A Poetry Journey

Tag: Movies

  • Review and Haiku: Dolly

    Living human doll

    Terrorizes a couple

    Deep inside the woods

    One of the big highlights. I enjoyed the fact that it felt like it was a combination of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre meets Wrong Turn, the good Wrong Turn, the first one or the remake. Dug that aspect of Dolly.

    Also dug the score. Added so much to this throwback vibe it was giving me and speaking of throwback vibe,16mm film made it look old school like something from the 70s or 80s. Another one of Dolly’s biggest highlights. 

    And a third big highlight – Direction by Rod Blackhurst. He has to be given some praise. No lag or drag. No time wasted. Once it started. It kept rolling until the end – just two people hiking in the woods – running into a force of nature trying to survive. That’s it and that’s all you needed.

    Minimal cast but they all did a great job in their roles. Fabianne Therese – good final girl – Sean William Scott – good in his role. Ethan Suplee – very terrifying in a very small role. 

    Gore, not abundant but both of the leads took a beating and so did Dolly so among them there was some blood shed. Stiffler’s mouth was unhinged and open for a long time – that made me squirm – but not as much as the dinner scene. The nasty pot pie was bad, so was the binky, so was the diaper changer, but that baby bottle, about put me over the edge. Vile milky rotten liquid in that thing that she had to drink. I couldn’t crawl back in my seat far enough during that scene. Disgusting. 

    And I don’t know if Dolly will be a household name like Art the Clown or Freddy or Jason those kinds of villains but she is a force and looks terrifying in that doll mask. Plus, she’s huge and tall and thick. Played by max the impaler – a pro wrestler. She was a great choice for this role. 

    I have heard there are sequels planned. I wouldn’t mind seeing Dolly again, this time with more carnage, more blood shed, more dismemberments. Sign me up for a bloodier sequel.  

    That’s it. Dolly is on Shudder as of 4/26/2026. Easy to find and watch. If you see it. Let me know your thoughts about it. 

    Also, if you need a couple more good, at times great, survivalist movies. Dusted these two off after Dolly.

    Bridge to Nowhere is a 1986 New Zealand horror/thriller film directed and co-written by Ian Mune,[1] and produced by Larry Parr.[2] It centres on a group of teenagers who must fight for survival after coming across a mysterious hermit while on a camping trip.[2]

    Better than expected and I was surprised by how into it I was. 

    And this one.

    Apex is a 2026 survival action thriller film directed by Baltasar Kormákur, written by Jeremy Robbins, and starring Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, and Eric Bana. It tells the story of a rock climber in the wild who finds herself being hunted by a hunter as she works to survive. It was released on Netflix on April 24, 2026.

    It was another one much better than I thought it would be. Some by the numbers stuff but the rock climbing and rafting are edge of your seat thrills and the chase scenes are too. When I see Netflix attached, I am always cautious, they’ve put out some stinkers, but this one was good. Charlize Theron did a lot of her own rock climbing stunts – adds to the tension.  

    Video Review of Dolly.

    Dolly: Movie Review and Haiku
    https://youtu.be/EdI-uG6bMbA

  • Review and Haiku: A Nightmare on Elm Street 4

    A master of dreams

    Protecting souls from Freddy

    Guiding them safely 

    Freddy, he’s menacing once again with some great one liners that are sharp and funny and fit the moment perfectly. Robert Englund says this is his favorite portrayal of Freddy. Makes sense when you watch because you can see the joy in Englund’s performance. Freddy also looks great again too. The burn effects are better in earlier entries but he still looks like a menacing dream demon. Props to the effects department for making him look so grotesque and evil.  

    Lisa Wilcox, when she gets the chance to be the final girl she’s solid in her role and very believable. I like how her character goes from frumpy and skittish and jumping at every shadow to this bad ass fighter taking on  Freddy with all these dream powers. Lisa handles this duel role solidly. Tuesday Knight, great singer, is solid as Kristen, but Patricia is severely missed. It’s jarring not having her in this movie. If you don’t watch Part 3 and Part 4 back to back then it’s not as noticeable, but watching 3 and 4 back to back shows the difference. Patricia is just a better actress and more convincing. Hope that doesn’t offend anyone when I say that but it’s the truth. Kincaid and Joey – solid again like they were in part 3, thankfully not recast, and the rest of the new cast is good too. No standouts other than Lisa but the new cast handle their roles effectively enough. 

    Renny Harlin’s direction is on point. This feels like a Renny Harlin film with a lot of the tropes you get when you watch his movies and he keeps the film moving forward at a quick pace. It never lags or drags. 

