Horror

Underseen Movie: John McNaughton’s ‘The Harvest’

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

“The Harvest” is one of those movies which completely took me off guard to where I had no real idea of where it was going. This is a very rare experience for me when watching movies these days as I typically have a pretty good idea of where the story is going to end up, so that makes this particular film from John McNaughton, which represents his first directorial effort in a decade by the way, all the more effective.

The prologue of “The Harvest” is designed to mess with your head a bit, so I prefer to let audiences witness it for themselves. Past this, we come to meet Maryann (Natasha Calis), a young girl who has just moved into her grandparents’ house following the death of her parents. This causes her great discomfort because, aside from losing her mom and dad, she is forced to start all over again in a new town where she is forced to make new friends again. Having been uprooted myself at such a young age, I can confirm this is a real inconvenience.

Eventually however, Maryann does make a new friend in Andy (Charlie Tahan), a very sick young boy who is confined to his home twenty-four hours and seven days a week, and he cannot move around without a wheelchair. Andy is constantly looked after by his parents, Katherine (Samantha Morton) and Richard (Michael Shannon), who are both constantly in conflict over how to best take care of him. Katherine is a doctor who constantly keeps Andy in a medicated state, and Richard constantly urges her to ease up and not overdo it. Suffice to say, these two people do not have the same relationship they had when they first wed.

Now that is all I want to tell you about the plot. What I can say tell you from here is that Maryann comes to make certain discoveries which turn hers and Andy’s life completely upside down. Watching a movie like “The Harvest” is la lot ice peeling away at an onion; you keep going through various layers in order to get to the center of things, and McNaughton and screenwriter Stephen Lancellotti reveal only so much as they keep stringing us along to the very end. Before we get to the revelation at the story’s core, we dare not take our eyes off the screen for a single second.

It was really great to see Samantha Morton here as she gives “The Harvest” its best performance. As Katherine, she gives a very multi-layered performance as we watch her go from being understanding and caring to becoming very uptight and furiously angry. When Morton stares down Calis in one scene, it makes for an incredibly tense moment as Morton looks like a snake just waiting to strike. Her’s is a very impressive performance as well as the kind which is not always found in horror movies. You are never sure whether to empathize with Katherine or fear her presence, and this proves to be a reminder of how powerful an actress Morton can be.

Michael Shannon is one of the best character actors working today and, as Richard, he has to play an emotionally muted character of sorts. At first, it seems like Shannon is doing too little onscreen, but the reason for Richard’s emotional numbness does become clear as the movie goes on. This is the kind of role where most actors get self-conscious and feel like they are not acting enough. Shannon, however, does not make this mistake, and it makes for another one of the many compelling performances we have come to expect from him.

McNaughton is the same filmmaker who gave us the feel-good movie of 1990, “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.” Trust me when I say I am not even going to bother comparing “The Harvest” to it because the one which famously starred Michael Rooker is a one-of-a-kind horror film which is hard to top in terms of bleak realism. “The Harvest,” in comparison, is more of a dark fairy tale that gets darker as it goes on, and it shows how gifted McNaughton is at creating suspense and maintaining it throughout a feature film.

Seriously, when you look at McNaughton’s resume, his work has never been merely confined to the one genre. He gave us the comedy-drama “Mad Dog and Glory” which had Robert De Niro, Bill Murray and Uma Thurman giving some of their most underrated performances ever, the erotic thriller “Wild Things” which did not even try to hide how gleefully trashy it was any more than it hid Kevin Bacon’s penis on the silver screen , the concert film of Eric Bogosian’s “Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll,” and the crime drama “Lansky” which starred Richard Dreyfuss as the famous gangster of the same name. While it may be understandable how many are unable to get past “Henry” as that film left a gaping psychological scar on those who sat all the way through it, McNaughton has managed to go from one genre to the next in a way audiences do not easily recognize. This makes him quite an underrated filmmaker.

Now “The Harvest” does have its flaws, some of which come from it being an understandably low budget production. The pacing could have been strengthened, and we just have to get that one scene where a child tells the truth of what is going on and quickly get rebuffed for no sane reason. It is always infuriating to me when adults quickly dismiss their children’s explanations as hooey because, from one generation to the next, the young ones still see right through their parents’ hypocrisy. Also, this movie ends on a note which leaves too many questions unanswered. Granted, I am all for ambiguous endings in movies, but the one “The Harvest” gives us does not provide much in the way of benefits.

All the same, I admired what McNaughton was able to pull off with here, and “The Harvest” kept my attention from start to finish. It always seems difficult to pull off such a suspenseful thriller these days, but he does accomplish his task here. There is also no forgetting Morton’s complex and frightening performance as a mother desperate to protect her child. Whatever you think of this movie, her work will stay with you for a time once the end credits have finished.

* * * out of * * * *

The Cast of ‘The Lazarus Effect’ Talks about Life After Death

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

WRITER’S NOTE: This article was originally written back in 2015.

The supernatural horror film “The Lazarus Effect” takes a cue from movies like “Frankenstein” and “Re-Animator” as it features a group of scientists who are intent on bringing the dead back to life. It stars Olivia Wilde and Mark Duplass as Zoe and Frank, a couple of medical professionals who have found a way to resurrect the deceased through the use of a serum they have named Lazarus. But during one experiment, Zoe suddenly gets electrocuted and dies, and Frank, in desperation, gives her the serum which successfully returns her to the land of the living. But in the process, Frank comes to discover that Zoe has developed some incredible abilities which makes him wonder if she brought something truly evil back from the dead with her.

