Happy Halloween from Road Rash Reviews!
Rejoice horror fans, our favourite time of the year has arrived! The nights grow dark, the weather grows cold and our thoughts turn to spooky tales told around a roaring campfire.
In the spirit of this most creepy of seasons, we at Road Rash have assembled a selection of our favourite horror releases of 2022, there have been some excellent offerings this year.
First up this year we have horror streaming service Shudder.com. If you haven’t seen it yet, head on over and check them out, they have some great titles on offer for horror enthusiasts. Some of our top picks for this year include the disturbing Slapface, gothic adventure Raven’s Hollow, innovative home invasion tale Who Invited Them, Taiwanese brutal gore fest The Sadness and last but not least, the downright bonkers animation Mad God.
4 star thought provoking psychological horror.
Slapface is a 2022 American Independent horror film, written and directed by Jeremiah Kipp (Black Badges, Black Wake). It is a Shudder Original, available to stream now exclusively on Shudder.
“If he goes too far you play a little game of Slapface? It’s not normal.”
Set in the town of Fishkill, New York, we meet Lucas (August
...more4 star delightfully dark gothic horror.
Ravens Hollow is an American gothic horror film, written by Chuck Reeves (Ogre) and Christopher Hatton (Battle of the Damned) who also directs. It is a Shudder Original film, available on the streaming service from 22nd September 2022.
“Anybody tell me why we’re going to see a scarecrow?”
This film follows an undocumented period in the life
...more3 star witty and well executed horror/comedy.
Who Invited Them is a 2022 independent horror/comedy written and directed by Duncan Birmingham who makes a very impressive directorial debut. It is a Shudder Original and will be available on the streaming service from 1st September 2022.
“Wait, that couple that looked like they were going to a sexy funeral? They’re your friends.”
Adam (Ryan
...more4 star brutal and blood soaked zombie horror.
The Sadness is a 2022 Taiwanese zombie horror film, written and directed by first time Canadian filmmaker Rob Jabbaz. Filmed on location in Taipei, where he now lives, this is a truly remarkable debut, he is definitely one to watch.
This Shudder exclusive pushes the limits of what can be achieved in horror and
...more4 star horrifyingly good stop-motion feature.
Mad God is an undeniably brilliant piece of work from iconic Oscar and Emmy award-winning stop-motion artist Phil Tippett (Robocop, Starship Troopers, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back).
A labour of love thirty years in the making, this magnum opus is a Shudder original, available exclusively on the streaming service from 16th June
...moreThese are of course just a small selection of recent releases from their very comprehensive line up.
2022 has been a great year for Independent filmmakers, featuring new releases including tense chiller I hear the Trees Whispering, family made film Hellbender, the very clever Faye and seriously creepy Father of Flies.
5 Star
Peace, Quiet and Regret.
Once again, József Gallai (The Poltergeist Diaries, Moth, Spirits In The Dark, A Guidebook to Killing Your Ex) has come up with a new way to captivate us with this new film. He comes at this subject of isolation from a Point of View, not ever seeing the lead actor, and only glimpses of his tormentors.
...more4 star creepy and atmospheric folk horror.
Hellbender is an independent horror film, made during lock down in 2021 and is entirely a family undertaking.
It is written and directed by husband and wife John Adams (The Shoot) and Toby Poser (Rumblestrips) and their daughter Zelda Adams, who all also star, along with their other daughter Lulu Adams.
It is a Shudder Original film available to own on
...more4 star intense and innovative horror film.
Faye is a 2022 independent American horror film, written by Sarah Zanotti (Rattled) who also plays the only character we see in the film and Kd Amond (Five Women in the End), who also directs.
It will premiere on UK Digital on 9th May 2022 courtesy of Reel 2 Reel Films.
“Do you want me to
...more4 stars of creepy and unsettling Indie horror.
Father of Flies is a 2022 independent horror film, written by Nadia Doherty and Ben Charles Edwards (Set the Thames On Fire), who also directs what is an impressive second feature, boding well for things to come.
It is dedicated to the late Nicholas Tucci, who puts in a remarkable performance in what proved
...moreFor those of you like me who prefer their gore coupled with a good dose of laughter, our two favourite comedy releases this year are the fabulously meaty French horror Some Like it Rare and the glorious 4K remastering of everyone’s favourite transformation sequence An American Werewolf in London.
4 stars of unashamedly meaty French dark humour.
Some Like It Rare is an hilarious 2022 French comedy horror, written and directed by relative newcomer Fabrice Eboué (Coexister) who also stars. Originally titled Barbaque, it is presented here in French with English subtitles courtesy of Signature Entertainment.
“Nothing ever changes round here. If you gave me as much TLC as your meat
...more5 Star
1981 Crystal Clear Hilarious Horror
From the legend, John Landis (The Kentucky Fried Movie, National Lampoon’s Animal House, Trading Places, Michael Jackson: Thriller (Music Video)) comes his vision of a comedy that is so horrific that it scares the life out of you. Many years in preproduction. It finally came to fruition due to his success with films such as
...moreThere have been some brilliant new releases in 2022, some great new ideas, including twisty British horror Stalker, ghost story Martyr’s Lane, throroughly satisfying kidnapping story The Boy Behind the Door and the crazy rollercoater that is Superhost.
