Tritone's love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.
Greetings horror fans, Puzzle Box Horror here with a review of the latest installment in the Evil Dead franchise, Evil Dead Rise. If you’re a fan of brutal violence, creative kills, dark humor, and gore, then this movie is a must-watch.
Alyssa Sutherland’s performance as possessed Ellie is otherworldly good. Her transition from caring single mother to bloody thirsty demon pays homage to the previous victims of the necronomicon. with her body language and movements being particularly unsettling post deadite transition. The effects, makeup, and prosthetics are all fantastic and stick to the more grounded practicals vs CGI. The gore is top-notch, with our lead deadite biting out a dude’s eye and spitting it into another guy’s mouth before yeeting a small child down the hallway. This was a no holds barred gore fest!
Evil Dead Rise strikes a perfect balance between being brutal AF and very messed up at times, while also being genuine to the franchise. There is less humor than the Bruce Campbell originals but it had it’s dark and snarky moments. It’s like the brutality of the Evil Dead 2013 remake mixed with hints of the bonkers style of the 1980’s originals.
Lily Sullivan’s performance as Beth is solid, and the film spares no one, not even the kids. The peephole shots are amazing, with some poor soul running across the hallway from one edge of the peephole to the other, with a deadite in hot pursuit, being particularly darkly comedic.
There are a few notable cameos and although we did not get Bruce Campbell directly as we might have hoped we got a chainsaw cameo and a shotgun cameo so we had at least 1/4 of Ash Williams in one shot. I’m still processing the redesign of the necronomicon cover, but either way the book plays its role with some really well done vinyl record additions.
Another notable cameo is the blood elevator. A very well executed ode to Stanley Kubrick’s elevator scene in the 1980 horror classic “The Shining.” You could feel it coming like the wave of blood that ensued, but you were not disappointed when it delivered.
This standalone film is perfect for new viewers to the franchise, as there are no required carried-over characters or story threads to continue, making it very “new viewer friendly.” With that said there are enough ints you will miss if you have not seen the earlier movies. Evil Dead Rise is a simple, grounded, bloody, and terrifying installment that breathes new life into the franchise.
Lee Cronin has done an excellent job directing this movie, hitting that horror highway at top speed and never letting off the gas. Lily Sullivan announces herself as a new star in the horror genre, and Alyssa Sutherland steals the show with her fantastic performance.
Overall, The Evil Dead franchise remains the most consistently awesome horror franchise in horror movie history. Evil Dead Rise is a helluva horror film and a must-watch for any horror fan.
Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.
Not shockingly we are more into the scary costumes for Halloween, or maybe it is shocking. At least we hope so! Halloween this year is sure to see some of the classic scary costumes. We had another Scream released, Halloween Kills, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and so many other great scary moves to use to inspire costumes this year. Let’s dig into our recommendations for scary costumes for this Halloween.
I’m just not seeing enough Krampus out there each year. The anti Santa and nightmare fuel for European children dating back to something like 300 BC and here in the US since 2015. Krampus needs more representation this year and there are tons of Krampus options out there from the movie costumes to scary creative masks and full costumes. This is an old demon scene and although it takes a fair bit to pull it off there is no one way to do Krampus right so make it your own.
Ghostface is one of those iconic and terrifying costumes and movie monsters. The killer(s) in Scream are literally wearing this now historic scary costume. This year there are several Ghostface variations and even child Ghostface costumes. Nothing sounds more frightening than being chased by 10 tiny Ghostfaces.
From the Cult Classic Nic Cage Horror movies Mandy comes the Cheddar Goblin. It’s way scarier than it sounds. I mean what is more terrifying than Mac and Cheese and Goblins?
Bring home this green Cheddar Goblin Mask to your little goblins for a cheesy good time at dinner or for any occasion! Straight from the cult classic horror film Mandy, a Full overhead Mask that is comfortable and easy to wear. Great for use for Trick or Treating, Home Haunts, Haunted Houses, or any party! Could this also be Yoda’s evil macaroni eating twin brother quit possible!
It’s never going to stop being scary. The dead facial expression. The immortal and unstoppable force of Michael Meyers. These Michael Meyers masks just keep getting more and more creepy each year. With another Halloween movie coming out just around the corner, you can rest assured this mask will instill fear in the neighborhood.
Based on one of the most iconic horror movies ever, Trick or Treat Studios is proud to present the Boat Zombie from the Lucio Fulci cult classic, “Zombie.” Pairs nicely with ripped up and bloody clothes. Outcomes are often screaming children and terrified neighbors. Isn’t that the point of scary costumes?
It’s the eyes that really do me in on this one. That and anything from the sea. Sea horror is just some of the scariest horror out there. The mouth moves on this oddly terrifying sea creature. Add some flippers or just a regular outfit and it’s sure to be a hit at that work party Halloween costume contest.
It’s a classic and this one comes with everything you need, even the feet. Another mask with a moving mouth and the good folks and Zagone Studios who make this know how to create great costumes. This is one you can leave in your will to the grandkids. The Werewolf never goes out of style!
