Full Moon Reviews

This is the Tumblr to my movie blog, Full Moon Reviews (www.fullmoonreviews.net). This will be used to link to my actual blog. I'll also post photos of horror movie content here as well every now and then as well.

[fullmoonreviews]

Obsession (2026)

DIRECTED BY Curry Barker STARRING Michael Johnston - Baron "Bear" Bailey Inde Navarrette - Nikki Freeman Cooper Tomlinson - Ian  Megan Lawle

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"Believe the hype. Not only is OBSESSION the best horror film released in 2026 as of this writing, but it’s one of 2026 best films, period. Despite the use of a tired “Monkey’s Paw” narrative trope, director-writer Curry Barker adds dimension by adding social commentary on sexual assault, consent, misogyny and the effects of the so-called “Male Loneliness” issue that seems to be an alleged thing amongst some younger men since the pandemic. It also provides that cliche that one should always be careful what they wish for, putting all the fault on the wish maker instead of the person under the spell of that wish, despite her manic actions and how negatively the other characters react considering they don’t know the situation. 

The film, with its $750,000 budget, looks fantastic with great lighting, editing, framing, and confident pacing. Hell, it looks better than horror films with much bigger budgets. Michael Johnston is great as the self-absorbed and unlikable Bear. But it’s Inde Navarrette who steals the film as Nikki, who plays the menace of Bear’s wish perfectly, going from nice and sweet to downright scary and obsessively violent and needy. You’re unnerved by Nikki, but you also feel really bad for her since none of this is her fault. Navarrette has a star making turn here and I could see her doing great things in her acting career. I was hoping OBSESSION would be good judging by the trailers and good word of mouth, but I never expected it to be this good. The highest of recommendations."

[fullmoonreviews]

Undertone (2025/2026)

DIRECTED BY Ian Tuason STARRING Nina Kiri - Evy Adam DiMarco - Justin Michèle Duquet - Mama Keana Lyn Bastidas - Jessa Jeff Yung - Mike Genr

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"I really wanted to like this film more than I did, but UNDERTONE is a pretty disappointing flick after all the buzz and hype for it. The sound design is fantastic and makes the film worth watching for that alone. And I liked the cinematography and the use of spacing within shots to make you peek to see if anything strange was hiding in the shadows or in corners of the room. And basically a one-woman show, Nina Kiri did quite well with what she was given as main character Evy.

But the script didn’t do a whole lot for me, as there’s a lack of development and unanswered questions about all the characters involved. The audio can be unnerving, but it gets kind of old by the end. And it takes a long time to get to the good stuff [the last 10 minutes or so] before it suddenly ends. When you make me quote “Miss You Much”-era Janet Jackson and ask “Is that the end?”, there’s something not quite right. I’m not a fan of films that have a promising build up that leads to a lacking payoff. But hey - I respect the filmmakers for making a solid profit out of a $500,000 budget.

If you loved UNDERTONE, then I love that for you. But for me, it’s just another overhyped horror film that didn’t reach the heights I was expecting it to. By the way, adding demonic entities to podcasts wasn’t necessary. Editing, scheduling and making sure episodes are recorded is hard enough for us already."

[fullmoonreviews]

The Bride! (2026)

DIRECTED BY Maggie Gyllenhaal STARRING Jessie Buckley - Ida/Mary Shelley Christian Bale - Frank Annette Bening - Dr. Cornelia Euphronious Pe

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"THE BRIDE! isn’t for everyone and I understand why a majority of people seem to dislike it. But this is everything that JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX should have been as Gyllenhaal has the balls to make something outside the mainstream, even if it doesn’t completely work in the end. I would rather see filmmakers think outside the box and make their personal art than directors who want to play it safe for the quick cash. THE BRIDE! is the type of movie that cinema needs more of, even if audiences won’t embrace it right away. But I definitely see this becoming a cult favorite in the future."