    The end battle inside the church. Like the way that set looks. Gore is minimal but there are plenty of kills to be had. I don’t like the fact that Freddy doesn’t use the glove as much, starting to drift towards Part 5 and 6 with the kills, and that’s a negative because his glove is a formidable weapon. He should have used it more, but in place of the glove, he finds clever ways of dispatching teens like the roach motel segment, which is a standout kill in any of these movies. Also, I like the soul food diner scene. Looked great and it gave me a chuckle.  

    This movie also has a great score from start to finish. The music fits each scene and even the non lyrical music is spooky and intense. Always forget how good the score is for Part 4. 

    All in all, this was a solid revisit, but it’s starting to show some rust as the years roll on. Parts of this movie don’t work at all, like the kung fu fight with invisible Freddy, and bringing Freddy back with dog pee, not the best the franchise has given us, but the resurrection did look awesome. Great practical stop motion effects. 

    And those are my thoughts. What are your thoughts about A Nightmare on Elm Street 4? Love it, hate it, favorite sequel, let me know all that in the comments.

    See the video here:

    A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master: Movie Review and Haiku
    https://youtu.be/DTS95z3cBF8

  • Review and Haiku: A Nightmare on Elm Street 3

    The dream warriors 

    Using their skills and powers

    Fighting to survive 

    Freddy looks awesome in that sweater and that hat and the burned effects on Robert are top notch. Freddy’s also mean. Evil and dark with some of the all time best one liners in this franchise.

    “Welcome to prime time bitch!”

    Amazing line right after Freddy slams Jennifer face first into that TV. 

    And speaking of kills.

    The puppet Freddy looks awesome, the effects in that scene as Phillip is walked down the hall to his death still look great and hold up extremely well for a movie this old. Another kill that holds up, and still looks great, one of my favorite kills in this franchise, when Taryn gets the life “literally” sucked out of her with those Freddy fingers as needles. He jams those fingers right into her arms with wounds that are pulsing and sucking and just looking nasty. Good stuff. Freddy snake is another highlight and even more effects that hold up perfectly. 

    Heather Langemkamp is great in her role. One of the all time final girls. Might be my favorite final girl. Robert once again brings so much life to Freddy. He just knows how to make that character shine and John Saxon even in a limited role is still great. Craig Wasson is solid too. Patricia Arquette also shines bright in this movie – incredible scream – up there with Mark from Part 2 in this series. I wish she would have returned for Part 4 because she gave it her all in this movie and she is missed in Part 4. Very jarring not having her there.

    And if there weren’t enough great actors in this movie, you’ve also got the pill guy, Morpheus himself, Lawrence Fishburne. It’s a stacked cast through and through.  

    Direction. You just can’t beat a Wes Craven directed movie. You just can’t. He knows how to get all he can out of each actor and each scene. Story and script are strong. It’s also got some really great spooky moments. The stuff with the nun, Freddy’s mom, creepy. Very supernatural. Digging that.  

    You also get music by Dokken and you can’t go wrong when you are Rocking with Dokken. 

    What are your thoughts about A Nightmare on Elm Street 3? Favorite sequel. Not your favorite sequel. What is your favorite sequel if this one isn’t it? Let me know all that in the comments.

    See the video here:

    A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors: Movie Review and Haiku
    https://youtu.be/2Wv2Nx6_DiU

  • Review and Haiku: Freddy vs. Jason

    +++++++++ Haiku

    Two horror icons 

    Freddy and Jason battle 

    One will reign supreme 

    +++++++++ Mask History

    First up, the history of Jason’s Mask used in F vs. J, and this comes from horror.fandom.com, 

    It states:  

    In this film, Jason’s mask appears similar to the one in Part III down to the three red triangles, but it now appears to be cream-colored rather than white and it is notably missing it’s signature axe mark.. Throughout the movie the mask goes through some noticeable changes; primarily claw marks from Freddy’s glove and soaked blood.

    +++++++++ Review

    This movie is better than it has any right to be. Up there with some of the best sequels in either franchise.  

    Ronny Yu, who directed it, did a great job behind the lens. He kept the movie moving at a good pace and kept the fight scenes cohesive and easy to watch – you could see what was going on the whole time. Mark Swift and Damian Shannon, who wrote the script, also deserve a lot of credit, probably the most credit. They found a way to put these two titans together into one film, somehow combining locations, back stories, history, etc., and making it all work like all of that belongs in one film.

