Kelly McNeely
Verified
🇨🇦Tea drinking, craft making, machete wielding screen junkie. Writer @iHorrorNews and more. Co-host @morguemurmurs & @blackfawndistro. Creepy Crafter 💀
Articles by Kelly McNeely
Exclusive Interview: Lulu Wilson and Director Jenn Wexler Talk ‘The Last Temptation of Becky’
Becky is back, and this time she is taking her particular brand of bloody revenge international. Lulu Wilson returns as the franchise’s Nazi-killing antihero in The Last Temptation of Becky, the third film in the action-horror series, with director Jenn Wexler (The Ranger, The Sacrifice Game) taking the reins and pulling Becky into the world of international espionage.
TIFF Review: ‘Color Out of Space’ Paints a Messy Picture
Original article published September 12, 2019 Director Richard Stanley returns to narrative filmmaking after more than 20 years with Color Out of Space, a hypnotic H.P. Lovecraft adaptation. Published in 1927, the story remains one of Lovecraft’s most popular works and is said to have been his favorite among his short stories. Stanley brings his love for Lovecraft to the film while adding his own personal flair to the tale, creating a unique and inventive experience.
Neasa Hardiman on ‘Sea Fever’, Inspiration, and Superstition
Original article published September 20, 2019 Sea Fever — which played at the Toronto International Film Festival as part of their Discovery program — is a captivating exploration of the horrific unknown of our natural world. Both beautiful and terrifying, think The Thing at sea; otherworldly entities and a seeping paranoia flow through Sea Fever in waves, knocking the film’s characters around as they try to keep their heads above water.
Interview: Benson & Moorhead on Designer Drugs, Time, and ‘Synchronic’
Originally posted September 24, 2019 Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead are two of the the most inventive and consistently impressive filmmakers working in the industry today. Like their previous films — Resolution, Spring, and The Endless — their latest film, Synchronic, has a creative blend of sci-fi elements and broader themes with a deep, human connection that emotionally grips the audience.
‘Synchronic’ is Inventive, Heartfelt Sci-Fi at its Finest
Originally posted Sept. 9th 2019 Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead are a talented filmmaking duo who have yet to disappoint. They burst onto the scene with Resolution in 2012, followed by Spring and fan-favorite The Endless. Their latest film, Synchronic, operates on a grand scale, unpacking themes of presence, family, and loss against the backdrop of a sci-fi thriller.
TIFF Review: ‘The Platform’ Takes it to a Whole Other Level
Originally published September 26, 2019 For Spanish director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia’s first feature film, he did not hold back. The Platform (El Hoyo) is a daring debut, melding political allegory and sci-fi drama with some serious bite. Beautifully paced, the film is told in three acts, each more revealing than the last. In The Platform, a man wakes up in a dystopian vertical prison with a stranger as a cellmate.
TIFF Interview: Orcun Behram on Political Allegory and ‘The Antenna’
Originally published September 28th, 2019 Turkish writer/director Orcun Behram has tackled his first feature film with The Antenna, a creeping political allegory with a good dose of horror. The Antenna takes place in a dystopian Turkey where the Government installs new networks throughout the country to monitor information.
The Heretics: Film Review and Cast Interview
(Originally Published March 26th 2017) Black Fawn Films are on a roll. The Canadian production company has made 8 feature films over the last 4 years. Their catalogue includes Antisocial & Antisocial 2, The Drownsman, The Sublet, Bite, Let Her Out,and Bed of the Dead. Their latest film, The Heretics, has perfected the multi-sub-genre model and delivers one hell of a fun time while doing it.
Celebrate Fairuza Balk's Birthday With Her Best Moments From The Craft
Netflix just gave us our first real look at Wednesday Season 2, and it’s packed with gothic goodness. A new behind-the-scenes featurette dropped, and if you thought things were weird before — buckle up, because it looks like we’re going even deeper into the Addams Family’s twisted little world. Jenna Ortega is back as Wednesday Addams, and this time around, the family’s playing a much bigger role.
Interview: ‘Founders Day’ Bloomquist Brothers on their New Social Slasher
Whether you’re a horror fan or not, attempting to summon demons or playing bizarre games to scare each other is something that most of us do as children (and some of us still do)! I think of the Ouija Board, trying to summon Bloody Mary, or in the 90s The Candyman. Many of these games may have come from long ago, while others are derived from the modern age. A new Shudder original is now available to watch on AMC+ and the Shudder app, Elevator Game (2023).
