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Truth or Dare (2013)
Internet fame goes horribly awry in "Truth or Dare"
These are exciting times in the world of scary movies in that women are making their mark in the genre as writers, producers and directors of horror films. Among them is Jessica Cameron, who co-wrote, with Jonathan Scott Higgins, and directed "Truth or Dare" and took it on a successful worldwide tour of festivals in which the movie garnered 19 awards.
It is an understatement to call "Truth or Dare" a cautionary tale, presenting a terrifying story of the dark, vicious underbelly of fame delivered at the hands of social media. Those who covet thy busy cyber traffic may have to deal with not only the relatively sane fans, but the downright demented ones as well.
Six college students -- three couples actually -- have hit the jackpot with their "Truth or Dare" video streams that offer a violent twist. They especially draw attention when one of them, Tony (Brandon Van Vliet) may have been fatally shot by fellow Truth or Daredevil Jennifer (Cameron). The group subsequently appears on a talk show and brings out Tony to show he really was not killed.
In the audience at the talk show is a self-professed No. 1 fan of the "Truth or Dare" videos, Derik (Kiser, who also stars as Charles Manson in "House of Manson"). When he makes a scene in trying to be recruited into the group, he is banished from the building.
Later, the group reconvenes at a secluded home purchased by John (Jesse Wilson), who has set up a studio in which to video the next episodes of their show. Aside from John, Jennifer and Tony, the group includes John's girlfriend Courtney (Devanny Pinn, so unnerving as Susan Atkins in "House of Manson"), Tony's girlfriend Michelle (Heather Dorff) and Jennifer's boyfriend Ray (Shelby Stehlin).
Just as the Truth or Daredevils begin to work on their next show, who should crash in on them but their No. 1 fan, Derik. Armed and certainly dangerous, Derik gets the upper hand and demands that they continue their "Truth or Dare" game, but under his rules.
With one member of the group already "out of the game" (in other words, no longer breathing), the group has no choice but to concede to Derik's decrees.
Unfortunately, in Derik's opinion, the show lacks structure and realism and he believes this cheats the fans. So he is here to fix things.
In the first round of the game, the five remaining Truth or Daredevils opt for truth rather than dares. But this turns ugly.
As in other horror movies in which viewers have to dispense with disbelief and accept that killers like Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger never die despite all the weapons and artillery used on them, "Truth or Dare" at this point forces the viewer to believe that Derik has managed to dig up deep secrets the Truth or Daredevils have been keeping from each other (even their lovers).
Of course, some of these secrets are pretty bad and it leads to, well, discord among the group members. So naturally in the ensuing rounds they opt for dares rather than truths.
And that's when it gets really brutal.
You can develop a grudging admiration for Derik's madness. This guy is focused on his mission. As he says, "Truth or Dare" "belongs to the fans" and it is the obligation of the Truth or Daredevils to give them a bloody good show. And Derik's sick creativity helps achieve this goal. Each round gets more brutal. And even if these people survive the dares they are irreparably damaged.
Of the group, Jennifer and Michelle are the gutsiest. Indeed, when Jennifer completes a dare without batting an eye, it seems she might be momentarily getting into the gory spirit of the proceedings. Later Jennifer and Michelle are the only ones to actually attempt to physically derail Derik's efforts.
"Truth or Dare" comes with a warning. This is uncompromising violence and not for the casual horror fans who enjoy films that that make them jump or feel uneasy. This movie does flat out dare you to watch, and even the most hardcore fans of this genre will find themselves of accelerated heart rates, possibly sweating and shaking, at the conclusion of the film. But then dare yourself NOT to watch it again. You might lose that dare.
All Through the House (2015)
Here is an adept slasher movie
"All Through the House," written and directed by Todd Nunes, is a throwback to the 1980s slasher movies and has proved it meets all the objectives of this genre, having netted the Best Slasher award while also being voted the Audience Choice Award at the R.I.P. horror film festival held last year in Los Feliz, Calif.
