 Any film director that didn’t start off making horror films or have roots in horror rarely jumps into the genre. Why is that? The answer could be a multitude of reasons, but quite possibly the primary reason is because horror is not exactly their cup of tea so to speak. But we can dream, can’t we? I’ve compiled a list of three directors that I would love to see delve into the horror genre. Even though some of these directors might have had horror elements in some of their films, none have directed a straight-up horror film.
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 In a quest to absorb all things 90s nostalgia, I knew I would feel right at home inside the world of writer-director Jon Stevenson’s Rent-A-Pal. A gritty and neon look at isolation, acceptance, and the errant paths the mind wanders when teetering between fantasy and reality.
 When it comes to foreign films, most of us will get turned off having to read subtitles. In the case of the French Horror/Drama Raw by director Julia Ducournau, the visuals capture us early on and won't let go. Now I had heard about this movie many times since its release in 2016, but never gave it a chance. Well, now that we have all been stuck inside from this pandemic I figured now is as good a time as any. Let me tell you, I was not prepared for this journey.
 Let me just start this review with the obligatory notice. This review is not me encouraging or dissuading anyone from going to the theater at this time. This is merely my take on a movie itself that is only available in a theater setting at the moment.
 Film critic Samm Deighan mused on the Evil Eye podcast, "Why isn't there any Western horror movies? It seems like the perfect combination." I have wondered this myself. Some of the films that have been classified in the subgenre of “Horror Westerns” include Kathryn Bigelow’s vampire inspired Near Dark to S. Craig Zahler’s gory, violent landscape of Bone Tomahawk to name a few. But rarely do you find Western and the supernatural merge together. The Pale Door is one of those films that merge these two elements effectively.
 It’s been a long time coming for me to discuss Roger Corman, who I am comfortable calling the Stan Lee of the film industry. Corman is the original rebel who went against the film industry, right as it was falling apart in the 1950’s, and inadvertently rebuilt Hollywood. In his lifetime, he has produced over 400 features, chasing trends and giving a new generation of filmmakers their debuts. So, without Corman, there may not have been Coppola, Scorsese, or any of the “New Hollywood” kids. Corman’s exploitation films made Hollywood take notes on what was profitable. Within those features, Corman directed a little over 50 films, primarily between 1955 and 1971 before taking an almost 20-year hiatus. This could have been it, but in 1990, Corman surprised the world with his last film to date, Frankenstein Unbound, based on the sci-fi novel by Brian Aldiss.
 Most anthologies are uneven, with a few short films that stand above the rest and others that flounder. Immortal features four shorts with no wrap-around story. Their only connection is a twist pertaining to immortality. Tony Todd, specifically, gives a heart-wrenching performance in “Ted and Mary,” but all four films are strong. Immortal is a worthy entry into the latest horror anthology revival.
 What’s worse than being trapped in a car beneath feet of snow and ice? Centigrade, directed by Brendan Walsh, explores that fear. The film focuses on Matt (Vincent Piazza) and Naomi (Genesis Rodriguez), a couple stranded in arctic Norway. Generally, the film works well at building tension, as one thing after the other goes wrong and the stakes grow. As the dog days of summer near, Centigrade will cool you down.
 The Portal by Russell James is a bone-chilling horror story about what happens when our sins come back for us. This fast-paced story went straight for the action and mayhem from the very beginning. We shouldn’t expect less when the book is about the consequences of making deals with the devil.
HorrOrigins host Mo Moshaty and Dread Central Editor in Chief & host Josh Millican host the creators of Shudder's HOST co-writer & director Rob Savage and co-writer & executive producer Jed Shepherd in our recorded LIVE Q&A.
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