One plot point in “The Lazarus Effect” concerns a nightmare Zoe keeps having where she is trapped in a burning house, and there is a door ahead of her which seems to have a raging fire waiting to burst out from behind it. Even more unsettling is that she also sees a pair of hands at the bottom of the door struggling to escape whatever fiery fate is coming their way. This nightmare gets a new meaning once Zoe is resurrected.

This nightmare reminding me of Joel Schumacher’s film “Flatliners” which starred Keifer Sutherland, Julia Roberts and Kevin Bacon as medical students who are very eager to discover what happens after you die. Each is made to die for a minute or two before they are resuscitated, and their afterlife proves to be a realm where they are tortured for the grievous and painful sins they committed in the past. Seeing that “The Lazarus Effect” kind of deals with the same thing, it made me wonder why these movies deal with the high psychic price to pay once we leave this mortal coil.

I got to ask the cast of “The Lazarus Effect” this during the film’s press conference held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles, California. To first to provide an answer was Donald Glover who plays the lab assistant, Niko. Best known for playing Troy Barnes on the cult television comedy “Community,” Glover said that death remains the one thing we don’t know about.

Donald Glover: I feel like we kind of live right now in a time where humans feel like we know everything now especially when we just pick up the phones and happily answer and people feel like everything is done. It’s like, “We did it guys! We have internet.” It was cool talking to Olivia (Wilde) and Mark (Duplass) about how people are actually doing research, and I was reading articles about doctors actually bringing people back to life. There was a New York cab driver who was like dead for, I think like, a while (laughs). They just brought him back, and now they are doing studies on post-death and stuff like that. This is why I really like this film. It felt special because there’s realness and people really don’t even understand what we are after that (death). I think it’s scary because we just don’t know it especially when we’re being told all the time we know everything.

Duplass followed up on Glover’s response by saying it reminded him of something he read about movies like “The Lazarus Effect.” In the process, he also elaborated on how the approach to this resurrection movie differed from others like it.

Mark Duplass: When a movie examines this type of subject matter, usually it’s either in the future or everyone is wearing some sort of like leathery, shiny black suits, and it’s kind of like not human (laughs). So, we all loved this idea, and that’s part of the reason David (Gelb, the director) cast a lot of us because maybe we’re more on the naturalistic side of performances, that we’re just so normal looking and normal acting research students going through this very un-normal thing. It was just exciting.

Indeed, death is something many of us do not want to think about, but the question of what happens to us when we pass away continues to linger in our minds. “The Lazarus Effect” is not meant to give a definitive answer to that, but along with “Flatliners,” it makes you want to make peace with all the bad things you did in your life before it is too late.

“The Lazarus Effect” is available on physical media and streaming platforms.

Attending the ‘Ouija’ Blu-ray Release Scavenger Hunt in Hollywood

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

WRITER’S NOTE: The following article is about a movie event I very much enjoyed attending back in 2015.

Members of the press and a few select horror fans were in for quite a treat when Universal Pictures, along with Think Jam, put together a special party in honor of the Blu-ray and DVD release for “Ouija,” one of 2014’s most popular horror movie releases. Guests were treated to a haunted scavenger hunt which had them walking up and down Hollywood Boulevard, and it was followed by a séance open-bar event held at Boardner’s by La Belle.

The séances were conducted by Robert Murch, a renowned Ouija expert and film consultant, and guests got to drink special cocktails with names like “Evil Elixir,” a combination of champagne and Absinthe (a favorite spirit liquor of mine). Also in attendance were “Ouija’s” director Stiles White, actress Bianca Santos who played Isabelle, and the CEO of Blumhouse Productions, Jason Blum.

I was lucky enough to be on the team which won the scavenger hunt, and my fellow teammates and I were given the sole opportunity to speak with Blum for a few minutes about “Ouija” and other films he is responsible for bringing to the screen. His company, Blumhouse Productions, has been behind some of the biggest horror franchises of the past few years which include “Paranormal Activity” and “The Purge,” and he was also a producer of Best Picture nominee “Whiplash.”

The Ouija board is often referred to as a talking board used in séances to communicate with spirits, and participants place their fingers on a planchette to spell out whatever the spirit is trying to say. Some see it as a harmless game of sorts, but others strongly fear that using Ouija boards can lead to demonic possession. I remember Ouija boards being used in a number of films like “The Exorcist” where Linda Blair tries to communicate with Captain Howdy, “Awakenings” in which the late Robin Williams utilizes one in an effort to make a connection with a seemingly comatose Robert De Niro, and one was used to frightening effect in “Paranormal Activity” when an invisible force sets it ablaze while nobody is home.

Since many of us were familiar with these boards in one way or another, I asked Blum if he wanted to show us something different about them that we have not seen previously in any other film. His response highlighted what he really tries to do with the movies he makes.

Jason Blum: Well, I’ve never seen anyone look through the planchette before. I think that’s a new thing, and I love that idea of looking through a glass into the world of ghosts. It’s hard to make an Ouija board dramatic, so we tried to figure out how to do that, and I think they did a pretty good job trying to make it feel original. But that’s what I always tell people when we are working on a movie; try and make it different. That’s very un-Hollywood.

It was very refreshing to hear Blum say this as many movie producers do not like to stray far from formulas, and horror films are typically governed by them to where it is very difficult to make one which stands out from the pack. Blum agrees there are a lot of repeats to be found in the realm of motion pictures, but he remains intent on doing things differently on the horror films he produces. He openly admits that he does not always succeed, but there is no doubt that he definitely tries.

