Kandisha Review: A Demon Terrorizes A Trio of Rebellious Graffiti Artists

Release date: July 22, 2021 Running time: 85 minutes Directed By: Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo Starring: Mathilde Lamusse, Samarcande Saadi and Suzy Bemba It’s summer break and best friends Amélie, Bintou and Morjana hang together with other neighborhood teens. Nightly, they have fun sharing scary stories and urban legends. But when Amélie is assaulted by her ex, she remembers the story of Kandisha, a powerful and vengeful demon. Afraid and upset, Amélie summons her. The next day, her ex is found dead. The legend is true and now Kandisha is on a killing spree— and it’s up to the three girls to break the curse.

Kandisha has a slow opening that introduces you to the legend and all the characters. But the slow opening does get more interesting when you see the three main female characters, who are all a little rebellious. They are street artists and work at night when the city is dead. The film also starts with a good hip hop soundtrack to help frame this rebellious crew. And when the deaths start happening, Kandisha also shines, with brutal fatalities and good practical effects. Bones break, brain matter splatters, and blood flows when this demon starts to take her sacrifices. And when the friends try to get rid of the demon, Kandisha also has a tense and imaginative exorcism scene. I like how the scene changed and shifted as it tried to convince the friends to stop the exorcism attempt.

But although Kandisha does a lot right, I do wish there was a little more reasoning to its murder spree. it seems to pick victims at random and this leads to an odd situation where people are dying for seemingly no reason. You do find out why later in the movie, but in the initial stages it just seems like a series of random killings. And the killings themselves are pretty quick, with less dread than I would have hoped before the person is killed. Also, the film starts with some banter that seemed to maybe be lost in translation; it didn't sound like something kids would talk about but maybe that's just my age. Additionally, the film starts with an interesting obfuscation aspect that is just abandoned as the killing ramps up. And the original conflict that summons the demon also feels manufactured and odd. It escalates very quickly, which is the motivation to summon the demon, but it seems too quick and too much. But after this all, Kandisha does have a tense ending that is made all the more impactful by the journey so far. I liked how the film ended despite some of the hiccups in the middle. And it follows this up with a good ending "stinger."

Kandisha summons some brutal kills and violence with a trio of rebellious female leads in this French hip hop exorcism horror film.

Rent it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. 

Kandisha is available to stream on Shudder starting July 22, 2021. 

A Creepshow Holiday Special Review: A Rare Combination of Horror, Holidays, and Humor

Release date: December 18, 2020
Running time: 45 minutes
Starring: Anna Camp and Adam Pally

A SHUDDER ORIGINAL.  In the holiday themed, hour-long episode, “Shapeshifters Anonymous,” written and directed by Creepshow showrunner Greg Nicotero (based on a short story by J.A. Konrath), fearing he is a murderer, an anxious man searches for answers for his "unique condition" from an unusual support group.

Creepshow Holiday Special definitely evokes an old style, penny tale horror movie feel.  It has a wonderful comic style at the start that sets the stage perfectly and lets you know what type of a film this will be.  This comic style comes back multiple times throughout the episode and is a nice anchor to keep coming back to.  Sure it's probably for budget too as it allows some of the stranger scenes to be drawn rather than fully depicted, but it still sets the perfect tone and looks very nice.  The film is set in the "Shapeshifters Anonymous" support group, and most of the interactions are with this group.  And thankfully the group is a lot of fun.  The holiday special is led by the big draws of Anna Camp and Adam Pally.  Both play shapeshifters and both are very funny.  Camp is surprisingly good as the de facto head of the group and Pally is entertaining as always.  They are joined by a few other shapeshifters and shapeshifter adjacent individuals who add some nice variety to the cast.  And the animals that they shift into are quirky and add a lot of humor especially later on.

The show is definitely meant to evoke low budget horror specials and it succeeds there.  Effects are good looking but definitely have a cheap flavor to them.  It perfectly captures some early horror and will make you smile when you see it.  However, the story of the film is pretty self contained and goes out of its way to draw a holiday connection for this show.  There is a connection to Christmas, but it is so out there as to be ridiculous.  It is still silly and leads to some climactic holiday scenes towards the end and an epic final showdown, but I wish there was more of a holiday connection throughout.  I think that all of this was intentional as the film definitely tries to evoke some B horror throughout, but the story did feel like a stretch.  And I also wish that the story left this room outside of the animated sequences, but again I think that was intentional.  That being said, this is still a fun holiday horror story.    

A Creepshow Holiday Special has the rare combination of horror, holidays, and humor that will get your Christmas cheer flowing like the blood in the epic final showdown.

