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REVIEW: Smart and Twisty, ‘The Axiom’
When five friends decide to go camping in search of another one, things get multi-dimensionally horrific in the new movie The Axiom, and iHorrorĀ has your first look.
You know these friends are in for something extraordinary when one of the characters references the film The Most Dangerous Game in the first act.
The missing friend Marylyn disappeared after making her way to the same camping spot called āCinder Park.ā She is also the sister to two of the campers McKenzie (Hattie Smith) and big brother Martin (Zac Titus).
A helpful tip on where to find Marylyn comes from a questionable source, Craigslist, and a man named Leon who says he knows where she is and how to find her.
Upon arrival to Leon’s mountain-side outpost, McKenzie discovers that her sisterās disappearance is more than what it seems, but it is too extraordinary to believe. Relentless she must test Leonās claims by putting her friends and her brother in mortal danger.
Added to the mix is frazzled friend Edgar who has recently recovered from a breakdown, leaving him and us wondering why the sun never sets in Cinder Park.
With references to The Matrix and Silent Hill, The Axiom lays its supernatural groundwork with character development and wonderfully so.
Itās refreshing to see a film that builds its characters from the inside out instead of throwing well-worn archetypes to the monsters, this is a risky intellectual move by the filmmakers, luckily for us they have a talented cast who read and understood the script, filling out their respective characters in every dimension.
Director Nicholas Woods has some slack to play with here and fills it not with disposable potboiler victim profiles, but honest to goodness people we genuinely care for who make decisions, not because of diagramed plot mapping, but because they have no other choices.
āI donāt think we are where we think we are,ā says one character which gives the confused viewer peace of mind because they most likely feel the same way.
Lead Smith takes the storyline by the reins, sheās a powerful rational woman who navigates through Cinder Parkās madness keeping her mind and top intact. Smith doesnāt make McKenzie a wide-eyed naif, but an able-minded survivor.
Special effects arenāt whatās going to grab you here, there is a wonderful homage to something out of Guillermo Del Toroās creature shop and one giant show-stopping reveal, but other than that, weāve seen some of these pale-faced ghouls before.
It should also be noted that the film is almost completely made of practical effects so hats off to the make-up gang.
Intelligently crafted, well-acted and undeniably thought-provoking, The Axiom proves that horror movies need not be mindless to be effective nor senseless to be scary.
With a twist that swerves into an entirely new concept in the last reel (remember that movie reference in the beginning?), Woods makes sure not everything is summed up by the end leaving the portal open for further chapters in this sinister story.
The Axiom is only the beginning of what we imagineĀ will become a rousing franchise, at least we hope so.
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News
“Mickey Vs. Winnie”: A Horrific Clash of Icons from Director Glenn Douglas Packard and iHorror
iHorror is diving deep into film production with a chilling new project that’s sure to redefine your childhood memories. We’re thrilled to introduce ‘Mickey vs. Winnie,’ a groundbreaking horror slasher directed by Glenn Douglas Packard. This isn’t just any horror slasher; it’s a visceral showdown between twisted versions of childhood favorites Mickey Mouse and Winnie-the-Pooh. ‘Mickey vs. Winnie’ brings together the now-public-domain characters from A. A. Milneās ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ books and Mickey Mouse from the 1920s ‘Steamboat Willie’ cartoon in a VS battle like never before seen.
Set in the 1920s, the plot kicks off with a disturbing narrative about two convicts who escape into a cursed forest, only to be swallowed by its dark essence. Fast forward a hundred years, and the story picks up with a group of thrill-seeking friends whose nature getaway goes horribly wrong. They accidentally venture into the same cursed woods, finding themselves face-to-face with the now monstrous versions of Mickey and Winnie. What follows is a night filled with terror, as these beloved characters mutate into horrifying adversaries, unleashing a frenzy of violence and bloodshed.
Glenn Douglas Packard, an Emmy-nominated choreographer turned filmmaker known for his work on “Pitchfork,” brings a unique creative vision to this film. Packard describes “Mickey vs. Winnie” as a tribute to horror fans’ love for iconic crossovers, which often remain just a fantasy due to licensing restrictions. “Our film celebrates the thrill of combining legendary characters in unexpected ways, serving up a nightmarish yet exhilarating cinematic experience,” says Packard.