“Ouija” is available to own and rent on physical media and streaming services.

Winnie-the-Pooh and the Bloody Movie That’s NOT for Kids

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

It was released back in 2023, but I still have not seen “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey.” This is a horror film which came about when A.A. Milne’s “Winnie-the-Pooh” went into public domain and led filmmaker Rhys Frake-Waterfield to concoct this tale of the “silly old bear” turning into a viciously feral animal after Christopher Robin leaves the Hundred Acre Wood for college. Piglet joins Pooh on a murderous rampage when a group of young female university students make the mistake of renting a cabin in the Hundred Acre Wood.

Like I said, I have not watched “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey.” While the idea of turning this chubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff into a slasher this side of Freddy Krueger, Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees seems to promise an entertaining and trashy time at the movies, watching the trailer made me believe the filmmakers did nothing more than simply give audiences another generic horror movie with the usual cliches which have defined this genre far too often. Plus, Eeyore is not in this film, and everybody who knows me knows I have been a die-hard Eeyore fan forever. Had this clinically depressed donkey had a bigger role, I would have given it a look.

Anyway, I bring this up because I was recently reminded of a news story from October 2023 when a fourth-grade teacher at a charter school in Florida, in this case The Academy of Innovative Education, ended up showing his students this poorly reviewed horror flick. From what I have been told, the teacher showed his students this film because they selected it from the various options given to them, but they eventually asked the teacher to turn it off as they in no way expected this “silly old bear” to commit heinous acts of violence.

Understandably, the children were traumatized, and the parents were very pissed off (can you blame them?). One parent, Michelle Diaz, said she felt “completely abandoned” by the school, and that it was not up to the children to decide what movie to watch in the slightest. She also added that the teacher should have researched its content before anything else, and I could not agree with her more.

Seriously, what was this teacher thinking? There are so many ways you can research a movie and its content. You can check its rating, and whether it is rated G, PG, PG-13, R or NC-17, there is a description underneath as to why the movie is rated as such. And when it comes to R-rated motion pictures, the descriptions are always tremendously entertaining. Take Rob Zombie’s magnum opus, “The Devil’s Rejects,” for example. The theatrical cut was rated R for “sadistic violence, strong sexual content, language, and drug use.” Now this should be enough of a reason to avoid taking your five-year-old to see it, and not just because you cannot afford a babysitter. For others, it may prove to be a major selling point. Horror buffs in particular will look at this description and say to one another, “Gnarly! Let’s check it out!”

Now in the case of “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey,” it was released unrated, so it may not have come with such a description. I am not even sure if this cinematic work of speculative fiction was even screened for the MPA (formerly the MPAA). Had it been, I imagine they would have neutered the hell out of it as if it were the average “Friday the 13th” sequel.

In addition, you can find out so much about any film if you visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDB), you can have the plotline and events completely spoiled for you on Wikipedia, you can check on Rotten Tomatoes if it has a fresh or rotten score, and the reviews on the site should give you a solid idea if it is appropriate or not for a preschooler. There are other websites out there designed for parents to inform of them of inappropriate material for children in a movie. Please reply in the comments if you know of any specific websites like those. I know they are lurking out there somewhere on the world wide web.

Now at this point, many will say that Winnie the Pooh is in this movie’s title, and that the name brings about feelings and images of innocence, friendships and cuddly animals we all want plush toys out of. This A.A. Milne creation does not bring up any quick comparisons to “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer,” and seeing him wear a hockey mask like Jason Voorhees was unthinkable for decades.

But here’s the thing: the word “blood” is in this movie’s title. Doesn’t that word trigger anybody anymore? Did that Miami teacher even take this into account? I mean, how many other “Winnie the Pooh” stories, specials and movies have featured the word “blood” in the title? There was the “Blustery Day,” there was “Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too,” there was another about the honey tree Pooh was jonesing to get into, and there is no forgetting the day with Eeyore (my personal favorite).

What else could have been implied by having the word “blood” in the title of this deeply twisted motion picture? I shudder to think as it would surely make both Walt Disney and A.A. Milne roll over in their graves, cryogenic or otherwise. Imagine the following cinematic scenario:

“Pooh, what are doing?”

“I found something sweeter than honey, Christopher Robin. It’s the blood of Christ!”

“Silly old bear!”

“No, seriously. I am here to save your soul!”

But hey, the implications of this movie title could get even worse and more unimaginable. Just think:

“Christopher Robin! What is that?”

“Kanga is menstruating Pooh. Want to take a closer look?”

“Oh bother, I have now lost my appetite for honey!”

Imagine Piglet observing this taking place. He would have ended up having the mother of all panic attacks.If he could get a word out in the process, that would have been extraordinary.

So basically, you cannot convince me that you are not being well-informed on movies being released today. All sorts of warning signs are there for you to research, and that’s regardless of whether or not you are a Miami schoolteacher. Please do not tell me you were not warned. As for the children, I hope they got the mental health talk they needed. What may seem silly and cheap to us adults is a child’s horrific horror show. Granted, “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” was made for only $50,000 dollars, and the trailer does not betray its low budget and reeks of severe cheapness, but even the cheapest character mask can be every bit as traumatizing as watching the horse Artax drown in “The Neverending Story.”

