Movie: Skate to Hell (2026)

 Premiere: January 15, 2026
Country of origin: USA
Directed by: Shawn C. Phillips
Written by: Shawn C. Phillips, Ethan Phillips
Distributed by: Deskpop Entertainment
Genre:Comedy, Action, Horror
Runtime:1h40min
Starring: Joseph Poliquin, Elizabeth Chamberlain, Nicole Butler, Michael B. Moynahan, Robert LaSardo, Mason Reese

Well, I need to say it: what a shitty movie! Oh wait… wrong movie. There’s actually a movie in the movie and that one wasn’t so good, that´s the idea of it. But both started nice, so let’s dive in.

Let me tell you about Coolduder, the YouTube movie reviewer and filmmaker from the USA. Real name is - Shawn C. Phillips. All the way back from around 2006 when he started, he’s maintained a consistent, special flow in his movie reviews. I have been following his journey, checking in a bit now and then and over the years, he’s become friends with a lot of filmmakers and actors. Now he’s making his own full-length movies and his latest, Skate to Hell, just released and I got an opportunity to see it.

This was a crowdfunding project on Indiegogo in 2014. The goal was $15,000 and it was funded in three days. In the end, they got $104,107. That’s insane!

The movie follows Kurt (Joseph Poliquin), a skater who ends up in possession of a skateboard that can teleport you to your own personal hell. When the news reaches what I like to call the mafia Devil in hell (Robert LaSardo, later also played by Mason Reese), that his son (Michael B. Moynahan) is on the surface and has lost his skateboard, all hell breaks loose. What follows is a full-on comedy movie with slapstick humor, gore, tons of sexual and… poop humor. Not my favorite, but it’s not bad. Some scenes were really disgusting though, but the gore was nicely done.

 

The movie takes you through a lot of different locations and features a huge cast, unknowns and some big names, including: Eric Roberts shows up as a guy in a homeless shelter (he’s been in almost 1,000 movies!), Jenna Jameson the famous former adult film actress, plays a nun in this one. There are a lot of others in this movie, the crowdfunding allowed people to buy themselves into it. That’s how these projects usually work, from producer/ thank you credits to appearances, which explains the massive cast. The end credit was fun, too. One perk let contributors make a vlog in the credits, a creative way to fill out a fair mile-long credit list.

 

The music in this movie was great, highlights are these songs:

Thundering Asteroids! – Swallow Your Soul
Kevin the Ghost – Break Free (This Machine)
Suicide Puppets – Death Note
Philippe Gerber – The Bone Cutter
Klark McIntyre – Drip by Drip

The soundtrack really adds energy and vibe, keeping the chaos fun and lively.

 

Some characters and actors really stood out. The devil and Kurt, both did a great job. Elizabeth Chamberlain as Ruby has a change of personality later on. Kat, the skate shop lady (Nicole Butler), she started minor but got a bigger role than I thought. Nice. Shawn himself did a cameo also, that was chill.

There were some surprisingly dark and sad moments. One subplot involving a guy and his stepdad got really heavy, almost too heavy for the otherwise comedic tone. It felt slightly out of place, but in a curious way, adding depth amid the absurdity.

I do not know for sure if this was the influence but saw some The Godfather, Skate or Die, Street Trash and even Back to the Future vibes in this one. The filmmakers clearly aimed to mix humor, chaos and drama, for the most part, it works. 

 

6/10 - This was a chill watch with lots of laugh-out-loud moments. If you’re into over-the-top comedy, gore, insane cameos and wild music, Skate to Hell is a ride worth taking.

“…maybe a unicorn surfing a rainbow, with a pentagram on its ass.”

Links:
- IMDb https://m.imdb.com/title/tt29824649
- Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NAk9ATyIhY
- Streaming list -https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/skate-to-hell
- Order Dvd (American shipping) - https://shorturl.at/KORyR
- Order the Dvd (World wide shipping) – https://moviezyng.com/products/skate-to-hell
- Original Indiegogo Campaign - https://shorturl.at/STQ4D
- Shawn C. Phillips YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@coolduder

Article written by: Sonny Mikszath

Movie: The Wilde Girls (2025)

Premiere:May 30, 2025
Country of origin: USA
Directed by: Timothy Hines
Written by: Timothy Hines
Distributed by: Pendragon Pictures
Genre: Comedy, Adventure
Runtime: 1h59min
Starring:Lydia Pearl Pentz, Cali Scolari, Susan Goforth

Set during the Great Depression in 1932, The Wilde Girlsfollows sisters Tinsley and Mattie Wild, who have lived a very comfortable life until their father Cornelius passes away. When the first will goes missing and another will is found that leaves everything to their aunts, the sisters are sent far away into the wilderness to “learn how life really works”. But it seems more of a “get away from here”. The story focuses on these two strong willed sisters as they clash, argue and slowly adapt to a world far from comfort.

