Weapons

August 10, 2025 ~ creepycutiereviews ~ Leave a comment

Weapons (2025, 128 minutes. Rated R.) Written and directed by Zach Cregger.

Weapons’ narrator (Scarlett Sher) opens the film as a delicious urban legend, confiding that the events of this story are true but so embarrassing that they’ve been covered up. With this ‘inside scoop’ setting the tone, Weapons then digs deep into the uncomfortable, juicy, and frightening moments following a mass disappearance. “This is where the story really starts,” our narrator explains conspiratorially.

Cregger skillfully builds tension (especially interpersonal tension) so I was on the edge of my seat for the entire film. Weapons really gets the audience squirming, and it’s a fun movie to watch with a group. The screening I attended was full of audible audience responses (including mine) ranging from gasps and groans to laughter. Cregger reminds the audience that horror and comedy are two sides of the same coin and a good storyteller can utilize both when spinning their yarn.

Weapons is a wild, absurd, and worthwhile emotional roller coaster.

Rating: creepy
Recommended If You Like: ensemble cast movies, mysteries, Parasite, Barbarian, Bring Her Back

Huesera: The Bone Woman

June 14, 2025June 14, 2025 ~ creepycutiereviews ~ Leave a comment

Huesera: The Bone Woman (2022, 93 minutes. Rated TV-MA.) Directed by Michelle Garza Cervera. Written by Michelle Garza Cervera and Abia Castillo.

“Come see this. You’ve got the spider. It’s a weaver. This one is a mother, but also a predator. She had you wrapped tightly in her cobweb. Look. Here you can see a house, but it’s also a prison. “

Valeria lives an aspirational life: she has a beautiful apartment with her partner, she is a talented woodworker, and she’s expecting her first child. The beautiful, dreamlike quality of the filming echoes the gentle lifestyle that Valeria has carved out for herself.

But as her pregnancy goes on, the viewer sees Valeria’s mental health deteriorate and the dreamy filming becomes nightmarish. She is exhausted, alternatingly plagued by sleeplessness and horrifying visions. Her sanity dislocates under the weight and expectations of becoming a mother. Even her own mother, attempting to comfort her, offers a reminder of the isolation inherent in her new role.

“What’s happening to you is quite normal. When you become a mother, you feel like you are split in two. And wait for labor time! You literally feel like your bones are breaking. Of course you’re scared, honey. I was terrified for a long time too. The thing is, you don’t go around telling everyone. But it’s worth it.”

As the viewer gets glimpses into Valeria’s teenage years, we see the past and the present crash into each other despite Valeria’s efforts. In one scene, we watch a teenage Valeria run from the cops, the entire group of friends joyfully shouting, “I don’t like domestication!’” When we return to the present we see Valeria sitting in the nursery, all alone.

Huesera is a difficult film to watch, but it raises valuable questions about compulsory heterosexuality and natalism. And Natalia Solián plays Valeria with such tenderness that I was on her side from start to finish, even when things were going sideways.

Rating: Creepy
Recommended If You Like: devastating dramas, maternal horror, queer horror, The Burdened

Ghost Roast

June 11, 2025 ~ creepycutiereviews ~ Leave a comment

Ghost Roast. (2024, 224 pages.) Written by Shawnelle Gibbs and Shawneé Gibbs. Illustrations by Emily Cannon. Color by Aishwarya Tandon.

Chelsea cares a lot about what people at school think about her. So when she gets grounded and part of her punishment is helping out at her dad’s embarrassing paranormal removal service, it feels like her entire summer vacation has been ruined. But being resistant to the family business doesn’t prevent her from being able to see the spirits, and she gets sucked in regardless. I won’t say more because it’s a short read and I don’t want to spoil the story… but just know that Ghost Roast blends history and a contemporary teen story in an enjoyable way. Plus, the art is cute and it’s set during summer break, so it’s a good one to read now.

Rating: creepy-cute
Recommended if you like: comics, teen stories, paranomal investigation, New Orleans, historical fiction

Sinners

April 19, 2025April 21, 2025 ~ creepycutiereviews ~ Leave a comment

Sinners. (2025, 137 minutes. Rated R.) Written and directed by Ryan Coogler.

Sinners is set in 1932 Mississippi and follows two twin brothers (both played by Michael B. Jordan) who return to their hometown to start a juke joint. They spare no cost preparing for the perfect opening night, but it’s not just old friends and neighbors who are attracted to the venue. Their star musician (played by Miles Caton in his movie debut) has such a gift for the guitar that it attracts supernatural attention.

Although Sinners is admittedly gory, it is a movie that welcomes people who don’t usually like scary movies to tuck into a vampire story. There’s something for everyone. Fans of Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan will enjoy their continued team-up. Drama fans will enjoy the time devoted to character connections. Period piece fans will appreciate the attention to historical details (and a cameo by blues musician Buddy Guy). And everyone will enjoy the incredible soundtrack that drives the film from beginning to end. Oh, the music!

The film is beautifully shot and the actors are all perfectly styled, but to me the most beautiful component of the film is the music. Harmonica, guitar, vocals, and piano all feature. My favorite scene in the film is a musical number and, though I can’t describe it because I want to avoid spoiling it, you’ll know exactly which one it is when you see the film for yourself. And when you do see Sinners, know that it will be best enjoyed with a group.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a soundtrack to stream! Until next time.

