December 8, 2022: The Horror Marathon continues with five more recent releases!

All My Friends Hate Me (2021)

Pete is cautiously excited about reuniting with his college crew for a birthday weekend. But, one by one, his friends turn against him. Is he being punished, is he paranoid, or is he part of some sick joke?

My thoughts: While not horror in the traditional sense, this movie does a brilliant job of building unease in its cringey, paranoia-fueled, darkly humorous exploration of social anxiety. Not exactly horror, but undeniably horrifying.

4.5/5

Nope (2022)

The residents of a lonely gulch in inland California bear witness to an uncanny and chilling discovery.

My thoughts: Takes a long while to get going. When it finally does, it offers an interesting interesting spin on the “alien encounter” storyline, but the creature’s demise is contrived and silly.

3/5

Pearl (2022)

In 1918, a young woman on the brink of madness pursues stardom in a desperate attempt to escape the drudgery, isolation and lovelessness of life on her parents’ farm.

My thoughts: No surprises in the story, but there’s a laudable deftness to the stylized direction. Mia Goth’s performance is incredible, anchored by a late monologue that alone makes her worthy of Oscar consideration.

4/5

Hellraiser (2022)

A take on Clive Barker’s 1987 horror classic where a young woman struggling with addiction comes into possession of an ancient puzzle box, unaware that its purpose is to summon the Cenobites.

My thoughts: Stellar production design and the Cenobites are exquisitely inspired, but the script is surprisingly restrained, never quite attaining the lurid depths of the original.

3/5

Halloween Ends (2022)

The saga of Michael Myers and Laurie Strode comes to a spine-chilling climax in the final installment of this trilogy.

My thoughts: Gets off to a great start but ultimately devolves into a nonsensical, ludicrous mess.

2.5/5

Today’s Yes/No…

Twinkies Candy Canes? Yes/No
Thanks(?) to @ZabanaBrandon for the tip.https://t.co/osMuB4bXAh pic.twitter.com/2qsLG5SNJC

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) December 8, 2022

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