We all got the memo that the government knows we got ourselves some aliens out there. Jordan Peele’s “Nope” really drives it home, see it if you have not yet!
UV Black Light Reactive Down to Earth Alien Costume Kit. A great alien mask that can double as an insect head that now reacts with black light. The Costume includes UV Reactive Down to Earth Mask, UV Green Skeleton Gloves and UV Green Skeletal Shroud.
Hellraiser’s smartest and most diabolical demon from another astral plane – Pinhead! The classic played by Doug Bradley is sure to win the herts and souls of everyone you meet.
Our friends at Horror Hub Marketplace have thousands of costumes for the whole family and even some hand picked options for some of the scarier costumes. Get lost in the many masks, props, costumes and collectibles at Horror Hub. The sights you will see….
Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.
When it comes to horror movie killers, some are simply smarter than others! As a horror fan, one realizes quickly that the variations between franchises and their villains can be widely diverse. Some horror movies feature hyper-intelligent killers who are able to outwit nearly any protagonist…keeping the audience’s jaw fixed to the floor. Other horror movies invite super dumb killers to the screen who chase their victims best, but with little to no cunning or wit at all! Ultimately, all horror movie killers can be ranked by IQ and their intelligence in kills. So who is the smartest horror movie killer?
Horror Movie Killers, Ranked by Intelligence (IQ)
Puzzle Box Horror has included the most notable killers along with their IQs per our expert opinion. Here is a complete list of our favorite horror movie slashers and killers ranked by intelligence!
Jigsaw [IQ: 158]
jigsaw in real life
Saw’s Jigsaw Killer, John Kramer is so smart that he continues to kill movie after movie, long after his autopsy where we see messages being extracted from his very corpse! One of the most influential factors which make Jigsaw the #1 Smartest Horror Movie Killer, is that he planned all of these additional killings (in one fashion or another) in advance of his own predicted death. If planning weren’t enough, Jigsaw’s traps absolutely reek of genius. He always manages to add a personal flair and the chance of painful retribution for his victims, ultimately making them the bringers of their own demise through choice.
Pinhead [IQ: 154]
how smart is pinhead
Clive Barker’s ingeniously sadistic Hellraiser series brought us one of the more recognizably stylish and unmistakably brutal of horror movie killers, Pinhead. Pinhead is an interesting entity; ominous and authoritative in speech and with a wide variety of demonic torture methods at his fingertips. Summoned with the Lemarchand Configuration, Pinhead draws from another realm entirely, making him far less restricted as a killer than someone of earthbound flesh. In all, Pinhead is one of the most powerful and intelligent killers on this list, with prospects of taking over the entire world!
The Zodiac Killer [IQ: 145]
Based on a real-life killer and told in meticulous detail (The producers even hired a private investigator to track down the real-life Zodiac survivor, Mike Mageau!) David Fincher’s Zodiac gives us a glimpse into a devious and cunning killer with an obsession with ciphers and cryptograms that he would send to the police, claiming that if they were not printed publicly then further killings would occur. The self-named Zodiac was never caught to this day, and some of his codes have yet to even be cracked!
Hannibal Lecter [IQ: 140]
how smart is Hannibal
Silence of the Lambs spawned Hannibal Lecter, a devious killer who is able to literally cut open someone’s skull, remove, cook and eat the victim’s brains, all right in front of their eyes! Hannibal is educated, assumes the identity of a doctor, and convinces others to kill and mutilate, making him a super manipulative killer, and the third most intelligent horror movie killer.
John Doe [IQ: 132]
David Fincher’s Se7en gave us one of the sharpest, and easily one of the downright creepiest killers to ever grace the screen with John Doe. As he plays out his master plan of sin-related carnage he stays two steps ahead of the pursuing detectives at all times, only appearing to them, and the audience, when he so chooses. Patient and methodical to a terrifying extent, John Doe is responsible for one of the most chilling endings to a horror film ever, and Kevin Spacey’s skin-crawling performance ensures he stays in your mind long after the credits roll.
Patrick Bateman [IQ: 125]
Mary Harron’s American Psycho is more a pitch-black deconstructive jab at yuppie culture than a straight-up slasher, though the gleefully psychotic centerpiece of this story, the sadistic Patrick Bateman, helps it tread confidently between the two. Patrick is cool, suave and sophisticated, wealthy enough to maintain an illusion of pure class while he satiates his bloodlust in the shadows. He seems to use serial killing as a form of self-improvement and while he is one of the more unstable entries on this list (see his reaction to a colleague’s superior business card for example) he is also one of the more successful and intelligent.
Freddy Krueger [IQ: 121]
Nightmare on Elm Street’s Freddy Krueger is a little predictable, but still puts on a really good show. Freddy pulls off a number of creative deaths and outsmarts a lot of really resourceful protagonists. One of the most important factors to consider, is that Freddy often comes back for victims that have survived the past movies, finding new ways to overcome and slay them. Freddy Krueger maintains a respectable 5th place when it comes to horror movie killer IQs!
