‘The House That Jack Built’ Director’s Cut is mean-spirited, misogynistic, and tough to watch…but still shamefully enjoyable

Last spring during Cannes Film Festival, you may have read about the 100 or so people who walked out during the latest “gruesome” Lars Von Trier film, The House That Jack Built— resulting in conflicting reviews such as, “Von Trier went too far,” while others proclaiming it as his “best film to date.”  Nothing new for the controversial Von Trier– as his moody, violent, arthouse-style horror-drama films have only won the ‘Pissing the MPAA Off Awards’ rather than Academy Award-winning accolades.  His latest shocker will be no different.

AHS Apocalypse gives a letdown of a finale (originally published for Nightmarish Conjurings)

The finale may have been a disappointment, but Michael’s silky hair still looks great (Cody Fern, FX)

Dear Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk: if you needed help writing the season finale of AMERICAN HORROR STORY: APOCALYPSE, I’m a writer for hire—because what you guys delivered this week was a whopping mess of a disappointment.

Horror short ‘Soundbite’ will give you the creeps next time you’re home alone with your laptop (originally published for Nightmarish Conjurings)

(Horror House Media)

Eli Roth has said many times: “If you don’t want to be scared during a horror film, don’t close your eyes— close your ears.”

SOUNDBITE— the four-minute short for the new “Horror House” YouTube channel, from director Michael Coulombe and his co-writer Brantley J. Brown— makes effective use of auditory tension to create an afflicting horror short that will cause actual gasps by its climax.

Sell your soul to the dance: ‘SUSPIRIA’ quasi-remake is quite enchanting (no major spoilers)

Dakota Johnson (center) is lead Susie Bannion. (Amazon)

Horror aficionados are particularly skeptical when it comes to accepting the dreaded “remake” and “reboot” treatment of cult classics from the past.  (Four words: ‘The Wicker Man’ remake!! Ugh.)  And when a remake of Dario Argento’s 1977 giallo (Italian horror) masterpiece Suspiria was announced to follow suit, many wondered how a film that iconic could ever be taken into different hands, as well as what else could possibly be squeezed out of a film that isn’t exactly remembered for its super intricate plot.  Fortunately, renowned Call Me By Your Name director Luca Guadagnino is at the helm of the 2018 version, and the man has not only given the original film its justice, but he has created an entirely unique piece of art that merely takes the skeletal framework of the original film, and has transformed it into its own, stylish identity.