TADFF: ‘Founders Day’ is a Sly Cynical Slasher
The horror genre is inherently socio-political. For every zombie film there’s a theme of social unrest; with each monster or mayhem there’s an exploration of our cultural fears. Even the slasher subgenre isn’t immune, with meditations on gender politics, morality, and (quite often) sexuality. With Founders Day, brothers Erik and Carson Bloomquist take the political leanings of horror and make them far more literal.
Interview: ‘Hundreds of Beavers’ Will Make You Believers
The filmmaking duo of Cheslik and Tews have proven yet again that you don’t need a big budget to make magic. Whether they’re building slapstick gags or hiding the number of beavers that are actually in the film, Hundreds of Beavers will make you believe in their whimsical world. Hundreds of Beavers tells the epic tale of a persistent fur trapper who battles hundreds of beavers. Born as form of practicality when filming on a minuscule budget, the simple effects add a wealth of character to the film.
Review: ‘Hundreds of Beavers’ is Unlike Anything You’ve Ever Seen
Hundreds of Beavers is a deliriously silly genre feature unlike anything you’ve seen before and – likely – will ever see again. From the minds behind Lake Michigan Monster, this black-and-white dialogue-free film is goofy, bold, and completely bonkers in all the best ways. The film tells the story of a drunken applejack salesman who must go from zero to hero to become North America’s greatest fur trapper by defeating hundreds of beavers.
Black Fawn Films Start a Horror Feast with 'It Feeds'
Hailing from the great white (and often spooky) North, Black Fawn Films have consistently crafted some high quality genre entertainment. With titles including Bite, The Heretics, I’ll Take Your Dead, Vicious Fun, The Oak Room, and more, these crafty Canuks have cornered the market on effective indie horror. From a recent announcement, we can get ready to expect a whole lot more from the team. Productivity Media, Inc.
The Best and Worst Fathers in Horror History for Father's Day!
Horror is full of families—they’re personal, relatable, and vulnerable. They provide a great opportunity for things to go so horribly wrong, and with children in play, well, that just raises the stakes. We’ll often see the matriarch in a role of power (Poltergeist, Child’s Play) or problem (Run, Carrie), but dads in horror can be just as diversely dramatic. In honour of Father’s Day, let’s have a look at some of the good, the bad, and the…questionable fathers in horror.
‘Malum’: a Rookie, a Cult, and a Thrilling Last Shift
As horror fans, we’ve seen plenty of short film adaptations. They give the director and writer the chance to expand their creative vision, building lore and pressing budget restraints to bring their full intentions to a captive audience. But it’s not often that we see this same treatment done to an existing feature film. Malum presents director Anthony DiBlasi with that very golden opportunity, and a theatrical release to match.
Josh Ruben on 'A Wounded Fawn' and Playing the Punching Bag
You might remember wrestler Chris Jericho’s cameo as a hospital security guard in this year’s sleeper horror movie Terrifier 2. But next year it appears he will get a bigger role in the wrestling movie Dark Match. Deadline reports that the movie has already wrapped.
Author Jason Pargin on ‘John Dies at the End’ and Online Opportunity
A few months ago, I was looking for a new audiobook to dig into. Since re-entering the leaving-your-house workforce, audiobooks have helped me survive the daily commute. I wanted something that blended genres and fed my love of horror, fantasy, and gayness. As I combed through the thousands of Audible titles, I found a book called White Trash Warlock by David R. Slayton.
TADFF 2022 Review: ‘Something in the Dirt’ is Uniquely Benson & Moorhead
The fifth film from the dynamic filmmaking duo of Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, Something in the Dirt is a cosmic sci-fi puzzle buddy comedy – the kind of film that only Benson and Moorhead could pull off. In the film, new neighbors John (Moorhead) and Levi (Benson) witness supernatural events in their Los Angeles apartment building, and realize that documenting the paranormal could inject some fame and fortune into their wasted lives.
TADFF 2022 Review: ‘MexZombies’ Knows the Kids Are Alright
Along with writers Luis Gamboa and Santiago Limón, director Chava Cartas has crafted a celebration of youth, life, love, and film with the charming (if not awkwardly named) feature, MexZombies. In a world full of violent zombie apocalypse movies, this one’s for the teens. In a gated community in Mexico, Halloween festivities take an unexpected turn when the quiet suburb is overrun by the shambling undead.