4 star tense and claustrophobic horror/thriller.
Stalker is a 2022 British horror film written by Chris Watt (The Mire) and directed by Steve Johnson (Convergence). It enjoyed a world premiere at FrightFest on 28th August 2022 and will be available to buy on DVD and Digital from 10th October 2022 courtesy of Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment.
“An asthmatic and a claustrophobic, wow. Now
...more4 star emotionally powerful ghost story.
Martyrs Lane is a 2021 British horror film written and directed by Ruth Platt (The Lesson, Black Forest). A Shudder Original film, it is available in the UK on DVD and Digital for the first time courtesy of Acorn Media International.
“Hey Leah. Two truths, one lie. You’re asthma is all in your head, God loves
...more4 star thoroughly satisfying kidnapping tale.
The Boy Behind the Door is written and directed by David Charbonier and Justin Powell and is their stunning and very bold directorial debut.
Following highly successful appearances at Fantastic Fest and AFI Fest it is available on Shudder and now also on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Platforms from 2nd May 2022 courtesy of Acorn Media International.
It’s okay. You don’t
...more4 star modern, relevant and delightfully gory horror.
Superhost is a 2022 horror film written and directed by Brandon Christensen (Z, Still/Born). It is a Shudder Original, filmed during the pandemic and features a great short documenting what that looked like for the cast and crew. It is now available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital courtesy of Acorn International.
“Our numbers are
...moreFor life long horror fans out there, looking for a bit of nostalgia, it’s been a great year for classics too, with some of the greats being remastered to be enjoyed by future generations.
To start with we go right back to the thirties with Universal Terror (three Boris Karloff films) and then to the fifties with Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell and The Mummy (1959).
4 Star
Thrills Chills and Aria’s
The master of horror returns in this collection of the collaborations with Universal and Boris Karloff (Boris Karloff: The Man Behind The Monster, Karloff at Columbia, The Old Dark House). Three very different style of films, from a man trying to do the right thing, to an obsessed murderous man, to a man seeking the killer
...more4 Star
Old Habits Make People Die.
Another Limited Edition Classic Horror from Hammer Film Productions and now Aim Publicity bring us this feature packed with Special Features and Limited Edition Contents (See Below). Once again, directed by Horror Legend Terence Fisher (The Brides of Dracula, The Revenge of Frankenstein, The Man Who Could Cheat Death, The Hound of the Baskervilles).
It is
...more4 Star
Hammer Horror Had it all Wrapped Up.
The 1959 version of The Mummy from the British horror film studio, Hammer Horror, comes as a limited Edition Blu-ray release by Aim Publicity. Filled with Special Features and Limited Edition Features (see Below). Directed by Horror legend Terence Fisher (The Brides of Dracula, The Revenge of Frankenstein, The Man Who Could Cheat
...moreTwo video nasties have also had the remastering treatment, the extremely controversial I Spit on Your Grave 4K Collectors Edition and the psychological horror Don’t Go in the House.
4 star presentation of a highly contoversial cult classic.
I Spit on Your Grave was originally released in 1978 and was written and directed by Meir Zarchi (Don’t Mess With My Sister!). Immediately branded a “video nasty” upon it’s release, it never enjoyed a theatrical run in the UK, only being available on home video. It is presented here following a
...more4 star remastered legendary video nasty.
Don’t Go In the House is an American psychological horror film from the era of “Video Nasties”, originally released in 1980. Based on a story by Joe Masefield, it is written by Ellen Hammill (Joey) and Joseph Ellison who also directs.
It is presented here on Blu-ray fully uncut following a 2K restoration courtesy of Arrow
...moreAnd finally, we get the the eighties and nineties with some more absolute classics, Stephen King horror anthology Cat’s Eye in 4K, the spooky and atmospheric Flatliners and the glorious Candyman, Candyman, Candyman (dare you say it?), also in 4K.
4 Star
Will You Survive Your Decisions?
From the master of scary tales Stephen King (Carrie (novel), Christine, Pet Sematary (novel) / (screenplay)) comes an anthology film about how a cat interacts with strangers across America. King teams up again with popular director Lewis Teague (Cujo, The Jewel of the Nile, Wedlock) to get those neck hairs bristling. Cat’s Eye is a
...more5 Star
Shock To Stop – Shock For Life.
Joel Schumacher (St. Elmo’s Fire, The Lost Boys, Falling Down, A Time to Kill) the director that brought our favourite films of the nineteen-eighties, bursts into the nineteen-nineties with Flatliners with all the young stars that he has helped to stardom. His career carries on into the twenty-first century with the likes of
...more5 star epic restoration of a gothic horror classic.
Candyman is inspired by the short story The Forbidden written by Clive Barker (Hellraiser, Nightbreed) as part of his horror anthology The Books of Blood: Volume 5.
Originally released in 1992, this film adaptation is written and directed by Bernard Rose (Boxing Day, Paperhouse) and is presented here newly restored on 4K UHD
...moreSo there you have it folks, this year’s pick of blood soaked, machete wielding psychopaths. Whatever you choose to do this year , whether it is curling up in front of the telly with a hot chocolate, or heading off out for a bit of trick or treating, just remember, stay safe and above all else, have fun!