Produced by Packard and his creative partner Rachel Carter under the Untouchables Entertainment banner, and our very own Anthony Pernicka, founder of iHorror, “Mickey vs. Winnie” promises to deliver an entirely new take on these iconic figures. “Forget what you know about Mickey and Winnie,” Pernicka enthuses. “Our film portrays these characters not as mere masked figures but as transformed, live-action horrors that merge innocence with malevolence. The intense scenes crafted for this movie will change how you see these characters forever.”
Currently underway in Michigan, the production of “Mickey vs. Winnie” is a testament to pushing the boundaries of the horror genre. As iHorror ventures into producing our own films, we’re excited to share this thrilling, terrifying journey with you, our loyal audience. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to transform the familiar into the frightful in ways you’ve never imagined.
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Movies
Mike Flanagan Comes Aboard To Assist in Completion of ‘Shelby Oaks’
If you have been following Chris Stuckmann on YouTube you are aware of the struggles he has had getting his horror movie Shelby Oaks finished. But thereās good news about the project today. Director Mike Flanagan (Ouija: Origin Of Evil, Doctor SleepĀ andĀ The Haunting) is backing the film as a co-executive producer which might bring it much closer to being released.Ā Flanagan is a part of the collective Intrepid Pictures which also includes Trevor Macy and Melinda Nishioka.
Stuckmann is a YouTube movie critic whoās been on the platform for over a decade. He came under some scrutiny for announcing on his channel two years ago that he would no longer be reviewing films negatively. However contrary to that statement, he did a non-review essay of the panned Madame Web recently saying, that studios strong-arm directors to make films just for the sake of keeping failing franchises alive. It seemed like a critique disguised as a discussion video.
But Stuckmann has his own movie to worry about. In one of Kickstarterās most successful campaigns, he managed to raise over $1 million for his debut feature film Shelby Oaks which now sits in post-production.
Hopefully, with Flanagan and Intrepid’s help, the road to Shelby Oak’s completion is reaching its end.
āItās been inspiring to watch Chris working toward his dreams over the past few years, and the tenacity and DIY spirit he displayed while bringing Shelby Oaks to life reminded me so much of my own journey over a decade ago,” Flanagan told Deadline. “Itās been an honor to walk a few steps with him on his path, and to offer support for Chrisā vision for his ambitious, unique movie. I canāt wait to see where he goes from here.ā
Stuckmann says Intrepid Pictures has inspired him for years and, “itās a dream come true to work with Mike and Trevor on my first feature.”
Producer Aaron B. Koontz of Paper Street Pictures has been working with Stuckmann since the beginning is also excited about the collaboration.
āFor a film that had such a hard time getting going, itās remarkable the doors that then opened to us,ā said Koontz. āThe success of our Kickstarter followed by the on-going leadership and guidance from Mike, Trevor, and Melinda is beyond anything I could have hoped for.ā
Deadline describes the plot of Shelby Oaks as follows:
“A combination of documentary, found footage, and traditional film footage styles, Shelby Oaks centers on Miaās (Camille Sullivan) frantic search for her sister, Riley, (Sarah Durn) who ominously disappeared in the last tape of her āParanormal Paranoidsā investigative series. As Miaās obsession grows, she begins to suspect that the imaginary demon from Rileyās childhood may have been real.”
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Movies
New ‘MaXXXine’ Image is Pure 80s Costume Core
A24 has unveiled a captivating new image of Mia Goth in her role as the titular character in “MaXXXine”. This release comes approximately a year and a half after the previous installment in Ti West’s expansive horror saga, which covers more than seven decades.
His latest continues the story arc of freckle-faced aspiring starlet Maxine Minx from the first film X which took place in Texas in 1979. With stars in her eyes and blood on her hands, Maxine moves into a new decade and a new city, Hollywood, in pursuit of an acting career, “But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.”
The photo below is the latest snapshot released from the film and shows Maxine in full Thunderdome drag amid a crowd of teased hair and rebellious 80s fashion.
MaXXXine is set to open in theaters on July 5.
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