[fullmoonreviews]

Scream 7 (2026)

DIRECTED BY Kevin Williamson STARRING Neve Campbell - Sidney Prescott-Evans Isabel May - Tatum Evans Jasmin Savoy Brown - Mindy Meeks-Martin

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"After reading what the original SCREAM 7 could have been, it makes this version of SCREAM 7 more disappointing. There was a dark cloud over this film from the start and it lingered until the end credits concluded. Glad Neve Campbell got her bag and it was fun seeing her and some of the returning characters back again. But the script was not good and the Ghostface reveals were atrocious. It didn’t help that the killers were really obvious to begin with. Just a lazy sequel that unfortunately did so well, we’re getting another one. Hopefully they try harder with SCREAM 8 because SCREAM 7 did not make me excited for another one. Personally, I think Ghostface needs to rest for a while. But I’m not greedy Hollywood, so what does my opinion matter?"

[fullmoonreviews]

The Strangers: Chapter 3 (2026)

DIRECTED BY Renny Harlin STARRING Madelaine Petsch - Maya Gabriel Basso - Gregory Ema Horvath - Shelly Barnes Ella Bruccoleri - Jasmine Rich

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"Maybe I’ve been numbed or desensitized by the crap that came before it, but I felt THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 3 is the least-worst film of this maligned trilogy. At least there seemed to be an end goal here, with things having a certain level of consistency and slight intrigue that the previous two films really lacked. I’m not saying the story is any good. The characters, both heroes and villains, do really dumb things. Most of the death sequences are off-screen or blink-or-you’ll-miss it. Some of the needledrops are jarring and ruin the serious tone of the film. And while it’s nice to have villain origins, this trilogy still makes you ask “why” by the movie’s end.

But at least Renny Harlin crafts some decent moments of tension and suspense in the second half of the film that remind you that he used to be good at making genre movies like this decades ago. And the actors are given more to do this time around, allowing them to have emotional beats that feel somewhat believable. Madelaine Petsch, in particular, is given some nice emotional moments that allow her to showcase what a capable actor she is when given something to chew on. 

Other than that, I’m just glad this new STRANGERS trilogy is over and we can all move on with our lives. Let this franchise hibernate for a while until someone with a real plan wakes it up from its slumber to give the fans something they really want to see for a change. But at least, in my opinion, it ended better than it started. I guess that counts for something these days."

[fullmoonreviews]

Send Help (2026)

DIRECTED BY Sam Raimi  STARRING  Rachel McAdams - Linda Liddle  Dylan O’Brien - Bradley Preston  Edyll Ismail - Zuri  Dennis Haysbert - Fran

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"One of my most anticipated films of 2026, Sam Raimi’s SEND HELP does not disappoint. While not Raimi’s most memorable visually, Raimi still manages to let the audience know he’s at the helm here. While most of the film is very subtle, capturing the bland office setting while later showcasing the beautiful island location to create a bleak paradise, the Raimi tropes do make their presence when the story calls for it. First person zooms. Gushing crimson that sprays on people. Extreme close ups to raise tension and terror. The Raimi horror maker is here and much welcomed.

Helping the visuals are the strong performances by both Dylan O’Brien and [especially] Rachel McAdams, who have great antagonistic chemistry as the two play off each other to see who can outdo the other. The shift in power dynamics between the two is a wild ride, as you sympathize with one over the other, which will then switch vice-versa, then make you feel sorry for both characters, until it shifts right back to the start. The simple writing allows both O’Brien and McAdams to flesh out their characters through body language and facial expressions, which tells their stories more than any dialogue could. It also helps that the two are clearly having fun, which makes it fun for the audience as well.

While I hope we get Raimi to making more horror films in a much crazier style like his older work [there were glimpses in DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS], SEND HELP is still a fine piece of work that I highly recommend if you’re looking for a well-made survival thriller."

[fullmoonreviews]

Primate (2025/2026)

DIRECTED BY Johannes Roberts STARRING Johnny Sequoyah - Lucy Troy Kotsur - Adam  Jessica Alexander - Hannah Victoria Wyant - Kate  Gia Hunte

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"2026 is starting out in the right way as PRIMATE is a solid start to the horror genre this year. While the characters aren’t really much to discuss about, the premise of having humans try to survive against a rabid chimp makes up for it, as the film is a thrilling ride right from the opening minutes. Tense, suspenseful, gory, well acted and directed, PRIMATE may not make you go fully bananas but it’s definitely some monkey business worth checking out either in theaters or down the line on streaming."