The movie starts out with a simple premise. During a holiday season in Napa, Calif., a crazed person decked out in a Santa Claus outfit and wearing a hideous mask, is moving house to house and using a pair of hedge shears to slaughter victims who, naturally, are primed to enjoy some yuletide sex. As we all know, in films such as these, frisky people are doomed.
Returning to her hometown of Napa while on a holiday break from college is Rachel Kimmel (Ashley Mary Nunes, Todd's sister). Although her only family here is her wheelchair-bound grandmother Abby (Cathy Garrett), Rachel has made plans to meet up with friends Gia (Natalie Montera) and Sarah (Danica Riner) and go Christmas shopping.
Meanwhile, a neighbor is Mrs Garrett (Melynda Kiring), an ultimate tragic figure. Now living alone, Mrs Garrett has been dealing for 15 years with the mysterious disappearance of her daughter Jamie, reportedly snatched from her bedroom one night. As if this is not enough to merit her great sympathy, she seems a little off her rocker. She has several mannequins inside her home, all dressed up, and uses a couple of them as stand- ins for what used to be her family. Plus, she reenacts a dinner scene with one mannequin posing as her daughter and another as her husband. The scenario she concocts is anything but domestic bliss as she somehow feels compelled to re-experience some dark and rocky moments of her life.
Mrs. Garrett had sent Rachel a card, asking the young woman to stop by and help her finish decorating her house for the holidays. Rachel, too nice to blow this off, decides to recruit Gia and Sarah to help her assist Mrs. Garrett. Thus all the pieces are aligned for the inevitable violence that will explode upon Rachel and her pals. Meanwhile, bits and pieces of information are revealed, adding a few twists as Rachel is thrust into the Final Girl mode.
The Best Slasher nod given to "All Through the House" is well earned. The blood and gore are ample as well as particular acts of horror that will have viewers squirming. Ashley Mary Nunes delivers in the pivotal role as Rachel, the all- around sweet young woman thrown into dire situations. And Kiring nicely paces her performance.
Mania (2015)
Director Cameron proves she is a special talent with 'Mania'
With "Mania," director Jessica Cameron and screenwriter Jonathan Scott Higgins have crafted a riveting, bloody road picture that maintains a relentless aura of uneasiness. Moments of tenderness between the two women are but brief respites as Mel and Brooke descend into their personal hell in which the demon is a mental disease that thrives on bursts of madness, striking without warning. There also are moments of dark humor to go along with the cringe-inducing violence. "Mania" is the story of two the lesbian lovers, Mel (Ellie Church) and Brooke (Tristan Risk), whose lives unravel as a result of Brooke's increasingly volatile psychological disorder. It is Mel who must absorb the brunt of what is happening, and while she bravely tries to salvage what sanity there may be left in her relationship with Brooke, her own subconscious conspires against her, as she endures some dark, disturbing but erotic dreams, along with visions of her own demise as well as Brooke's.Thus Mel is torn apart by her desire to protect the person she loves more than anything and the realization that that there just is no way out. Cameron's keen directorial eye is evident as she utilizes frequently close-ups of both Mel and Brooke, and this is a challenge that the two actresses meet with skill. Church's performance reflects the desperation of Mel mixed with an unconditional love for Brooke that continues to energize her objective to find peace and a solution despite the hopelessness and continually escalating carnage. Risk, who has deservedly earned a reputation in the horror genre as a mesmerizing performer, has an ethereal presence that makes Brooke especially tragic. She is a gentle, often vulnerable soul with some crossed wires that transform her into a beast. In a lot of ways, Brooke is the more stable of the two women in that she knows she is beyond help other than a lifetime locked away, but passively goes along with Mel's plans because that is the best way she can show her love for Mel. Talented and dedicated people like cinematographer Josh Chiara and music composer Ken Jacobsen and many others were instrumental in helping Cameron package together a tight, gorgeously filmed 88-minute exploration of love and terror and madness that has audiences reacting with enthusiasm.