TADFF 2022 Review: ‘Here For Blood’ Serves a Knockout Punch
If Hulk Hogan’s 1990s family-friendly action comedies have taught us anything, it’s that a burly wrestler is quite possibly the best qualified person to watch your kids. Daniel Turres’ Here For Blood confirms this lesson, but with a whole lot more blood. And cultists! It’s a great time. In Here For Blood, college student Phoebe (Joelle Farrow, Level 16) is encouraged to find a substitute for her regular babysitting gig so she has more time to prepare for an upcoming exam.
Creepy Cocktails: Drunken Attempts at Spooky Candy Architecture
It’s been announced that a new version of The Wicker Man is underway with Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish’s The Imaginarium behind the project. Back in 1973, a strange and unusual horror movie was released in theaters. It was called The Wicker Man and it has since become a cult favorite. Perhaps one of the first films to be deemed “folk horror,” this uneasy and paranoia-filled opus led audiences down a mysterious path that culminated in an effective twist(ed) ending.
Review: ‘My Best Friend’s Exorcism’ Puts Your Faith to Test
You think you love your best friend? You’d do anything for them, right? My Best Friend’s Exorcism puts that faith to the test. Set in 1988, the film – based on the spectacular book of the same name by author Grady Hendrix – follows two inseparable best friends as their friendship is put through hell. The end result is… perhaps more lighthearted than you’d expect.
Fantasia 2022 Review: ‘Deadstream’ Livestreams a Hectic Haunting
Written and directed by Vanessa and Joseph Winter, Deadstream is a real-time riot. With goopy practical effects, a bare-bones presentation, and a very intentionally acted lead (played by Joseph Winter), the film concocts a faux-livestream that turns from uneventful to unbelievable over the course of one night.
Fantasia 2022 Interview: ‘Skinamarink’ Director Kyle Edward Ball
Skinamarink is like a waking nightmare. A film that feels like it’s transported into your life as a cursed VHS tape, it teases the audience with sparse visuals, creepy whispers, and vintage visions that are delightfully unnerving. It’s an experimental horror film — not quite the straight narrative most viewers will be used to — but with the right environment (headphones in a dark room), you’ll be transported to a dreamscape drenched in atmosphere.
Fantasia 2022 Review: ‘Sissy’ and the Obsession with Online Validation
“I am loved, I am special, I am enough, I am doing my best. We all are”. This is the mantra of Cecilia (known as @SincerelyCecilia), a wellness influencer who preaches acceptance and self care. Trouble is, Cecilia (Aisha Dee), has some skeletons in her closet. In Sissy (written and directed by Hannah Barlow and Kane Senes), Cecilia runs into Emma (played by Barlow), her childhood best friend.
Fantasia 2022 Interview: ‘All Jacked Up and Full of Worms’ with Director Alex Phillips
Egg Harbor Township in New Jersey had a very special event held today in honor of the upcoming Spirit Halloween: The Movie. One of the flagship Spirit Halloween stores had a grand opening to reveal some of this year’s goodies plus a very special preview of the upcoming anticipated movie. The cast of the film even made an appearance as well. That’s right y’all Christopher Lloyd, Ratchel Leigh Cook and other stars of Spirit Halloween: The Movie showed up to support the upcoming film.
Fantasia 2022 Review: ‘Glorious’ and the Glory Hole Dwelling Demi-God
In Glorious, Wes (Ryan Kwanten, True Blood) is on the road with a carload of memories, fresh off of a bad breakup. Pausing at a small, remote rest stop, Wes drinks his pain away in a night of lonesome cries and fevered voicemails. Upon awakening – with a righteous hangover – Wes stumbles his way into the bathroom, leaving any sense of normalcy at the door. In that bathroom there is a glory hole, and in that glory hole there is… an ancient cosmic horror with daddy issues.
Fantasia 2022 Review: ‘Megalomaniac’ is a Weighted Tale of Trauma
Introducing a film’s troubled protagonists as the children of a real-life serial killer (The Butcher of Mons, whose identity still remains a mystery) is bold. Of course, as horror fans, we appreciate bold, and writer/director Karim Ouelhaj certainly deserves some appreciation. His most recent film, Megalomaniac, is a heavily weighted tale of trauma that’s beautifully composed and enriched with blood-soaked stylization.
