Movie: Snow Angel (2023)

Release: January 20, 2023 (Canada)
Directed by: Gabriel Allard
Starring: Catherine Bérubé, Olivier Renaud, Kimberly-Sue Murray, Paul Doucet, Alexandre Nachi
Distributed by: Black Mandela

 

 

I got a screener copy of this from Black Mandela, a distribution company from New Zealand. It originally premiered in Canada back in January 2023. I do not know if my version was a different cut then the 2023 release, it stood 2025 on the file.

The movie begins with the aftermath of a devastating car accident. A man stumbles out of a wreck, a woman lies on the ground with a bottle of alcohol next to her and another car holds a couple inside with tragic results. From here the focus shifts to a woman named MJ. She lives alone in a lodge in a small mountain town, chopping wood, making coffee and quietly going about her life. But something is off.

The present-day story of MJ is cleverly inter-cut with flashbacks to a gathering in the past. At first they seem like warm memories, friends and laughter, memories that connect back to the night of the accident, giving us small clues.

One of the film’s strongest elements, comes from its well made editing, there is a scene with a spoiled milk bottle in the present that is matched with a violent outburst from the past and the transition sends chills down the spine. This back-and-forth structure builds an unsettling rhythm that makes the viewer constantly question what is remembered.

As the story progresses it becomes more and more low-key surreal. What is really going on with MJ? Is she haunted by guilt perhaps... 

Snow Angel is a slow-burning movie, quiet and emotionally heavy, yet it carries an intensity beneath the surface. Even when I thought I had figured things out, the atmosphere and editing kept me hooked all the way through. Well acted by Catherine Bérubé that play M.J, she taps into all kinds of emotions, very believable.

 

I rate this one: 8/10
Great edit and a chilling puzzle about guilt, memory and what really happened on the night of the party.

Links:
https://black-mandala.com/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7582428/

  

Movie: The Slasher Nurse (2025)

Release: February 8, 2025
Written by: David Kerr
Directed by: David Kerr
Starring: Felissa Rose, Amber Fulcher, Michael McGlynn, Regina Groth
Produced by: Slasher 15 Productions, Unusual Company

David Kerr and his company Slasher 15 Productions are the driving force behind this project. He’s no stranger to crowdfunding , having launched around fifteen campaigns so far on indiegogo. His latest project, Uncle Fred’s Monster Problem, shows he’s willing to lean into the obscure, which even reminded me of a friend’s movie, Hermit: Monster Killer (2016), by Ola Paulakoski.

It’s worth noting that The Slasher Nurse (2025) is actually a remake. Back in 2017, Curse of the Slasher Nurse was released, also as a Kickstarter project, followed by a sequel, Return of the Slasher Nurse (2019). As I understand it, David Kerr combined elements from both previous films into a stronger slasher experience. I haven’t seen the earlier movies, but from the trailers, sound and camera quality look a bit low, while this new version feels like a step up. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The story is set twenty years after a prank goes wrong. Grace and her friends head to a cabin for a getaway vacation, but someone is back for revenge and the killings are bloody with some very creative slasher-style moments. As the film went on, I found myself enjoying it more and more. Sitting down to write this review, I realized the movie had grown on me. Honestly, I could see myself giving it another viewing fairly soon.

Amber Fulcher, who plays the nurse, is especially noteworthy. She also produced the movie, performed stunts and more, just as she did on the previous Slasher Nurse films. 

There’s even a funny scene where one of the lead characters suddenly picks up a rifle kind of nowhere and my friends and I couldn’t stop laughing, that looked so funny.
It’s also worth mentioning that a short film called The Slasher Nurse: Farm House has been made by David, targeted for a Halloween release. It serves as a short sequel and expands the universe a bit further.

One of the fun things about projects like this is spotting who is famous. Many crowdfunding projects often bring in cult names to attract attention and this one doesn’t disappoint.
Felissa Rose shows up, best known from Sleepaway Camp (1983). 
Brian Bremer appears, recognizable from Pumpkinhead (1988). 
Jim Krut shows up, he’s that memorable helicopter zombie that really stood out in Dawn of the Dead (1978). 
Beverly Randolph, associated with Night of the Living Dead (1985). 
Gareth “Slasher Trash” Morgan, known for running the Slasher Trash fan community and his documentary work exploring the slasher genre. 
Diana Prince, aka Darcy the Mail Girl and Joe Bob Briggs’ sidekick, also appears as a lovely nurse in the beginning, hard to miss. 
On top of that, Bryan M. Dorn, producer of Blood Moon, makes an appearance. I just recently reviewed that movie here on the blog. --> https://tinyurl.com/y4rs6hc2

