By Johnny Butane

Arang (2006)
Directed by Sang-hoon Ahn

Another goddamn boring ghost story from the annals of Asia? Perhaps, but at least this one sounds like it’s got some good deaths in it. A young detective and her partner are investigating a bizarre series of deaths in which the victims seem to have had some kind of acid released into their systems. As they dig deeper, they learn that the deaths may have something to do with a murder that occurred years ago in a salt house, whatever that is. Said detective starts to be plagued by nightmares of the murder victim as the killings continue.

Backslash (2007)
Directed by Kevin Campbell

If you’re anything like me, I bet you’ve always wondered "what does make for the ultimate Internet predator?" Well, now we get to find out thanks to a new film called Backslash, a title with the double meaning of the symbol on a keyboard used for Internet addresses and, as you can see by the cover, an actual back being slashed. Brilliant! Even better is the plot, which concerns two beautiful girls cast in a slasher movie and its website (?) who are pursued by a maniac that desires fame and fortune no matter the cost.

Blood Rites (2007)
Directed by Joshua Moyse

A young and beautiful girl (is there anything better, I ask you?) moves with her father to the small New England town of White Cross. Even though she wants to kick back and enjoy the quiet life, the local crazies have other plans for her. She’s confronted at every turn by a new one: a blind priest who talks in riddles, young girls anxious to lose their virginity, a white figure who can pass through walls, and of course a lot of death. She has to discover the town’s secret before her death is next.

Cadaverella (2007)
Directed by Timothy Friend

An interesting twist on the Cinderella story, at least in theory, the film is about a girl named Cinder (sounds pretty goth to me) whose fairy godmother is actually a voodoo god, her mom is a stripper and, to top it all off, she’s been killed. Now she only has until the stroke of midnight to get her revenge on, which I’m sure she does through all manner of sexy poses and the like. Brain Damage really needs to work on their covers, don’t you think? Maybe it’s just me, but man, some of their stuff really bugs me.

Cope (2007)
Directed by Ronald Jerry