THIS FRESH BLOOD: VHS (2012)

Original Post Date: 12.05.16

VHS (2012) – 12.05.16 (8:04pm PT)

This movie was not what I was expecting it to be. Somehow I had the idea that some random dude had found a bunch of snuff films and we were watching them with him… nope, well kinda, instead it was a bunch of low-life criminals who had the job to break into a house and look for a tape but instead they found a shitload of tapes and the ones played to us were scary as shit.

This movie was a fresh take on Creepshow, as well as Tales from the Darkside, in the way that it told the horror anthologies.

Holy fuck, I cannot tell you how bloody scary was the segment called “Amateur Night”. The girl, our main girl, Lily, had a crazy stare and was very unsettling. The first second the ‘google glasses’ laid eyes on her you knew she was trouble. By the way, the entire VHS segments, including the main one with the low-life criminals (man, I hated their characters! All the cursing was so unnecessary [says the woman who on this post has cursed more than three times]), was shot in the found footage/shaken camera style all throughout the movie so be prepared to roll your eyes a couple of times.

In regards to Lily I have to stress that the reason why I liked her so much was because at first she was perceived as this frail woman who could be taken advantage of but as the segment progresses you learn that that is not the case! As per usual, I am not going to ruin the ending for you but all I have to say is that Lily’s character deserves her own feature movie and even a franchise of its own! I want to see more women in charge, even if they are the bad guys.

Here’s Lily, my main girl:

This fresh blood made me feel rejuvenated.

—Marath

THIS FRESH BLOOD – Cabin Fever 3: Patient Zero (2014)

Original Post Date: 11.09.16

After work all I wanted to do was grab some take-out and watch a movie and forget about politics. And I did not want to hear about chores either. Screw that. I’m an American, dammit, and today, November 9, 2016 I felt like doing absolutely nothing except for loathing in self-pity while indulging in massive amounts of carbs and gore. Enter Cabin Fever 3: Patient Zero (2014) – 11/09/16 (9:06pm PT)

I was browsing the Horror section on Netflix when I stumbled upon a title that seemed familiar enough for me to take a closer look and omg, it was the movie I had been wanting to watch for so long but forgot the name title. Needless to say, I got super excited and hit play immediately.

Oh but wait, let’s take a sec to acknowledge Cabin Fever (2002) which was so good and original and weird and creepy (a must-watch for any horror aficionado), and Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever (2009) which, based on the trailer, takes up where the first one left off—the contaminated water—but with an added comedic twist to it (I have not watched it yet because it looks too high school and basic for my taste). “Patient Zero” would be the prequel for them both and, my friend, it left me well satisfied. I really liked it!

Not only was the movie super gory but also clever. Our Patient Zero, Porter, was important for the story, obviously, but the main character for me, in my opinion, was Marcus as he was basically the voice of reason on the entire film. He has the good guy who would not give up until he saved his family and friends.

Also, both the opening and the ending credit sequences in slow-motion were amazing. I even dare to say those two were the strongest when it came to cinematography. They were perfect.

I am just realizing I have not mentioned what the movie is all about… hey, I am not going to edit tonight’s writing, f*ck that sh*t. The movie is about two stories that collide towards the end of the film. The first story is about a guy, Porter, who is the carrier of the flesh-eating virus and at the same time the cure of said flesh-eating virus. This virus does not mess around. If you get it, expect your skin to turn to blisters and mush in a matter of hours. Expect to die a painful death in the least dignified way possible. Your flesh will melt off, basically, like puree. And this guy Porter? Yeah, he is being held against his will in a tropical foreign research facility.

The second story is about a guy, Marcus, who is going to get married and has a surprise bachelor party organized by his brother. The party is located in that same tropical foreign place. The group of friends is having a good time when all of the sudden two of them start having some skin reaction after having gone for a swim, but it isn’t a big deal until one of them starts bleeding from the genitals… “Oh baby, you got so wet.” (That’s the other thing, the movie was full of great one-liners such as “look, you might need a referral.”)

Well, at some point Marcus and Porter cross paths and that’s when things get even more interesting and gory. I am not going to tell you any more info, go watch it if you want to have a good time enjoying the misery of others. I promise you will appreciate the limbs-falling and skin-melting-off sequences, they are très original!

This fresh blood made me feel itchy.

—Marath

THIS FRESH BLOOD – An Introduction + Megan Is Missing (2011)

Original Post Date: 11.05.16

Hi, welcome to my new Series titled THIS FRESH BLOOD where I write reviews and/or opinions of horror movies I have just watched a few moments ago. Emphasis on a few moments ago – I want my reviewing process to be as fresh as possible, so fresh it still feels warm and slippery on my hands.

The new movies I bring into my life are meant to revitalize my love for horror by opening new possibilities in scenarios, characters, stories, social commentaries, and fairness (as in, more women and minorities playing the lead roles). Because as us Horror Lovers know, horror movies are – when done well – as rich, complex, and entertaining as any award-wining film. There is so much more than just the basic ‘scary’ approach to it.

I got the idea of doing this new Series thanks to my 13 Horror Movies post from a couple of months ago, and from the fact that I so humbly acknowledge my need for new horror horizons. I want to discover that one more movie that is going to shake me to the core just like “House of 1000 Corpses” (2003), “Saw” (2004), “Martyrs” (2008), “Human Centipede 2” (2011), and most recently “Naked Blood” (1996) did.

NOTE: I WILL NOT RANK ANY MOVIES. ART SHOULD NOT BE QUANTIFIED AND MOST CERTAINLY IT SHOULD NOT BE DISCREDITED. I WILL BE OBJECTIVE AND RESPECTFUL. ALSO, ALL REVIEWS WILL BE SPOILER FREE.

Well my weirdos, without further ado, I give you THIS FRESH BLOOD:

Megan Is Missing (2011) – 11.05.16 (9:39pm PT)

Megan Stewart and Amy Herman are two teenage best friends whose homelives seem so painfully opposite at first sight, and yet so unnervingly similar at second glance. One comes from a lower-middle class dysfunctional family, and the other from a middle-upper class overachieving family. Both suffer from neglect and loneliness. The characters showed us raw teenage emotions, and they were executed very well. They were awkward, honest, dangerous, tender, and heartbreaking.

The movie made me think of “Kids”, “Unfriended”, “The Blair Witch Project”, and another one I cannot tell you (if I did I would spoil “Megan Is Missing” for you). And even thought the entire film relied on the so called found footage, video diaries, and web chats, it did not feel overdone and it certainly did not make me dizzy with all the unwelcomed camera movement.

The whole premise of the movie – as you can tell from the title – is that Megan goes missing. But why? And how? And what happens next? This you will have to find out on your own.

There is something I will tell you. I was pleasantly surprised by how good the movie turned out to be. Granted, the beginning made me roll my eyes a couple of times because of all the cheesy teenage situations (I am an adult in my thirties), but those were needed to set the story for the girls. Now, when Megan went missing I was actually upset by it, and when Amy was all worried asking everyone about her friend it made me more upset. Also, I felt shocked, and disgusted, and scared after that (I wish I could tell you the reasons why but I do not want to spoil the movie).

If you decide to watch “Megan Is Missing” know that it is really violent, and that it was inspired by seven actual events. (more about this on the official website under the Message From The Director section)

This fresh blood made me feel a bit paranoid.

- Marath