Nightmares Film Fest 2024 Review Round-Up Part 3

Ginger Nuts of Horror is thrilled to be heading to the Nightmares Film Fest 2024, to provide our readers with early access coverage and reviews of the most spine-chilling and thought-provoking horror movies on display. As we embark on this terrifying journey, we aim to delve into the depths of the festival’s lineup and unearth the most thrilling and bone-chilling cinematic experiences. Join us as we venture into the world of Nightmares Film Festival to uncover the next wave of horror cinema that will leave audiences trembling in fear and delight. Check out our reviews of The Matriarch, Carved, Decibel and For Sale By Exorcist

Nightmares Film Fest 2024 Review Round-Up Part 3

The Matriarch

The Matriarch is written and directed by Jayden Creighton (Trespassers, Kinks, The Clean Up Crew) and is photographed by Matthew Martin (Dawn of the Dolphins.) Official Selection | Montreal Independent Film Festival (2024) Official Selection | Los Angeles Horror Film Festival (2024)

A Horror Movie Review by Brooklyn Ewing

Have you ever found yourself gripping the edge of your seat while watching a movie? Well, Jayden Creighton’s The Matriarch had me holding on for dear life.

The film kicks off when 13 year old Missy Taylor, (Juliette Greenfield) kills her mother’s nasty boyfriend in self defense, and is subsequently terrorized by her very own mother all night long. This horror thriller offers up some incredible cat and mouse moments that had me yelling at the screen.

Fans of The Evil Dead, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Shining will love spotting Creighton’s horror homages. I found myself excitedly watching for more influences as the film progressed. If you love the tension in movies like Hush or Don’t Breathe, then you will absolutely fall in love with The Matriarch.

Creighton created a mother we don’t want to love, and it was a blast rooting for Missy as she does everything in her power to survive the night. Newcomer Greenfield knocks it out of the park. Taking on such strong material and really going for it is hard for any actor, and she nailed it.

Kate Logan tackles her character Annette, the mother, like a monster. If you love the jacked-up delivery of Bruce Campbell and Jack Nicholson, then get ready to see Logan take it there. She’s a true talent who isn’t afraid to push this movie into the absurd and terrifying. It’s fun to watch her work.

The Matriarch features a killer score that reminded me of classics like The Evil Dead, and a lot of 90s and early 2000s horror. It moves the already quick paced flick to full fledged heart attack mode. This would be a really fun movie to watch in the dark with a group of friends who scream during great jump scares.

If you have Mommy issues, or just love a great game of hide and seek on the big screen, then The Matriarch is a do not miss.

Carved

A boy’s ugly pumpkin choice results in an unusual jack-o’-lantern.

Director: Justin Harding

A Horror Movie Review by Brooklyn Ewing

Each Halloween season, horror fans go looking for new seasonal movies. This year, director Justin Harding (Making Monsters)brings his fun, spooky splatter-fest, Carved to Nightmares Film Festival and Hulu’s Huluween.

A group of survivors — including comedy favorites DJ Qualls and Chris Elliott — find themselves trapped in a historical reenactment village on Halloween. There they must unite to battle an evil and vengeful pumpkin.

This is not your typical killer food movie. Carved delivers inspired kills that almost made me root for the pumpkin. The special fx are a blast and the cinematography is gorgeous. They make this one a do not miss addition to your yearly 31 Day of Halloween watchlist.

The standout in the cast is newcomer Peyton Elizabeth Lee. I loved the rocky relationship between Lee and Corey Fogelmanis. Lee brings the Halloween final girl baddie to the forefront again, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

Some of my favorite scenes featured Stranger Things alum Matty Cardarople as a corn truck employee.  And Carved rounds out the fun ensemble with a comedy heavy hitter from the 2000s. DJ Qualls plays the perfect uptight jerk, and has some of the most memorable one liners. He brings the polish and snark to the screen and I couldn’t help but love his character.

If you love killer food movies, autumn ambiance, creative kills, and a delightfully talented cast, then add Carved to your Spooky Season watchlist.

Decibel

When a struggling singer-songwriter gets the opportunity of a lifetime to work with a tech-obsessed music producer, her art and life are put in peril as she is forced to help create the perfect AI music algorithm.

Director, Zac Locke

A Horror Movie Review by Daniel Baldwin

At what point does an artist lose themselves in technology? Sure, tech is now an important part of art. It can help achieve quicker completion of a project. It can also add layers of depth and resonance to it that would not have been possible a decade earlier. But at what point can one’s art actually be undermined by technological advancements? It’s a conversation at the forefront of all forms of art these days, especially in the wake of A.I. It is also one of the questions that lie at the core of Decibel.

The film centers on a young, talented musician named Scout (Aleyse Shannon) who plies her trade in local bars. The crowds that she performs for might be small, but her musical freedom in those spaces is immense. There’s not much money to be had in small gigs, however, so she’s on the verge of becoming a starving artist. Perhaps even a homeless one too. Enter tech mogul turned music producer Donna (Stefanie Estes). A rising, powerful name in the industry, Donna offers Scout a chance to record her music at a state-of-the-art studio in the desert, away from all of the distractions of life.

Scout – apprehensive about losing some control over her art, but also needing some money and a big break – accepts the offer. After all, who can pass up such a chance of a lifetime? Being a thriller, you can see where this is going. And you would be correct. It’s a tale as old as time: if any offer sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

With his third feature, director Zac Locke ups the ante. From a technical perspective, this is his most accomplished work to date. From a narrative perspective, while he did not write this particular film, you can still see thematic continuations of his previous works.

Locke has managed to combine the notion of “fame comes with a cost” (#Float) and “don’t ignore your instincts when things feel wrong” (Santa Isn’t Real) into an intriguing cautionary tale on the dangers of allowing your art to be overtaken by others and weaponized against you. Add in two great lead performances and some striking visuals and you have what is his best film to date. Decibel is worth tuning into and Locke remains a filmmaker to keep an eye on.

For Sale By Exorcist

After a decade of flipping haunted houses across the country, resourceful realtor and certified exorcist Susan Price is on the hunt for her own forever home. When the displaced spirits she’s evicted through the years come back to torment her, Susan must banish the dark forces before her forever home becomes her final resting place.

Director, Melissa LaMartina

A Horror Movie Review by George Wolf

In today’s super-competitive housing market, are you really going to let a few evil spirits stand between you and your dream house?

In the enchanting mockumentary For Sale By Exorcist, resourceful realtor Susan Price is likely to answer “No way, Jose!,” with a big smile and maybe even a “Bless your heart!”

Susan (Emily Classen) also happens to be a certified exorcist. After a decade of flipping haunted houses coast to coast, she realizes the irony of not having a home a call her own. But just when Susan is looking to put down some roots, the displaced spirits she’s sent packing through the years come back to torment her.

“I don’t want some boo-hag lookin’ at me when I’m down here doing my yoga!”

First-time feature director Melissa LaMartina digs into the silly charm of the premise with a confident and strategic touch. She employs plenty of quick cuts, reaction shots and non sequiturs to keep the pace lively and craft a “The Office” or “Parks and Recreation” – styled expose.

Classen is an engaging and energetic presence, while screenwriters Chris LaMartina and Rob Walker keep the goofs and gags coming, including a well-dropped aside about searching for a good BLT sandwich that eventually gets its other shoe.

Both the horror and the comedy here are on the lighter side, but For Sale By Exorcist is heavy on love for each genre, and built with some seriously fun bones. It’s a delight.

Check Out Parts 1 and 2 of our coverage of Nightmares Film Fest 2024 below.