    Freddy looks amazing. He’s wise cracking and doing his best at being the nasty dream demon we’ve all come to know and love. A little pervier in this one but there’s always been a bit of that in this character. I do wish they would have used that demon thing he turns into when he jumps out of the water a little more. I hate it was only in that one scene. He looked nasty and maybe the most evil he’s ever looked.

    Jason, he’s big, he’s hulking, he’s monstrous, and looks great too. I wish Kane Hodder would have been in this role, yes, I am one of those people, but I like what Ken Kirzinger brought to this character.   

    Fights are top notch. A bit over the top at times but it’s Freddy battling Jason, that’s to be expected, especially when Freddy is involved. Effects are top notch too. Gore is nasty as well. When Freeburg got split in half in that one scene that was an all time kill in either series and so was the bed kill when Tray gets butchered badly and then folded up. Nasty stuff.

    Monica Keena, the final girl?. Solid in her role and so is the rest of the cast. No complaints with the acting in this movie.  

    All in all, this film should not have worked as well as it did but it did and I am glad for that. I always enjoy revisiting it.  

    What are your thoughts about Freddy vs Jason? Who truly won? Who were you rooting for? Let me know all that in the comments.

    See the review here: Freddy vs. Jason

  • Review and Haiku: I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)

    Deadly accident 

    Time to bury the truth

    Someone always knows

    +++++Spoilers +++++

    I liked this movie, more than most it seems, but it does have a heap of problems, and let’s start with what I think is the biggest problem, the third act and the reveal of the killers. Ray being one of them doesn’t make a lick of sense. 

    I get the trauma aspect, the bad divorce aspect, being close to the other killer aspect, the woman he works with aspect, things like that, but this reveal is terrible for all the past movies. 

    In the first one he was kind of clueless but likeable, a good guy, and a decent guy, and in the second Freddy put a little more gusto in the role and became kind of a badass, which I liked a lot. So to see him turn into a killer was kind of heart breaking. It really ruined a great likeable character who seemed like a really nice guy.  

    Julie James wasn’t used enough but I liked seeing Jennifer back again. It sort of works and sort of doesn’t. The rest of the cast is solid too. No standouts but they read their lines very well and don’t distract you with bad acting. 

    The movie was also about 10 minutes too long. You could have shaved some time off some of these scenes and you wouldn’t have missed that time. 

    There were stupid character moments even for a Slasher movie, which I can look past most of the time but this one guy going to check the gate and while in the process of checking the gate he walks right past a full on person dressed in a fisherman outfit. Are we supposed to believe they have mannequins in this place dressed like fisherman – bit of a stretch – but the surprise stab in the back was nice and jarring. Stupidity led to a good kill. 

    The throw away scene at the end of the movie with the two girls on the beach – not sure about that or the lead up to it with that dialogue after the hospital. All of it seemed too casual for the subject matter they are discussing. 

    And I could go on with even more negatives, but let’s stop the hate train and put some positivity into the episode and dive into one of my favorite parts of the movie. 

    The dream sequence with Sarah Michelle Gellar. Might be the movie’s biggest highlight and it actually worked, probably shouldn’t have, but it did. Good use of CGI and the deaging was better than it is in most movies. It probably helps that Sarah still looks young and it didn’t take much to deage her unlike some of these older actors.  

    Gore was decent. Kills were nothing spectacular but I did like when they hung the father and son up like fish at the dock. That was a nice finish to that double kill but if you are looking for insane amounts of gore this movie isn’t for you. 

    I also liked how they incorporated old sets and things like that into the set pieces – like the parade float from the original I know what you did last summer. That was a nice touch. Good way to add in some nostalgia. 

    Fisherman/Fisherwoman looked great. I always liked the look of this killer and the weapon he or she uses. Lots of carnage to be had with that weapon. 

    Mid credit scene was good too with Brandy and Jennifer – and if there is a movie to be had with them chasing down this killer then sign me up. Don’t care if it doesn’t make a lick of sense I would still watch it and what would the title of it be. 

    Comment with your titles? 

    Mine would be this. I know what you did last summer and since you did this thing last summer we are going to kill you for that thing you did last summer – rolls of the tongue, right? 

    Overall, the first two acts were solid, but it is in the third act where this movie has the biggest problems and that’s where you don’t want to have them. Okay to start slow or slightly off and course correct as you move through the film. But you got to close strong. Leave the audience wanting more.

    That’s it. What are your thoughts about I know what you did last summer? Did you enjoy it? Does Ray as the killer work for you? Let me know all that in the comments. 

    Take care. Have a good one and be safe on those dark roads at night. 

