.

Along with Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, and Ethan Hawke in their starring roles, we also get Demián Bichir (The Nun, Alien: Covenant), Arianna Rivas, and Anna Lore (Final Destination: Bloodlines) in key roles. Plus, Miguel Mora (The Black Phone) is back in a bigger role, as is Jeremy Davies.

Whether you will find the first movie or this sequel the scariest is probably depending on your personal fears. Both worked extremely well for me, but in very different ways. In fact, I didn’t expect to be a fan of this sequel, so I was pleasantly surprised.

BLACK PHONE 2 is out on digital platforms to buy or rent on November 4, 2025, and on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD on December 23, 2025.

Details

Directed By: Scott Derrickson
Written By: Scott Derrickson & C. Robert Cargill
Based on the Short Story ‘The Black Phone’ By: Joe Hill
Cast: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, Demián Bichir, Ethan Hawke

Plot

True evil transcends death and the black phone rings again as The Grabber (Hawke) torments Finn (Thames) from beyond the grave by menacing his sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw). Haunted by horrific visions, the teens set out to stop their psychological torture only to uncover a disturbing secret as they confront a killer who has only grown more powerful in death.

HOUSE OF ASHES is a new Supernatural Horror Movie that has a lot going for it, but also misses a few key marks. A real shame, as this movie has potential for much more than it ultimately delivers. Read our full House of Ashes movie review here!

HOUSE OF ASHES is a new horror movie coming out on Digital in time for Halloween. If you want to watch something new and different, this is a good choice. Just know that it doesn’t quite manage to deliver on some of the strong elements it introduces early on.

This movie debuted at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival in 2024. Following this, it has been screened at genre film festivals worldwide. Now it’s time for a wider release, and I do think it will hit a nerve with many genre fans. Especially if you want to support indie film.

Continue reading our House of Ashes movie review below. Find it on Digital from October 30, 2025.

Grieving and punished

In House of Ashes, we meet Mia as she’s still grieving the loss of her husband, Adam. He was found dead at a veterinary clinic they owned and ran together. By all accounts, their life together was a happy one, and Mia has been acquitted of his death.

However, that’s the legal issue Mia has faced in regards to the death of her husband. Public opinion isn’t quite as convinced of her innocence. So, when Mia also miscarried in the midst of her immense grief, she was faced with a new legal danger.

She is living in a heavily pro-life regulated state, so a miscarriage results in punishment. For Mia, this ends in a house arrest. A house full of memories with her husband, but where her new boyfriend moves in to help her get by as she is forcefully housebound.

Marc, an old friend-turned-boyfriend, wants to be the savior of Mia. However, not long after he moves in, strange things begin happening in the house. Is it a supernatural entity or a very human one? Perhaps those pesky reporters trying to get Mia on camera?!

Important issues and lots of symbolism

While House of Ashes manages to cover a lot of important issues, it also tends to abandon them. I was very intrigued by the terrible house arrest brought on by a miscarriage, which undoubtedly is rooted in grief. And also, the accusation that Mia killed her beloved husband.

However, the whole pro-life legislation and miscarriage element seems to disappear.

Instead, there’s a switch to elements of the story that we can’t be sure are actually happening. Or rather, if they are, then they are clearly supernatural or paranormal in nature.

Also, there is a lot of symbolism in this movie, which includes the use of colored lights. It’s giallo-inspired all the way, which has become a bit of an annoyance of mine. I feel it’s used too much and in ways it shouldn’t.

However, I also recognize it’s my pet peeve, so I won’t let it reflect my overall opinion. Also, I do love it when done in a way that I feel improves or helps the storytelling.

Watch House of Ashes on Digital now

House of Ashes is the feature film debut of Izzy Lee. An impressive debut, even with the flaws, I feel it has as well. This debut is prominently featured in Fangoria’s October 2025 print magazine, which is probably one of the best ways to debut with a horror movie.

Izzy Lee is an American filmmaker and author, whom I expect we’ll see more of in the coming years. I especially look forward to seeing whether this giallo-style will be honed or if we’ll see a whole new style from the filmmaker.