Meanwhile, “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” has come to inspire the Twisted Childhood Universe which has filmmakers taking such lovable characters from our childhood and turning them into bloodthirsty slashers. So far, we have gotten “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare,” “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio: Unstrung” was just released overseas. Other twisted childhood movies in development include “Awakening Sleepy Beauty,” “Snow White Returns” “Tigger’s Return,” and there is another coming featuring Mary Poppins. As for America, we have gotten “Popeye the Slayer Man,” and “Screamboat” which is a shameless reimagining of “Steamboat Willie” where a group of New Yorkers get terrified by a monstrous mouse. Canada has gifted everyone “Mickey’s Mouse Trap” which has a hypnotized manager wearing a Mickey face who terrorizes innocent people in an amusement arcade, and a sequel is currently in development.

As for myself, I am waiting for “Eeyore Resurrection” which could be something along the lines of “In a Violent Nature.” Whereas the corpse of serial killer Johnny rose from the dead to reclaim the locket stolen from him, Eeyore could rise from the dead to retrieve his tail which, apparently, was used as a weapon in “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey.” Eeyore could be threatening innocents with a machete, and one could be pleading for their life to where the depressed donkey could raise his machete in the air and say, “So long little butterfly!”

Or maybe Eeyore could be chasing other teenagers down in a car equipped with some kind of buzzsaw on the hood. While they try to run away from Eeyore’s death machine, he could be saying to himself, “Can’t avoid the inevitable!”

Seriously, we could have Busta Rhymes co-star in this, and it could one of the most penultimate moments a horror movie could ever have:

“Who are you?”

“I’M A HEFFALUMP, MUTHA FUCKA!!!”

But not to worry, I will make sure parents know it is not appropriate for most children. As artists, we do have the responsibility to warn others.

Seriously, have to have a strong idea of what you are about to watch.

‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ Movie and 4K Review

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

“The Conjuring: Last Rites” is the final film in “The Conjuring” franchise, which has been wildly popular and a staple in the horror genre since the first film was released in 2013. In total, it is the ninth film in “The Conjuring” universe, which also includes the two “Nun” films along with three “Annabelle” films. While not all of them have been home runs, there is a certain style and craftsmanship that goes into the films which is hard to ignore. Most of all, the films are powered by the powerful performances of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren, the paranormal investigators who love helping those in trouble, but not as much as they love each other. They are the lifeblood of these films. Without them being the emotional compass, the films would simply be ghost stories with some jump scares here and there.

This film opens in 1964, as Ed and Lorraine Warren are investigating a mysterious murder at an antique shop while Lorraine is pregnant. While there, she comes across a mirror which holds ominous and sinister forces within it, which almost causes her to lose her child, Judy, during childbirth. Fast forward to two decades later, and Judy (Mia Tomlinson) is in a relationship with a former police officer named Tony (Ben Hardy), and they are on their way to meet up with the Warrens for Ed’s birthday party. Ed and Lorraine are in semi-retirement because of Ed’s heart, and they mostly are giving tours on college campuses, which are usually met with jokes about the Ghostbusters. They are struggling to find their purpose in life without being full-time paranormal investigators. Ed has the itch to get back into things, but he needs to look out for his health and slowdown, which isn’t coming naturally to him.

Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, the Smurl family, which includes the husband, wife, four daughters and two grandparents, are starting to have some real challenges after they come across a haunted mirror that was given as a gift to one of the daughters after her first communion. At the same time, Judy is starting to have visions, the same ones she had when she was younger. Her mother tells her to block them out, but that’s becoming harder to do each and every day. It won’t be long before the Warrens and the Smurls are forced to confront their problems and figure out how they are connected to each other and how they can fix them. If they don’t, it may be fatal for all parties involved.

“The Conjuring: Last Rites” is directed by Michael Chaves, who is no stranger to this franchise, having directed the previous “Conjuring” film along with “The Nun 2.” He’s a talented director, and he knows how to create an atmospheric film that is moody and ominous, and he shows off the time and place in which it is set.  Chaves knows how to create haunting horror imagery on screen, but he doesn’t quite know how to make it all pay off in the third act. It also doesn’t help that the film is two hours and fifteen minutes, which makes it the longest film in “The Conjuring” universe. While it held my attention for a very long time, the payoff didn’t feel satisfying.  It left me feeling like the film ended on a flat and rather unremarkable note. All of the performances are top-notch, especially from Wilson and Farmiga. They know how to bring humor, pathos and intelligence to the film.

Overall, this is a case of trying to create the same magic time and time again, but sometimes it simply isn’t there. By no means is this a bad film, but it doesn’t have the impact or power it should have, especially considering this is the final film in this franchise. Of course, they can always do more “Annabelle” or “Nun” films, but as far as “The Conjuring” franchise, this is the end. However, you can’t always believe that when it comes to horror films, especially considering the money this one made. It is entertaining and made with style, but it doesn’t know how to wrap things up in a concise and efficient manner. By the time the shit hits the fan, the film has overstayed its welcome.  These films are best when they are about one hour and forty-five minutes, or maybe two hours. Anything longer than that, and they are overstaying their welcome.  There is no need for this film to be two hours and fifteen minutes.  There are certain scenes which feel like they would have been better as deleted scenes instead of being included in the final cut.

“The Conjuring: Last Rites” is a film I enjoyed watching until I started to become disinterested and restless by what was happening on screen. I liked a good majority of it, but as stated previously, it really falls apart in the third act.  It had a feeling of “been there, done that.”  The strong points include the performances of its two leads, the direction of Michael Chaves, and the overall style and look.  Its weaker points include its length and its ending.  I was happy to have watched it and it’s a fun horror movie, but it didn’t have the sense of urgency and power of the previous installments in this franchise.

