What to Watch This Weekend: Halloween 2021 Edition

For An Understated, Atmospheric Horror Experience: Antlers (Theaters)
Antlers will hook you with its understated tone, fantastic music and setting, and unsettling use of light and gore to create an atmospheric creature feature with a slow burning, but very unsettling story.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Stylish Film With A Darker Message: Last Night in Soho (Theaters)

Last Night in Soho is a time trip, with a stylish format and some amazing 1960s music to aid this thriller that explores some darker themes than you initially expect.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Unique, Violent Animated Experience: The Spine of Night (Theaters and Digital)

The Spine of Night is an unique, ultraviolent animated fantasy epic, with an all star cast and a style that you just don't see made anymore. 

For A Twisted Aging Story: Old (Redbox)

Old has a mysterious story, some very nice performances and small touches, and a trademark M. Night Shyamalan twist ending, but the quirks and odd dialogue might cast some shadows on this beach vacation.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Meaty Horror Film: Broil (Free Streaming on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Vudu)
Broil is a feast for the senses, with meaty characters, a savory simmering style, and an accompaniment of sharp writing and full bodied music.  For more information, check out our review!

For Those Who Want A Virtual Haunted House: Haunt (Shudder)

Haunt's combination of atmospheric, impactful sound, tense and gruesome horror, and unsettling villains makes this a haunted house you will want to explore.  For more information, check out our review!

For The Kids: Paranorman (Netflix)

Paranorman's beautiful art and kid friendly content makes this an artistic and enjoyable way to spend spooky season with the kids.

For The Kids Part 2: Muppets Haunted Mansion (Disney+)

Muppets Haunted Mansion hits Disney+ today and it is a great, family friend way to get your kids into the holiday spirit!

Haunt Blu-Ray Collectors Edition Unboxing - Special Features and Collectibles From Haunted Horror

Haunt Blu-Ray Collectors Edition unboxing video thanks to our friends at Ronin Flix. Now on Blu-ray for the first time. New collector's edition box set includes the Original CD Soundtrack by tomandandy, four 16” x 20” fold out movie poster reproductions, a 16” x 20” fold out reproduction of the haunt map, six enamel pins featuring costume masks featured in the film, four 2” x 3 ½” replica VHS box-style magnets, and over 5 hours of special features. So give it a watch and make sure to check out Haunt, available on single disc and bluray collectors editions on October 22. Starring: Katie Stevens, Will Brittain, Andrew Lewis Caldwell, Lauryn Alisa McClain, Schuyler Helford, Justin Marxen, Chaney Morrow Written and Directed by: Scott Beck and Bryan Woods Produced by: Eli Roth Synopsis: On Halloween, a group of friends encounter an "extreme" haunted house that promises to feed on their darkest fears. The night turns deadly as they come to the horrifying realization that some nightmares are very real. As they make their way deeper into the haunted house, they encounter all sorts of real and perceived dangers, and get separated from each other. But trying to escape this haunted house will be a nightmare all on its own. Please subscribe to be updated on the latest videos: https://bit.ly/3ajxSle

What to Watch This Weekend Veeeeerrryyy Niiiiccce Edition: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Haunt, On the Rocks, White Riot, The Owners, Totally Under Control, Blush, Emma

For Veeerrrryy Niiiice Viewer People - Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Amazon)

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm keeps much of what made the first film such a crazy, funny experience while tackling some new, modern American issues.  However, the shock value that was characteristic of the first movie just doesn't have as much impact this time around.  For more information, check out our review!

For Those Missing Halloween Festivities - Haunt (Digital, Disc, Streaming)

Haunt's combination of atmospheric, impactful sound, tense and gruesome horror, and unsettling villains makes this a haunted house you will want to explore.  For more information, check out our review!

For Rock Fans and Future Activists - White Riot (Virtual Cinema)

White Riot is a sadly timely movie that showcases how music can be a force for good with a rebellious soundtrack and cast of characters.  For more information, check out our review!

For Relationship Drama Fans - On the Rocks (Apple)

On The Rocks takes many of the tropes of this genre and turns them on their head, with an unconventional story, Bill Murray craziness, and great chemistry between Jones and Wayans.   For more information, check out our review!  

For Those Going Through A Midlife Crisis - Blush (Amazon)

Blush tells a different mid life crisis story with some great acting and an unconventional plot.  For more information, check out our review!

For Those Stuck At Home - Totally Under Control (Hulu)

Totally Under Control looks at the US response to COVID-19 in an eye opening and timely documentary!

For Those Bored And Looking For Trouble - The Owners (Redbox and Digital)

The Owners turns the traditional break in thriller on its head with some brutal scenes, a ton of tension, and a good cast of characters.  For more information, check out our review!