Chucky [IQ: 111]
Chucky
Child’s Play’s Chucky is a doll inhabited by a desperate fugitive serial killer, Charles Lee Ray. Charles is not too bright himself, often being outwitted or otherwise outdone by a child or other dimwit character. However, given the nature of most other horror movie killers, Chucky still rakes in a strong 6th place!
Ghostface [IQ: 102]
Scream’s Ghostface killer ends up being two of the high school students involved in the plot from the start. Protagonist Sidney Prescott’s boyfriend (Billy) and her friend (Stu) are the killers, sharing the same outfit in order to manipulate the characters throughout the scenes faster and with less suspicion. Still, a team of high school killers hatch a plan smart enough to outscore a lot of the more traditional hack and slash jobs!
Michael Myers [IQ: 78]
how smart is michael myers
Halloween’s Michael Myers has a variety of movies to showcase his intelligence, but he just doesn’t meet the bar! He is constantly outsmarted by characters that get away time and time again…most notably being Dr Loomis, who can be found in a number of Halloween movies constantly trying to reacquire and actually track Michael Myers.
Jason Voorhees [IQ: 69]
how smart is jason voorhees
Friday the 13th’s Jason Voorhees is portrayed as a disabled child in Freddy Vs Jason (2008) and has had several other references made throughout his films insinuating he is mentally challenged. He still manages to kill an astronomical amount of people rather quickly…probably because he is too stupid to play with his food!
Leatherface [IQ: 67]
Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s Leatherface wins the award for the most deranged killer, being that the character is literally mentally challenged. Leatherface is supposed to be the result of a redneck, Texas inbred family (referenced in some of the flicks themselves), who lives life by following family orders. Still, as low of an IQ as Leatherface might have, he is no less entertaining, finding ways to make the same types of kills interesting every time!
Final Word on Who is the Smartest Killer
Not all of the killers we see in horror flicks are slashers, making the running a lot harder for first place! There are many creative ways a smarter killer is able to showcase a death and a lot of these movies feature proof of exactly that!
Have a killer you’d like to see ranked? Leave your comment below and we’ll assess the monster/slasher and add them to the list!
Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.
In three years, Slasher app has amassed an incredibly loyal following. To build on the reasons horror fans love Slasher, the upcoming update to Slasher 4.0 will have new features that make it even easier for horror fans to stay in the loop with the things they enjoy. Filmmakers, authors, musicians, and podcasters will also have new, exciting ways to share their work. Refreshed mobile apps will be launched that will deliver an updated design and interface. Horror lovers will also be able to access Slasher’s features right from the Slasher website.
Horror fans are hooked on Slasher for all the right reasons. The genre is supported far better than on mainstream social sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. No one on Slasher gets banned for posting horror-related images – blood and gore special effects are welcome. People can build a network of friends faster than any of the mainstream social networks. Most importantly, it’s an enjoyable environment created by a horror fan, who is an active part of it.
“The three years we’ve been online have been amazing! I’m so thankful for all of the fantastic people who are on Slasher every day, making it so much fun for all of us! It’s also great to see all the filmmakers turning us on to their movies, authors who keep us informed of their new releases, artists who share their work with us, musicians who keep us going with new tracks, and the vendors who help us build our collections. I might have created the app, but it’s the people on it who are the ones that make it awesome each and every day. We’re all in this together and it’s been great working alongside fantastic people and companies who feel the same way we do about horror! Slasher 4.0 is going to help us provide more support, resources, and opportunities for everyone in the genre. This has been the most exciting project I’ve put together since Slasher was first released!” –
Damon Della Greca, creator of Slasher.
Slasher 4.0 is in development.
Slasher is currently available for free on Android & iOS in the U.S. and Canada. An Android beta is available in the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand.
Visit www.slasher.tv on the web or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @TheSlasherApp ###
About Slasher
Launched in 2019, Slasher is the social app created for the horror genre. It features a social timeline, events calendar, horror movie database, news and reviews, and the first dating feature for horror fans.
Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.
Corey Taylor will join this Thursday, March 3rd 2022, Doug Bradley’s “Down To Hell” live show as the special guest of the week. Down To Hell originally aired on Twitch through 2021, but since has moved to Youtube, and you can find it at Horror Hub’s Youtube channel here https://www.youtube.com/channel/horrorhubmarketplace
Down To Hell will start Thursday at 8pm EST 5 pm PST. Doug and Corey will take questions from guest commenters and otherwise talk all things horror, metal, and strange.
“Taylor co-founded Stone Sour with drummer Joel Ekman in 1992, playing in the Des Moines area, and working on a demo. He joined Slipknot in 1997 to replace their original vocalist and has subsequently released six studio albums with them. After the first two Slipknot albums went Platinum, Taylor revived Stone Sour to record an album and tour in 2002. His debut solo studio album, CMFT, was released on October 2, 2020, by Roadrunner Records.” — wikipedia.
Corey Taylor Wearing a Horror Mask at a concert
Doug Bradley, known for his brilliant role in the Hellraiser movie series as Pinhead, arguably one of the most intelligent inter dimensional demons, has also tortured us for more than 20 years now. He has been hosting Down To Hell since 2021 and the show has had some of the biggest horror and metal stars on it since.
Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.
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