    See the video for this script:


    https://youtu.be/YT4NoBqMdXY

  • Review and Haiku: Friday the 13th (2009)

    Sister is missing 

    Brother is on the hunt

    Jason roaming free 

    The History of Jason’s Mask for this remake, according to horror.fandom.com:  

    In this film, Jason acquires his mask after his burlap sack is removed after a brief fight with Donnie. It appears similar to the one from Part III, although the eye holes are shaped slightly different and are closer together. It is also more dirty and worn-out, and the triangles are peeling off.

    There you go. Brief, but that gives you an idea of what the mask looked like in this movie, which is a great remake. This came out at the tail end of the remake boom and it’s a highlight from that time and space. Probably Top Ten Remake, of all the remakes that came out, but I still think, though it needs a revisit, haven’t seen it for a bit, Dawn of the Dead is the best in that remake era. Comment if you agree or not? 

    Back to this remake, Friday the 13th, simply put, it works from start to finish. Are there flaws? Sure. It’s horny. Is that a flaw? Not sure but the horniness is so abundant that it almost gets annoying at times. Characters are constantly talking about sexual things. Even the sex scenes are probably the most gratuitous we’ve ever gotten in this franchise. Part 9 and 5 also had their fair share, but this one might have the most. Again, comment if you can think of hornier Friday the 13th movies than Parts 9 (jason goes to hell), Part 5 (a new beginning), or this one?  

    Jason looks awesome in that burlap sack or in the iconic hockey mask, and he looks like a beast too, nothing to screw around with, tall and muscular, easily could do some permanent bodily damage. Derek Mears did a great job in this role. 

    Cast is good enough. They read their lines well. Jared Padelecki though did do a fine job as the lead but the cast is mostly there for nudity and kills which are solid. When blonde douche bag dude gets pinned to the back of that truck and driven off to points unknown – series highlight. I was also partial to the boat kill. When the guy driving the boat gets that arrow through his eye. It was unexpected and jarring. And there are plenty of other good kills and lots of gore throughout the movie. If you go into this one for kills or gore you will not be dissapointed.  

    Movie is also shot good enough by Marcus Nispel. It’s a bit hurky jurky at times, fights are not always cohesive, but direction is mostly on point throughout the film. 

    Overall, I think this one is up there with some of the best in the series.  That’s it. What are your thoughts about the Friday the 13th Remake? One of the best in the remake era? One of the best Friday the 13th movies? Let me know. Take care and have a good one.

    See the video for this script.

    History of Jason’s Mask, Haiku, and Review for Friday the 13th (2009)
    https://youtu.be/Ywd4vTC1LLk

  • Review and Haiku: Scream 7

    SPOILERS – CHECK OUT NOW IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN IT

    An old foe returns

    Casting doubts into the past

    Stu, deepfake or not

    Neve Campbell. She’s back as Sidney and just as great as always. She slipped easily back into her role. Sydney is a final girl for many reasons and iconic too and Neve is the reason for that. Loved seeing her return and Courtney too and the other two cast members Jasmin and Mason from the last two movies. Nice to see them back even though all three were underused. 

    Seeing Matthew Lillard return as Stu, even as a deep fake, lots of fun was had with that, and the other couple of quick cameos from past killers too – nice touch. Enjoyed seeing Dewey in those deep facts as well.

    The rest of the cast is solid. No issues at all with any of them. Neve’s daughter Tatum (nice callback) played by Isablel May liked her performance. Solid in the final girl role.  

    Gore and Effects:

    Top notch. A Few nasty kills. Never seen someone’s head drove through a bar tap and said tap spills beer and blood onto the floor. Mckeena Grace, who also did a great job, had a nasty kill, very creative, even though spilling guts is almost cliche now. Still works for the desired effect but it might be time to retire that style of kill. Beyond those kills, gore is plentiful, and if you like blood, you get lots of it. 

    Story, Script, and Directing: 

    I thought Kevin Williamson did a great job behind the lens. Movie never lagged or dragged. Shots were clean and crisp and you could see the action clearly. 

    Story and script by Kevin and Guy Busick is the one negative you could glom onto from this one. If you want or need a negative. It’s not the tightest story or script in this franchise, might be one of the weakest, but I don’t tune into these movies for that. Sure, I enjoy great characters, I enjoy the mystery, who’s doing it, things like that, and great reveals, but what I enjoy the most is what this one gave me. Thrills, chills, chase scenes, gore, laughs, jump scares, etc. that’s why you watch these movies and it did a great job with all that. 

    Score:

    Can’t complain about the music it fit where it was needed. Nice to hear Red Right Hand – feels like a scream movie when that song plays.