Rent it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. 

A Creepshow Holiday Special is available to stream on Shudder starting December 18, 2020. 

Interview: Jeffrey A. Brown, Writer and Director of The Beach House, Horror Thriller Movie Set in Paradise

Jeffrey A. Brown, the writer and director of the tense apocalyptic horror film The Beach House discusses the film, his inspirations for the movie, and some of the challenges with shooting the film. We also discuss what he has been working on and what is next for him! So give it a watch and make sure to check out The Beach House on digital, on demand, DVD, and Blu-Ray on December 15, or streaming right now on Shudder! Starring: Starring: Liana Liberato, Noah Le Gros, Jake Weber Written and Directed By: Jeffrey A. Brown Synopsis: The Beach House is the story of two college sweethearts Emily (Liberato) and Randall (Gros) who planned a beach get away in the hopes of resolving some relationship friction. This quality time is quickly disrupted by the arrival of two unexpected guests. But to make matters worse, a mysterious purplish fog has fallen over the beach neighborhood causing an infection that is spreading rapidly. After a night of unwinding with wine and edibles, Emily and Randall wake up to the ultimate test of survival as they try to unravel this unknown deadly event.

Please subscribe to be updated on the latest videos!

Anything For Jackson Review: A Humorous and Unsettling Ritual Story

Release date: December 3, 2020
Running time: 95 minutes
Starring: Sheila McCarthy, Julian Richings, Konstantina Mantelos, Josh Cruddas and Yannick Bisson. 
Directed by: Justin G. Dyck

A SHUDDER ORIGINAL.  After losing their only grandson Jackson in a car accident, grief-stricken Audrey (McCarthy) and Henry (Richings), kidnap Henry's pregnant patient with the intentions of performing a “Reverse Exorcism”, putting Jackson inside her unborn child. It doesn’t take long to figure out Jackson isn’t the only ghost the grandparents invited into their home. Now it’s a race against time for the couple, as well as the pregnant woman to figure a way out of the haunting they’ve set upon themselves.

Anything For Jackson succeeds with this really unsettling but also quite comfortable style.  The film mostly takes place in Audrey and Henry's house, which is decorated like any modern dwelling occupied by well off octogenarians.  It is well appointed and feels comfortable, until you find out more about what is going on.  In fact, the opening sequence had me wondering where the horror would come from, but it didn't take long for it to manifest.  Then you start to see the depths that the couple will go, thus the title Anything For Jackson.  But throughout it all, the main characters maintain their generally nice, old person demeanor.  Despite the fact that they start having horrible plans and the inevitable result of their overall scheme, the pair generally act like normal grandparents would.  It is a wonderful contrast that keeps this feeling fresh and fun, while at the same time being unsettling.  

A lot of the conflict in this story is that the pair are working towards their end goal but really have no idea how to get there.  It leads to some humorous moments, but also keeps the overall style of the film consistent.  Contrasts between outwardly nice exterior and personalities with potentially depraved acts exist throughout this movie.  Audrey and Henry have a well thought out plan, but have never done this so often act like a bumbling pair.  And that is aside from the horror elements that get in their way.  As their plan progresses, the occurrences around them get more and more unsettling.  You eventually have some very creepy scenes as a result; some frankly disturbing manifestations occur around them and you start to wonder what is real and what is not.  And in the end, the pair's overall purpose is noble, just the lengths and avenue that they pursue it is unsettling.  The story of loss and grief is relatable, as is the desire to do whatever it would take to make that go away.  It is an interesting dichotomy, as you want to root for them but also you really don't want them to succeed.

Anything For Jackson is a fresh take on the horror ritual genre, with a fantastic style, great performances, and a humorous and unsettling story for these inexperienced cultists.

Watch it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. 

Anything For Jackson is available to stream on Shudder starting December 3, 2020. 

Verotika Review: An Homage to Vintage Horror

Release date: September 21, 2020
Running time: 90 minutes
Starring: Ashley Wisdom, Rachel Alig, Alice Tate

Glenn Danzig's directorial debut, is a horror anthology that compiles stories from Danzig's line of comic books of the same name. Stories which focus on horror content that's often sexual and violent in nature, usually featuring scantily-clad female protagonists.  The film is broken up into three roughly half hour stories that each feature odd tales of horror and the macabre.  The three tales are titled: The Albino Spider of Dajette, Change of Face, Drukija Contessa of Blood.  Each is a very different but they all revolve around some similar plots and styles. 