* * ½ out of * * * *

4K Info: “The Conjuring: Last Rites” is released on a single-disc 4K from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.  It comes with an impressive slipcover and a digital copy as well. It also comes in a steelbook version.  It has a running time of 135 minutes and is rated R for bloody and violent content along with intense terror.

4K Video/Audio Info: The film comes with a Dolby Vision transfer, which looks perfect on 4K.  The HDR really brings out the dark blacks of the film and creates a spooky experience watching it at home.  The same is true of the Dolby Atmos track, which really pops during the jump scares which are sprinkled throughout.

Special Features:

Last Rites: An Era Ends – featurette

The Conjuring: Crafting Scares – featurette

Michael Chaves: Believer – featurette

Should You Buy It?

As I was watching “The Conjuring: Last Rites” with my wife for the first hour and a half, I was saying to her, “I’m really enjoying this movie.  It has me on the edge of my seat, and the story is unfolding perfectly.” However, all of that good mojo started to fade in the rearview mirror by the time the film was wrapping things up with its third act.  I started to become fatigued and disinterested in the conclusion of the story. It took a long time to get where they needed to go, and when they finally did wrap things up, it didn’t seem to matter much anymore. Still, this is an OK film that will play well on HBO Max or on streaming. I don’t think it’s the kind of film you need to run out and purchase right away, unless you want to own all four of “The Conjuring” films on physical media. I’m still waiting for the second film to hit 4K, which will hopefully be very soon. This film looks and sounds terrific on 4K, and I really liked the slipcover version of it. I really wanted to recommend it, but the ending was flatter than four o’clock.

**Disclaimer** I received a copy of this film from Warner Bros. to review for free.  The opinions and statements in the review are mine and mine alone.

‘The Toxic Avenger’ Remake Review by Tony Farinella

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

“The Toxic Avenger” franchise has always held a special place in my heart as a horror fan. The films have heart, humor, and some fantastic practical effects. When I heard that they were going to remake the film, I was interested in seeing how it would all come together. I’m not one of those horror fans who thinks all remakes are sacrilegious and should never be done. To me, a lot of the great horror films from the 1980’s could use a fresh coat of paint and some reimagining. It’s about taking the original concept and adding a unique perspective while keeping the spirit of the film alive. The remake of “The Toxic Avenger” is finally being released in theaters after being delayed the last couple of years.

This time, our hero Toxie is played by Peter Dinklage as a single father who is trying to provide a good life for his stepson, Wade, played by Jacob Tremblay. Toxie is doing the best he can after his wife passed away, but he’s recently discovered he has serious health problems of his own. Since he’s a janitor for the corrupt BT Healthstyle, a Big Pharma-type company, it isn’t exactly like he’s rolling in dough. It also doesn’t help that the company’s CEO, Kevin Bacon, is a selfish and corrupt individual who is only concerned about his company’s bottom line. Bacon is terrific at playing these slimy greaseballs, as he played a similar character in 2024’s “MaXXXine.” He seems to really relish the chance to play an asshole with zero redeeming qualities.

When Winston, aka Toxie, ends up finding himself submerged in toxic waste, his life is going to change in ways he never thought possible. Now, he’s a hero to everyone around him, as he’s on a mission to get revenge for those who have been wronged by BT Healthstyle, including a young whistleblower played by Taylour Paige, who lost her mother due to the harmful ingredients of this evil company. She knows their dirty little secrets, and she wants to make sure the truth is out there. Along the way, there is some violence which is going to be unleashed by Toxie, as he’s a man of the people, despite the fact he’s horribly disfigured.

I really wanted to fall in love with “The Toxic Avenger,” but the whole experiment felt like it was a movie where there was too much going on all at once. With a horror film like this, I’m looking for gruesome kills, goofy and outlandish set pieces, and gut-busting, wink-at-the-camera genuine laughs. This film goes back and forth between being a serious melodrama and an R-rated horror flick, but it’s not as ridiculous as it needs to be.  The spirit of Troma is to be offensive, nasty, and in-your-face. I’m not going to say the film is a PG-13 horror film, but they didn’t go for the all out, balls-to-the-wall insanity one would expect. Another bright spot out of the cast is Elijah Wood, as Fritz Garbinger, the hunched over and grotesque brother of Bob Garbinger (Kevin Bacon).

One of the biggest problems with the film is the performance of Peter Dinklage as Toxie. He does the voice work and the acting scenes while Luisa Guerreiro is behind the suit and prosthetics, and the performance is too serious and earnest for its own good. When the film does call for him to have some fun with the overall silliness of the premise, he doesn’t seem to be willing or able to participate in the proper way. This film needed to play things bigger, badder, and more over-the-top. Instead, it fluctuates in tone, and none of them work well enough to make a memorable impression on the audience. After a while, I found myself bored and disinterested by “The Toxic Avenger.” It made me wonder why it took so long to get released as nothing in the final cut was terribly offensive or gory. From people who have seen both cuts of the film, they have said not a whole lot was cut since they first saw it in 2023.

If you are going to commit to remaking a Troma film, there are two ways you can do it: You can either take it one step further than your predecessor, or you can take it in an entirely different direction. This film didn’t go in either direction. Troma films never cared about being accessible to a mainstream audience. They just wanted to make films which were low-budget schlock for B-movie fans who enjoyed horror that was big on creativity and low on budget.  I also don’t think you can make a “Toxic Avenger” movie in 2025 or even in 2023, when the film was originally supposed to be released. Times are different, and you have a tough job as a studio trying to make a gory and goofy horror movie that will make money at the box office for a mainstream audience. I wouldn’t call the film a total failure, but it’s a big disappointment.

