I’ll spotlight some 2023 films that I saw this year and what I like about them. Keep in mind that I have not seen everything.
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Description James and Em enjoy a perfect vacation at an island resort. until a tragic accident leaves them facing a zero tolerance policy for crime: be executed, or, if you're rich enough, watch yourself die instead.
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Infinity Pool (2023)
neonrated.com
No, it’s not a crossover of Infinity Gauntlet and Deadpool… this is a Sci-Fi/Horror film called Infinity Pool. This dark film follows novelist James Foster (played by Alexander Skarsgård) and his wife Em (Cleopatra Coleman) on holiday in a fictional country called Li Tolqa.
They meet another couple, and immediately got the attention of Gabi (Mia Goth), who is a fan of Jame’s only published novel. The tourist couple broke the rules and left the resort grounds and accidentally killed a local by hitting him with their car.
From here, the film takes a very sharp crazy turn.
You soon find out that the penalty for killing someone is death at the hand of his victim’s firstborn son. It’s already mental, but it gets weirder when the authorities offer a way out for James Foster for a fee. You see, this country has perfected cloning, so what they can do is make a copy of you, and your copy gets killed in your place.
After the clone is killed, it just gets crazier and crazier. There’s an orgy. There’s more killing. There’s hallucination… It’s as if the whole thing was fueled by drugs.
I have my own theory for the film, and the film was smart enough to bring it up too. I believe that when the clone is killed… that in actuality, the original is killed. The clone is the one that survives. At least that’s my theory.
In the end, this is Brandon Cronenberg’s third film, and I’m fast becoming a fan. His first Antiviral came out in 2012 and was okay for a debut. 2020’s Possessor that I was blown away… and with 2023’s Infinity Pool, he’s batting 2 for 3.
I’m definitely looking forward to Brandon’s next project called Super-Cannes. It’s in the television format, and it’s based on a book by J. G. Ballard.
neonrated.com
No, it’s not a crossover of Infinity Gauntlet and Deadpool… this is a Sci-Fi/Horror film called Infinity Pool. This dark film follows novelist James Foster (played by Alexander Skarsgård) and his wife Em (Cleopatra Coleman) on holiday in a fictional country called Li Tolqa.
They meet another couple, and immediately got the attention of Gabi (Mia Goth), who is a fan of Jame’s only published novel. The tourist couple broke the rules and left the resort grounds and accidentally killed a local by hitting him with their car.
From here, the film takes a very sharp crazy turn.
You soon find out that the penalty for killing someone is death at the hand of his victim’s firstborn son. It’s already mental, but it gets weirder when the authorities offer a way out for James Foster for a fee. You see, this country has perfected cloning, so what they can do is make a copy of you, and your copy gets killed in your place.
After the clone is killed, it just gets crazier and crazier. There’s an orgy. There’s more killing. There’s hallucination… It’s as if the whole thing was fueled by drugs.
I have my own theory for the film, and the film was smart enough to bring it up too. I believe that when the clone is killed… that in actuality, the original is killed. The clone is the one that survives. At least that’s my theory.
In the end, this is Brandon Cronenberg’s third film, and I’m fast becoming a fan. His first Antiviral came out in 2012 and was okay for a debut. 2020’s Possessor that I was blown away… and with 2023’s Infinity Pool, he’s batting 2 for 3.
I’m definitely looking forward to Brandon’s next project called Super-Cannes. It’s in the television format, and it’s based on a book by J. G. Ballard.
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Description
Single mom Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland) and kids Bridget (Gabrielle Echols), Danny (Morgan Davies), and (Nell Fisher) were having an uncomfortable visit from her pregnant sister Beth (Lily Sullivan) when an earthquake shook their L.A. apartment building. Danny's exploration brought him to an unearthed copy of the Book of the Dead-and the stay would get a lot worse, in this effective spin-off for the storied fear franchise; Mirabai Pease, Richard Crouchley also star.