In the press material, I noticed House of Ashes was described as “phantasmagoric and thought-provoking”, which I think is an accurate description… to a point.

If the story elements focusing on those thought-provoking elements had been followed, it would have been a strong movie. However, I still think House of Ashes is worth checking out, and I look forward to watching and reviewing the next Izzy Lee movie.

House of Ashes will be released on digital channels on October 30, 2025.

Details

Director: Izzy Lee
Cast: Fayna Sanchez, Vincent Stalba, Lee Boxleitner, Mason Conrad, Laura Dromerick, Joe Lynch, Mick Garris

Plot

Grieving widow Mia must survive psychological and supernatural horrors while under house arrest in House of Ashes.

LAZARUS on Prime Video is a new Harlan Coben crime thriller series with a supernatural element. It stars Sam Claflin and Bill Nighy, and is told in six episodes. Read our full Lazarus series review here!

Harlan Coben’s LAZARUS is a new Prime Video series with a crime thriller plot that includes supernatural elements. This is not usually something we see from Harlan Coben, and while I am okay with this element, the characters aren’t great.

Well, some of the characters are good, but I found myself getting really tired of the main protagonist very fast. I do believe that’s the intention, but only to a point. And, to me, it went way beyond any acceptable “point”.

The series has just six episodes, and all were watched for this review.

Continue reading our Harlan Coben’s Lazarus series review below. Find all episodes on Prime Video from October 22, 2025.

A son and his father

In essence, Harlan Coben’s Lazarus is the story of Joel “Laz” Lazarus (Sam Claflin), who tries to understand his father (and a past tragedy) better. Laz returns home when his father, Dr. Jonathan Lazarus (Bill Nighy), has died.

His death is ruled a suicide, but only a strange and short note has been left behind. This leads to Laz looking into his father’s most recent case. Before long, he starts having paranormal experiences when he’s in his father’s office.

Obviously, he can’t explain those experiences. And he especially can’t explain how he suddenly knows things that can solve crimes and cold cases.

Could this newfound skill of communicating with his father and his past patients help him solve the mystery of his father’s death? And possibly even the tragic murder of his twin sister that happened 25 years ago?!

Would you please stop yelling?!

I usually like seeing Sam Claflin in most things. From The Hunger Games franchise to Enola Holmes, Every Breath You Take, and, particularly, The Nightingale.

However, as Joel “Laz” Lazarus, he drove me crazy.

There is a lot of yelling in this series. Only surpassed, really, by Jason Clarke in The Last Frontier. When Laz isn’t yelling at someone and claiming that yet another person is “the one who killed his father”, then he is whining.

Those emotional outbursts can be extremely powerful, but not when they happen multiple times. Per episode, I might add.

Fortunately, we have Bill Nighy (The First Omen) as the counterbalance. He is calm as a cucumber in both flashbacks and as a ghost.

Also delivering some balance are Alexandra Roach (Bodies) as Laz’s sister, Jenna, and David Fynn (The Mauritanian) as Seth, a police officer and childhood friend of Laz. These two are truly wonderful characters in Lazarus.

Watch the Lazarus series on Prime Video

The Lazarus miniseries is based on an original story idea and written by the New York Times best-selling author Harlan Coben and BAFTA-winner Danny Brocklehurst (Fool Me Once). A damn solid starting point for any production.

Directors of the six episodes in the series are Wayne Che Yip (season 1 of Hunters), Nicole Volavka (The Pact),  and Daniel O’Hara (The Stranger).

For the most part, we’ve enjoyed series based on Harlan Coben stories. Whether Polish, British, French, or Spanish productions, they just work! Including the one with teenage main characters, which was also a Prime Video production.

Well, with a few exceptions, I must admit. For me, Lazarus is ultimately one of those exceptions, and I did not see that coming. Reading about it and watching the trailer, I loved the darker and more horror-adjacent vibe.