Rating: creepy
Recommended if you like: Ryan Coogler, Michael B. Jordan, Wunmi Mosaku, blues music, vampires, the 1930s, action movies, slashers, movies where an actor plays more than one part

Abigail

April 14, 2025April 14, 2025 ~ creepycutiereviews ~ Leave a comment

Abigail (2024, 109 minutes. Rated R.) Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olphin and Tyler Gillett. Written by Stephen Shields and Guy Busick.

Abigail is about a team of kidnappers who are in for a nasty surprise when they realize the kid they’ve abducted is a vampire. And they have to survive 24 hours with her if they want that ransom money (and their lives).

As you can see from the trailer, the film is absolutely absurd. It’s also a gem. If you have the stomach to handle a splatterfest, this movie is well worth it. The performances, the set, the fight choreography, the writing– it’s all there. I went into this movie thinking it might be “so bad it’s good” but Abigail is honestly, genuinely fun. It also has moments of surprising tenderness, thanks to Melissa Barrera’s character “Joey.” Highly recommend.

Rating: creepy
Recommended if you like: action movies, ensemble casts, ballet, slashers, dark humor, Ready or Not

Talk to Me

April 7, 2025June 3, 2025 ~ creepycutiereviews ~ Leave a comment

Talk to Me (2022, 95 minutes. Rated R.) Directed by Danny and Michael Philippou. Written by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman.

‘I’m very late to the party, so please pardon my tardiness: I’ve only just now had the chance to see Talk to Me. It’s one of my favorites I’ve watched as I catch up from my hiatus.

You’ll likely enjoy this movie if you’re a fan of the horror as a metaphor for grief and trauma subgenre (such as The Babadook, Hereditary, Midsommar, etc). It also works well for the urban legends and cursed items crew, as well as the teen horror crowd. And, excitingly, Talk to Me is genuinely one of the scariest movies I’ve seen in recent years.

There are a lot of technical elements working in this film’s favor, and if you don’t mind heavy spoilers (!!!) you can click this link to watch a beautiful video essay by Spikima Movies that explains why the film is visually and sonically successful. But if you’re a reader of this blog, you’ll know my favorite elements in horror are the human ones. So, for me anyway, I think the film works primarily because I believed in the characters. The dialogue feels refreshingly real. And I adored the performances by the entire cast– especially the lead performance by Sophie Wilde, who blew me away.

Did you see Talk to Me before I did? (Maybe even in theaters in 2023?) What were your thoughts?

Rating: scary
Recommended if you like: teen stories, possession horror, family drama

Creepy Cutie’s Favorite Scary Movie(s) of 2024

December 26, 2024April 14, 2025 ~ creepycutiereviews ~ Leave a comment

Hello again, friends! Did you see a scary movie that you loved in 2024? I couldn’t pick just one, so here are my two favorites!

Exhuma (2024, 134 minutes. Not Rated.) Directed and written by Jang Jae-hyun.

I love Exhuma so much that I’ve seen it 3 times and now count it among my all-time favorite films. (I cried. More than once.) Even my spouse loved it, which says a lot because he’s not a fan of horror.

It’s a long movie and I recommend pausing it at either Chapter 4 (1:04:59) or Chapter 5 (1:15:45) for an intermission / bathroom break, but it’s well worth the runtime. I quickly became attached to each character and clung to the hopes that they might all be able to make it out of this ever-escalating disaster alive and somewhat whole. Come for the shaman horror, stay for the characters, and find yourself inspired to learn more about Korean history after the film.

Rating: creepy
Recommended if you like: folk horror, ghosts and hauntings, social commentary films, The Wailing

Cuckoo (2024, 103 minutes. Rated R.) Directed and written by Tilman Singer.

Cuckoo is the first movie I’ve seen by writer/director Tilman Singer and I look forward to seeing more of his work in the future! Cuckoo is stylish, dark, weird, and funny. It’s also sincere. (Yes, I cried.) Three cheers for Hunter Schafer’s stunning performance in the terse lead role as a grieving daughter, awkward older half-sister, no-fucks-left-to-give rule-breaker, and badass switchblade wielder.

Lastly, the soundtrack is fantastic. Highly recommend.

Rating: creepy
Recommended if you like: science fiction, social commentary films, Hunter Schafer

Looking Ahead to 2025

I missed Strange Darling and The Substance when they were in the theater, but I hope to stream them at home in the new year.

And speaking of the new year… What scary movies are you looking forward to in 2025? There are some promising projects coming up! Personally, I’m most excited about the upcoming Ryan Coogler movie Sinners, which has a release date of March 7.

Satanic Hispanics

December 8, 2024December 9, 2024 ~ creepycutiereviews ~ Leave a comment

Satanic Hispanics (2022, 105 minutes. Rated R.)

Satanic Hispanics is a delightful anthology that employs a framing device (Efren Ramirez as the storytelling Viajero / The Traveler) as enjoyable as the short films themselves. The 6 segments range from action to fantasy, humorous to straightforward, and I enjoyed each one for different reasons.

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