'The Deaths of Ian Stone' (2007) – Dario Piana.

This compelling admixture of Groundhog Day and Hellraiser finds that the increasing unstable life, and frequent deaths of Hallmark handsome Mike Vogel is disturbingly due to the predatory nature of Harvesters, fearsome, fear-feasting demons. This novel attempt at a horror upgrade proves mostly successful, the attractive young cast, delirious plot, and Stan Winston's exemplary creature design prove engaging. The giddy first act is genuinely intriguing, the hugely beleaguered Stone's grimly existential plight hooked me from the very get-go, and I relished all the bloody, whizz-bang Harvester vs human interludes! As always, Michael Feast's acting contribution proved exemplary, sexy PVC-clad demons always rock, and Piana's darkly demon-seeded shocker's upbeat conclusion felt altogether righteous. Horror protagonists are frequently little better than silicon-pumped cannon-fodder, but the dire jeopardy of Stone's delightfully angelic paramour (Christina Cole) manifestly held my interest. I give The Deaths of Ian Stone additional kudos since it isn't a remake, doesn't rely solely on asinine jump-scares, and, thankfully, it has absolutely nothing to do with Eli Roth.

 Superpilot : Into the Sun (1991) – Fritz Kiersch.

80s VHS hero Michael Pare is ace fighter pilot Watkins, and former Brat-packer Anthony Michael Hall plays arrogant film star Tom Slade in largely forgotten 90s actioner Superpilot: Into The Sun. Fleet of fists, and fleeter of joystick, the querulous shenanigans of a Gung ho Military jock vs entitled Hollywood star provides much of the dramatic grist for this amenable sky-bound shoot 'em up. I think its fair to say that enjoyment of Superpilot is largely predicated upon viewers pronounced appreciation of broad Buddy Buddy shtick, hot-blooded Go-America aeronautical acrobatics, and leads Pare and Hall. It's mostly entertaining, but I'm not adverse to standard DTV fare, and I remain an unapologetic super-fan of handsome gravel-voiced grump Pare. The cast is decent, featuring some familiar faces, and if you can't quite cope with yet another repeat of Iron Eagle on the ol' telly box, Superpilot might just ignite your afterburners, falls a mite short of mach 10, but arguably a good 6 in a high wind! Terry Kiser's barnstorming performance as Slade's gonzo agent provides a lively comedic element, and I'm quite sure many of us can benefit from the fighter pilot credo of 'When in doubt, whip it out!'

 Titane (2021) - Julia Ducournau.

This exhilarating, perversely polymorphic, brutally executed Ballardian Body horror, and its tantalisingly tormented, vividly imagined protagonist Alexia/Adrien (Agathe Rousselle) exudes a uniquely sinister exoticism! Often cruel, and strikingly strange, I found Titane to be an unexpectedly erotic experience, frequently imagining Alexis making mad love with the very same intensity that she so gorily dispatched her unsuspecting victims! More mythical beast of ancient lore than prosaic serial killer, her detached, alien demeanour powerfully suggestive of a devastatingly duplicitous Kelpie, or a quite literally steel thewed Siren. Beyond good and evil, repulsed by oily dipsticks, misanthropic mecha-matriarch Alexia is drawn magnetically to sleekly metallic body work, relishing the pounding proximity of throbbingly virile V8's, a delicious torment, wherein violent sexual congress, and sanguineous death-throes are exquisitely conjoined. It feels like a maternity since I last enjoyed a turbocharged, titanically twisted terror trip like Julia Ducournau's Science-friction'd phantasmagoria Titane!

 Storm Catcher (1999) – Anthony Hickox.