For Those Looking For Something Happy - Emma (HBO)

Emma brings the Jane Austin classic to life with a colorful style, a stellar cast, and an absolute charm that will capture you from the first scene.  For more information, check out our review!

Haunt Review: An Unsettling Haunted House You Will Want To Explore

Release date: October 22, 2020 (single disc and collector's edition Blu-ray releases)
Running time: 92 minutes
Starring: Katie Stevens, Will Brittain, Andrew Lewis Caldwell, Lauryn Alisa McClain, Schuyler Helford, Justin Marxen, Chaney Morrow
Written and Directed by: Scott Beck and Bryan Woods

On Halloween, a group of friends encounter an "extreme" haunted house that promises to feed on their darkest fears.  The night turns deadly as they come to the horrifying realization that some nightmares are very real.  As they make their way deeper into the haunted house, they encounter all sorts of real and perceived dangers, and get separated from each other.  But trying to escape this haunted house will be a nightmare all on its own.

Haunt is a very solid horror film that does almost everything right.  The writers were the ones behind the Quiet Place (and the delayed Quiet Place Part II) and you can easily see that influence in this film. The sound design is solid, with an expert use of both quiet and loud audio to keep you on your toes.  And the sounds are really impactful: smashes, crunches, creepy sounds, they all are used with great effect.  And often times, the lack of sound is what strikes you as you wait for that big jump scare or loud boom.  It is a tense movie and it uses jump scares effectively, but it doesn't rely on them.  

And the characters, while being somewhat horror tropes, are all enjoyable together as they try to get through this haunted house.  Each has a different personality and although only one of the character's backstory is explored, the group as a whole is a good cohesive unit.  Their interactions, both helpful and harmful, really help to keep you engaged and rooting for the friends.  And the masked haunted house occupants are just fantastic.  The masks are so incredibly creepy and the use of the characters is just perfect.  They don't feel overly strong, but they just show up at the right places and are ruthless when they need to be.  But they also up the creepiness by being mostly silent, giving you little insight into who they are and why they are doing this.  

And the unsettling aspects spill over into the film itself.  There are several scenes that are violent and painful to watch, but Haunt has the right balance of gore and discretion.  It never feels like you are watching torture porn; rather the film has just enough violent, gruesome aspects to give you an idea of the consequences involved, but not so much that the film feels gratuitous.  And the film has just as many gruesome moments as unsettling, tense moments where nothing happens.  It feels like its playing with the viewers; there were many scenes when I waited for something to pop out and jump scare only to have nothing happen.  It is a masterful balance.  If there are criticisms with the film, it is that some of the character's dialog isn't as sharp and there is one scene where a character seems to go through an important character change only to then revert back moments later.  But Haunt is a solid horror film that does pretty much everything right.  And it concludes with a fulfilling ending and an end credits song that is simply phenomenal.  

Haunt's combination of atmospheric, impactful sound, tense and gruesome horror, and unsettling villains makes this a haunted house you will want to explore.

Watch it.

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Haunt is available on disc, digital, and on demand October 22.  The film is being released on blu ray in both a one disc set and a collectors edition, that includes a ton of great content.  Specifically, the collectors edition includes the commemorative 2 disc set will treat fans to the Original CD Soundtrack by tomandandy, four 16” x 20” movie poster reproductions, a 16” x 20” reproduction of the haunt map, six enamel pins featuring the eerie costume masks worn by the villains in the film, four 2” x 3 ½” replica VHS box-style magnets, and over 5 hours of special features including a NEW To Escape the Haunt: The Making of HAUNT featurette. 

For additional information about the film and to rent / buy it, check it out at the links below.

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Interview: Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, Writers and Directors of Haunt w/ Katie Stevens, Will Britta

Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, the directors and writers of Haunt, join for an insightful interview.  Haunt is an amazingly well done horror feature that takes the traditional haunted house movie and flips it on its head.  It has some really beautiful camera work and impactful, visceral sound.  We discuss the inspiration for this film, how they filmed this masterpiece on a tight budget, how they constructed the haunted house, and how they created their villains.  We also discuss some of the best and worst haunted houses they have been to.

So give it a watch and make sure to check out Haunt, available on single disc and bluray collectors editions on October 22. 

Starring: Katie Stevens, Will Brittain, Andrew Lewis Caldwell, Lauryn Alisa McClain, Schuyler Helford, Justin Marxen, Chaney Morrow Written and Directed by: Scott Beck and Bryan Woods Produced by: Eli Roth

Synopsis: On Halloween, a group of friends encounter an "extreme" haunted house that promises to feed on their darkest fears.  The night turns deadly as they come to the horrifying realization that some nightmares are very real.  As they make their way deeper into the haunted house, they encounter all sorts of real and perceived dangers, and get separated from each other.  But trying to escape this haunted house will be a nightmare all on its own.

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