Verotika feels like an homage to an older style of horror, one that lives and dies by how much you remember and enjoy those older films.  The movies are filled with these references: poor / overpowering colored lighting, corny and exaggerated acting, overdramatic lines, shots that linger for too long, strange camera angles, plenty of gore, some mediocre special effects, and a focus on scantily clad and nude female characters.  Your enjoyment of these tropes and of a different time in horror will directly relate to how much you like this movie.  And as it comes from Glenn Danzig, the film also has some really amazing music.  Danzig did the music for the film and it shows.  It has his same style and vocals, but also has little touches that relate it to the story.  For example, the first movie is set in France and a lot of the music sounds like it is in French. 

This film completely succeeds in being a love letter to vintage horror, with all the good and bad that comes from it.  And unfortunately, for me I felt more of the bad than the good.  The effects were hit or miss with some make up being very well done and other make up looking ridiculous and off.  The few CG scenes were very bad, but again this was tough to tell if this was intentional or not.  And the acting was over the top, again tough to tell if this was intentional or not.  A few times, characters that were supposed to be dead were still taking very small micro breaths.  But this movie also just feels like it was for a different time and should not have been brought forward.  The film has a lot of female characters, which is great, but then casts them as mostly eye candy.  Very few of the female costumes had more than a few scraps of cloth and pretty much all of them were meant to be revealing or taken off.  It felt exploitative and something that I believe the horror genre has moved away from.  And although there are a lot of female characters and a handful of non-white male characters, the film just felt like it lacked diversity.  And the characters that were diverse had little to no dialogue.  Additionally the stories themselves just felt weird.  Some of the build up didn't make sense and often the story just felt like a convenient way to show naked girls.  This is a film that highlights tropes that the horror community have long since moved on from for good reason, and it doesn't feel like there is a need for a film to bring those back.

Verotika is a love letter to vintage horror, with all the good and bad that comes with it.  Unfortunately, in this case the bad far outweighs the good as the film feels exploitative and dated in a way that the horror genre has moved on from long ago. 

Pass on it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. 

Verotika is available now to stream on Shudder. 

The Shed Director and Co-Writer, Frank Sabatella Interview, New Shudder Exclusive Horror Film

Watch or Pass Interview with Frank Sabatella, the director and co-writer of the all new Shudder exclusive horror film, the Shed. We discuss making the film, what Frank learned from this and previous movies, and his love of music. We also get some hints on a possible sequel (don't worry, spoilers are at the end). So give it a watch and if you haven't already seen the film, it is available on Shudder starting on August 27 (review here). Director: Frank Sabatella Writers: Jason Rice (story by), Frank Sabatella Stars: Jay Jay Warren, Cody Kostro, Sofia Happonen A hunter gets bitten by a vampire and runs into a shed to avoid sunlight. Coincidentally, Stan (Warren), a 17 year old high school student on probation, and his supervisor grandpa live next to it. Stan and his grandpa discover this monster and Stan must make sure to keep his best friend Dommer (Kostro) and an old flame Roxy (Happonen) safe as the monster gets more and more anxious to leave its shaded seclusion. Please subscribe to be updated on the latest videos: https://bit.ly/3ajxSle

If you liked this interview and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube.  

The Shed Review: A Stylish Rock-Fueled Anthem to Teenage Angst

Release date: August 27, 2020
Running time: 98 minutes

Starring: Jay Jay Warren, Cody Kostro, Sofia Happonen

A hunter gets bitten by a vampire and runs into a shed to avoid sunlight. Coincidentally, Stan (Warren), a 17 year old high school student on probation, and his supervisor grandpa live next to it.  Stan and his grandpa discover this monster and Stan must make sure to keep his best friend Dommer (Kostro) and an old flame Roxy (Happonen) safe as the monster gets more and more anxious to leave its shaded seclusion.  

The shed has a definite sense of style, with some bold color choices and amazing music.  The colors pop off in certain scenes, from the striking wallpaper in the house (that adds a splash of color to certain scenes), to the flames of a fire in a later scene that dances as if it was alive.  And the music is just fantastic.  The Shed has a soundtrack full of punk and rock songs that will keep you tapping your feet as you avoid vampires.  The music comes on at just the right times and has such a strong sound that you can't help but enjoy it.  I definitely checked out the bands that were featured, something I normally don't do after watching a movie.  The story also contains plenty of teenage angst and drama, as you would expect from any movie set in this time.  It is amplified by the fact that this teen is an outcast in a small town, which, fueled by the fantastic soundtrack, rachets up the angst a level.  It also feels like it has some throwbacks to classic horror, an homage of sort to those styles and their slightly overacted performances.