The movie is very dialogue heavy, but it works. Along their journey, the sisters encounter a wide mix of strange and memorable moments. Raccoons steal their lipstick. They cross paths with elk, hare, dragonflies, squirrels and other animals that give the forest a lively presence. There are cars exploding, a bear chase, gun fights in the forest, plus many other unexpected situations that keep appearing. The movie stays centered on the sisters and their grand adventure to stay alive and find out what is really going on. On a lighter note, they meet a friendly fellow in the forest who adds warmth to their adventure.

At times, the forest scenery reminded me a lot of Sweden, which was a bit amusing considering the story is set in Oregon.

The actresses that play Tinsley and Mattie (Lydia Pearl Pentz, Cali Scolari) do an excellent job carrying the film. Their wit, charm and humor make their sisterly clashes fun to watch. Because of them, the long conversations feel natural and engaging rather than slow.

The film has a playful old school feel with green screen effects, inserted animals and newsreel footage that help sell the 1930s setting. The audio also feels layered in an old fashioned way, almost as if the sound sits slightly on top of the image. It can feel a bit strange at times, but you get used to it and it becomes part of the movie’s character.

Overall, The Wilde Girls is a solid movie. Some scenes feel stronger than others, but the sisters performances carry it through. It is a bit uneven in places, though viewers used to indie films will likely appreciate its charm.

Rating: 7/10
The sisters are genuinely funny and well acted, which makes the movie feel really alive and engaging.

 

 
Check it out on PLEX:
https://watch.plex.tv/watch/movie/the-wilde-girls-2025

Links:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27011815
https://www.pendragonpictures.com/

Article written by: Sonny Mikszath

Movie: Onkel Jens (2025)

 

(My Uncle Jens)
Premiere: March 10, 2025 (SXSW Film Festival, United States)
Country of origin: Norway
Directed by: Brwa Vahabpour
Written by: Brwa Vahabpour
Distributed by: Tangaj Production ,Filmreaktor
Genre: Drama / Comedy
Runtime: 1h38min
Starring: Peiman Azizpour, Hamza Agooshi, Sarah Francesca Brænne 

 

I actually got involved with Onkel Jens back in 2023, I did get the opportunity to have a sort of consulting role through a service the filmmakers used. I got to hear most of the movie’s ideas, its style and offer my opinions. I’ve done this for a few films over the years. What makes this one, extra interesting, is that it’s the first movie I actually get to see, where I shared my opinion this early on. Too bad I can’t remember my exact input. I do not know if I effected the movie, but I can hope I had some good input.

The movie follows Akam (Peiman Azizpour) a teacher whose life gets unexpectedly turned upside down when his uncle from Kurdistan, whom he hasn’t seen since childhood, shows up at his door, in the middle of the night, in Norway. The uncle Khdr, is played by Hamza Agooshi. Right from the start, I had the feeling something might be off with this uncle, what if this isn’t really his uncle? It made me think of a Swedish movie that plays every Christmas here, Can You Whistle, Johanna? (1994) In that story, a child pretends an elderly man at a Care home is his grandfather. 

Back to Onkel Jens. The filmmakers cleverly keep you questioning things. There are awkward but realistic moments, especially when Akam ends up leaving with two others in a dorm, Pernille and Stian, they are a bit split about what they think of Uncle staying there, transparent communication is important. To them Khdr introduces himself as “Jens”. The film becomes a bittersweet exploration of Akam trying to handle his uncle, who insists on staying with him for just a “few days”. Akam is too nice, trying to manage both love and patience, it comes with a price.

 

All the performances are solid and the story strikes a good balance between drama and comedy. One line early in the movie had me laughing hard: Akam is standing, looking a bit confused at his uncle, who is sitting down and says casually, “Why are you standing there? Sit down, your flagpole!” That was funny. There is also a well crafted side story about a struggling student that I really liked.
 

The music throughout the film is mostly in Kurdish style, but at one point, Kjell Höglund’s Genesarets sjö starts playing, a Swedish melancholic song. It fits surprisingly well, even if it caught me off guard.

