Reviews

I recently had a chance to see this film at a film festival. I don't want to give anything away as far as the plot is concerned, so all I will say is that, in a short time, it packs quite a punch with its socio-political message. It's also bound to stir up a good deal of controversy given the political climate in 2019, and for me, that's a good thing! I've always felt that art, especially film, is meant to provoke, and this film definitely does that. The acting is superb, especially when it comes to the lead actress. In fact, she won an award for best actress at very festival where I saw the film.

If you have a chance to catch this one at a film festival, or whenever it is available on-line, you should definitely do so.

This is the first time I have ever been compelled to give a 10 star rating to ANY film on IMDb, much less an indie short film.

"Fragile Storm" starts out as a mystery, with a older man seemingly keeping a younger woman bound in captivity. I don't want to give away any plot points, for that would ruin it, so all I will say is that, from there, director Dawn Fields weaves a tale of love, loss and compassion that leaves me tearing and breathless every time I watch it.

Everything about this film is incredible. The acting is top notch, with great performances from well known actor Lance Henriksen, as well as from Jody Jaress and Mackenzie Mason. It's clear that all three gave their hearts and souls to their performances.

The writing and directing are crisp and direct and tell a a complete, heartbreaking story in only 9 minutes.

With all of that said, I sincerely hope no one thinks that I am engaging in hyperbole or that I am over-hyping this film. I truly feel that it is that great of a film and, not only that, it's a movie with a strong message, which becomes clear once you watch it.

Give this film 9 minutes of your time. You won't be sorry.

Is it possible to tell a compelling story about love, loss and heartbreak in about 18 minutes with minimal dialogue? In the case of "If Only For a Moment", the answer is a resounding YES!

I am very impressed with the simplicity of the story. There are only three characters, and minimal dialogue, yet creator/writer/lead actress Janel Tanna tells a complete, touching story about two people who fall in love, and experience the same problems and heartaches that all of us are faced with. I will not give away any plot details here. All I will say is that despite having seen the film several times, I am still impressed with simple yet moving story.

Tanna, who is also the lead actress, and Amanda Damron as her co- star, both do an excellent job and bring us from the beginning of their relationship, all the way through to it's conclusion in a very candid, realistic way. I found the story to be extremely believable, and the two actresses could be people you know. The direction is ably handled by Larry Rosen who again, in line with the script, keeps it simple. I loved the long, lingering shots, and the subtle camera movements. The cinematography is also top notch for an indie short film. In fact, everything about the film is impressive for an independent short. The sound editing and soundtrack are perfect as well.

What is truly impressive is that this film was shot and edited as part of a 72 hour film challenge. I've seen a great many films made as part of challenges or competitions that turn out to be, well, as good as you might expect. In the case of "If Only For A Moment" though, I found it hard to believe that a film of this quality was completed in only 72 hours.

This is definitely one indie film to watch. It has already been nominated for a few awards and I will not be surprised if it wins many!

How do we determine what is real, and what it "just in our heads?" What defines reality? How do traumatic events affect us? Do the professionals entrusted to help us truly have our best interest at heart? These and many other themes are explored in "The Red Man", an outstanding mystery/thriller written and directed by Jimmie Gonzalez, which I had the pleasure of viewing as a judge for the Macabre Faire Film Festival in 2016.

Evan Gough, deftly portrayed by Daniel David Diamond, is a successful and famous DJ, who is haunted by a horrific act of violence involving his family 14 years prior. He has constant nightmares, and battles these with prescriptions and therapy provided by Dr. Verde, (Daniel Faraldo, in an award winning role). Evan also tends to make extensive use of the trappings of fame, namely drugs and women, which are certainly not helping him in any way. Basically, Evan has been tormented within his mind for 14 years.

Over time, Evan begins to suspect that Dr. he and other famous tenants in his building are being subjected to secret drug experiments conducted by Dr. Verde and Evan's new neighbor. This suspicion is supported by Eve (Lindsey Naves), an intern for Dr Verde, who has been doing some investigating of her own. She believes that the good doctor is indeed conducting illegal experiments with drugs that are manufactured by a pharmaceutical company he is involved with.