* * out of * * *

Should You See It?

This is a film without a true audience. I don’t believe fans of the original franchise and character will find a whole lot to like with this updated version. If anything, it made me want to watch the original all over again and enjoy it for its raunchy goofiness. As far as modern audiences, you will get the horror fans who will see any horror movie because of the upcoming spooky season, but I don’t think they will connect with it as it’s not an established character for mainstream audiences. “The Toxic Avenger” has never been Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers. Tonally, the film is all over the place, and it doesn’t do one thing particularly well. The cast is fine, it looks good and it’s not a terrible movie, but it’s very underwhelming as a finished product. For diehard horror fans, they might want to check it out when it hits digital platforms for streaming. For everyone else, there isn’t a lot to like here.

“THE TOXIC AVENGER” will be released In Theaters on August 29, 2025

‘The Conjuring’ Movie and 4K Review

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

When it comes to horror movies, you look for them to be written and directed by fans of the genre, as they bring a sense of passion and enthusiasm which might be missing by someone who is just doing it for the paycheck. James Wan burst onto the horror scene in 2004 with his directorial debut, “Saw,” which was written by his college best friend Leigh Whannel. He could have easily coasted with the “Saw” franchise and continued to keep cranking out sequel after sequel with it. Instead, he decided to get in touch with a different side of the horror genre with 2013’s “The Conjuring.” He also directed such films as “Insidious,” “Dead Silence,” “Death Sentence,” “Furious 7,” and “Malignant.”

Our film opens by introducing us to the Perron family, as they move into a farmhouse in Rhode Island which needs a lot of work. The Perron family consists of Roger and Carolyn (Ron Livingston and Lili Taylor), their five daughters, and their dog Sadie. As they are exploring the ins and outs of the house, they discover a boarded-up cellar, and that is when all hell breaks loose for this family. Their sanity, peace of mind, and sleep start to become disrupted, and it’s clear there is something in this house which is working against them. They need to fix it if they ever hope to stay together as a family. At this point, they decide to call Ed and Lorraine Warren, played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. When you have a malevolent presence, they are the couple to call as they are the expert demonologists.

One of the biggest things “The Conjuring” gets right is the idea that even if they leave the house, this presence will still follow them. I’ve seen so many demonic movies where I ask myself, often out loud, “Why don’t they just leave the house?” It seems like the logical response to this type of activity, but oftentimes horror movies and smart characters don’t go together. Farmiga and Wilson bring humanity, warmth, and intelligence to their characters, as they are playing real people. It would have been easy to portray them as goofy, over-the-top, or silly. While the film has moments of lighthearted humor, it’s done during moments where the story needs levity, such as the introduction of Brad Hamilton and Drew Thomas (John Brotherton and Shannon Kook), a cop and investigator who have worked with the Warrens in the past.

It also helps that the Perron family are likable and grounded in reality and humanity. “The Conjuring” takes its time in allowing the audience to get to know them, spend time with them, and understand their dilemma. They are not just random lambs to be led to slaughter. The film is directed with style, mood, and dread by Wan.  It’s clear he knows how to create a sense of anxiety and uneasiness on screen. He doesn’t rely on jump scares either. Don’t get me wrong, jump scares are effective when done right, but they are like any other gimmick out there: If you rely on them too much, it’s clear you don’t have a solid screenplay. You are creating a haunted house or an amusement park, not a true movie.

“INT PERRON HOUSE – CELLAR Carolyn flips upside down and shoots up to the ceiling John Brotherton (Brad), Vera Farmiga (Lorraine), Patrick Wilson (Ed), Ron Livingston (Roger)”

It blew my mind to discover “The Conjuring” is now 12-years-old. They are set to release the fourth film in the franchise, “The Conjuring: Last Rites,” on September 5th. This is in addition to “The Nun” and “Annabelle” films, which are all part of “The Conjuring” universe. While not all of the films have been great or even good, more often than not, they have been well-made and have proven to be intense thrill rides. You have to give credit to Wan for being able to put his trust in other directors and other writers to showcase their abilities with these films. He has no ego, and he knows the key to remaining fresh is to have new voices in front of and behind the camera. With the original “Conjuring,” the groundwork was created for atmospheric fun, and scary horror movies have been staples of spooky season which is right around the corner. If you are looking to keep your horror movie collection going on 4K, “The Conjuring” on 4K is sure to satisfy the horror community this Halloween season. I hadn’t seen this film in a number of years, and it held up incredibly well on my recent viewing.

* * * ½ out of * * * *

4K Info: “The Conjuring” is released on a single 4K disc from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. It has a running time of 112 minutes and is rated R for sequences of disturbing violence and terror. The film comes in either a 4K slipcover or a 4K steelbook, both of which come with a digital copy.

4K Video Info: This is an impressive 4K release with the HDR really popping during the dark and brooding moments of the film.  The presentation is crisp and vivid without looking too perfect. With a horror movie like “The Conjuring,” it is not supposed to look flawless. It is supposed to represent the vision of the director and the heart and soul of the movie. In every possible way, “The Conjuring” is a homerun.

4K Audio Info: While I would have certainly enjoyed a Dolby Atmos track for this flick, the audio is still noteworthy during the jump scares and the more intense moments. It’s a good audio track, but it could have been a great audio track. Subtitles are included in English, Spanish, and French.

