'The Outwaters' (2023) Movie Review

There are certainly examples I like quite a bit—Trollhunter, the Rec films, a few others—but for the most part, I don’t and never have enjoyed found footage as a cinematic approach. It’s never done much for me, and I generally find the drawbacks outweigh the benefits as an aesthetic and narrative conceit. That admittedly large caveat out of the way, Robbie Banfitch’s The Outwaters uses this format to dive headlong into experimental cosmic horror. This microbudget affair puts a fresh sheen on the subgenre, and though it tumbles into familiar pitfalls and engenders extreme, polarized reactions from viewers, both warranted and understandable, it ranks toward the top of the found footage pile.

'Blair Witch' (2016) Movie Review

Without breaking any new ground, You’re Next brought a freshness and crackling energy to the well-worn realm of home invasion horror. The Guest similarly infused the mysterious-stranger-comes-to-town narrative with a verve and life it hasn’t had in years (it also made my Top 25 Movies of the 21st Century So Far list). So to see a movie as uninspired and derivative, as pointless and unnecessary as Blair Witch from a filmmaking team as exciting as Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett, is disappointing to say the least.

Adam Wingard's 'The Woods' Trailer Is Watching You

Why do we go into the wilderness? Seriously. We’ve all seen enough horror movies by this point to know that nothing good ever happens when we leave the comfort and relative ease of our city homes. There are monsters, witches, cannibals, angry bears, and ghosts and ghouls of all stripes. Even in non-horror movies, there’s a lot to contend with. You may get sexually assaulted by hill folk, suffer a horrific accident on a hike, or have to cut off your own arm. I don’t even know why I go outside anymore. And after watching the trailer for Adam Wingard’s latest, The Woods, I’m even less likely to do so than before.

'The Gallows' Movie Review

Don’t go see The Gallows, please. As someone who passionately, deeply loves movies, especially horror movies, and laments that not nearly enough genre offerings actually land a theatrical release, I beg of you, please don’t go see The Gallows. It will only encourage people to churn out lazy, worthless crap like this. Just because you can crank out a movie quick and on the cheap, and it will make money, that doesn’t mean you should.

'The Bay' Movie Review

 

Going into Barry Levinson’s new horror film, “The Bay”, you get the feeling that it could either be something really special, or fall flat on its face. The concept is certainly strong enough. A creepy creature infestation, unexplained fish/wildlife death, and a government cover-up, what’s not to like? On the other hand, this is yet another low budget found footage picture, and these are, at best, a hit and miss proposition to begin with.