Back From Hell

"I gotta message for ya. Tell Satan I said... KISS MY BLACK ASS!"

Back From Hell is the directorial debut Matt Jaissle (The Necro Files, Legion of the Night). The plot follows Jack, who has sold his soul to Lucifer in order to gain fame and launch his acting career. Unfortunately for him he didn't have the guts to complete the sacrifice when the time came. Now he is up for the fight of his life against Satan's hellish ninjas and demons. Along for the journey is his old friend turned priest, Father Aaron, who reluctantly decides to help Jack fight evil after shedding blood to save him.

This film is filled with great gags and dialogue. The bit with the demonic hand latching onto Aaron's face from the Bible is a personal favorite. The very drawn out scene of dialogue between our heroes and the possessed man they tie up is also made great due to some facial expressions the actor makes. The acting in Back From Hell is a bit wooden from most of the cast. This isn't too big of a fault for the film because the leads do a decent enough job and after awhile it's no longer that noticeable. The two leads become likable after we get to know them a bit more as the film moves along. It's especially rewarding to see Father Aaron's character go from being a very reserved priest to a limp having, shotgun bearing badass before all is said and done.

Although this film is extremely low budget it possesses a lot of charm. The biggest standout while watching is seeing the kind of atmosphere Jaissle managed to create with such little resources. The score (which basically consists of one song) is extremely effective in setting this hellish, almost apocalyptic tone. Drawn out shots also do their fair share creating suspense. The noose scene is a perfect example of this tension building technique working at its finest.

Overall fans of low budget horror should have a good time with this one. The film gives you ninjas, demons, and zombies. What more could a horror fan ask for? The film hits the throwback feel of classic religious based horror perfectly. Many people see this movie in a "so bad it's good" way but I genuinely think this film is awesome. It's well made and it is very clear when watching what Jaissle was going for. We get a fair share of blood splatter and an endless supply of fun with this one. Fans of B-Movies and that classic Drive-In feeling should give Back From Hell a shot.

Dave O'Shea's Day Job

"THROUGHOUT HISTORY EVERY STALKER EVERY MURDERER EVERY MONSTER HAD TO BILLS TO PAY"

Day Job is a film that brings forth an idea that is truly terrifying. Every serial killer had a day job. Ever have something go wrong in the house and have to have someone come out to check it out? Everyday people allow complete strangers into their house for things like this without thinking twice. Unfortunately all killers don't come across as stark raving lunatics foaming at the mouth. THIS is the real definition of horror, real life situations that could become a reality for anyone.

The film shows our killer Nick Carnicelli going through the daily grind as a cable guy. Seeing his everyday struggle dealing with asshole customers on a daily basis and snagging up used panties from the women who invite him into their homes to fix their cable. It is clear from the beginning that Nick is a bit of a sicko but we don't get the full extent until his home-life is shown. A house with bloodstained condoms covering walls and women chained to beds is where Nick and his equally fucked in the head roommate kick their feet up after a long days work. Armed to the dental with bondage equipment and plenty of victims to take the lashing it is very clear Nick is far gone from the semi normal person he seems to be at work.

Everything changes for Nick when he meets a woman in a broken marriage on one of his calls. He falls in love with her immediately and will do anything it takes to call her his own. With the help of his roommate anyone who may step in the way of Nick and his new found love will meet a very painful demise. This is all followed by an ending that I'm sure nobody will see coming. While the ending may seem a bit jarring I think it was the perfect way to end the film.

The handheld camera style filmmaking really helps at capturing an extremely realistic feel. Throughout the film this technique allows the viewer to relate with Nick, his victims and his customers. Every single character adds to the realism and the fact that the story is very believable by all accounts doesn't hurt either. We also get the pleasure of meeting some other colorful characters that relate to the story throughout Day Job. The scene with Nick and a coworker talking at the park provided some fucking hilarious comedic relief while also giving us some insight on the strange life of one of their customers. All I can say is period pasta looks like some damn fine cuisine!

Overall Day Job is an insanely realistic display of thought provoking depravity. After watching this you'll surely be more on edge next time you have to let a stranger into your home. I would have never guessed that this is Dave O'Shea's directorial debut. So much style and writing ability this early in the game makes his name one to watch for from here on out. Keep in mind the film is very low budget but the grimey look of it all does more help than harm. Day Job truly exceeds it's budget and I would HIGHLY recommend even those of you who aren't into low budget films to give it a watch. You won't regret it.