As Evan and Eve try and figure out what's happening, Evan begins a journey down a rabbit hole from which there may be no escape. This trippy voyage leads Evan, and the viewer, towards a shattering conclusion, with a number of twists and turns along the way. Trust me dear reader....this film requires more than one viewing. I will not give anything else away regarding the plot, as this would be cheating!! Let's just say that the journey will definitely leave you thinking!

I liked "The Red Man" very much, but it's not an "easy" film. What do I mean by that? Well, it makes you think, and it forces you to pay attention. If you do not, it can be easy to lose track of what's happening. I myself hit rewind a couple of times just so I could be sure of what I was seeing. DO NOT let this dissuade you! That's the best part of this movie. It makes you think! We live in an era of quick cuts and edits, and a short attention span mentality, and this movie, refreshingly, does not fall into that category.

The story is well crafted, and I give writer/director Jimmie Gonzalez a lot of credit for crafting such an intricate story. I loved the fact that you are never entirely sure what's going on. Is Dr. Verde truly trying to help Evan, or is he more malevolent that he seems? Is it all in Evan's head? I'm not telling!! Again, I know some people are not going to like this aspect of it, and that's too bad because they will be missing out. There is a reason why "The Red Man" won "Best Screenplay" at the Macabre Faire Film Festival in 2016.

The cinematography is well done, and the move is very surreal at times, with some truly jarring and startling visuals. It truly gives you a sense of what might be going on inside the mind of someone who is slowly unraveling mentally. The sound engineering is excellent as well, but I did find it a bit jarring or grating at times. I am sure that this is by design, as we're trying to get a sense of what is going on in Evan's head. The DJ scenes with the relentless thumping did get on my nerves sometimes, but that might be because I am getting older and crankier, and dubstep (or whatever it was) is just not my thing. I cannot lie though. There were times when I just had enough. Having said that, the sound and camera work are well crafted overall.

The acting is excellent, much more so than your average indie film. Both the lead and supporting actors and actresses all did a great job. As I had mentioned earlier, Daniel Faraldo, who played Dr. Verde, won "Best Supporting Actor" at the 2016 Macabre Faire Film Festival, and this accolade was very well deserved. Lead actor Daniel David Diamond also gives a great performance as someone who is slowly losing his mind.....or is he...... Again, kudos all around to a great cast.

In closing "The Red Man" is a fun, occasionally trippy, mystery thriller that will keep you thinking, and engrossed, until the very end, and in the world of indie cinema, it's a standout that is worthy of multiple viewings.

Full disclosure, I saw "Junkie Heaven" as a judge for the Macabre Faire Film Festival in January of 2016.

In my opinion, it's hard to portray a drug addict/junkie well. Many times, it's completely exaggerated and overacted. I have experienced addiction within my family and a lot of the behaviors and mannerisms exhibited by the person in question are usually completely missed by filmmakers and actors. I am happy to say that actor Joseph A. Halsey nails it in director Steve Sage Goldberg's "Junkie Heaven."

Writer Lee Kolinsky has written a story about a junkie that brings an entirely new element to the familiar story of drug addiction. I never give away too many plot details, but in "Junkie Heaven", Halsey plays Doyle Burkett. Doyle is an Iraqi vet who is suffering from PTSD, and who has turned to serious drug use to try to combat its effects. He is basically at rock bottom, and is the exact picture of what you figure a junkie to be. Again, the actor nails the role perfectly.

Doyle wakes up after a night of using, and he meets Alexander. Who is Alexander? Well, let's just say that he's not exactly human. Is he an angel, a devil? We don't know for sure, but what he does is give Doyle an assignment, an assignment to retrieve an object ob importance in a spiritual battle. We follow Doyle along on his mission, and the choices he makes along the way. Is what he's seeing and feeling real? Is it all just part of what's happening in his drug-addled brain? The tableaux and scenes that Doyle encounters have him questioning this as well. All of it leading up to a fantastic climax. Again, I don't want to give anything away, so I will just say again that the writer has done an excellent drop of bringing a new and interesting twist to what could have been an ordinary "drug addict" tale.

"Junkie Heaven" is a great indicator of just how good indie filmmaking can be when the cast and crew put a lot of time and effort into their work. The film is shot beautifully and the sets definitely give us a glimpse of what a drug addict's life is like. The acting is superb, as evidenced by Joseph A. Halsey's win for "Best Actor in a Short Film" at the Macabre Faire Film Festival in January of 2016. The award was justly deserved. Director Steve Sage Goldberg gets the most out of his actors and out of the script, and he's to be commended for this as well. The material is very dark and gritty, and it's handled expertly.