Unfortunately, the story just wasn’t impressive, and a few characters were just too annoying. Still, if you’ve enjoyed most Harlan Coben productions so far, you should obviously check it out for yourself. Maybe you’ll enjoy it more!

All 6 episodes of Lazarus are on Prime Video from October 22, 2025.

Details

Director: Wayne Che Yip, Nicole Volavka, Daniel O’Hara
Writers: Harlan Coben & Danny Brocklehurst
Cast: Sam Claflin, Bill Nighy, Alexandra Roach, David Fynn, Karla Crome, Kate Ashfield

Plot

Based on an original story idea and written by Harlan Coben and Danny Brocklehurst. Lazarus follows a man who returns home after his father’s suicide and begins to have disturbing experiences that can’t be explained. He quickly becomes entangled in a series of cold-case murders as he grapples with the mystery of his father’s death and his sister’s murder 25 years ago.

GOOD BOY is a new supernatural thriller made from the point of view of a dog. I loved this angle for a genre movie. The lead actor dog is absolutely mesmerising. Read our full Good Boy movie review here and watch it in US theaters!

GOOD BOY is a supernatural thriller starring a dog. Also, it’s made from the point of view of a dog, and while this may seem like a gimmick to some people, it makes perfect sense to me.

NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH…

Norwegian horror movie Good Boy, which is also worth watching >

It’s worth noting that the runtime is just 1 hour and 12 minutes, so it’s a pretty quick watch. However, it’s also very intense as we follow Indy the dog in every single scene. It’s tight storytelling and also very heartbreaking.

Continue reading our Good Boy movie review below. Find it playing in US theaters from October 3, 2025.

A classic haunted house story

At its core, Good Boy is a classic haunted house story. The twist is that this story is told from the point of view of the dog. In this canine thriller, the dog is Indy, and he notices everything.

When something goes bump in the night or a shadow suddenly crosses the room, Indy pays attention and notices it. His human does not, so it’s up to Indy to figure out what’s going on.

This may sound very cutesy, and Indy is absolutely adorable. However, this is also a scary movie with a heartbreaking storyline.

IF YOU LIKE THIS, CHECK OUT…

Netflix’s Nightmares of Nature – a perfect companion piece >

Indy and his human, Todd (Shane Jensen), make the move from the city to an actual cabin in the woods. A home that used to belong to Josh’s deceased grandfather (Larry Fessenden).

Indy is wary of this old house from the moment they arrive, but his love for Todd means he does all he can to protect him. Especially, as some sinister dark force seems intent on pulling Todd into the afterlife.

And what’s with that basement? It’s like something out of The Conjuring universe.

How did the filmmaker come up with such a premise?

According to the director, the premise of Good Boy is based on the classic “What if” starting point. After rewatching Poltergeist in 2012, the idea “What if the family dog was the only one who knew the house was haunted?” came about.

The rest, as they say, is now cinematic history.

It took three years of working with Indy for Ben Leonberg and Kari Fischer to get this brilliant performance out of their actor dog, and the result is definitely worth their effort.

Does the dog survive in Good Boy?

Yes, Indy the dog does survive in Good Boy, which is a supernatural thriller (and horror movie at times), so usually no one can feel safe in those.

For the record, this is the one spoiler I make a point of including (we don’t do spoilers here at Heaven of Horror otherwise). I want to know whether an animal survives, and I know I’m not alone.

In fact, after the trailer for Good Boy was released, searches for “Does the dog die?!” skyrocketed. And no, the dog does not die. This is his story, and he will make it out alive, but he does go through an actual horror story!

Watch Good Boy in theaters – later on Shudder

The director of Good Boy is Ben Leonberg, and he is also Indy’s human, which explains why we get such a mesmerizing performance from this dog actor. Ben Leonberg also wrote the screenplay with Alex Cannon.

Among the producers, we find Indy’s other human, Kari Fischer, so this really was a family affair. When it comes to human actors, the only actor whose face we really see is Larry Fessenden (Depraved, Jakob’s Wife).