Special Features:

Scariest of Them All (NEW)

Reflections on the Conjuring (NEW)

The Conjuring: Face-to-Face with Terror

A Life in Demonology

Scaring the “@$*%” Out of You

Should You Buy It?

HELL YES! I’ve been waiting for this film to get the 4K treatment for a long time now. I own “The Conjuring 3” on 4K, and I hope this will also inspire Warner Brothers to release the second film on 4K in the near future. I imagine the upcoming “Conjuring” film will get a 4K release after it’s done with its theatrical run. I absolutely love these films that encompass “The Conjuring” universe. It’s interesting because I’ve never really connected with the spooky horror films which involve an evil presence or things that go bump in the night. Slasher films have always been my preferred cup of tea. This all changed with the first “Conjuring” film, as I discovered when it was done the right way, they can be just as entertaining as the slasher movies I grew up with, if not more entertaining. This is a top-notch 4K release that also includes new special features in addition to an A+ visual experience. A horror film like this is perfect for the 4K format. This is a day-one purchase for horror fans who love to collect 4K’s on physical media.

**Disclaimer** I received a copy of this film from Warner Brothers to review for free.  The opinions and statements in the review are mine and mine alone.

‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’ Movie and 4K Review

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

It has been a while since I’ve sat down and watched a good old-fashioned horror flick that was gory fun from start-to-finish. The last movie which comes to mind, for me, is 2023’s “Saw X.” Now, I know there have been other horror movies which have been critically acclaimed since then, but I like my horror movies, most of the time, to be rather straightforward without any underlying message or heavy-handed agenda. I’m looking to laugh, see some gruesome deaths, and have a good time. “Final Destination: Bloodlines” was a movie that allowed me to sit back, shut off my brain, and have a good time.  I had a blast with this movie, and the filmmakers, cast and crew delivered beyond my wildest expectations.

The film opens up in the late 1960’s at a high-rise restaurant tower, which hasn’t been properly built to house the number of people that are dancing and having a good time. Before long, the shit hits the fan and everyone is fighting for their lives. This sets the tone for the entire film, as it’s clear its directors, Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein, understood the assignment given to them. They do a masterful job of building up the anxiety of what will happen next. If you are familiar with this franchise, you know anything and everything could lead to a possible death. They build up the suspense while also winking at the camera in a way that isn’t too cutesy or silly. It’s the perfect balance of comedy and terror.

We are then introduced to a struggling college student, Stefani Reyes (Kaitlyn Santa Juana), who keeps having a dream about that night in the 1960’s where mayhem and death were on the menu at this high-rise restaurant. She’s been having this recurring dream for over two months, and it’s causing her to almost flunk out of college. Because of this, she decides to go home and look for answers to what is plaguing her dreams. She discovers that one of the women in her dream is her grandmother, Iris (Gabrielle Rose), who messed with Death’s plans that night by saving everyone at the restaurant. However, Death doesn’t take too kindly to those who mess with its plan, so everyone who was supposed to die that night has now perished slowly but surely.

Iris has survived by being ultra paranoid and knowing how to plan and look for any signs of danger. She lives off the beaten path and doesn’t let anyone get too close to her. She’s on high alert, and her family sees her as a loon who has lost her mind. Stefani doesn’t know what to believe, but after seeing more and more signs, it’s coming into focus for her–she needs to follow her grandmother’s advice and save her family, who isn’t supposed to be here. Because Iris lived, everyone in her bloodline is in danger of having Death knock on their door. Using her grandmother’s years of meticulous planning and her research into Death’s plans, Stefani’s going to try her damnedest to save her family, which includes her brother, mother, uncle and cousins.  It will be even harder to convince all of them to believe her.

“Final Destination: Bloodlines” is a near-perfect horror film as it is terrific at building genuine suspense. At every turn, you never know what will happen to someone or how it will happen. I’m a professional wrestling fan, and the film utilizes what is known in the wrestling business as “false finishes.” When you think someone is down for the count in the ring, they kick out. In movie terms, when you think someone is going to die, they end up living.  As soon as you are lured into a false sense of security, they die in a gruesome way. However, it’s all about the build-up, the anxiety, and dread that is on screen.  When it finally does happen, it means that much more because you have been played like a piano. It’s a rollercoaster ride of emotions.

My one issue with the film is the CGI deaths. While they are creative, clever and a lot of fun, they look very bad visually because they are filled with CGI. If they used more practical effects and less CGI, I would have given the film four stars. However, the CGI deaths are hard to take seriously, as they end up looking like they were done in 3D. It reminded me of “Saw: The Final Chapter” which was done in 3D.  When you watched the film without 3D, the blood looked pink, and the effects didn’t have the same impact. Here, the gore and the blood looked like cranberry juice. The film is still a great horror movie, but this detail is impossible to ignore.

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Kaitlyn Santa Juana, left, and Rya Kihlstedt in a scene from “Final Destination Bloodlines.” (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

Overall, “Final Destination: Bloodlines” is a throwback to when horror films were fun, over-the-top and kept you guessing. The way the film uses comedy during the gotcha moments is absolutely perfect. This is a film that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it respects the audience enough to blend comedy and genuine terror together without leaning too much in one direction. It’s a tightrope act for the filmmakers, but they pass this test with flying colors. This is the best installment the franchise has released in a long time. The acting is solid, the kills are unique (minus the bad CGI), and the story makes sense. Tony Todd also makes its final appearance in the franchise in a moving and poignant cameo.  It is clear this was not just a cash grab sequel. This is a film that was made with love and respect to the franchise.

