Henrique Couto's Scarewaves

Indy director Henrique Couto, (who I interviewed a couple months back), has a new film coming out this fall that I want to tell you folks about. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a big fan of horror anthology films, and Henrique shot an anthology film called SCAREWAVES that is set to be released on DVD October 27th.

I have a copy of this film, and it is a fun-filled throwback to films such as CREEPSHOW and TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE. In fact, it especially reminded me of Creepshow, one of my top 10 all-time favorite films, with the bright blue and red comic-book influenced lighting that floods the scenery throughout the film.

The wrap around segments are particularly clever. A radio DJ named Amos Satan is on the air for his final broadcast. In place of his regular show, he decides to regale the listeners with a series of true terror tales. 



 
Check out the Scarewaves Facebook page for more info, and how to order a copy for yourself.
https://www.facebook.com/scarewavesfilm

OR if you live in the Chicago area, you can check out the film yourself on the big screen. Director Couto will be bringing the film to Chicago on Saturday, September 12th at Chicago Filmmakers, 5243 N. Clark.

Doors open at 7:30 and an introduction by Henrique at 8:00. Admission $5.

There is also a Facebook page for the film screening:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1651191138451375/

So check that out for further details. 

V/H/S is fuzzy

I am a horror anthology nut. I LOVE the portmanteau films, the old Amicus stuff - TALES FROM THE CRYPT, DR. TERROR'S HOUSE OF HORRORS, THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD, etc. - probably my favorite genre of film. So it should come as no surprise that I was looking forward to seeing the new anthology film VHS. It's available on Netflix streaming now and in Redbox, too. I actually rented a DVD copy at my local Redbox and gave it a watch. And quickly wished I hadn't.

It is a series of four, or five, I forget now - stories, all shot on VHS. They are all done found footage style, and all tied together through a flimsy plot of a house with a bunch of TVs in one room and a tape, or tapes, with these stories on them that our characters watch.

Honestly, this film is a mess. The wrap-around segment makes no sense. The individual stories range from so-so to flat out horrible. The characters are all, pretty much without exception, a bunch of stupid kids that are just assholes, the kind of people you see in public and pretty much wish would drive off a cliff. Seriously, there isn't one character in this film you give two shits about. This is a lazy film, with no suspense, tension, hell, no basic thought given to scene composition or really anything other than what looks like a rushed, amateur "horror" film.

There are EIGHT directors listed for this movie, including Ti West, and TWELVE writers. Maybe it's a case of too many cooks but this film is ugly to watch, incoherent, and inept. Avoid at all costs.