Highly decorated, true blue pilot Jack Holloway(Dolph Lundgren) is framed for the theft of a stealth aircraft by a covert paramilitary cell, he must not only prove his innocence, but rescue his family from these traitorous, kill happy terrorists. Dolph is especially adept at playing steely military types like Major Jack Holloway, one of the more credible action heroes, due to his towering height, ruggedly handsome features, charisma, and legit combat skills. To put it kindly, the plot/text is 'cosily familiar', but, excitingly, Tony 'Waxworks' Hickox keeps the pace lively, delivering explosive action that is plentiful and quite bloody. Fans of mighty Dolph, PM entertainment, Isaac Florentine flicks, and bullet-shredded DTV mayhem are unlikely to be disappointed by slick, high flying shoot 'em up Storm Catcher. While I prefer Mr. Lundgren when he is morally ambivalent (The Punisher), or outright bonkers (Universal Soldier), his apple pie good guys have a solidly believable, John Wayne heft that I also can appreciate.

 Ghoulies IV (1993) – Jim Wynorski.

I wouldn't know how popular Ghoulies IV remains, but watching it again after a prolonged hiatus, I can honestly say that it greatly exceeded my modest expectations. While Voorhees and Myers got it together on their part 4's, as a general rule, any franchise is mostly on its ass by 3, just ask Coppola, if I tell a lie. Put bluntly, Ghoulies IV is a delightfully daft comedy schlock-fest, that is certainly clever enough to know it! Dime store tough cop (Peter Liapis), and his feisty femme fatal captain (Barbara Alyn Woods) become evilly enmeshed in a buxom demonologist's (Stacie Randall) dastardly occult plot to steal the detective's life force. It's all monstrously silly, but amicably so, not unlike Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers, the playful performances, slinky peek-a-boo outfits, and snappy backchat make Ghoulies IV an eminently likeable B-movie. Ghoulies IV being INTENTIONALLY funny caught me wholly unawares, it was an unexpected treat laughing with a film with persistently prat-falling trolls than merely laughing at it.

 The Supergang aka Fan wan di(1984) – Siu Jun Wong.

Alan's (Bruce Le) elder brother is killed in his absence, and upon his return, this fleet-fisted fury grimly vows vengeance! Discovering the perpetrators of this fell deed excitingly engenders a violently duplicitous gangland war, and only the deadliest master of martial arts mayhem shall prevail! Furiously fight-packed, and generously goofy, The Supergang is dazzlingly replete with all the head-spinning lunacy one expects from blissfully bonkers Brucesploitation. A must for seasoned Gordon Ho/Joseph Lai addicts, with the burly presence of charismatic Kung Fu killer Bolo making it nigh on essential for all! For me, The Supergang is a genius-level Chop Schlocky spectacular, having a brilliantly bizarre slasher trope digression, an exhilaratingly high quotient of nookie, and so blessed with invigoratingly psychotronic pizazz, I'm massively surprised that AGFA haven't already bagged this warped wonder! On an entirely subjective note, the oft repeated usage of Jay Chattaway's iconic 'Maniac' theme provided an entirely joyous distraction!

 Dracula 2001 (2000) – Patrick Lussier.

High tech, if patently lowbrow thieves foolhardily steal a heavily secured coffin in Van Helsing's tricked-out vault, with agreeably sexy, luridly bloodthirsty results. This stylised revamp of the Stoker mythos Hammers home it's noisome MTVeeeeee!!!! origins, energetically proving that occasionally glossy style and plentiful bloody substances make for a bloody tasty horror cocktail. A plasma rich B Positive bloodsucker, with a cultured Van Helsing (Christopher Plummer), a horny, Hallmark hunky Drac (Gerard Butler), a frustratingly pallid heroine(Justine Waddell), and a gorgeously gore-guzzling Jennifer Esposito slinkily sinking her fangs into those fatally beguiled by her sinisterly sultry spell! I still really dig Lussier's lively Dracula 2001, but I would have greatly preferred 'Countess Dracula 2001', as the exquisitely evil Esposito made for a dazzlingly beautiful, deliciously vicious vampire queen! I'm not disparaging Butler, he had a credibly broody Byronic hustle, but Esposito was just tomb much wicked woman to ignore!!!!!!