* * * ½ out of * * * *

4K Info: “Final Destination: Bloodlines” is being released on a single-disc 4K from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. You can purchase the film with either a 4K slipcover or a 4K steelbook, and both come with a digital copy to redeem the film. The film has a running time of 110 minutes and is rated R for strong violent/grisly accidents, and language.

4K Audio/Video Info: The 4K has a fantastic Dolby Atmos soundtrack that lends itself perfectly to this film. Its use of music is essential to the suspense and uneasy feeling that is permeating throughout the entire film. It’s a big soundtrack with a lot of bass to it, and the film’s soundtrack is a thing of beauty, as you hear it all perfectly. The Dolby Vision visual transfer is slick, clean, and vivid throughout. This is an A+ home theater experience for 4K movie lovers.

Special Features:
Death Becomes Them: On the Set of “Final Destination Bloodlines” – featurette
The Many Deaths of Bloodlines – featurette
The Legacy of Bludworth – featurette
Director’s Commentary

Should You Buy It?

I’m grinning from ear-to-ear as I’m writing this review. This is 4K at its finest in so many ways: The film is really good, the audio and visual elements are top-notch, and there are special features included here as well! There is a director’s commentary! I can’t remember the last time I’ve heard a director’s commentary on a new 4K release. This is a welcome addition, and it’s a lot of fun to hear their passion and energy for the project while watching “Final Destination: Bloodlines.” This is a great horror film, and it made me excited about the horror genre after feeling disappointed by it for two years. I watched it with my wife, and it was a great at-home horror movie to watch as we were laughing, screaming, and hooting and hollering during the crazier moments. I can’t recommend this film enough. They have put so much care into not only the movie but also its 4K release. This one comes highly recommended. It was so close to getting a full four-star rating if not for the bad CGI.  Other than that, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more enjoyable film to watch this year. This was old-school horror done in 2025.

**Disclaimer** I received a copy of this film from Warner Brothers to review for free.  The opinions and statements in the review are mine and mine alone.

Exclusive Interview with Michael Patrick Jann about ‘Alma & The Wolf’

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

Michael Patrick Jann is best known for his work in comedy and as a cast member on MTV’s sketch comedy show “The State.” In 1999, he made his feature film directorial debut with “Drop Dead Gorgeous” which over the years has developed quite the cult following. With his second feature film as a director, “Organ Trail,” he got out of his comedy safety zone to enter the horror genre. Michael now returns to that genre again with his latest film, “Alma & The Wolf,” which stars Ethan Embry as a troubled police officer who investigates a mysterious wolf attack which happened to a high school classmate of his, Alma (played by Li Jun Li). The investigation becomes even more intense, however, when his son goes missing, and it puts him a collision course with an unbearable truth that can only stay hidden for so long.

I got to speak with Michael one-on-one recently about “Alma & The Wolf,” and we talked a lot about how comedy and horror deal with the various forms of suffering. Also, he discussed the challenges of filming on the Oregon Coast when the weather was really bad and cold, working with animals, and of working with his son, Lukas Jann, who plays Ethan Embry’s son here. In addition, this film also co-stars a classmate of mine from my University of California, Irvine school days, Beth Malone, who plays a rather nosy neighbor. It was great to talk with Michael about what Beth brought to her role and the movie, and it is always great to see her in anything and everything.

“Alma & The Wolf” is now available to rent and stream on select digital platforms. Please check out my interview with Michael down below, and I have also included a trailer for the film as well.

Exclusive Interview with Ethan Embry and Li Jun Li on ‘Alma & The Wolf’

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

One of the many horror films coming to us in 2025 is arriving this week, and that’s “Alma & The Wolf.” Directed by Michael Patrick Jann, it stars Ethan Embry as Deputy Ren Accord, a very troubled man who has been thrust into a horrifying investigation he may not be fully prepared for. One day while driving on his usual route, he comes across Alma, played by Li Jun Li, who is walking alone in the rain while clutching to what is left of her dog. Alma tells Ren a wolf killed her dog and begs him to kill the wolf for her as an act of revenge. Wolves, however, are protected wildlife in the state of Oregon, so Ren tells Alma he cannot help her that way. But when his son goes missing in the Oregon coast, Ren comes to believe it may have everything to do with the wolf that killed Alma’s dog, and he becomes infinitely determined to find his son and kill the elusive wolf.

I was lucky enough to speak with Ethan Embry and Li Jun Li who are the main stars of “Alma & The Wolf” this past week. Ethan started off his career as a child actor, and he starred opposite Ed O’Neil in the John Hughes written and produced film “Dutch,” and he is best known for his roles in “A Far Off Place,” “Empire Records” and “That Thing You Do.” Li got her start as an actress in the theatre, and she later became known for her role as Iris Chang in the television series “Quantico.” In addition, she has received critical acclaim for her roles as Lady Fay Zhu in Damien Chazelle’s “Babylon” and Grace Chow in Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners.”

Much of my talk with Ethan and Li Li, as she likes to be called, was about acting and their choices. With “Alma & The Wolf,” they were involved in a cinematic production which had a very short production schedule, and I was curious how the speed of it affected their performances overall. Being an actor myself, I found their answers to be deeply informative and fascinating.

“Alma & The Wolf” will be dropped on streaming services starting on June 20, 2025. Please check out the interview below, and I have included a trailer for the film as well.