    Last thing, the Killer, Ghostface, Iconic, Roger Jackson was back with his voice, loved that, and the costume never ever fails. Always enjoyed the look of Ghostface.

    The killer reveals are not as strong as past killer reveals but I kind of liked the fact that they were sort of just random people and not tied to a family member or a friend group. Anna Camp, solid, as the architect of the killings. I still don’t understand her motives one hundred percent, future watches will clear that up, but even if that part is a tad bit weak that doesn’t bother me.

    I do kind of wish it would have been Stu doing the killings. Rising up to be the mastermind. We’re at the point in time in a franchise where that kind of insanity actually would work. And Matthew Lillard hamming it up with the big speech at the end would have elevated this movie a lot. 

    Also really liked the opening too. Lots of good red herrings with that animatronic Ghostface, liked having it in the background, kept you on edge. Opening kills were brutal too. 

    All in all, no complaints with this one. I enjoyed it. It gave me what I wanted from a Scream movie and that’s all you can ask of it. Future viewings may change my thoughts but for now that’s where I stand. 

    If there is a Scream 8 – my idea for it – comment with yours. I want to see Ghostface running through the woods, chasing camp counselors, and slaughtering them beside a lake. Easy enough to do. Counselor goes wrong, loves the Stab movies and Friday the 13th, and decides to combine them. One killer. No ties to anyone in the previous entries. Just a straight up Slasher movie. Very similar to Friday the 13th Part 5. That’s what I want to see in Part 8 and maybe going forward just make each one not tie into the other 7. New cast, no legacy characters. Just find a way to put Ghostface into a movie and get him or her doing what he or she does best. 

    And that’s it. What are your thoughts about Scream 7? Don’t just say it sucks or say I suck for enjoy it. Just give me good reasons why you did or didn’t enjoy it. Keep it civil.

    If you want to see the video to this script you can find it here. Disembodied Screams

  • Review and Haiku: I Still Know What You Did Last Summer

    A contest is won 

    Secluded island awaits

    Fisherman returns

     

    Solid. 

    That’s the word that kept coming to mind while watching this sequel to I know what you did last summer and I realized while watching it that I haven’t visited this sequel nearly enough throughout the years

    Gore is 90’s horror movie gore, Post Scream gore, just enough splatter to let you know somebody died but not enough to desensitize you, which may not be a bad thing. You get the point and you know that person is dead. Time to move on to the next victim. 

    Even with the minimal gore though, there are still some solid kills throughout. Jack Black, his character, had one of the toughest to watch because he seemed like a nice enough easy going guy, a bit annoying, but he just liked his weed and wanted others to enjoy that vibe too. Nothing wrong with that. His death was tough because Jack really sold it. 

    Fisherman looked great, again. I always liked the look of this serial killer with the slicker, the hat, the hook, the thing covering his or her face. A good costume to keep the villain disguised and to keep you guessing. 

    Story, script, directing is good too. I like what they did with this story and putting them up on the island during a storm. Works well for a slasher movie. No where to run. No where to hide. And I liked the twist at the end with father and son tag teaming the kills. Made a lot of sense. This series has lived in the shadow of Scream for many years so why not take a page from it and have two killers. Worked extremely well.

    The score was what you’d expect from a movie like this. Good enough. Plenty of late nineties sounding music sprinkled throughout 

    And finally, acting, honestly, better than a movie like this needs to be. Jennifer Love Hewitt. Solid in her role as the final girl, question mark. Great screaming once again. Up there with Mark Patton from A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 for best horror screamers. Brandy was good in her role and so was Freddy. Played the tough guy better than I thought he could and the rest of the cast is solid too. No complaints.  

    All in all, I am glad I dove back into this sequel, and it’s one I will revisit from time to time.

    That’s it. What are your thoughts about I still know what you did last summer? Did you enjoy it or not? Let me know all that in the comments below.

    See the video here: Disembodied Screams

  • Review and Haiku: Terrifier

    The Miles County Clown

    Creeping through the dark city

    Slaughtering with glee 

      

    Gore and Effects: The main reason to tune in. There’s plenty of blood to be had. The sawing the girl from crotch to head scene alone is gory enough for more than one movie. It’s intense and disturbing. Then you throw in the girl getting shot to death, the guy getting his face obliterated, Art peeling a woman’s body a part so he can dress up in her hair and skin, and on and on it goes. If you tune in for just the gore then you will not be disappointed. 

    Story and Script are not to be found in this one. Those two elements only exist to give Art a place to play. That’s it.  

    Directing, despite the lack of story and script, Damien Leone does a fantastic job behind the lens. The movie isn’t dull. Keeps you watching. Keeps your interest. I’m never bored watching it. 