However, the movie's performances can be hit or miss.  Some characters have exaggerated speaking styles or very dramatic line delivery, which works in some instances but feels forced in others.  And the movie is very slow to start; it feels like the movie is half over by the time we actually get to any meat in the film.  And although the film has an interesting premise, most of the movie takes place in the Shed or just next to the Shed, which also can contribute to the generally slow pace of the film.  And the pivotal showdown seems to be the result of someone just making a very bad decision.  However, this is a movie that gets better as the movie goes on.  I got used to the style of the characters and started appreciating the movie more when that happened.  And again, this film features some really great young actors and gives them a vehicle to show what they can do.  That, in and of itself, is something worth seeing.

The Shed takes fantastic music, bold style, and some great young actors and tells an unconventional monster movie filled with youthful anger and rebellion.  Stream it on Shudder August 27.

Rent it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. 

Interview: Niamh Wilson From Random Acts of Violence, New Shudder Horror Film

Watch or Pass Interview with Niamh Wilson who plays Aurora in the new horror movie, Random Acts of Violence. We discuss her character, her background in horror, and what it was like filming two roles at the same time! We also get some insight into releasing a film during the pandemic and quarantine.

So give it a watch and if you haven't already seen the film, it is available on August 20 on Shudder. Check out the review here.

If you liked this interview and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube.  

La Llorona Review: A Historical Horror Movie With Great Atmosphere

Release date: August 6, 2020
Running time: 97 minutes
Starring:  María Mercedes Coroy, Sabrina De La Hoz, Margarita Kenéfic, Julio Diaz

An aging paranoid dictator, protected by an witchcrafting wife, is dealing with the weight of the acts that brought him to power.  However, when the people he has ruled over begin to rise up, strange things begin happening in the compound that he is forced to live in.  And some of those seem to be the result of his past sins.  

La Llorona has an interesting setup, a dictator going through strange occurrences potentially due to his past misdeeds. The overall setup is relatively small, limited to the dictator, his immediate family, and some of their guards and employees.  A setting like this demands good performances, and the ones in La Llorona are up to the challenge.  The main family have a certain disconnected aspect to them, similar to something out of Wes Anderson but much less whimsical.  It shows that they have been living this privileged lifestyle for a while, divorced from the consequences of the patriarch.  Sabrina De La Hoz as Natalia is particularly interesting as she has a dual role as the daughter of the dictator, but also as a mother and the strong head of the family.  Her character is reserved but when she needs to let loose, she can.  And the film also has some fantastic scenes and lighting, especially during the night.  There are scenes that are framed and lit perfectly, drawing your attention to what is happening on screen or to what is just off screen.  

The legend of La Llorona is that she is a cursed soul forced to wander the world weeping for her drowned children.  Many young people grow up fearing that they will hear that sound, the director included.  With that context, it makes sense that the sound in the film would have received such care.  From the sounds of crying, to the sound of running water, to the constant drumbeat of the people of Guatemala, this movie has some great ambient sound that really helps to fill the scenes.  It is a constant reminder of what is going on off the camera.  And in the scenes when this sound suddenly cuts out, it makes you notice it all the more.  And one of the unique aspects of this movie in the horror context is that it is based on a significant, historical event: the violence committed during Guatemala's civil war.  The movie hopes to raise awareness of this and to start a dialogue about the violence that occurred, through the context of an updated adaptation of a well known horror legend.  The La Llorona in this film is different from the one you see in other horror movies, but that makes this one all the more interesting.  And the way that this movie ties the civil war and the legend of La Llorona is creative and fresh.  

Unfortunately for horror fans, this movie does not have a lot of what I would call traditional horror.  The film has a lot of great setup for the movie, but the horror aspects don't start until late in the film, and aren't as scary or grand as other movies in the genre.  However, the strong cast, fantastic cinematography and sound design, and the important historical context of this film make it one that should not be missed.

Watch it.

What to Watch This Weekend: July 31, 2020

The Poignant Family Drama: Ice Cream in the Cupboard (Digital)

Ice Cream in the Cupboard ultimately depicts a beautiful relationship, even if you have to view it through a painful lense.  It is touching, beautiful, and brutal and should not be missed.  For more information, check out our review!

The Quarantine Zoom Horror Movie: Host (Shudder)
Host dials in the scares with a clever use of technology, references to the current predicament, and enough jump scares to keep you from dropping out of this zoom meeting.  For more information, check out our review!

The Modern Political Thriller: The Hater (Netflix)

The Hater explores a timely issue with an amazing performance by Musialowski, stellar sound design, and a dark, engaging story.  Make sure to Like this one!  For more information, check out our review!