The rest of the cast consists of actors who are never seen fully on screen. Well, with the exception of Shane Jensen, who portrays Indy’s human in the movie. The other actors in the cast are Arielle Friedman, Anya Krawcheck & Stuart Rudin.

I feel like we’ve been hearing stories about this movie for years already, but I recognize it hasn’t been that long. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to catch it at various film festivals, so I was thrilled to finally get the chance now.

Anyone who loves dogs and can handle watching scary movies (yes, this is a scary movie) should definitely check out Good Boy.

Good Boy is out in U.S. Theaters from October 3, 2025. It will also be out on Shudder at a later date.

Details

Director: Ben Leonberg
Writers: Alex Cannon & Ben Leonberg
Starring: Larry Fessenden, Arielle Friedman, Indy, Shane Jensen, Anya Krawcheck & Stuart Rudin

Plot

A loyal dog moves to a rural family home with his owner, only to discover supernatural forces lurking in the shadows. As dark entities threaten his human companion, the brave pup must fight to protect the one he loves most.

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.

HOUSE ON EDEN is a new found footage horror movie. It’s also an indie production, and manages to be one of the fairly few in that niche that absolutely works. This is clearly a passion project. Read our full House of Eden movie review here!

HOUSE ON EDEN is an indie found footage horror movie. And yes, we have watched quite a lot of those over the years. However, this one is made by people who create online content for a living, which means it comes across remarkably realistic.

Sure, there is the classic shaky-cam during many scenes, but that’s the curse of “found footage”. You get everything and not just the best shots. However, once the main horror story begins, the cameras have been set up, and the threat of motion sickness subsides.

Continue reading our House on Eden movie review below. Find it in U.S. theaters from July 25, 2025 (it will be on Shudder later).

A never-explored house in the woods

For Paranormal investigators Kris, Celina, and their videographer Jay, something new is needed. They’re on the road to make fresh content for their YouTube channel, but Kris has a surprise plan.

Without including the rest of the crew, she’s made sure they’re headed for a place that none of them has ever heard of. Well, Kris has obviously just heard of this haunted house, but no one else has.

So, now they’re going to a supposedly haunted and abandoned house deep in the woods. The house is known as “House on Eden”. From the moment they arrive, things are eerie. To put it mildly.

Despite being supposedly long abandoned, there is not a speck of dust in the place, and the flowers and garden outside look very well kept. Before long, they will encounter horror unlike anything they’ve witnessed before. Yes, really.

Could this eerie house truly have an ancient, malevolent presence? Or is there a cult, which is another possible rumor? They don’t know much about this place, which may result in good content but could also cost them their lives.

Content Creators making Horror Feature Films

House on Eden feels like a true passion project, and the chemistry between the very few people in the cast is amazing. Before we even get to the horror (and it will come), I was completely on board with this crew of people making YouTube videos about haunted places.

Having content creators move on to feature films is still a fairly new concept, but we have experienced some amazing movies from them. Being successful on social media or YouTube is very different from traditional filmmaking, but these creators are filmmakers.

Milk & Serial is another great example of content creators moving on to making a feature film. Also, the twins behind Talk to Me and Bring Her Back began as content creators.

Now, don’t confuse these with the classic Kardashian-type influencers. They are also experts, but in the field of advertising and marketing, not in making great content without being paid.

Content creators are effectively people making short films (often comedy or horror), which means the step is more about going from short films to feature films than anything else. Talent is talent, and the House on Eden crew clearly has talent!

Watch House on Eden in theaters now

House on Eden is a feature film debut from content creators Kris Collins (@KallMeKris) and Celina Myers (@CelinaSpookyBoo). The two collectively have a dedicated audience of over 75 million TikTok followers. Not a bad way to help sell tickets, and this deserves to sell tickets!

Both star in the movie, which was written and directed by Kris Collins. Finally, Jason-Christopher Mayer (Nobody Gets Out Alive) is the third member of this core cast.

This feels like a true passion project, and the chemistry between the very few people in the cast is amazing. A very good starting point and not a given.