    Acting, Catherine Corcoran does a solid job in her role and she is the standout actor, next David, who has brought so much life to Art the Clown, a basic slasher villain on the page that David has given so much life too, but Catherine has some solid acting abilities and I hate to hear about what she endured on this set. In rewatching this movie, she’s hung upside down for a while and topless, breasts on full display. If her safety and nudity concerns were not met. She does have a reason to sue and to seek damages. It seems like she gave her all to that scene and should be rewarded for it.

    Score, it’s another highlight and it adds a lot to this nice Eighties low budget slasher grime that is all over this movie. 

    Killer, Art the Clown, he’s already iconic. He’s already becoming the next big villain in horror, up there with Jigsaw, Freddy, Jason, Michael, Chucky, Lestherface, etc. etc. etc. I foresee this villain having many movies to play in for many years to come. 

    That’s it. What are your thoughts about Terrifier? Love it. Hate it. Let me know in the comments below. I personally am starting to like this one a lot. There’s just something so simple about it that Part 2 and 3 don’t have. Sure 2 and 3 have better stories but this one has a certain old school low budget charm that I like. Maybe that’s just me. Take care and have a good one. 

    See the video here and my other videos on the Terrifier Series. Part 2 coming soon: Terrifer Videos on YouTube

  • Review and Haiku: A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge

    Freddy needs new flesh 

    Jesse will be his vessel  

    A chance for rebirth

    A big highlight for Nightmare 2. Freddy. He’s dark, menacing, evil, less jokey, intense, fierce, grotesque, and very burned. It’s some of the best make up effects they have ever created for this villain. Robert Englund is great once again as Freddy. He added a bit of swagger to the dream demon this time, which I liked, and he had great one liners too – You’ve got the body, I’ve got the brain, followed by an amazing scream from Jessie played by Mark Patton who knows how to scream. Some of the best screaming I have ever heard in a horror movie. Mark did a great job in this role. You felt this character’s pain and torment and you sympathized with him because of the great job Mark did bringing this character to life. Rest of the cast was solid too – no complaints.

    Minimal gore but gory enough when needed. Standout kill, one of the best in the franchise, one of my favorites. It’s when Freddy slams those knife fingers into Grady’s chest, quick cut to the other side of the door and you see the bloody tips burst through, and then a quick cut back to Freddy as he happily drags those knives ever so slowly down Grady’s dying tormented body. And that kill took place after some amazing special effects when Freddy tore himself out of Mark’s body. Just a whole gruesome set of events in that scene. And there are some other good kills too and some solid special effects sprinkled through this movie – Freddy dogs – nightmare fuel.  

    Story, script, and directing – solid work in those departments. Great score and I also liked seeing the Elm Street house again. Also liked how they tie this movie into the first one with the journal even though we don’t see Nancy writing in that journal. It’s plausible enough and it helps to keep Part 1 and 2 linked. This movie may be an outlier like Halloween 3, but don’t sleep on it. This is a great sequel from start to finish. Scream at me if you want to for that but it should get more love than it does.

    Have you seen A Nightmare on Elm Street 2? Is it a terrible sequel or not? Is Mark one of the best horror screamers of all time? Is it one of your favorites in this franchise, if not, which one is? Drop your thoughts about all of that in the comments.

    Take care and have a good one.

    Video for this script on YouTube.

    Disembodied Screams A Nightmare on Elm Street Playlist

  • Review and Haiku: Jason X

    This is one helluva a fun watch from start to finish. One of my favorite Friday the 13th movies. Jason looks great in either version. OG Jason has a cool mask and rotten look while Uber Jason looks menacing and large and terminator like and invincible. Kane Hodder does an amazing job playing either version of Jason. Brings a lot of life to the character. Cast is solid. Effects too even if the movie has a Sci Fi original movie tone to it at times that still doesn’t hurt it. 

    Kills are bloody, fierce, and mean – especially that cryo frozen face slam. Disgusting and there’s a great virtual reality throw back scene to the original 80’s movies that works extremely well. Wish they would have stayed there longer. Directing is solid. The movie doesn’t lag or drag. Keeps moving forward at a steady pace. Needless to say, this is a fun watch, and one I always look forward to revisiting. There’s also a cameo by David Cronenberg who gets killed by Jason at the start. 