The screener I got, came with Norwegian subtitles, that was really good as the characters sometimes speak Kurdish.

Onkel Jens is a bittersweet story about family bonds, full of warmth, awkwardness and heartfelt connections. I give this culturish journey 8/10. 

Homepage:
https://tangajproduction.com/

https://filmreaktor.no/productions/onkel_jens

IMDB
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28514971


Article written by: Sonny Mikszath

Movie: Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman (2000)

 Release: August 29, 2000 (USA, direct-to-video)
Directed by: Kathi Castillo (credited as Kermit Miller)
Voices: Ross Bagdasarian Jr., Janice Karman, Maurice LaMarche, Frank Welker, Rob Paulsen, 
June Foray
Produced by: Universal Cartoon Studios
Distributed by: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

Before diving into this 2000 gem, it’s worth remembering where the Chipmunks came from. Created back in 1958 by Ross Bagdasarian Sr., Alvin and the Chipmunks didn’t start as cartoons. They began as a music act, built around speeding up human voices to sound like chipmunks. The first hit, The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late), became a Christmas classic and turned Alvin, Simon, and Theodore into household names.

 Decades later, the legacy was carried on by Ross Bagdasarian Jr., who took over the voices of Alvin, Simon, and Dave Seville. His wife, Janice Karman, joined in to voice all three Chipettes and Theodore. Together, they’ve been the creative force behind nearly every Chipmunk project since the 80s.

By the time Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman came out, the big Chipmunk boom was long past, but this movie somehow caught the old spark again.

I watched the Universal UK DVD, which sadly had no extras. Just the movie, no behind-the-scenes or commentaries. A bit of a letdown since I like seeing how these films are made, but honestly, the movie itself made up for it. It’s got that old-school charm.

The voices are great, the acting feels spot on and the story has a lot more heart than you might expect. Under all the chaos and slapstick, it’s really about pride and loneliness and how people (or chipmunks) deal with fear and change.

The setup centers on a school play of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, where the Chipmunks take part with their usual enthusiasm. The play´s director treats this production like his life’s work, obsessed with making everything perfect. Things start to unravel when strange events begin happening in the neighborhood, especially with Mr. Talbot, the mysterious neighbor with a cane shaped like a wolf’s head.

Mr. Talbot is voiced by Maurice LaMarche, who’s one of the legends of animation. You’ve probably heard him as The Brain in Pinky and the Brain or Kif from Futurama. His performance gives the film that classic monster-movie vibe that fits so perfectly.

There’s also Frank Welker, the same guy who voices Scooby-Doo and Megatronm, here he is handling creature growls and sound effects. It’s a small detail, but you can feel the experience in how the sound design adds perfect tension.

The animation itself was done by Universal Cartoon Studios, the same team that handled The Land Before Time sequels and An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island. Even though it was a direct-to-video release, the animation has solid craftsmanship and that slightly darker, moodier color palette that fits the theme.

 This movie also stands out for how it treats Theodore. He gets one of his best storylines here, going from shy and scared to finding courage when it matters. The transformation scenes, both literal and emotional, make the story surprisingly heartfelt.

The Chipettes play their part too, bringing balance to the chaos and some funny moments that keep it from getting too gloomy.

By the time the credits roll, it’s clear this was more than just another kids’ film, it’s a piece of animation history. In fact, Meet the Wolfman ended up being the last traditionally animated Chipmunks movie before the 2007 live-action reboot. It closed the door on an era that started in the 50s and carried through generations.

 

It’s also worth noting that this movie came right after Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein (1999), which started this little horror crossover trend. Both films are love letters to the old Universal Monsters movies, with that mix of spooky fun and gentle comedy.

I found out there is a glow in the dark slip cover.

 

Photo found on Ebay 
https://www.ebay.com/itm/236110731249 

   

So I give this a perfect 10/10. This month is a horror month after all, so get in on the howling and watch this dark yet heartwarming movie.

Article written by: Sonny Mikszath

  

Movie Event: Visionärernas Dag – Säsong 2 (2025)

 A Night of micro Chaos, Cinema and Community

 

After months of planning and anticipation, I hosted this local event again in Tidaholm, Sweden. Visionärernas Dag - Säsong 2 (Day of the Visionaries - Season 2) returned with bigger ambition, digital guest messages and a deeper love for independent cinema. Last year’s event focused heavily on my own short films. This year I wanted to expand, bring in outside creators, exclusive content and a wider audience. It happened.