The runtime is 78 minutes, so just shy of 1 hour and 20 minutes, which works extremely well for the plot and storytelling. I didn’t expect too much from this horror movie, so I was pleasantly surprised. Horror fans should want to check this one out!

House on Eden is out in U.S. theaters from July 25, 2025. It will also be on Shudder at a later date!

Details

Director: Kris Collins
Starring: Kris Collins (‪@kallmekris‬), Celina Myers (‪@CelinaSpookyBoo‬), Jason-Christopher Mayer

Plot

When Kris, Celina, and their videographer Jay set out to film a paranormal investigation, they expect the usual chills and shadows. But when their plans are mysteriously rerouted to a pristine, abandoned house deep in the woods, what unfolds is far beyond anything they’ve encountered before. As the night continues, strange behavior, a missing crew, and a chilling atmosphere suggest that something far more ancient is at play.

THE WAILING (2024) is a new Supernatural Horror movie that stays with you long after the end credits. The story is universal and haunting in terrifying ways. Screening at Fantasia 2025. Read our full The Wailing (org. title: El llanto) movie review here!

THE WAILING (2024) is a new horror movie currently screening at Fantasia 2025. It screened at Sitges 2024 and continues to win over audiences worldwide. This supernatural horror movie feels very real and relatable in ways you may not expect.

NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH

The amazing South Korean movie The Wailing from 2016 >

The story spans both decades and continents, as the same entity appears to be targeting young women. However, don’t think men can be safe either. A vibe of both It Follows and Terrified without being too similar to either.

Continue reading our The Wailing movie review below.

Across time and countries

The Wailing begins in modern-day Madrid, where Andrea is dealing with a lot of huge changes to her life. Not only does she discover the truth of her own origin, but she also witnesses a loved one being murdered, and no one believes her.

She is being haunted by a strange and terrifying entity that she can’t even see. But she can feel him. Trying to explain something you don’t understand yourself, or even see, makes you come across as being crazy.

We soon find out that someone else had a very similar experience twenty years ago. This happened both decades ago and thousands of miles away, in La Plata in Argentina. In this instance, it was Marie being tormented by the very same presence.

From bad to worse to deadly

There’s also a third woman, Camila, who knows what is going on. However, nobody will believe her. In other words, we’re dealing with women being attacked and assaulted, but not believed.

Without any good description of the perpetrator or any proof of the events, it’s impossible to get any help. Outside of suggestions of medication or a stint in a psychiatric ward.

What all these women have in common is also that they will hear the same, terrible sound. The sound of a ghostly wailing (from a woman) will overwhelm their senses. And it appears to come from an empty apartment.

The stars of The Wailing should be familiar to many genre fans of Spanish-language productions. We have Ester Expósito (Someone Has to Die), Mathilde Ollivier (Overlord, 1899), and Malena Villa (El angel).

The Wailing is screening at Fantasia 2025

This is a feature debut from director/co-writer Pedro Martín-Calero, and I am extremely impressed. He started as a cinematographer and then directed a string of popular shorts and commercials. Also, he directed music videos, including for The Weeknd.

For me, expectations were fairly high due to the screenplay being co-scripted by Isabel Peña. She is a brilliant screenwriter who previously wrote on projects like The Beasts, May God Save Us, and The Chalk Line. To name just a few!

The Wailing was, in part, inspired by the writing of Mariana Enríquez, which I am not familiar with. Though now I think I should. I adored just about everything about this movie and even the ending, which I’m sure will baffle (maybe even annoy) some viewers.

The Wailing (org. title: El llanto) is reviewed as part of our Fantasia 2025 coverage.

Details

Director: Pedro Martín-Calero
Writers: Pedro Martín-Calero, Isabel Peña
Cast: Ester Expósito, Mathilde Ollivier, Malena Villa

Plot

In modern-day Madrid, Andrea’s world is being turned violently upside-down, haunted by a terrifying entity that she can neither see, understand, or explain. Twenty years ago, thousands of miles away, in La Plata, Marie is being tormented by the very same presence. A third woman, Camila, has a gut-wrenching understanding of what’s happening, but nobody will believe her. In their darkest moments, each will hear the same, terrible sound. A ghostly wailing will overwhelm their senses.