The Blu-ray I got is labeled as a limited edition. I’m not sure if it will be sold outside of Kickstarter, but I’d guess a non-limited version might appear later. This edition includes deleted scenes, bloopers and a Making Of feature + a small print, a nice bonus. When I popped this into my PC, I saw the Blu-ray was named Farm House? Interesting… Another nice thing was the envelope I got in the mail had the company logo all over it, that was sweet. 

 

I rate this 8/10
Mostly for the duck that stole the show. 

 

 

IMDB
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26926062

Slasher 15 Productions
https://slasher15.square.site/

Original indiegogo campaign
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-slasher-nurse-horror-film-finishing-funds/x/7276749#/

Movie: The Invisible Raptor (2023)

 Festival Release: Sitges Film Festival, Spain — 7 October 2023
Public Release: 6 December 2024
Written by Mike Capes and Johnny Wickham
Directed by Mikey Hermosa
Starring Mike Capes, David Shackelford, Caitlin McHugh
Produced by Valecroft

I first came across this movie during a Discord event hosted by Heavy Metal magazine called Movie Night – Invisible Raptor w/ cast & crew. That is a weekly movie event they have on Discord. Meant to lift up independent movies. Love it!

Right away it felt special since the screening also included writer Mike Capes and producer Nic Neary talking, there was also Johnny Wickham, another writer, hanging out in the chat. Having them there added a lot of depth when talking about how the movie was made. It was also nice to see the community chatting, very nice and friendly setting.

The movie had me hooked immediately. Sean Astin popped up and I thought, what!!! That was such a fun surprise.

 

The premise is delightfully absurd yet clever. An invisible raptor escapes from a lab and Dr. Grant Walker, a paleontologist at a dinosaur amusement park called Dino World, teams up with the very eccentric head of security, Denny, to hunt it down through a small suburban town. Walker also has time for a romantic subplot with pretty Amber. The fact that the creature is literally invisible sounds silly but in practice it worked so well and gave the movie its own identity.

What really surprised me was the quality. I was expecting something rough around the edges but it did not look or feel like a low-budget production at all. It had a polished style with confidence.

The story itself leans hard into 80’s nostalgia. It is packed with references like E.T., there is even a kid named Elliott, Gremlins, Jaws, The Invisible Man, The Shining and of course Jurassic Park.

At times it reminded me of Dumb and Dumber and There’s Something About Mary. The humor is smart yet ridiculous and as the movie went on it only grew more bizarre. Talking about Mary, the actor that played the eccentric head of security Denny, David Shackelford, he even was in There’s Something About Mary, playing “coconut guy”.

The dialogue stood out as sharp and funny. I loved the way it balanced absurd comedy with an actual story. Cameos were another highlight with about four or five sprinkled in, adding even more fun for viewers who recognize the faces, we had some luck having the crew call em out as they passed by on screen.

Overall The Invisible Raptor is a weird, clever, nostalgic ride that embraces its own absurdity. It is clearly made by people who love 80’s movies and are not afraid to get a little ridiculous while still delivering quality. By the end I was laughing, felt surprised and honestly impressed.

Rating: 9/10
This was no B-Movie, it was pure cinematic galore!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22090684/
https://www.facebook.com/invisibleraptormovie/

Movie: AINBO – Spirit of the Amazon (2021)

Festival Release: Imagina Film Festival of Animation 9 Feb 2021 (Peru)
Public Release: 28 May 2021
Written by José Zelada and Brian Cleveland
Directed by José Zelada and Richard Claus
Starring Lola Raie, Naomi Serrano, Dino Andrade, Bernardo De Paula
Distribution: Cinema Management Group | Produced by Tunche Films and Cool Beans

A Surprise Discovery

Movie nights don’t always go as planned. Me and some friends had one movie in mind but for different reasons it didn’t work out this time. Instead we landed on AINBO: Spirit of the Amazon almost at random. None of us were thrilled but we hit play anyway.

 

We watched the Swedish version on DVD, released by Noble Entertainment and for some reason the original English dub wasn’t included. While the film still worked, we all agreed it would have had a completely different feeling in its original language. Some of the nuances, humor and emotional beats were probably lost or softened, which may made certain scenes feel less impactful than they might have in the original version.

At first it felt like a patchwork of Disney influences: a girl called to go beyond her village (Moana), lead talking to a tree (Pocahontas), plus two goofy spirit guides (The Lion King´s Timon and Pumbaa). We thought we knew exactly where it was going.   

 A very pretty concept art photo of a scene.

Then the film shifted. Suddenly it wasn’t just a fantasy adventure. It became a story about the destruction of the Amazon rain forest and the fight of indigenous people to protect their home. That twist turned the film into something much more powerful.

At first the animation style didn’t grab me. It felt a bit rough compared to big-budget films. But as the movie went on, the characters grew on me, especially Ainbo. Her expressions, movements and energy started to feel natural and charming. The supporting characters and spirit guides also gained personality as the story progressed. By the end, the style felt warm and fitting for the story, matching the heart and passion behind the film.  

 

It was also interesting that the spirit guides were not random animals. Ainbo is guided by Dillo the armadillo and Vaca the tapir, both species found in the Amazon rain forest. This choice makes the magical elements feel connected to the real forest it represents. 

The directors José and César Zelada were inspired by their mother and her hometown in the Peruvian Amazon. Knowing this the passion in the film makes sense. It is rooted in real love for land, culture and people.

The Scary Reality Behind the Story

The Amazon is often called “the lungs of the Earth.” Yet millions of trees are cut down every single day for logging, mining or cattle ranching. In the last 50 years almost 20% of the forest has been destroyed. Scientists warn that if this continues the rain forest could collapse in our lifetime. It would turn into dry savanna, release enormous amounts of carbon and speed up climate change worldwide.

 

 

 

 

AINBO uses myth and magic to tell its story but the real story is already terrifying. The Amazon is burning, it is falling and once it’s gone, there is no bringing it back. That is the message at the heart of this movie. 

8/10 for bringing an alarming topic forward while still telling a good story.

Movie: The Blood Moon (2025)

 

Release Date: September 7 - 2025 (Kan-Kan Cinema & Bar, USA)
Written by: Patricia Blanchfield, Connor Noble
Directed by: Connor Noble
Starring: Elizabeth Deckard, Mikael Drobny, Patricia Blanchfield
Distributed by: Falling Star Cinemas

 

  

 

Indie cinema has a way of sneaking up on you and Blood Moon does just that. From the first moments, you’re thrown into a gothic-fantasy vibe, a monster called Ontomus, a sacred knife and whispers of a cursed bloodline. Already the echoes of vampire lore ring true, reminiscent of shows like Kindred: The Embraced, but with a distinctly indie spin. 

  

 

  

The opening concert is a delicious mix of Queen of the Damned-style vampiric theatrics and Green Room’s claustrophobic intensity. Alex the goth lead singer commands the stage, his music a hybrid of Trent Reznor angst and Marilyn Manson’s dark energy. The camera work, audio and low-budget have a deliberately 90s style, giving the movie a nostalgic texture that is bit chaotic at times but perfect for the tone.

 

 

Dillon she is sharp, sarcastic and unmistakably the most grounded character as she navigates the night’s wild events. Her interactions with a demanding ex, chaotic friends and mysterious figures feel lived-in and messy. A testament to the indie aesthetic. Humor is subtle, offbeat and often arises from tonal collisions, sad music under a ridiculous outburst, chaotic editing that becomes part of the experience and performances that vary from natural to awkward, adding to the film’s charm.

The movie shows vampire hierarchy, rituals and hidden clans that´s letting viewers sink into the atmosphere rather than chasing every detail, that gives Blood Moon its unique flavor, part Kindred, part Buffy and all indie rebellion.

 

The music, setting and style feel like a lost 90s/2000s gem, emo pop, skate-punk vibes and dark eyeliner make it all feel nostalgically raw. Dillon’s sharp wit and occasional defiance cut through the chaos, keeping the film grounded, while Alex’s brooding presence maintains the gothic allure.

Blood Moon is messy, playful and hypnotically dark. Its imperfections, shaky audio, uneven performances and a bit of jumpy editing, it all become part of its charm, giving it a heartbeat no studio film could replicate.

6/10
Offbeat humor, teenage rebellion and vampire intrigue, collide to deliver a film that’s as unpredictable as it is stylish.

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Article written by: Sonny Mikszath