 

Around 25 people attended, a lively mix of age and film lovers. Curious locals including a spontaneous group of kids who brought unpredictable energy throughout the night. Day of the Visionaries isn’t a red-carpet festival. It’s raw, personal and driven entirely by passion.

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🎥 Film #1 – Fungi (2023) – Swedish Thriller

Directed by: Sofia Brattwall, Björn Engström, Lottie Johansson & Ove Valeskog

The evening began with Fungi, a Swedish thriller set in a world struck by a mysterious fungal pandemic. Humanity is split between isolated survivors searching for a cure and another group lurking outside with some more evil planes. I’ll admit my focus drifted, hosting nerves are real, but one performance stood out to me: Estrid Gustafsson-Fjellheim, who controls drones with only her hands. Her scenes, especially during a special drone attack (you know when you see it), was really chill. Kinda funny she had theater study at the same school I have also attended, though I read photography, some years before at Fridhems folkhögskola (School of Adult Education).

 

Rating: 6/10
More info:
Watch it here: https://lnkd.in/dXVdSmbn
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15828200
https://www.njutafilms.com/film/fungi-bio/

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🥤 The Cola Incident

Midway through the film, a group of kids showed up. All was peaceful until an entire 2-liter cola vanished for our place. Kids goon....Minutes later, a couple of them returned and said:
“They ran off with it… but we’re feeling nice today, so we’ll buy a new one.”
They did. We got two new 2-liter drinks. Pure chaos, with honor. The kids calmly stayed the evening. 

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🎁 Giveaways, Lynch-Style

To choose winners for our mystery film bag, we used David Lynch’s “Today’s Number Is…” as the official lottery system. It was so strange it needs to become a tradition for the event.
Play some with it here yourself:
https://shorturl.at/YY9VX only 850 lottery pulls xD

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🧑‍💻 Guest Appearances & Exclusive Content

• Simon Gärdenfors (Comic Artist, StandUp, Actor)
  Sent a greeting and introduced his YouTube series Mina Problem!. (My Problems) (2018-2020)
  We screened Episode 1, it was an instant hit. 
   
   

  

  Rating: 10/10
  Check it out here:
  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9606008/
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqmC5PPlB_M
  https://www.gardenfors.com/

  
  

• Nicklas Asker (Shop owner and PacMan legend)
  Shared insights about his upcoming retro convention, Retroland Expo, in Karlstad on October 18. I be sure to share some of that event here in the blog later on.

  
  Check it out here:
  https://www.retrolandsverige.se/
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE7T5sF3dcw (My video from 2024´s event)       
  
  
  

• Exclusive 10-Minute Preview – Death Academy II
  Our final guest couldn’t send a greeting, but instead gifted us something rare: a 10-minute sneak peek of the yet unreleased Death Academy II, by Daniel Lehmussaari. Set to premier on 2 Nov. 
  In these 10 minutes I was there in a scene. I can not stick to only host my own event it seems.

  
  
  

  

  Check out more info here:
  https://tinyurl.com/22jpdmhf (Day by day behind the scene)
  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28448974/

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🍕 Pizza 

One giant pizza and two normal pizzas arrived from Dana Pizzeria and vanished instantly, I had a small idea to take a photo, but there was nothing left to take a photo of xD

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🐇 Film #2 – Rabidts (2024)

Directed by: Jake Fertig (USA)
Rabidts was pure indie madness. It started as a fairly long road trip and mutated into a creature-feature chaos with interdimensional killer rabbits. Practical effects, stop motion and even re-edited footage from Georges Méliès’ A Trip to the Moon (1902), that edit explained the rabbits origin. It felt like a crowdfunded fever dream with bizarre deaths and eccentric characters. I don’t not know if it was crowdfunded, but the thanks to list in the credit was huge. Overall a funny movie. After some detective work I found it was indeed a crowdfounded project.

 

. 

 

Rating: 6/10
More info here:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21335724
https://www.facebook.com/groups/609764062978760/?locale=sv_SE
https://tinyurl.com/4t5cfa8h (indiegogo campaign, under another name)

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🎬 Final Thoughts

Great films, fun guests, a bit micro chaos, but ok, it´s not everyday you see Gremlins like killer rabbits!
I give the event 10/10 and can’t wait for the next one.
I do wonder what will happen then...live guest...who knows... not me.. not yet...

Thanks to: 
Studioförbundet Vuxenskolan
Dana Pizzeria
Direkten Nöje 

Article written by: Sonny Mikszath