NOISE is a South Korean horror movie that just screened at Fantasia 2025. It deals with a topic most people are able to relate to: Noisy neighbors. Especially if you live in an apartment complex. Read our full Noise movie review here!

NOISE is a South Korean horror movie that offers elements of psychological thriller as well as supernatural horror. I watched this just before the Netflix movie Wall to Wall (also from South Korea), and they have very similar premises.

Or rather, they begin the same way, but then differ wildly as they evolve. If you’ve watched the Netflix movie and want a real horror movie with a core plot about the struggles of having noisy neighbors, then you’ll want to watch Noise. At just 93 minutes, it’s much shorter.

Continue reading our Noise movie review below. Screened during Fantasia 2025.

Noise that drives you mad

In Noise, the title character of constant noisy neighbors is very relatable. And yet, the experiences of the people in this particular apartment is out of the extraordinary. We follow Joo-young (Lee Sun-bin), who deals with hearing loss and uses a hearing aid.

Obviously, this isn’t a bad thing when surrounded by noise. She can simply take off her hearing aid for some peace and quiet. Her young sister Ju-hee (Han Soo-a), however, doesn’t have this option. Maybe that’s why she’s going mad in this seemingly quiet neighbourhood.

Joo-young moves out to life in a dorm at her place of work, but then gets word that her sister has suddenly disappeared. That’s when she returns to the apartment and realises something is very wrong.

Not least with the man living in the apartment below hers, as he arrives at all hours of the day and night, complaining that she’s making noise. She isn’t, but she does hear noise from her own upstairs neighbors as well.

Out of this world?

The longer Ju-young (or Joo-young) stays at the apartment, she realizes something is very off. With brand new hearing aids and an app on her phone that detects when someone near her is speaking, she is having some strange experiences.

Could her sister’s disappearance have something to do with these strange noises? And where is that voice coming from?

Finally, there’s the very creepy and extremely foul-smelling basement full of trash. Could something be hidden in that room that no one wants to get near?!

With Noise being a horror movie with supernatural horror as an official genre, this story also includes something that seems to come from the beyond in some sense. However, just as with any zombie movie, you need to be careful of the supposedly “normal” people as well.

Noise is currently screening at film festivals

Director Kim Soo-jin and screenwriter Lee Je-hui have created a movie that gets under your skin and forces you to try and put yourself in the place of the characters. What would you do? How would you react in the same situation?

While Noise is a really good South Korean horror movie, it will not make it onto our “Best South Korean genre movies” list. As good as it is, I did actually find the new Netflix movie Wall to Wall to be more efficient and elegant.

Sure, that one is a psychological thriller, and this is a supernatural horror movie, so that plays a huge part. Having said that, I would always recommend checking out this horror movie as it has extremely efficient moments and a story that works well overall.

This movie did have me on the edge of my seat, but the ending was a bit of a letdown. Well, it was and it was not, as I loved part of the very final twist. Just not the one before that one.

The film premiered at Sitges in October 2024 and has been playing film festivals all over the world since then. It still is, so catch it if you get the chance. We’ll update this review with news about any wider releases that will make it easier to watch.

Noise (org. title: Noijeu) is screened and reviewed for our Fantasia 2025 coverage.

Details

Director: Kim Soo-jin
Writers: Lee Je-hui, Kim Yong-hwan
Cast: Lee Sun-bin, Kim Min-seok, Ryu Kyung-soo

Plot

A woman with a hearing impediment who is haunted by sounds linking to her sister’s disappearance and the presence of a malevolent spirit. It leads to a dark secret and the revelation of a mysterious entity.

825 FOREST ROAD on Shudder is a new horror movie from the creator of the HELL HOUSE LLC franchise. This could be his next franchise because, once again, it manages to hit a lot of horror sweet spots. Read our full 825 Forest Road movie review here!