The Scary Weekend Getaway: The Beach House (Shudder)

It may not be a perfect time to do a beach trip, but The Beach House is a great way to spend your afternoon with its strong performances and many explanations for this impending threat.  For more information, check out our review!

The Emotional And Violent Family Affair: The Shadow of Violence (Digital)

Shadow of Violence is an emotional tour de force, with great characters, a powerful, impactful soundtrack, and a story that hits you early and hard.  For more information, check out our review!

The Atmospheric Horror Movie: Amulet (Digital)

Amulet tells a strange tale through its amazing sense of dread, unsettling sound effects, and simmering, complex story.  It won't be for everyone but there is plenty here for those looking for an atmospheric horror experience to appreciate.  For more information, check out our review!

The Documentary That Goes On A Rampage: Tread (Netflix)

Tread tells the story of Marvin Heemeyer, a master welder who quietly fortifies a bulldozer and systematically destroys numerous businesses and homes in the small mountain town of Granby, Colorado.  The man basically built himself a tank and went on a rampage.

The Edward Norton Crime Thriller: Motherless Brooklyn (HBO)

Motherless Brooklyn is an experience, with a fantastic setting that captures the lights, sounds, and soul of 1950’s New York and fills it with a cast of interesting characters to meet along the way.  For more information, check out our review!

Scoob! (Redbox)
Scoob! tries to play on the nostalgia for the franchise and if it would have stuck to this, it might have been an entertaining reboot of the Scooby Doo franchise.  For more information, check out our story!

Interview: Rob Savage (Director and Co-Writer) of Host, the New Found Footage Zoom Movie From Shudder

David dials in the spooky and chats over Zoom with Rob Savage, the director and co-writer of the brand new found footage horror film Host, which was shot entirely on Zoom (review).  We discuss the film, what it was like to make a movie during quarantine, how he overcame some of the issues, and have our own paranormal experience!  Rob gives us a lot of insight into how he got this creative project going and what it was like to make a movie remotely!

So give it a watch and if you haven't already seen the film, it is available on Shudder starting July 30, 2020.  If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube.  

Host Review: A Zoom Meeting You Won't Want To Be Late To

Release date: July 30, 2020
Running time: 56 minutes
Starring: Haley Bishop, Radina Drandova, Edward Linard, Jemma Moore, Caroline Ward 

Host, a Shudder original, is the story of six friends who hire a medium to hold a séance over Zoom during lockdown, but they get far more than they bargain for as things quickly go wrong.  When strange occurrances start happening on their group zoom call, the friends fear that they might have called more than they bargained for.  Host was shot entirely during the lockdown due to COVID and as such, deserves a lot of credit from the cast for being flexible.  The film stars Haley Bishop (Deep State), Radina Drandova (Dawn of the Deaf), Edward Linard (The Rebels), Jemma Moore (Doom: Annihilation), Caroline Ward (Stalling It) and Emma Louise Webb (The Crown), who also operated their own cameras, helped pull off their own practical effects, and lit their own scenes. 

Host's main premise has been done before in Unfriended: The Dark Web, which had a similar group call idea.  It also has been seen in other genres, such as in Searching, which took place mostly on a computer.  However, what makes Host unique is that it was filmed entirely during lockdown, with the cast members performing their own camera work.  It is an interesting feat and one that should be applauded as a way to get more content for those stuck at home.  And the actors all do a great job of skirting the line between horror seriousness and zoom silliness.  The characters go through some mixed emotions as they initially do not believe the medium and their spirit occurrences, but that changes as the night continues.  

The zoom influence is apparent throughout. There are several zoom "issues" with the movie that those who have spent a decent amount of time on meetings will appreciate.  From echoes, to dropped calls, to people not being able to figure out the technology, the zoom lifestyle is apparent throughout.  Another aspect that can be appreciated is that because this was shot during lockdown, there are a lot of timely references to our current situation that you don't see in bigger projects.  Host has a timely feeling to it because it was shot during our time.  And although Host relies a lot on jump scares, that is to be expected given the medium.  There are some really good effects and scary moments for a movie shot all over zoom, and there were several unsettling scenes.  If there is one negative with Host it is that the film itself is relatively short at just under an hour.  It would have been nice to have some additional character and scenario development to flesh this out.  Additionally, Host has a lot of generic horror type tropes that are probably due to a quick turn around and also the limited availability of props.  But what you get is a clever use of technology with plenty of hallmarks of our current times.

Host dials in the scares with a clever use of technology, references to the current predicament, and enough jump scares to keep you from dropping out of this zoom meeting.

Watch it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube.