Phil Herman's The Actor's Curse: A Tale of Twisted Fate (2026) - Horror Anthology Film Review

Having taken a week off of writing horror film reviews last week, I'm back, and back with one of my favourite types of horror films - the horror anthology. Phil Herman's The Actor's Curse: A Tale of Twisted Fate uses the movie industry as its linking theme, with each of the four shorts, as well as the wraparound story featuring people who work in that industry.

The wraparound story is fittingly titled The Actor's Curse: A Tale of Twisted Fate. I like it when the wraparound segment actually tells some sort of story, and while a bit basic, this one fits that mould. Here, a bitter washed-up actor (Jon DeBartolo - Jacker 3: Road to Hell, A Hard Place), discovers an old journal outside his apartment door. The man decides to write some fictional stories about people who he has worked with in the past that he attributes to the cause of his personal downfall, unaware that the journal might hold some terrible power. This part was simple, but I did really like DeBartolo's voice, his narration to himself about the stories he was writing was lovely and deep.

The first story proper is 'The Director's Demise', which was directed by Derek Braasch. Here, a sleazy film director (Robert Gutierrez-Spagnoli) hires a new actress who for a change isn't put-off by his very hands-on approach to filmmaking. Even seeing all the conflict he creates around him, the new woman plans to work closely with the director. I found this predictable enough, the suggestion of a supernatural element was welcome, though this idea wasn't implemented that well, only popping up towards the end. There was a scene of violence here that had some fun practical effects, and will also state that this is one of three shorts here that include damage to a man-specific body part, this one the more painful looking of those! Some female nudity here if that is your thing.
Next up is 'The Producer's Plight' that comes from director James Panetta. Victoria (Debbie D - Jim Haggerty's Unnatural Causes, Phil Herman's Unearthed) is a film producer who likes to play games with the people she chooses for her films, setting up various actors against each other. Even when one of the people she has harmed takes his own life, she doesn't let up on her mind games. This again told a predictable enough story, though I did enjoy where this ended up going, and enjoyed how gun shots were shown on screen. The notion of a bad person facing a twisted justice was similar to the story that preceded this, so did feel a little similar.

Despite being mainly in Spanish (with subtitles), the third film 'The Writer's Woe' was my favourite. Written and directed by Marcelo Fabani, this one is about a womanising writer who gets hired to write a documentary exploring the strange topic of South American vampires. In his research he comes across an old book that states vampiric conquistadors were purposely sent to the place hundreds of years back, in order to conquer it for the Spanish authorities. He figures the book is probably not authentic, but other people fearing the truth may get out, take steps to squash his documentary from happening. I liked all the back story here with the idea of vampire explorers. Enjoyed the montage scenes when images are shown as part of the evidence of this happening. I sometimes found the lines to be spoken a bit quietly, but this told a decent and outlandish story with some cool make-up effects .
Finally was the Will Devokees written and directed 'The Makeup Artist's Misfortune'. A vigilante makeup artist (Brooke Ashley) who goes after bad people in the film industry, is intending to flee town after attacking her latest victim, only for the now disfigured victim to corner her at her home, intending to get his revenge. Fittingly enough, this one had the best make-up effects of the whole anthology, the man's half acid burned face looked great, with it often hidden within shadows.

As always, I love anthologies, and with Phil Herman's The Actor's Curse: A Tale of Twisted Fate, you have one with a solid unifying theme. I liked this most when it brought variation, such as the third short about vampires. I felt the first two shorts were a little too similar in the story they were telling, but overall, this was a solid anthology that might not have blown my mind, but was still an entertaining 90 minutes of indie horror that included a large cast over its films.

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Blasphemous (2019) - Horror Video Game Review (Nintendo Switch)

From the very first moment I set eyes on metroidvania action game Blasphemous I just knew that regardless of quality it was something I just had to play. I loved the pixel graphics, and I thought the gothic look was amazing. So as soon as it came out I snapped it up on the Nintendo Switch, and thankfully it turned out to be a damn stunner.

The story here is never explicitly explained, what story there is I pieced together from cutscenes, as well as the lore that can be read for most the items you get in the game. I'm sure my summary is incorrect, but I am purposefully putting my own thoughts as to what is going on, rather than researching it. Blasphemous takes place in a world where religious apocalypse has come to pass. Fervent religious belief has manifested in the form of the coming of 'miracles' which have corrupted the peoples of the land in a variety of ways. It seems the most pure of heart have been transformed into living statues, while the most corrupt have been judged as guilty and changed into murderous versions of their former selves. You play as 'The Penitent One', a mask wearing man who sets out on a quest to bring about an end to the time of miracles.

The metroidvania style of 2D platformer is one of my favourite styles of games, yet I have found that the tone is really important for my enjoyment. Take Hollow Knight for instance, that is a wonderful game, and yet I haven't played it in months, the insect theme not really appealing too much. Then there is Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night which was touted as a replacement for the much missed Castlevania games. While that is a delightful game, and does feel like a homage to that series that is another that I have not played in some time despite being deep into it. With Blasphemous I adored the game world, the dark gothic look with overt religious themes to the landscapes and enemies you face, it felt like a video game that would have been created had there been such things in Medieval times. The game world is a dark and moody place, this came across at times like a 2D Bloodborne. This is fitting as there are many elements that have had people calling this very Dark Souls in style.

BloodRayne: Betrayal (2011) - Horror Videogame Review (XBLA)

The original BloodRayne games were wonky third person actioners that had you fighting mostly Nazi soldiers. I was initially put off by BloodRayne: Betrayal as it reminds me of the death of my interest in the Joystiq Podcast which imploded after a disastrous change in style, due to the game being an item in that very tedious first episode. Anyway having played the demo and seeing the game in a sale I picked it up.

BloodRayne: Betrayal sees you (playing as half vampire Rayne) joining a group of vampire hunter soldiers called 'The Brimstone Society' in assaulting an underground castle of vampires. Starting above ground you eventually get to the castle in a mix of 2D platforming and fighting.

BloodRayne: Betrayal is very reminiscent of old Castlevania games back when they were level based. Everything from the Gothic look, down to the dramatic music really invoke the spirit of those classic games. The setting of a vampire's castle is also super similar. None of this is a bad thing, I love the Castlevania series so a pretender to the throne is very welcome.

Being a half vampire you are allergic to light, in the early levels there are UV lamps set up that drain your health if you get near them, these only feature in the first few levels though. More could have been done to incorporate these into the game I feel. A lot of the enemies you fight can have their blood sucked out. This makes you invincible during the sucking as well as restores lost health. Enemies consist of Aryan looking vampires, as well as clawed monsters, floating mummies and even giant walking bubbles filled with blood. There is not a lot of different enemies types but combat is quite a detailed affair with enemies having different abilities and weaknesses. Usually when you encounter enemies the game will limit you to a single screen until a few waves of them have been dispatched.

The game looks beautiful, like something out of an anime. There is plenty of blood, and the animations are great, especially the vampires who appear in the foreground before leaping into the game; very smoothly done. Boss battles are usually against giant monsters and quite fun, one in particular that was made out of blood looked really good.

Levels unfortunately do get repetitive, you would think with a whole castle(vania) to explore there would be variety but a lot of the levels look very similar. A section of levels see you traversing pits of acid, while others see you with rivers of blood but all play quite similar. Levels are full of traps from rotating blades to spikes, lasers and collapsing platforms. These require quite a degree of mobile skill to get past but in a good move enemies are not resistant to the traps so can get minced up, burnt up and drown just the same as you. Some sections see you go into silhouette which might look good but makes finding where you are on screen quite confusing. The last level set in a burning castle is a nightmare due just to the fact that it is really hard to see where you are located on screen.

Hidden around levels are skulls that let you increase your health and bullets in your gun (a special weapon), and there are some sections when you control a raven that gives some variety. You later get the ability to turn into a bird at will but this is severely restricted by the arrival of machines dotted everywhere that stop you being able to change; begs the question what's the point of giving you that ability if the designers blatantly didn't want you to be able to use it? The plot is bare bones and not interesting, mostly told by a series of speech bubbles coming out of characters mouths

For all its issues I did enjoy BloodRayne: Betrayal, it is just a shame that it is barren when it comes to variety, more interesting locations, and a greater number of enemy types would have made the game a lot better.

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