825 FOREST ROAD is a new Shudder horror movie released as part of their “Halfway to Halloween” celebration. A concept I wish more streaming services would get behind. Then again, when isn’t it the perfect time for a good horror movie?!

This new horror movie is made with a fairly low budget but manages to accomplish more than movies with ten times the budget. It’s all about the passion and love of the genre – and without (too much) CGI. The runtime is right around 100 minutes, which worked for the plot.

Continue reading our 825 Forest Road movie review below. Find it on Shudder from April 4, 2025.

Welcome to Ashland Falls – cute and creepy

The story of 825 Forest Road is centered on Chuck (Joe Falcone), his wife Maria (Elizabeth Vermilyea), and little sister Isabelle (Kathryn Miller). The three are starting a new life in the wake of the death of Chuck and Isabelle’s mom.

It was a tragic car accident, but Isabelle was driving, so she blames herself.

To move into a home together as three young adults, they need a fairly big house. With a limited budget, an opportunity suddenly arises in classic horror movie fashion: A house is cheaper than it should be and has been empty and on the market for several years?!

Obviously, this is the wrong choice, but everything checks out on paper, so the three move to the quaint town of Ashland Falls. All too quickly, they will discover this cute town has a dark secret.

Apparently, the ghost of Helen Foster has been terrorizing the town residents for decades. It’s believed that the hauntings will end if someone can find 825 Forest Road, but it doesn’t seem to exist in the town any longer.

Also, anyone who tries to get to the bottom of things seems to die. By their own hand, it would appear. Chuck decides he needs to find 825 Forest Road… and so does Isabelle, but the two don’t work together. At first, anyway.

A story told from three points of view

In 825 Forest Road, the story is divided into four chapters. The first three chapters cover the events happening as a family moves into a new home. Strange things occur, and each of them experiences it differently and hears various rumors.

This could make for a quite repetitive movie-watching experience – not unlike time loop movies – but 825 Forest Road avoids this. Mostly by only having a few moments repeated in each of the three chapters.

The fourth chapter is when we move beyond this opening and get to the bottom of everything. Though it does, of course, still end with enough mystery that more movies could be made. And yes, I do hope we’ll get more movies about the town of Ashland Falls. Or spin-offs, maybe?!

Watch 825 Forest Road on Shudder

This new horror movie on Shudder comes from writer and director Stephen Cognetti. He also wrote and directed the Hell House LLC franchise. While that one was a found-footage franchise, 825 Forest Road is not, so it marks Stephen Cognetti’s first movie outside that niche in years.

I didn’t love all the Hell House LLC movies equally, but when does that ever happen anyway?! I always appreciated the focus on building suspense and horror without the overt use of special effects.

Instead, it’s things moving in the background or after you turn your back for a split second.

This is exactly what works so well for this new horror movie. I mean, this is the stuff of nightmares. The kind that you can’t wake up from but desperately want to escape. Well, except when it’s a movie, and you want to see how it all ends.

The more accurate rating for 825 Forest Road is closer to 3½ out of 5. We just don’t do half ratings, and the main reason we’re ending on 3 instead of 4 is the use of CGI. It’s not necessary. For me, it even takes away from the intense and extremely efficient horror that works so well.

825 Forest Road is exclusively streaming on Shudder from Friday, April 4, 2025.

Details

Writer & Director: Stephen Cognetti
Cast: Joe Bandelli, Brian Anthony Wilson, Mike Sutton, Monica Fleurette

Plot

After a family tragedy, Chuck Wilson hopes to start a new life in Ashland Falls with his wife Maria and little sister Isabelle, but he quickly discovers that the town has a dark secret.

THE PARENTING on Max is a star-studded comedy-horror film about a haunted house with a demonic presence. The cast alone is enough to make me want to rewatch this one. Read our full The Parenting movie review here!

THE PARENTING is a new Max Original comedy-horror film with the most amazing cast. Every time a new character showed up, it was another very familiar face delivering. In some cases, portraying a very atypical character but always nailing it.