Fantasia 2022 Interview: ‘Dark Nature’ Director Berkley Brady
The feature directorial debut from Métis filmmaker Berkley Brady, Dark Nature is an anxiety-inducing horror-thriller set and filmed in the vast Canadian Rockies almost entirely with practical FX and real stunts. The film follows Joy (Hannah Anderson, What Keeps You Alive), a survivor of domestic abuse, and her friend Carmen (Madison Walsh, Don’t Say Its Name) as they venture out to the Canadian Rocky Mountains on a weekend retreat with their therapy group.
Creepy Cocktails: Drunk in 30 Minutes with Black Fawn Distribution
The Creepy Crafter is here once again to get you seasonably sloshed with a new set of horror-themed drinks! But this time, she’s got a special guest to help tackle 12+ ounces of boozy terror. Kelly is joined by Benner from Black Fawn Distribution to discuss a few of their films and some behind-the-scenes secrets, while they gradually get a liiiiittle off-topic. It’s time for iHorror’s first intoxicated interview! The rules are simple: make the drink, and finish the whole thing.
Ed Gein: How the Notorious Psychopath Inspired Some of Horror's Greatest Villains
Ed Gein, born August 27, 1906, is perhaps one of the most notoriously deranged maniacs in American history. While we all recognize the household names of Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, and John Wayne Gacy Jr., their legacies have a shorter reach. Gein’s crimes were so horrific that they went on to inspire some of the most recognizable villains in pop culture.
Interview: Marcus Dunstan on ‘Unhuman’, Zombie Bullies, and ‘The Collected’
You may not know the name Marcus Dunstan, but if you’re a horror fan, you surely know his work. Dunstan – along with his writing partner, Patrick Melton – is responsible for Feast, Saw IV through VI, The Collector, The Collection, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and Piranha 3DD. Dunstan’s newest feature – a collaboration with Blumhouse Television and EPIX – is Unhuman, a teen scream afterschool special with plenty of heart and a lot of guts.
Review: ‘Unhuman’, A Blumhouse After School Special
As the newest film in an eight-picture tv-movie partnership between EPIX and Blumhouse Television, Unhuman proudly opens with a title card claiming it a “Blumhouse Afterschool Special”. The film proudly leans in to this special descriptor, tossing in a teen morality tale that makes Unhuman more than just your typical zombie fare. Unhuman follows a group of students on a high school field trip gone horrifically awry.
'Torn Hearts' Croons a Country Music Horror Story
Set deep in the music scene of Nashville, Torn Hearts asks the age-old question; how far would you go to achieve your dreams? Produced by Blumhouse and Epix, written by Rachel Koller Croft, and directed by Brea Grant, Torn Hearts follows an ambitious country music duo – Jordan (Abby Quinn) and Leigh (Alexxis Lemire) – striving to get their big break. When opportunity knocks, they shoot their shot by seeking out the private mansion of their idol, country music legend Harper Dutch (Katey Sagal).
'Torn Hearts' Director Brea Grant on Fist Fights and Southern Hospitality
Brea Grant’s enthusiasm is infectious. She has such a love for the genre and a passion for filmmaking, all shared with a bright and encouraging positivity. Whether she’s involved as an actress, writer, or director, it’s always exciting to see her name attached to a project. She has a keen eye for a great film, so you know you’re in good hands. Following 12 Hour Shift – now streaming on Shudder – she’s teamed up with Blumhouse and EPIX to tell another Southern tale.
Apocalypse' Director Kiah Roache-Turner
Back in 2014, Australia’s Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead was a bold entry into the zombie lore. It delivers a high-octane burst of violence, gore, and gears, with methane-breathing zombies that fuel a unique vision for the zombie apocalypse. The film’s recent sequel, Wyrmwood: Apocalypse, charges forward with a continuing story, some fresh new faces, and a whole lot of carnage.
Horror Wordle
It’s always great to see Winona Ryder in anything. She is magical in her own very special way. That’s why seeing her pop up in an indie horror film is …
'You Are Not My Mother' Writer/Director Kate Dolan
Kate Dolan’s feature film debut You Are Not My Mother is a compelling take on the changeling folklore. The film shifts the legend’s typical focus from a paranoid parent to a concerned child, whose fear of her ever-changing mother grows day by day. Powered by strong performances from a talented cast and stark images that paint a bleak and dreary picture, the film stood out as one of my personal favorites from 2021’s Toronto International Film Festival (read my full review here).