[fullmoonreviews]

Lunar Cycle - September 2025

Since I don’t have as much time to write longer reviews than I used to, I figured I would just post shorter reviews for horror/cult films th

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Since I don’t have as much time to write longer reviews than I used to, I figured I would just post shorter reviews for horror/cult films that I feel deserve your attention.

The films featured:

THE LONG WALK (2025)

HIM (2025)

THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2 (2025)

BONE LAKE (2024/2025)

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The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)

DIRECTED BY Michael Chaves STARRING Vera Farmiga - Lorraine Warren  Patrick Wilson - Ed Warren  Mia Tomlinson - Judy Warren  Ben Hardy - Ton

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"The best thing I can say about THE CONJURING: LAST RITES is that it’s at least better than the last installment, THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT by a good amount. LAST RITES is a more cohesive film with stronger performances by Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga and the rest of the cast. Wilson and Farmiga can play these roles in their sleep and they’re wonderful in this sequel. Michael Graves’ direction is light years better than the previous sequel, giving us James Wan-lite for the most part. And if it’s, indeed, the final installment of the main series, the film wraps things up nicely. 

But I felt the supporting characters [other than The Warrens] weren’t all that interesting enough to care about, the scares are barely there and it just feels like the same ol’, same ol’ with this franchise by this point. And considering how much money this movie has already made [and good for horror for raking in that box office cash this year], let’s be honest with ourselves - nothing about THE CONJURING: LAST RITES will be the “last” for this main series, as I can see Judy Warren and her partner Tony Spera becoming the main focus going forward. It’s a fine enough sequel but there will most likely be more. If you don’t believe that, I have a cursed mirror I’d like to sell you for cheap."

[fullmoonreviews]

Dangerous Animals (2025)

DIRECTED BY Sean Byrne STARRING Hassie Harrison - Zephyr Jai Courtney - Bruce Tucker Josh Heuston - Moses Markley Ella Newton - Heather Genr

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"DANGEROUS ANIMALS is one of my favorite horror films of 2025 at the moment. It’s a simple, yet engaging thriller that focuses on the true crime aspect of the human cat-and-mouse game of survival, with sharks used as a plot device and murder weapon of choice. Hassie Harrison makes for a great Final Girl, while Jai Courtney is at his best here as a charming, yet demented villain that will probably gain some sort of cult status."

[fullmoonreviews]

The WTF? Extravaganza Presents: Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025)

Directed By: Trey Edward Shults Starring: Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd), Jenna Ortega, Barry Keoghan, Riley Keough Genre: Music/Thriller Runn

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"HURRY UP TOMORROW drags and stumbles towards the finish line with unlikable characters and a narrative that would have played out better in a shorter film or music video. If it wasn’t for the striking visuals, the music and Jenna Ortega’s against-type performance, this would have been a complete waste of time. The Weeknd is not a good actor and maybe should consider behind-the-lens work for his next project instead. If I wasn’t an AMC A-List member, I would have been severely pissed off if I had spent over $20 on this movie. I have a feeling Razzie voters will consider this one “Timeless” for next year’s nominations…"

[fullmoonreviews]

The Monkey (2025)

THE MONKEY (2025) Directed By: Osgood Perkins Starring: Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Christian Convery, Colin O’Brien, Adam Scott, Elijah

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It’s bananas how my two favorite films so far in 2025 involve apes [I see you, Robbie Williams and BETTER MAN].