And yes, this is a comedy-horror with the comedy being at the center, but the horror is also very much at the forefront. After all, this is about a haunted house with a demon wanting to enter this world through one of the guests. The runtime is 100 minutes.

Continue reading our The Parenting movie review below. Find it on Max from March 13, 2025.

Meet the Parents in a Haunted House

The Parenting follows the happy and loving young couple Rohan (Nik Dodani) and Josh (Brandon Flynn) right as they’re meeting and introducing their parents. This alone can be a somewhat tense ordeal – not least with different backgrounds and them being gay.

While their sexuality, which is obviously already known by their respective families, is never an issue, their parents are very different. This quickly makes for some awkward moments, and the perfect weekend getaway is about to turn very weird.

Rohan’s parents are the more traditional and well-educated Sharon (Edie Falco) and Frank (Brian Cox). Josh’s parents, on the other hand, are the happy-go-lucky and laid-back Liddy (Lisa Kudrow) and Cliff (Dean Norris).

Their differences will soon be the least of their problems as the gorgeous rental – managed by eccentric local Brenda (Parker Posey) – turns out to be haunted. Not by any cute little Casper the Friendly Ghost, but by the presence of a 400-year-old poltergeist.

Before long, one of the parents becomes possessed. Delicious practical effects (and very colorful language) make the shift quite brutal. And also very entertaining. It’s now up to the young couple and their BFF Sara (Vivian Bang) to unite the families and stop the demon.

A great cast having fun

While the storyline in The Parenting worked really well for me, I’m still very much aware that the casting is what made it all come together. From Nik Dodani (Twisters) and Brandon Flynn (Hellraiser) as the loving young couple, with Vivian Bang as their best friend, we were off to a great start.

Add Parker Posey (Mr. & Mrs. Smith series) to the mix as the couple arrives at the huge, gorgeous rental, and you know things are about to get freaky. Her hair alone was almost a character in itself, and I loved it.

Then Brian Cox (The Autopsy of Jane Doe) and Edie Falco (The Mother) show up as the very conservative parents of Rohan. They love their son but also have very high expectations. This leads to a new shift in the dynamic.

Mostly due to Rohan turning into a little boy trying to please his parents all the time.

Finally, Lisa Kudrow (No Good Deed) and Dean Norris (Carry-On) join them, and the situation changes yet again. Josh’s mom has brought along food as the most natural thing in the world. She only wants people to be happy and comfortable.

In the end, it becomes a kind of superpower that they are so different. Everyone can play to their strengths to help defeat a powerful poltergeist, which will only get confused by this very motley crew.

Watch The Parenting on Max

The Parenting is directed by Craig Johnson (The Skeleton Twins, School Spirits) and was written by Kent Sublette (Saturday Night Live, Lucky). It’s a classic genre-mix of a movie, and I do like those.

This Max Original comedy-horror film is the kind of movie that should leave you with a smile on your face. During the movie, you may experience jump scares, utter disgust, surprising laughter, and (sometimes) bewilderment.

I enjoyed it even though I recognize this hybrid isn’t for everyone. As someone who likes horror and comedy and how the genres can gel together, I was a happy camper. Will I watch it again? I just might, but mostly due to the cast.

The Parenting debuts on Max on March 13, 2025.

Details

Director: Craig Johnson
Script: Kent Sublette
Cast: Nik Dodani, Brandon Flynn, Brian Cox, Edie Falco, Lisa Kudrow, Dean Norris, Parker Posey, Vivian Bang

Plot

THE PARENTING follows young couple Rohan and Josh as they plan a perfect weekend getaway in the country to introduce their parents. As tensions begin to flare between the more traditional Sharon and Frank and the laid-back Liddy and Cliff, the families soon realize that their rental — managed by eccentric local Brenda — is haunted by the presence of a 400-year-old poltergeist. When one parent becomes thoroughly possessed, it’s up to the young couple and their meddlesome BFF Sara to unite the families and stop the evil entity once and for all.