All things being fair, there are times when some of the budget limitations that plague indie film making show thorough, but this is a very minor nitpick. If you have the chance to see "Junkie Heaven", you really should. This is indie film making done right.

-The Horror Nerd

Full disclosure, I saw "Jack is Pretty" as part of a film festival for which I am a judge. The reason I mention this is because I watched dozens and dozens of films and this film is one that really stood out among all of them.

Without any dialogue between the characters, the director manages to tell a complete story, which is extremely difficult to do. The film is shot beautifully, with extreme attention to detail. The camera work also adds to the story in its way, as every detail of every set conveys part of the narrative.

The actors, especially the lead, are outstanding as well again, all without saying a word.

There are thousands of independent films out there, and I see hundreds of them as a festival judge and film reviewer. Many are bad, many are good, and then there are those that rise to the top as "Jack is Pretty" does.

The only thing preventing me from rating it higher is that I don't believe in a '10' rating, as there are no perfect films, and the fact that there were a few times when the budget limitations inherent to indie film making would show through. Other than that, I can't say anything negative.

If you ever get the opportunity to see "Jack is Pretty", you must.

I had a chance to see this film as part of a film festival that I was judging in January of 2015. I am not sure what the other "reviewers" were talking about, but they seem to not realize what indie filmmaking is all about. There are no multi-million dollar budgets or elaborate sets. You work within your limitations.

I found this to be an enjoyable film, that works within its budget limitations quite well. Yes, 99% of the film takes place within a single set, namely the main character's house. I personally think the director, Rory Abel and the DP did a great job, as it much have been very challenging to film an entire movie in the same confined space. At the same time, it gave the viewer a sense of what was going on inside the main character's mind, making us feel as trapped as he must have felt. The whole point of the film is that he is trapped in his home because of mental illness, so if you don't understand why the whole movie takes place in his house, you are missing the point entirely.

I thought the acting was satisfactory, especially Michael Jefferson in the lead role. We really got to see this guy unravel in the wake of his wife's death. Survivor guilt is the main theme, and we witness the toll it takes on his psyche. I personally liked how it became difficult to figure out what was real and what was not as the film progressed, which again, mimics what might be going on inside the mind of someone going through a serious mental illness.

The wife and girlfriend characters were very good as well, but, if I am being completely honest, the "best friend" character was a little weak and more of a distraction that I would have liked, but that is a very minor complaint.

Overall, I thought that was a very good indie film. I thought the acting, writing and direction were all up to snuff. Again, being fair, there are times when it slows down and drags a bit but this is another very minor complaint, and there is no such thing as a perfect film.

If you have a chance to see "Phobia", you should.

I admit that I am a fan of "found footage" or "assembled footage" type films. The problem is, there are too many of them, and for the most part, they all fall into the same trap which is, "Why would you be holding a camera when there's such chaos all around you?" Well, finally, there is a found footage film that manages to avoid this trap and deliver a smart, gritty horror film. Actually, I consider it a dark drama, with horrific elements, as writer/director Jack Thomas Smith certainly does not shy away from the violence.

John (Jason Mac) and Kenny (Elliott Armstrong) Stiles are two brothers who are on a murder spree, which, they have decided to document on video. Why they decided to make the choice to record their mayhem is an integral part of the film which I will not divulge other than to say that it is one of the smartest conceits I have seen in a film in a long time.

Along the way, the story of how they got to this point slowly unwinds, with scenes of graphic violence peppered throughout the film. However, this is NOT a "torture porn" film by any remote stretch. The violence makes perfect sense in the context of the film and I like the fact that Smith does not shy away from it. The film is gritty, intense and very realistic during these sequences.

One of the things I liked best about the film is that it takes time to explore the human emotions behind the violence. The two brothers become much more than hyper-violent monsters, and, as odd as it my seem, I found myself rooting for them more than once. At the very least, the viewer begins to come to some level of understanding and even empathy for the brothers as they attempt to come to terms with their past.

Another great facet of the film are the many psychological levels to it. Are we born evil, or does our environment make us that way, or is it some combination of the two? It's the time honored nature vs. nurture debate taken to a high level. "Infliction" is a film that is well written to the point that it could probably be used during a Psychology class and no, I am not kidding about that.