    Moving on, here’s information about the mask from Jason X – thank you horror fandom.com – link in the show notes. That site states that In this film, Jason’s mask appears far more angular, and lacks the round nose from previous installments. Once again, it only has the forehead triangle, and once again retains the axe and motorboat damage, though these are much more subtle. When Jason is transformed into Über-Jason, he once again wears a hockey mask, but it is composed of a metallic alloy and conforms around his face. The holes are also positioned differently, and it appears to have nostrils.

    Source: https://horror.fandom.com/wiki/Jason_Voorhees%27_hockey_mask

    There you go. A brief bit of history on both masks and some overall thoughts about the movie. That’s it. What are your thoughts about Jason X? Love it, hate it, want to send it through the air lock and let it die in deep space. Let me know all that in the comments. Take care and have a good one. 

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  • Review and Haiku: Weapons

    SPOILERS – PROCEED WITH CAUTION

    SPOILERS – PROCEED WITH CAUTION

    Let’s start at the top and the reason why this movie works, writer and director Zach Cregger. I don’t know how he kept this story from falling apart with everything going on. Cutting between multiple points of view and tying them together seamlessly without a burden of showing too much repeated content. And his direction, especially at the end of this movie, amazing. That end chase has a lot of funny moments but also a lot of great shots too.

    Julia Garner and Josh Brolin are amazing in their roles. I bought into everything they were meant to sell in this movie and Cary Christopher, the main kid actor, the only kid left in the class, top notch acting from him.

    Rest of the cast is solid too but big kudos go to Amy Madigan for playing an all time villain in Aunt Gladys. Amy put so much life into that character. Creepy and intense and powerful. Someone you truly want to root against.

    There are also a couple of great jump scares. The one with the person on the ceiling got me to scream the most. Dream sequences are spooky with some great nightmare vibes. There’s also a really great mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end.

    Did I mention the score? That’s great too. Fits every scene and every moment perfectly and there is some gore especially Gladys’s kill. She got torn apart like a character in a zombie movie – a very worthy death for that villain. 

    I could go on and on but I will stop here. This is a great movie from start to finish. One of the best of 2025.

    What are your thoughts about Weapons?

    And if you want a deeper dive the Dead Meat Podcast went deep into the story on this one. Finding things that I never thought to look for. Check them out if you want to explore this movie further.

    Take care and have a good one.

    Email: songlinesandtanlines@gmail.com 

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    Podcast: Disembodied Screams 

  • Review and Haiku: Good Boy

    I enjoyed this one. Told from a dog’s point of view. I am not sure I have seen a ghost story from that angle and it was more than a gimmick to put butts in seats. It actually worked and kept my attention the whole time.

    Highlight for sure was the dog. Indy was so good in his role that at times I forgot I was watching a dog. He sold it. Not sure how they got him to do the things he did.

    It also didn’t overstay its welcome. Just shy of 1 hour and 13 minutes and to me that’s a perfect length for a movie like this. If you get a chance check it out. There’s lots of good creepy stuff that will keep you on the edge of your seat. 

  • Haiku: Jurassic World: ReBirth

  • Review and Haiku: Predator: Badlands

    Gore:

    There’s plenty of green predator blood. Plenty of Predator and animal and android dismemberments. Plenty of melting androids. Plenty of gooey android blood too. There’s not much red to be seen but there is still plenty of blood spilled in various colors. If you like gore, it’s there, just not red, and I am sure that helped the rating stay PG-13. 

    Effects:

    Obviously money went into this one. Everything looked great from the landscapes to the ships to the unique creatures and plants. Those weapons with the red lights – looked cool. The movie was also kind of Star Warsesque at times, which I really liked. All the Predators looked amazing. Lots of unique designs for their armor and weapons and faces.  

    Story, Script, and Directing:

    Highlight and Star those three things because Dan Trachtenberg delivers once again behind the lens. His direction is flawless just like it was in Prey and Killer of Killers. I have enjoyed what he has brought to and added to the Predator lore and universe. It’s a great way to keep the Predator fresh and new without relying on the past and I also loved the world building in this movie. Seeing the Predator home planet and the Planet Genna – the death planet – enjoyed all the various creatures on this planet and the plants and things of that nature. Part of my enjoyment of this movie was just watching and waiting to see what they would come up with next. Story and script are also top notch. Patrick Aison and Dan did an amazing job crafting this story and script and making it believable.

    Acting:

    Top notch. Dimitrius who played Dek, the Predator we root for this time, was great in the lead role and Elle Fanning did an outstanding job playing both good and bad androids. Not a big cast but the movie is not about the cast it’s about the spectacle and there’s plenty of it. 

    Score:

    Powerful. The sound design was crisp and clean and the explosions rattled my seat from time to time in the theater.