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Evil Dead Rise (2023)
warnerbros.com
It’s been a long time since we saw the last Evil Dead film in 2013. Ten years later, the sequel Evil Dead Rise continues the franchise (which originally started in 1983).
The best part of Evil Dead Rise is that you do not need to watch any of the previous five Evil Dead films to follow the story. This is a brand-new storyline, with brand new characters. The only thing that ties them together is the Book of the Dead and the demons.
The story takes place in Los Angeles. There’s an earthquake and these two teenagers found old record vinyls in a hidden chamber. One of the teenagers, Danny, is a DJ, so he was immediately curious about playing the records … and in doing so, unintentionally summons demons.
Before you say anything, I had the same question: why would old monks put recordings on wax? When you think about it, it had to be on records because the tape technology didn’t exist back then. I guess it had to be done this way, in order for the story to take place.
Once the demons are in the picture, it’s utter chaos, as they try (and succeeds) in killing everyone. I previous Evil Dead films, you were stuck in a cabin, in the middle of nowhere… or in the dark ages. Evil Dead Rise is in an urban environment… however it is still isolated in the apartment building.
Personally speaking, I don’t really consider this film (and its previous 2013 film), as truly part of the originally Evil Dead series. To me, it’s not an Evil Dead movie, unless it has the Ash character. As far as I’m concern, the Evil Dead series ended with Army of Darkness.
I am planning on picking up Evil Dead Rise on Bluray, just to have it in my collection… but I’m not rushing out to buy it at full retail price. I’ll wait for a sale.
warnerbros.com
It’s been a long time since we saw the last Evil Dead film in 2013. Ten years later, the sequel Evil Dead Rise continues the franchise (which originally started in 1983).
The best part of Evil Dead Rise is that you do not need to watch any of the previous five Evil Dead films to follow the story. This is a brand-new storyline, with brand new characters. The only thing that ties them together is the Book of the Dead and the demons.
The story takes place in Los Angeles. There’s an earthquake and these two teenagers found old record vinyls in a hidden chamber. One of the teenagers, Danny, is a DJ, so he was immediately curious about playing the records … and in doing so, unintentionally summons demons.
Before you say anything, I had the same question: why would old monks put recordings on wax? When you think about it, it had to be on records because the tape technology didn’t exist back then. I guess it had to be done this way, in order for the story to take place.
Once the demons are in the picture, it’s utter chaos, as they try (and succeeds) in killing everyone. I previous Evil Dead films, you were stuck in a cabin, in the middle of nowhere… or in the dark ages. Evil Dead Rise is in an urban environment… however it is still isolated in the apartment building.
Personally speaking, I don’t really consider this film (and its previous 2013 film), as truly part of the originally Evil Dead series. To me, it’s not an Evil Dead movie, unless it has the Ash character. As far as I’m concern, the Evil Dead series ended with Army of Darkness.
I am planning on picking up Evil Dead Rise on Bluray, just to have it in my collection… but I’m not rushing out to buy it at full retail price. I’ll wait for a sale.
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Description
The producers of M3GAN and The Black Phone bring the terrifying horror game phenomenon to life as a blood-chilling film. Recently fired and desperate for work so that he can keep custody of his little sister, Mike agrees to take a position as a night security guard at an abandoned theme restaurant: Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria. But Mike soon discovers that nothing at Freddy's is what it seems. Mike's nights at Freddy's will lead him into unexplainable encounters with the supernatural and drag him into the black heart of an unspeakable nightmare.
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Five Nights at Freddy's (2023)
fivenightsatfreddys.movie
Based on the popular video game series Five Nights at Freddy's, this film takes the security horror game to the silver screen.
Despite all the critics saying how awful the film is, I actually really enjoyed it. I think you also need to have a mindset of a child, as the film is never truly “horror.” I was surprised at the ending, particularly the reveal of the main boss.
Despite premiering online on Peacock at the same time as the film came out in theaters, it is one of the highest grossing film of 2023 … earning over $137.1 million in the United States and Canada.