[fullmoonreviews]

Heart Eyes (2025)

DIRECTED BY Josh Ruben STARRING Olivia Holt - Ally  Mason Gooding - Jay Simmons  Gigi Zumbado - Monica Devon Sawa - Detective Hobbs Jordana

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"HEART EYES doesn’t reinvent the slasher wheel, but it’s still a fun time for those looking for a good Valentine’s Day horror film to watch. It also surprisingly works as a cute rom-com, just with a serial killer murdering happy couples [whether they know they’re in one or not]. The story is simple and straightforward, yet clever with an obvious wink-and-nod at certain tropes for both horror and rom-com genres. The script also presents likable characters, including two main characters you can’t help but root for in getting together by the movie’s end. This is helped greatly by the charming performances by both Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding, who share a ton of chemistry and play off each other extremely well. Josh Ruben also handles the gory sequences nicely, while maintaining a consistent tone that balances the horror with the romance. While the reveal itself didn’t exactly excite me or win me over and the film has this SCREAM feel you can’t escape, I think HEART EYES is a worthy watch during Valentine’s Day week for any horror [or even rom-com] fan."

[fullmoonreviews]

Wolf Man (2025) *Might contain spoilers*

DIRECTED BY Leigh Whannell STARRING Christopher Abbott - Blake Lovell Julia Garner - Charlotte Lovell Matilda Firth - Ginger Lovell Sam Jaeg

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"If you’re going into WOLF MAN looking for a traditional werewolf movie, you’re going to be seriously disappointed. If you’re looking for something different, you’ll still probably be disappointed but maybe you’ll get something out of it. The issue with this film is that it plays things way too safe. It has a strong commentary about the sins of the father and how their actions affect their children, but it never really goes deeper than that, preferring to predictably play things out on the surface without any subtlety. Same with the relationship between the characters, as their dynamic has no depth other than they have issues that need to be worked on. Also, the film isn’t scary at all and when cool action happens, it’s cut away to something else.

But at least the performances are pretty good, especially by lead Christopher Abbott, who gives his all as both human and wolf-man. And the film has a good visual style going for it, especially when the wolf powers [or “Detective Mode”] come into play. The body horror aspect had some gnarly moments that picked up the film’s intensity at times. It’s also paced very well, as this film blew right by despite my issues with it. And I respect a new way of looking into the Wolf Man character, even if it doesn’t fully work for me. 

Considering what Leigh Whannell has done in the past, his version of WOLF MAN is pretty weak and disappointing. Considering how much I loved THE INVISIBLE MAN, I felt that this was a severe drop in quality. Maybe some of you will get a kick out of this adaptation, but I don’t think it’s really anything to moon over. It’s fine at best."

[fullmoonreviews]

Dreamscape (1984)

DREAMSCAPE (1984) Directed By: Joseph Ruben Starring: Dennis Quaid, Max von Sydow, Christopher Plummer, Eddie Albert, Kate Capshaw, David

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"It’s a shame that 1984’s DREAMSCAPE isn’t as cool as the misleading poster that’s advertising the film. But it's still a decent timewaster that’s worth a look if you want to see a film about nightmares in 1984 that wasn’t directed by Wes Craven."

[classichorrorblog]

The Wolf Man (1941)

[fullmoonreviews]

The Wolf Man (1941)

DIRECTED BY George Wagnner  STARRING Lon Chaney Jr. - Lawrence “Larry” Talbot/ The Wolf Man Claude Rains - Sir John Talbot Warren William -

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"While not the best Universal Monsters film ever made, the original WOLF MAN is still pretty damn good all these decades later. Curt Siodmak crafts a simple [maybe too simple?] story that introduces a lot of the werewolf tropes that would continue to be implemented in werewolf movies to this very day. Director George Wagnner does a nice job visualizing the narrative with nice atmosphere and a spooky mood in the last half, while highlighting the use of makeup and dissolves to showcase the werewolf transformation. It may look hokey now, but it probably wowed audiences back in 1941. The actors are fine, mainly Lon Chaney Jr., Claude Rains and Maria Ouspenskaya. I wish the supporting characters had more depth because you don’t really care for them [Chaney Jr.’s Larry Talbot has the only real arc]. And the film may be a bit too short at seventy minutes to give the actors more to do. But THE WOLF MAN is a classic for a reason and still maintains a charm that will continue to make it resonate for many moons to come."