    Bonus points to Bud:

    Glad they didn’t overuse this creature and left it behind for part of the movie. Might have been a bit too much for a Predator movie if it had too much screen time.  

    Minor Gripe:

    I will say it took me a minute to vibe with Elle’s character but once I did I was fully connected and the humor, at times, wore a bit thin. It’s okay to stay dark. A movie like this kind of demands it.  

    That’s it.

    What are your thoughts about Predator: Badlands?

    YouTube Horror Channel: Disembodied Screams

    Podcast: Disembodied Screams 

  • Review and Haiku: Predator: Killer of Killers

    Review and Haiku: Predator: Killer of Killers

    Spoilers, possibly, maybe, proceed with caution. You’ve been warned. Now, here is the haiku and then the review. 

    The Shield

    Great way to lead this set of stories off. I enjoyed seeing vikings taking on this monstrous Predator. Doesn’t end well for any of them, but overall this was really solid. Great gore, action, setting, effects, and animation. The kills were brutal and bloody. Predator looked awesome – never seen one that big. 

    The Sword

    There’s something about Japan and swords and the lore of that country’s history with Ninjas and things like that that play well in the Predator universe and this segment leans heavy into that lore. I really enjoyed this segment, it might be my favorite of the 3, just something about seeing Japan and a Predator unleashed upon this ancient world that works for me. I would love, of these three segments, to see this one fleshed out and turned into a live action film. I think it would really pop and once again, gore, violence, action, etc. is awesome. No complaints in that department. I also think this is my favorite Predator in this film.

    The Bullet 

    I liked the story in this one a lot, probably the most fleshed out and well rounded story of the three. I really liked seeing the dog fights because we’ve never seen a Predator fighting and flying in his ship. The ship a lot of times is an after thought, a prop, so that was a nice touch. The setting was great too. 1941 and the second great war – I bet a Predator could find a lot of good fighters in this time period and place. And like the other two segments, it works, not as bloody or as violent, but there’s still plenty of action and gore and violence and all that stuff that the other two segments excelled in and if you tune in just for that you will not be disappointed.  

    The Battle

    Somehow these warriors are in the same time line and fighting each other and trying to survive a gladiator style event on a hostile Predator planet. Great conclusion to the movie and it showcased another awesome Predator with amazing dread locks. Not sure about the time traveling aspect because there would have to be some of that for the conclusion to happen. But if you don’t think too much about that then it isn’t a problem at all. And again, like the other segments, gore, violence, action, animation, mayhem, dismemberment, etc. etc, etc. are all top notch.

    Have you seen this movie? Let me know your thoughts about it. Favorite Predator. Favorite Segment. Let me know that too. Take care and have a good one.

    YouTube Horror Channel: Disembodied Screams

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  • Script and Haiku: Predator

    Spoilers, possibly, maybe, proceed with caution. You’ve been warned. Here we go with the haiku. 

    Elite rescue team

    Mission to save hostages

    Alien hunting

    What is there to say about this movie that hasn’t already been said a billion times? 

    Gore. Excellent. Head shots. Body shots. Skeletons ripped from human meat. And one nasty arm severing. Plenty of red is spilled. 

    Story and Script. Tight and lean. No wasted space. 

    Directing from John McTiernan is on point. He got the most out of every scene and actor and he shot the action scenes perfectly – you could see it all very clearly. 

    Acting, solid, it is what it is for a movie like this. Honestly, it’s much better than a movie like this actually needs to be because movies like this don’t need top notch acting. You got the action. You got the villain. You got the testosterone fueled pace. Acting is only a small part of that but there’s not a dud to be had among this cast. This was Arnold at his peak. Even if he couldn’t act, which he can, he’s proved that, I’d still cast him for star power alone. 

    Score. Fits each scene to a T. 

    And this movie gives us one of the all time cinema villain legends. The Predator and I am still surprised that they were able to make the Predator and all the stuff he used look this good in the Eighties, pre CGI. I can see why the Predator continues to haunt cinema to this very day.  

    I have loved this movie for a very long time. It’s Eighties action through and through, it’s a gory horror slasher movie, it’s scifi, it wears a lot of hats and looks good in all of them. Now, what say you? Do you love this one? When was your time seeing it? Things like that in the comments below. Take care. Have a good one and get to the choppa.

    YouTube Horror Channel: Disembodied Screams

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  • Haiku: Halloween

    Happy Halloween to those who celebrate.

    Find more screams here.

    YouTube Horror Channel: Disembodied Screams

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  • Haiku: Wes Craven’s New Nightmare

  • Haiku: A Nightmare on Elm Street

    See more here:

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