The fans loves the game and they showed up in theaters in costumes and in large groups.
So… about that plot. It’s pretty dumb. I know it’s based on the video game, and, in the video game, you play a security guard at an abandoned Chuck E Cheese-type place. The goal is to survive “five nights at Freddy’s” as the game title implies. After the fifth night, if you survived, you win the game.
In the movie, it’s about a struggling young man, who desperately had to take a job at the nightguard to Freddy’s. Soon, you discovered that his brother was taken by some serial killer when he was very young and have been trying to discover who took him through “dream therapy” or something. He meets a young policewoman, who seemingly have nothing to do but hang out with him at Freddy’s.
Obviously, you all know the animatronic bears comes to life and murders people… but because this is somewhat of a family-friendly film, they don’t appear to be so horrific, despite the serial killer who preys on young children storyline.
In the end, the film has a happy ending … and I’m somewhat interested in seeing where they take this franchise in the second film. What else do you have to talk about now that everything is resolved?
fivenightsatfreddys.movie
Based on the popular video game series Five Nights at Freddy's, this film takes the security horror game to the silver screen.
Despite all the critics saying how awful the film is, I actually really enjoyed it. I think you also need to have a mindset of a child, as the film is never truly “horror.” I was surprised at the ending, particularly the reveal of the main boss.
Despite premiering online on Peacock at the same time as the film came out in theaters, it is one of the highest grossing film of 2023 … earning over $137.1 million in the United States and Canada.
The fans loves the game and they showed up in theaters in costumes and in large groups.
So… about that plot. It’s pretty dumb. I know it’s based on the video game, and, in the video game, you play a security guard at an abandoned Chuck E Cheese-type place. The goal is to survive “five nights at Freddy’s” as the game title implies. After the fifth night, if you survived, you win the game.
In the movie, it’s about a struggling young man, who desperately had to take a job at the nightguard to Freddy’s. Soon, you discovered that his brother was taken by some serial killer when he was very young and have been trying to discover who took him through “dream therapy” or something. He meets a young policewoman, who seemingly have nothing to do but hang out with him at Freddy’s.
Obviously, you all know the animatronic bears comes to life and murders people… but because this is somewhat of a family-friendly film, they don’t appear to be so horrific, despite the serial killer who preys on young children storyline.
In the end, the film has a happy ending … and I’m somewhat interested in seeing where they take this franchise in the second film. What else do you have to talk about now that everything is resolved?
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Description When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.
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Talk To Me (2023)
a24films.com
Technically, Talk to Me actually came out in 2022. The film didn’t officially came out in the USA until 2023, via my favorite A24 distribution (and Lionsgate on Bluray). As I have already previously mentioned, I love A24, they have some great horror films under their belt, including Hereditary (2018), Midsommar (2019), and X (2022).
What sets Talk to Me apart is that it’s actually an Australian film. Everyone speaks with that Australian slang and accent… but you get used to it. They’re just like Americans, only the teenagers are so wild!
The plot takes its time to get going. There’s a lot of clues and building up to the actual embalmed hand. This supernatural severed hand will allow the user to talk to the dead. And if you invite them in, they can take over your body.
It’s all fun and games until someone stab themselves in the head, right? What doesn’t make sense is that even though the kids knew about the suicide incident that started the film, they continue to use the severed hand. I guess it’s all about getting the social likes.
Most of the sessions are for laughs, but when a 15-year-old boy Riley decided to give the hand a try… it turned dangerous. I won’t go into details, but it’s brutal what happens to him, and now Mia, who was responsible for allowing Riley to use the hand, is trying to save him.
Another thing to note is that this horror film is the directorial debut of “RackaRacka”, the two twin brothers Danny and Michael Philippou, who started on YouTube. From what I’ve seen, they’re actually really good at directing a movie and I’m definitely looking forward to their next project: Street Fighter and Bring Her Back.
a24films.com
Technically, Talk to Me actually came out in 2022. The film didn’t officially came out in the USA until 2023, via my favorite A24 distribution (and Lionsgate on Bluray). As I have already previously mentioned, I love A24, they have some great horror films under their belt, including Hereditary (2018), Midsommar (2019), and X (2022).