If you are looking for a horror movie that is just a pile of cheap scares and gore, then I'm sorry, "Infliction" is not for you. This film is more a study of how people can be driven to unspeakable acts of violence, and it's a very effective study at that. It also explores notions of justice and revenge-as-justice, and tries to answer the question, "Is there a difference?" Following John and Kenny Stiles forces us to really think about how we can come to terms with our past, or if it's even possible to do so. The two actors playing the brothers have amazing chemistry and the dynamic between the two is extremely believable. In fact, all of the characters in the film, even ones that display monstrous behavior, are believable. (I must point out there that actor Don Henderson Baker, who plays the boys father, does so with a level of intensity that would make me pay very close attention to him if he lived next to me!) Overall, "Infliction" is the found footage film I have been waiting for. The fact that it's an indie film is all the more amazing. This is a well written, well acted, and well shot film that is one on my favorite films of the year.

Frank Walker is on the edge. He hasn't had a job in a long time. He's behind on his rent, and he is starved for female attention. He spends his nights alone in his shabby apartment, or getting drunk (and failing with women) at a local bar. When Charlie, a fellow drunk, follows him home one night to share a few beers, and starts badgering Frank about his life and his behavior, anything, anything at all is bound to happen....

This is the setup for "Faces", the latest indie horror/thriller from writer/director/star Tom Ryan, and Theatre of Terror productions. As we follow the events of Frank's life over the course of a few days, we see a desperate man, spiraling out of control, but trying to keep some semblance of order, with the help of some new "friends" who come into his life. Who these people are, I will not say. You will have to see for yourself, but it all builds to a startling climax.

In 2009, New Jersey native Tom Ryan unleashed "Day 9" on the world, which was a decent, low-budget zombie short film, with a surprisingly powerful ending. With "Faces", Ryan has taken his game to a completely different level. The Horror Nerd has seen a lot of indie films, with all kinds of budgets. Some are good, many are bad, but with a budget of around only $1,000, "Faces" is one of the best.

The writing is tight and efficient, and there are very few "throwaway" lines or scenes. Sometimes, what happens in a low budget indie film is that everything suffers because of the lack of funds. I'm OK with minimal effects due to budget limitations, but you can still have a good script and good direction and thankfully, "Faces" has both.

I need to make special mention of the acting performances that Tom was able to pull out of his cast. Indie horror veterans such as Edward X Young, Deana Demko, Joe Parascand and Bradley Creanzo all play their roles to perfection. Relative newcomers Paul Gmitter, Tom Schorr and Caroline Pozycki also turn in excellent performances, and I hope to see more of them in the very near future. The rest of the cast does a great job as well.

In closing, "Faces" is one of the best indie films I have seen this year, and the crowd which attended the world premiere at the historic Landmark Lowes Theater in Jersey City, NJ shared the same opinion. When I spoke to several of the attendees, many of them filmmakers themselves, every single person had good things to say about the film.

This is one indie horror film you NEED to check out!

I am a fan of found footage films because if they are done right, they can be very scary. "Atrocious" definitely has some tense, scary moments but basically you're always waiting for something that never happens. Tension is one thing, but you need a payoff at some point.

My main problem with this film is that it falls victim to the same problem that many other found footage films have. Which is, why in the world would you be holding on to a camera at that particular moment? You're running, likely for your life, and you're actually thinking about capturing the moment? I am willing to let a lot of things go when I watch a movie, but this just bothers me every time.

Secondly, it seems that the writers and director were unsure as to what to do with the plot. Is this the story of a terrifying urban legend, or is it something else? Overall, I think it's worth a look, mainly because you're only investing a little over an hour of your time, but don't expect anything amazing.

I finally had the chance to see this film at a recent film festival. It was one of the entries that I made a point to see, because I was already a fan of the writer/director, Alfredo Salvatore Arcilesi.

All I can really say is, "Wow". Immediately after I watched this film, I felt like I needed to take a shower. Trust me, that's a good thing! I actively seek out films that get under my skin, and affect me on a deeper level, and this film definitely does that. There are so many films out there that try to figure out new and inventive ways to mutilate the human body, that is doesn't even phase me any more. Then along comes a film like "Scent of Rosemary" that gives me shivers, and nightmares, without ever actually showing anything.

