Nightmare Man (2006)

I truly do not understand all the negative comments about this director and his films; I quite honestly think that for the genre he is very good, with sharp writing, good editing, and effective camera work! Remember, this is a low budget Horror film we are talking about, so in weighing in along with films of a similar type I think this guy stands above many of the others. The actors are directed in such a way that good performances are brought out; the dialog is funny, sharp, and effective. The editing is very well done, especially during the chase scenes through the forest (MAN, I'll tell you... I REALLY kept hoping that actress would frigg'n DIE I hated her and her horse teeth and strident voice and manner so damn much! Always smacking her lips, I SWEAR I wanted to run her through myself!!!) Anyway... sorry about that... If you can endure the first 18 minutes or so until they get to the woods, the movie is well worth it. As you probably gather, I cannot frigg'n STAND the primary actress who leads the film off, but later on things really get going and she is THANKFULLY not the focus of the film any more.Ms. Shepis too is quite good; I find her style very refreshing in both this film and 'CORPSES', the only 2 I've seen so far from this director and with this actress. She strikes an excellent balance between being strong and funny, but without being just shallow and obnoxious. Some of her sarcastic lines are quite good; the writing is also done very well. The sound design is also good; I REALLY liked the heavy footfalls of the demon during the chase scenes in the forest! The direct style of direction REALLY reminds me or Argento! Straight forward, not terribly subtle, but very effective. Smoother and much more competent than Argento though...I'm glad to have found this new director of Horror films (new to me, that is) and I very much look forward to seeing more of his work as time goes on. So far, with the two films that I have seen, I have found them refreshing and well put together, especially for low budget Horror, and most especially compared to the mountainous drivel that passes for both Horror and entertainment these days...

OK, now here's one of those After Dark movies, that I've read a lot of negative reviews especially at IMDb, and after seeing the movie, I don't know where they are coming from. Those reviewers seem to have missed the whole premise of the story, which is basically a new telling of the famous "Trilogy of Terror" African Zuni fetish doll, starring Karen Black. That is what this movie is about, the very same premise. A woman gets a box in the mail, and inside is a black demon mask, which was sent by mistake I assume, because it was supposed to be a fertility mask to help her husband get it up. When she puts it on, she believes herself to be possessed by a demon spirit that she keeps seeing, and she calls it the Nightmare Man. Now her husband is taking her to a clinic to help her get over her condition, and their car runs out of gas, and he takes off to find gas, but she starts seeing the Nightmare Man, and runs into the woods being chased and comes across a cottage where two sexy couples are having a party. Yep, this one has a generous amount of nudity, which is always good, but their party is interrupted by this crazy woman saying, this demon is trying to escape her body, but then again, it is also chasing her. The people are freaked out to say the least, but then all at once, this demon thing actually does attack and starts killing off the party people. BUT, is it really a demon, and what about the husband returning with the gas, he is on his way to the cottage, is he really the Nightmare Man trying to scare his Wife. Well, that's what you find out in this very entertaining horror film, that mixes a little slasher, a little possession, and a little monster madness. I read complaints about the acting, and that is just plain bogus. The performances are top rate all the way, I saw nothing to complain about at all. I really liked this one and glad I bought it, it delivers on the graphic blood and a little gore. And the direct comparison to the "Trilogy of Terror" episode is right on target. I listened to the very end of the commentary, and even they tell you that.

8 Films to Die for...I've had it with you. One stinker after another. Oh, yeah, there were a few decent movies (Grave Dancers, Unrest)but that has changed. One horribly bad bomb after another. Again, money well spent on DVD cover art and fake four star reviews and that's it!! The production values on this stinker didn't even meet that of a porn movie's. The women cast members were strictly placed in it for T & A reasons. The guy who played the husband must of had something to do with financing this movie, because there was no other reason for him to be in it. He had the range of a plastic action figure. I will make a solemn promise, to never, ever, buy or rent another 8 Films to Die For flick. To me, they have reached the point of no return (like Full Moon.) Shame on them.

Part of the After Dark Horrorfest and possibly the best of this crop. Written and directed by Rolfe Kanefsky; a very anxious movie with some thrills and chills. Most of the acting is bad; but some nice looking girls to stare at. The killing scenes are imaginative, violent and worth talking about. Ellen(Blythe Metz)orders an African fertility mask; but is mistakenly sent one that is very demonic looking and horned. The mask possesses a evil spirit that overtakes Ellen, driving her insane. On the way to a mental hospital, her husband(Luciano Szafir)runs out of gas and leaves her in the car to wait. She believes that she is taunted by her 'Nightmare Man' and ends up being chased in the woods by him. She finally finds refuge with two vacationing couples partying in a nice home in the middle of nowhere. Soon the 'Nightmare Man' appears to prove Ellen is really dealing with an evil spirit with killing on its mind. Needless to say, a body count begins and evil continues to breed. The movie is stolen by the character Mia played by Tiffany Shepis. Also in the cast: James Ferris, Hanna Putnam, Jack Sway and Aaron Sherry as the 'Nightmare Man'.