What sets Talk to Me apart is that it’s actually an Australian film. Everyone speaks with that Australian slang and accent… but you get used to it. They’re just like Americans, only the teenagers are so wild!
The plot takes its time to get going. There’s a lot of clues and building up to the actual embalmed hand. This supernatural severed hand will allow the user to talk to the dead. And if you invite them in, they can take over your body.
It’s all fun and games until someone stab themselves in the head, right? What doesn’t make sense is that even though the kids knew about the suicide incident that started the film, they continue to use the severed hand. I guess it’s all about getting the social likes.
Most of the sessions are for laughs, but when a 15-year-old boy Riley decided to give the hand a try… it turned dangerous. I won’t go into details, but it’s brutal what happens to him, and now Mia, who was responsible for allowing Riley to use the hand, is trying to save him.
Another thing to note is that this horror film is the directorial debut of “RackaRacka”, the two twin brothers Danny and Michael Philippou, who started on YouTube. From what I’ve seen, they’re actually really good at directing a movie and I’m definitely looking forward to their next project: Street Fighter and Bring Her Back.
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Description
Psychiatrist Elizabeth Derby becomes obsessed with helping a young patient who's suffering from extreme personality disorder. However, it soon leads her into occult danger as she tries to escape from a horrific fate.
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Suitable Flesh (2023)
amcstudiosinternational.com
Before you read any further, Suitable Flesh is not a good film. I wanted to put the film on the list, because most horror fans have overlooked this body-swapping film.
Suitable Flesh tries to pay tribute to those Lovecraftian 80s horror film, but unfortunately, it doesn’t quite get there. It has everything going for it - based on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “The Thing on the Doorstep”, produced by the scream queen Barbara Crampton, it’s the successor to Stuart Gordon’s Re-Animator and From Beyond… but it doesn’t have the over-the-top horrific gore, or the full-frontal nudity, or much action. It seems to miss the mark that makes every great about those old Gordon film.
The plot of this movie is about a psychiatrist Elizabeth Derby (played by Heather Graham) and her relationship with a young patient. You find out that the young patient’s father is a demon who can swap bodies with a human. There’s the rule of three, which means if you swap bodies three times, it’s permanent.
Anyway, the demon gets possession of Elizabeth’s body and apparently, it’s never been in a woman before. I guess hilarity ensues.
Like I previously mentioned, it has all the formula to make for the next Stuart Gordon’s Lovecraft movie… but it just doesn’t live up to the originals two films. If anything, I want to go back and re-visit the original Re-Animator.
amcstudiosinternational.com
Before you read any further, Suitable Flesh is not a good film. I wanted to put the film on the list, because most horror fans have overlooked this body-swapping film.
Suitable Flesh tries to pay tribute to those Lovecraftian 80s horror film, but unfortunately, it doesn’t quite get there. It has everything going for it - based on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “The Thing on the Doorstep”, produced by the scream queen Barbara Crampton, it’s the successor to Stuart Gordon’s Re-Animator and From Beyond… but it doesn’t have the over-the-top horrific gore, or the full-frontal nudity, or much action. It seems to miss the mark that makes every great about those old Gordon film.
The plot of this movie is about a psychiatrist Elizabeth Derby (played by Heather Graham) and her relationship with a young patient. You find out that the young patient’s father is a demon who can swap bodies with a human. There’s the rule of three, which means if you swap bodies three times, it’s permanent.
Anyway, the demon gets possession of Elizabeth’s body and apparently, it’s never been in a woman before. I guess hilarity ensues.
Like I previously mentioned, it has all the formula to make for the next Stuart Gordon’s Lovecraft movie… but it just doesn’t live up to the originals two films. If anything, I want to go back and re-visit the original Re-Animator.
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