The film deals with the subject of child pornography, which for some, is a topic they cannot handle. I myself am the father of a little girl, which is probably another reason this film affected me so deeply. It pulls you into the world of these human monsters, and it's a world you really don't want to be in. And yet, these horrors are happening right now, all around us. These men don't look like monsters. They look like your neighbor, the local shopkeeper, the guy who mows your lawn, etc. This, to me, is even more profoundly disturbing.

Without showing anything remotely graphic, Arcilesi pulls us into the minds of these disturbed men, and what they are up. There are only three characters, and their interactions builds towards a shattering climax that kicked me right in the gut. Again, maybe it has something to do with having a young daughter, but I think that this taboo subject matter is still something we are all horrified by.

The acting in this film is amazing. I really did not like these characters, and the actors really sold that. The writing and direction were also excellent.

If you can find this film, see it immediately. If it affects you the way it affected me, you'll still be thinking about it long after the last image fades to black.

Full disclosure....I am friends with some of the people who were in this movie. I try never to let that cloud by judgment, but hey, we're human! This film is EXACTLY what it's supposed to be....a romp through a landscape of absurd humor, and topless women. I went to the premiere and I laughed so many times through the film that I lost count. The audience was laughing, cheering, clapping, etc. constantly, which is exactly why I would go so see a movie like this.

Is the movie completely ridiculous? Of course it is! But I get the distinct impression that this is exactly what the director was aiming for. There's nothing worse than a film that is unintentionally funny, and this film definitely does NOT try and play it straight.

Of course it has it's flaws. There were some technical issues along the way and some of the comedic elements could have been a little more polished, but this is the world of indie cinema, where budget limitations, location constraints, etc. have a lot to do with the finished product.

The lead actor, Sean Monlar, was hysterical as Richard Titties, a struggling MMA fighter who gets transported to an absurd dimension where he does battle with villain Zeefros, who captures and imprisons women for the sole purpose of making them dance while topless. (Nice work if you can get it). He also has a bizarre obsession with indie film darling Raine Brown, and I can't say I blame him. The lovely and talented Seregon O'Dassey stars as Richard's girlfriend, Cynthia, who is also captured by Zeefros and is forced to.....well, you'll just have to see the film when it's released digitally and on DVD!! Bronson Pinchot lends a familiar face to the cast as a mystical Indian providing advice to Richard Titties along the way.

Overall, this was a fun romp through a completely absurd landscape filled with crazy characters and I enjoyed every minute of it!

Finally, finally there comes along an independent horror film worth watching. It would be easy to look at the description and dismiss this as just another slasher film, but it's not. For an independent film, it's clear that they had a decent budget, and that the filmmakers were truly passionate about the project.

I'm not going to go too much into the plot, because it's fairly straightforward, but the kills and gore are excellent, and this film has a level of pure brutality that sometimes makes you cringe, especially when the killer is torturing his sister. It's very intense, and actress Diane Foster is a real trooper, given what Director Matt Farnsworth puts her through.

I highly encourage everyone NOT to listen to the haters out there who are trashing this film simply because their film didn't make it. This is a good, independent film that delivers, as opposed to the hundreds of indie horror films out there that look exactly like they were shot in someone's backyard for $500.

I admit that I am every so slightly biased because this movie was filmed in my old elementary school, as well as several other places throughout my hometown, but that just adds to the experience for me.

Give "The Orphan Killer" a chance. You will NOT be disappointed!

This film is a true throwback to the great old days of grindhouse cinema, a-la 42nd Street. Many people are trying to do grindhouse these days out of some misguided sense of nostalgia, and they are failing miserably. The crew at Noose Hill Entertainment got it right.

This film is extremely gritty and yes, it is very violent, but the violence actually makes sense in the context of the film. In other words, it's not there just for the sake of violence. The movie is about the deterioration of the mind of the main character, and the violent acts he commits make total sense in light of this deterioration.

The other unsavory characters that surround him only add to the overall mood of depravity. Manoush is fantastic as Olga, who does nothing to try and slow down the descent of the main character into madness, but in fact encourages it! The films does have it's flaws to be sure, and the acting performances of some of the secondary characters leave a little to be desired, but overall this in an excellent grindhouse film, that transports you back to New York City in the 70s, and does it with style.