'Wild Bitch': Kate Nash and Rebekka Johnson Get Wild in New Horror Short at SXSW
Wild Bitch is a quirky new horror short born of a collaboration between former Glow co-stars Kate Nash and Rebekka Johnson. In addition to writing, directing and starring in this cheeky thriller together, Nash – who has made a name for herself as a UK singing sensation – also composed all of the music. The short premiered as part of SXSW’s Midnight Shorts Competition on March 13.
‘Fresh’ Review: The Danger of All-Consuming Love
The whole experience of dating is exciting, fresh, and yet somehow the absolute worst. You spend a depressing amount of time swiping past different versions of the same stock pics (pose with a fish! Pose with a car! Pose with all of your friends so we know you’re social and cool! Now show those abs in the mirror!). You have the same cyclical question-and-answer sessions, over and over, to the point that you can’t remember what stories you’ve shared.
Horror Movie Pets Worthy of the Pet Sematary
Since this February is Responsible Pet Owners Month, we thought we’d take a look at some pretty impressive beasts who have gone the extra mile to protect their masters out of gratitude. But since nothing lives forever, we thought we’d visit the afterworld’s most infamous resting place.
5 Snowy Horror Films with Sinister Intent
We’ve been hit with a massive winter storm up in the north, with a wave of snow that’s kept many of us stuck inside. What a perfect time to bundle up, throw on a scary movie, and try to forget the nightmare of shoveling all that snow! Of course, despite the hellish snowscape, at least we have the creature comforts of knowing that we’re safe at home, not stuck in the cold with something hunting us down.
Kelly McNeely's Picks
Hahaha, 2021, amiright? I mean, this was – generally speaking – an improvement on 2020, but still. And since the world basically shut down in 2020, many of the films released this year were made in 2019 or 2020 but didn’t see distribution until 2021, which makes the whole “best of the year” thing a bit muddy, admittedly. But hey! I’m gonna do it regardless. Because I care, and I want to share some stuff with you. So, here is a list of 10 of my personal favorite horror films from 2021.
'The Beta Test' with Jim Cummings & PJ McCabe
Starring Jim Cummings and PJ McCabe, The Beta Test follows an engaged Hollywood agent who receives a mysterious letter for an anonymous sexual encounter and becomes ensnared in a sinister world of lying, infidelity, and digital data. It’s a dark, direct, and unsuspectingly funny film with a sharp edge. If you’re familiar with Cummings’ previous films, The Wolf of Snow Hollow and Thunder Road, you’ll recognize the tonal dance of comedy and discomfort.
Adam Ethan Crow on 'Lair' and the Teamwork Behind the Terror
Adam Ethan Crow’s feature film directorial debut is a real passion project. Not just for him, but for the collective of actors and crew that pulled together to make Lair happen. The film looks and feels far higher in quality than its micro-budget should allow, but it’s because so many talented artists came together to put their heart and souls into the project to make it come to fruition.
Energy Drink Roundup Volume 2: Will One Reign Supreme?
Back in October 2020, aka forever ago (it feels like it, anyways), I did a quick li’l roundup of energy drinks to fuel your body and mind. Well saddle up, kiddos, because I’m coming atcha with round 2. If you’re a normal human person who feels like they need caffeine to function, it can seem like there are a ton of options on the market. And there are! Whether you’re buying from your local convenience store or placing a specific order online, there are a bevvy of bevvies for the choosing.
First Look and Trailer for 'Peppergrass', a Truffle Hunting Thriller
Black Fawn Distribution is thrilled to announce the acquisition of Peppergrass following the film’s recent world premiere at Nightmares Film Festival in Columbus, Ohio. The film is slated for release in early 2022 with Black Fawn Distribution handling Canadian distribution rights. A new trailer, poster (designed by Geneva Haley), and a selection of stills have just been released as the first full look at the suspenseful thriller.
Director Frida Kempff on 'Knocking'
Directed by Frida Kempff, Knocking is a claustrophobic Swedish horror-thriller that drowns itself in colorful, dark tones. Based on the short story, Knocks, the film preys on paranoia and makes its audience feel lonely, concerned, and not quite sure what to expect next.
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with Kelly
Contact Kelly, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack