“Sugarcane” (Available on VOD from Postmortem Films) — Pat Baker’s indie serial killer feature blends a psycho in a bunny mask with a more somber tale of an abducted teenage girl. Squeezing some strange and dreadful moments out of a small budget, it’s a compelling watch in a sea of slasher fare.
“Push” (Debuting on Shudder on July 11) — David Charbonier and Justin Powell follow “The Djinn” and “The Boy Behind the Door” with a spooky real estate tale — and it’s not just about how high interest rates are! Alicia Sanz stars as a pregnant agent who shows a house to a killer (Raúl Castillo), and things quickly spiral out of control.
“Abraham’s Boys: A Dracula Story” (Opening in theaters on July 11 from RLJE Films and Shudder) — This unique sequel to the classic vampire story places an older Abraham Van Helsing (Titus Welliver) in the American West with his two sons. But, of course, darkness isn’t far behind. Largely a daytime-set Western, Natasha Kermani’s bold take on Joe Hill’s short story is a treat for genre fans.
“Don’t Log Off” (Opening in theaters on July 11 from DREAD) — This screenlife horror feature stars “Modern Family” alum Ariel Winter in a story about a group of besties who start disappearing while searching for their missing friend.
“Ick” (Opening in theaters on July 24 from Fathom Entertainment) — Joseph Kahn’s ooey-gooey tribute to classics like “The Blob” and “The Stuff” stars Brandon Routh as a dorky high school teacher who has to save the world from a biological alien invasion. Kahn’s frantic filmmaking takes a minute to settle into, but the well-paced plot and satirical elements taking on COVID culture keep things fleet, fun and funny.
“Bambi: The Reckoning” (Opening in theaters on July 25 from ITN Distribution) — Believe it or not, this is the fourth (!) film in the Twisted Childhood Universe saga, which includes “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey” and “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare.” Your results may vary with these quick and dirty takes on public domain children’s tales, but if a killer Bambi isn’t your speed, “Pinocchio: Unstrung” is expected before the year’s end.
“The Home” (Opening in theaters on July 25 from Lionsgate) — “The Purge” creator James DeMonaco recruits Pete Davidson to star in his latest horror movie. The comedian gets serious as the new handyman at a retirement home filled with secrets. A compelling third-act twist kicks the film up a notch, and Davidson is a compelling audience surrogate for all of the madness.
“Monster Island” (Debuting on Shudder on July 25) — Mike Wiluan wrote and directed this taut thriller about a Japanese soldier and British prisoner of war in 1942 who are stuck on a desert island and must team up to escape a malevolent beast. Dean Fukjioka and Callum Woodhouse elevate the tale as the men trying to escape the so-called Orang Ikan.