Nearing Death (Menjelang Ajal)
Read Time: 3 minutesA so-so Indonesian horror with good effects, there are flaws but it has its merits as well. Indonesian horror continues to strive for greatness in this blood-soaked genre.
ubasjuice.com
Honest review of films and games
ubasjuice.com
Honest review of films and games
Category Film Reviews
Starry Eyes
Read Time: 3 minutesStarry Eyes is one of the best representation of cult horror. Starry Eyes stands out with its use of practical effects and doesn't shy away from showing a bit of blo0dy gore and some nudity, all of which was done tastefully. Highly recommended.
Case 39
Read Time: 3 minutesCase 39 is a decent, low-key demon flick, much like Eli (2019). The characters delivered great performances, and it was a pleasure to see Bradley Cooper and Ian McShane. The death scenes were great, I wasn't expecting it to be that good. Highly recommended.
Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital
Read Time: 4 minutesFrom the screenshots of "Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital" alone, I know I'd be in for a Class-A remake of Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (You should watch this instead). The story was okay; Jane De Leon's acting was superb. Its a good nighttime watch with friends, poor CGI though, and predictable jump scares.
Seklusyon
Read Time: 3 minutesHonestly, Seklusyon far exceeded my expectations. I'm not too big of a fan of modern day Filipino horror films, but Seklusyon was able to stand out, despite having a storyline that most horror fans are aware of. It was a nice watch and its up on Netflix right now.
Terrifier
Read Time: 3 minutesThere weren't much jump scares actually, just the thought of an impending doom and how Art will do it. Like I said before, it's a straight up gore fest of a film. Normally I wouldn't be impressed as much if there weren't any backstory to the character, or even a motive, just something to base everything on, but this one really had me going and it was one hell of a ride. Can't wait to start watching Terrifier 2.
Aftershock
Read Time: 3 minutesIf you're looking for something to kill time and want something in the lines of horror/action/adventure, then you've found it! I wouldn't categorize it as a film more of like a survival flick. To be honest, it was disappointing, specially coming off of watching Eli Roth's The Green Inferno, I was expecting more or of the same caliber. I'd watch The Day After Tomorrow (2004) or 2012 (2009) any day over this hot mess.
The Ugly Stepsister (Den stygge stesøsteren)
Read Time: 3 minutesThe Ugly Stepsister is a great way to kick start body horror in 2025. The reimagining of the story was interesting. Everything was in place and well thought out. Definitely not for kids and strictly rated-R. Should you watch it? Of course! I highly recommend it.
Clown in a Cornfield
Read Time: 3 minutesIts a meh kind of a campy horror flick. I honestly expected more of a marriage between Jason Voorhees and Art the Clown, that could've been awesome. Instead, we got a mediocre teenage slasher clown horror coupled with some irrelevant elements.
Bring Her Back
Read Time: 3 minutesThe Philippou brothers made the world know that "Talk to Me" wasn't a fluke. Music and Cinematography were on point as well and added that deathly dread that fits like a glove with the tone of the film. Because of the success "Bring Her Back" had, anything coming from them would be under my radar. Definitely on my top 10 for 2025 horror films.
A Quiet Place: Day One
Read Time: 4 minutesDay One is a great addition to the "A Quiet Place" franchise. It gave us a more detailed (yet we're still in the dark) insight on where those creatures came from and how the world acted when they first came here. The pacing was a little bit messed up though, but it was still a nice watch.
Maleficent
Read Time: 3 minutesAnyone who grew up watching "Sleeping Beauty" would definitely be interested in a story about Maleficent. It was well-paced, different storyline but they were able to retain that Disney magic. A very good watch for kids and kids at heart.
Smile 2
Read Time: 3 minutesFor modern horror, Smile 2 was a cut above the rest. While the first "Smile" didn't get a better reception, it was great to see that people gave the sequel a chance and it received great reviews. Practical effects was represented very well here and I'm all for it. Highly recommended.
Three Extremes
Read Time: 4 minutesThree Extremes is a highly recommended horror anthology, we never see any of these things being made today, at least not at this caliber. It is so much worth your time because it will give you an idea of what these three known Asian directors would bring to the table. It may also open up your options in watching horror films.
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Read Time: 3 minutesThis remake was okay., I guess the two main selling points of it was it was a remake of a classic hit (95% on Rotten Tomato), and they got Keanu Reeves to play the part of the alien. Aside from that, the only that gives this one the edge over the classic was the design of Gort (I love giant creatures). Its a good sci-fi movie to watch with popcorns and drinks, but not something you'd talk about afterwards.
Heaven Is for Real
Read Time: 3 minutesEven if you're not a Christian, a religious person, or a consistent church-goer (I'm neither of all these), I still urge you to watch Heaven Is for Real. Its definitely not a 10/10, but its worth a one-time watch. Don't worry, it's not as preachy as it sounds and didn't feel like a Christian propaganda movie either.
Frontier(s)
Read Time: 3 minutesNew French Extremity needs a revival. Unfortunately, at this day and age, with all these sensitivity going about. I doubt we will ever see a movie of this caliber.
May the Devil Take You
Read Time: 3 minutesMeh, its a good horror flick to watch but not something I'd make time for. Its an Indonesian re-imagining of Evil Dead coupled with the usual character tropes making annoying decisions leading to annoying results.
The Medium
Read Time: 3 minutesThe Medium begins as a captivating yet slow-burning thriller that eventually transitions into recycled scares and an incredibly underwhelming finish. If you've watched horror films centred around spiritual possession, then you have a good idea of what to expect.
Ratatouille
Read Time: 4 minutesRatatouille is highly recommended for families, and a fun watch for the chefs out there, professional or home cook. Regardless of your level of knowledge, always remember, Anyone Can Cook.