We look at Jenn Wexler’s new holiday horror on Shudder, “The Sacrifice Game”, plus a surprising return to a famous erotic film franchise.
We begin, as always, with a discussion of the latest horror news.
It has been a while since we last talked about video games, but some announcements at The Game Awards sparked our interest. (At least on the show.) We also speak about Smile 2 (the upcoming sequel to the surprise horror hit Smile) and its imminent release. Plus, we discuss how the change from Ryan Gosling to Christopher Abbott in Wolf Man may actually be a good thing.
Then, it’s on to our featured reviews, unwrapping a couple of recent horror releases, including a new holiday horror from a rising star in the world of indie genre filmmaking.
Whether the original French or the Italian spin-offs, the Emanuelle franchise holds a special place in the memories of a certain age group. Short on plot but highly sexual, the films eased the transition into young adulthood. Most would be hard-pressed to remember what they were actually about, but they still managed to leave an impression.
Emanuelle’s Revenge is the latest installment, and unsurprisingly, it has its share of sexy moments. However, in what will be a surprise to many, the story takes precedence.
Highlighting it all are some strong performances, with Beatrice Schiaffino stealing just about every scene she is in at the titular and titillating lead. But do all the pros outweigh the cons?
Then, we’re on to this week’s feature presentation, the latest feature from Jenn Wexler (The Ranger).
The Sacrifice Game is a holiday horror movie that could have been something special. There are great performances, strong characters, and a fun premise. If only the ending were a little stronger…
ABOUT THIS PODCAST:
Every week AIPT Movie Editor Nathaniel Muir and his cinema partner in crime Blake Heath discuss indie and genre movies you have have never heard of, the ones you cannot hear enough about, and the ones you never want to hear about again.
It has been a tumultuous few weeks for Scream VII. After losing its two leads, the movie was rocked with the news that its director had quit. There will still be a future for the popular franchise, but should there be? American television is a strange thing. Shows either go on for too long or are canceled before their time. It is rare to see a series come to a satisfactory end. But it looks like that is exactly what is going to happen with What We Do In the Shadows.
When we spoke about the trailer for Angel Baby a few weeks ago, we both agreed it looked like generic fun. Well, we were half right. Filled with familiar tropes, the film is perfect for Escape to the Woods subgenre. It is its attempt to do something different where things fall apart. Filled with interesting ideas but little else, it ends up being a huge disappointment.
We love found footage movies. Even the flaws that come with them are easy to look over – even if they can be annoying. The origins of the genre are murky. While there is no doubting The Blair Witch Project brought it to the mainstream, it certainly was not the first. What people choose to count as found footage is where the confusion comes in.
One thing there is no debating is that Blackwood Evil is the first found footage movie to attempt to capitalize on the success of Blair Witch. (Well, if nothing else, it is one of the first.) There is a reason most people have not heard of it. The production is awful; some scenes cannot be seen, while others are impossible to hear. The acting is atrocious and there is not a hint of anything scary until over an hour has passed.
So, why did we like it so much? This is definitely a movie you have to grade on a curve. It was released over two decades ago when there was not much of a template to follow. The characters may be the most realistic ever seen in found footage and the lack of polish actually works to its benefit. It would not be accurate to say that Blackwood Evil is a good movie, but it is one that should be seen.
Adventures in Movies! is a part of the Morbidly Beautiful Podcast Network. Morbidly Beautiful is your one stop shop for all your horror needs. From the latest news and reviews to interviews and old favorites, it can be found at Morbidly Beautiful.
Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror. You can reach us personally or on Twitter @AdventuresinMo1.
Music in the background from https://www.FesliyanStudios.com
Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror.
Intro by Julio Mena: Bandcamp | Instagram
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