CohenForthright Reviews

Terrifier (2016)

Clown-sploitation at its finest!

[10/10 · 28 March 2018]

TERRIFIER is a merciless, unforgiving, and filthy example of a perfect clown-sploitation movie.

From beginning to end your attention will be rapt by the mesmerizing tension that borders on camp and absurd. For the most part, Art the Clown is a breath of fresh air in a genre that is rife with lack of originality and iconocism. Art is a new breed of slasher -- one that movie goers will quickly fall in love with like they have Freddy Krueger or Jason Voorhees. I dare say that Art the Clown is the new face of horror!

The effects and the kills in this movie are brutal, disgusting, and soothe the appetite of horror fans who can't get enough blood. Art the Clown proves just how menacing and evil he truly is.

"Terrifier" is a movie for the horror fan who loves (or hates) clowns, and should be approached as a film and story that will entertain as well as disgust. With a hint of grindhouse, "Terrifier" will immediately become a part of any horror fan's Top 10 list of all time favorite cult films. This movie commands a fandom unlike any we've seen in decades!

Pyewacket (2017)

Pure Terror!

[10/10 · 26 March 2018]

Rarely does a horror movie frighten the hell out of me, but Pyewacket succeeded where so many horror films fail. Here's a short list of what the movie did right:

1. The suspense is perfect. It's not prolonged, but teases the audience just enough to where you can't predict when you're going to get punched in the face.

2. The story was unique. I'm not too familiar with occult practices, but this movie "shows" instead of "tells" the audience how to perform occult rituals.

3. The tension between the mother and daughter is enough to make you like/hate one or the other. I love a movie that shifts emotions on characters; one moment you like them, then hate them, then like them again almost immediately.

4. The score was nostalgic. I loved the music -- brooding, moody!

5. The director shows he's clearly learned the art of making a tense and emotion packed film with superior actors chosen for every part.

If you are looking for a horror movie that's not a part of the norm, watch this movie now!

The Barn (2016)

An Alright Flick

[7/10 · 22 February 2018]

Just see this movie for yourself and draw your own conclusion.

The Barn is a movie that you will either like or not. There's no pretense with this movie. It has a strong marketing strategy that has worked in their favor, and it worked!

Personally, I enjoyed the movie. The acting was what you expect from a low budget indie film, but the cinematics and the mastery of nostalgia are what solidify this movie as a strong flick.

Twelve Pole (2017)

First Time Film Delivers Plenty of Heebie Jeebies

[10/10 · 22 February 2018]

For a first time film, TWELVE POLE is an indie horror movie that hardcore fans may have to trudge through: the acting is mostly by first time actors, and the camera quality may not be that great, but the lighting, audio, and effects totally make up for the lack of visual quality.

First time director, Sam Hodge, has proven that research and opportunity can make for a great first time film even with a shoe-string budget.

The movie starts out a bit slow, but it remains captivating. But once the excitement begins, it doesn't stop!

Are We the Waiting (2017)

Instant Cult Classic

[10/10 · 22 February 2018]

In a genre stagnant of new and interesting slashers, ARE WE THE WAITING waters the roots of a dying breed of horror movies.

NEO, a neon masked killer, is determined to make a night from hell for a group of young people trying to figure out a plan for one of their pals to avoid being drafted in to the military. After one of the characters offers to use their aunt's house for a weekend trip for the gang to party and have a good time, their first night together immediately falls through after playing an online game that kicks off the killing spree for the seminal killer.

Trapping the kids in the house, NEO picks them off one by one by playing elaborate games with them which lures them out one by one.

The quality of this film continues to show how the film maker is progressing as a writer, director, and cinematographer.

There are a couple of characters (and the actors who play them) that will leave you feeling empty -- you just won't care for them because of their protrayal. But the movie ramps up with plenty of kills and thrills, and the ending will leave you questioning "what the hell did I just watch!?"

Of course, when NEO is revealed, it's a twist nobody sees coming.

Unpredictable, exciting, and will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Miles Before Sleep (2016)

Gritty, Brooding, and a Step Up!

[8/10 · 22 February 2018]

Pritt's second film is an eerie and brooding film about a family of backwoods cannibals. The quality of this film is leaps and bounds better than his first film, FUN TIME, but this movie was too short and suffered a few audio problems similar to his first film.

The cinematics in this film show how Pritt matured as a film maker compared to his first film, but he didn't seem to learn much from the audio problems of the first. Sure, the audio isn't as muffled and static filled as his first film, but it does have its challenges.

The musical score aptly fits this film. It's a mix of creepy country-roads style music.

The movie doesn't offer any major twists or surprises, but will offer plenty of spine tingling kills for the gore-philes out there.

Fun Time (2015)

Highly Entertaining But Lacks Quality

[7/10 · 22 February 2018]

For a first attempt at film making, this movie has heart. The audio and cinematics are a huge problem, but the acting redeems this project.

The primary protagonists are an instant cult classic, but there is little to no development with the white faced clown; whereas, the multi-colored faced clown gets quite the back story in the film. What we do gather from the white faced clown is he's entangled with the other clown's girlfriend, which leads to him blasting her head off about midway through the film.

Although the script lacks adequate and creative dialogue, it makes up for it with ample improvisation. The cursory word "f*ck" is often repeated, but mostly to drive home the idea that the clowns are dirty, filthy, and trashy idiots who have nothing better to do than torture unsuspecting carnival goers.

This movie is as low budget as it gets, but with the right marketing this film can have an easy cult following. If you enjoy clown horror, than this film is for you. But if you can't stomach the extreme low budget nature of this film, you may want to pass this one up.

Night Howl (2017)

Not What You'd Expect

[10/10 · 22 February 2018]

If you expect to see a traditional werewolf movie then you'll be sorely disappointed. NIGHT HOWL, the fourth in Fun Time's filmography, is the perfect blend of horror, thriller, romance, psychological drama, with a accent of comedy (but not too much).

As the synopsis already provides, Kaci Evans is a young photojournalist who suffers from deep seeded trauma from his childhood following his mother's murder by a large dog like creature. Now as an adult, Kaci is coming to grips with constant nightmares he has of a large black wolf.

With a mix of romance, Kaci falls for one of his model clients and a whirlwind romance ensues, but is she safe from Kaci's blackouts and nightmares?

Although the audio quality fluctuates quite a bit in this film, and makes for a difficult time hearing, NIGHT HOWL still delivers a whole new take on the werewolf genre. But again, if you're expecting something else from this film other than a gore-fest (and there is plenty of gore and blood), this movie might now be for you. It can be soft at times, but the movie redeems itself by the end with a massive twist the audience never expects.

The Killing (2011–2014)

Non-Stop Thrill Ride

[10/10 · 16 February 2018]

As a crime-drama fan, The Killing is a show that impresses me with the tangled web of deception and red herrings. Just when I assumed I had the guilty party figured out, the show threw a wrench in the cogs of my thinking machine. I loved the writing, and the acting.