Obsession (2026) - The scoop and digest

Unrelated to several other things of same name, writer-director Curry Barker latest project after free-to-watch viral sensation Milk & Serial is a cursed love story.

Michael Johnston - Bear

Inde Navarrette - Nikki

Cooper Tomlinson - Ian

Mega Lawless - Sarah

Andy Richter - Carter

Summary

Longtime friends Bear and Nikki work at Cassell's Music store, with the former wanting much more from their relationship.

When Nikki drops her crystal necklace down a drain, instead of replacing it, Bear buys a One Wish Willow from a mystic gift shop.

"Spark the middle and break in half."

And he does just that, wishing for Nikki 'to love him more than anybody else in the fucking world'.

While exciting at first, her behaviour grows increasingly more disturbing, leading Bear to try and alter wish, but is told ordel will only end when he dies.

Can a loophole be found?

Love isn't real

Despite playing familiar monkey's paw tropes, whiffing of Evil Dead and The Exorcist, nightmarish journey (and sometimes humourous) is executed with flair and panache.

Johnston is good, but Navarrette was brilliant, expertly balancing vulnerability, violence and emotional trauma.

Whether smiling, laughing or staring, performance is creepy as hell.

She makes him a sandwich from his dead cat Sandy, tells an incestuous version of Hansel and Gretel and kills Sarah by repeatedly slamming her face into a brick.

Ending was satisfying rather than stupid.

After Nikki shoots Ian dead, Bear locks himself in the bathroom and swallows the same bottle of pills that killed Sandy.  He and Nikki share a genuine kiss, before Bear dies from an overdose.  As wish expires, the real Nikki screams and cries.

In April, it was announced that Barker will reimagine The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

Can he pull shit off? We'll have to wait and see.

Faces of Death (2026) - The scoop and digest

Reimagining of 1978 film of same name is directed by Daniel Goldhaber and co-written with Isa Mazzei (who also stars a Narcan Girl).

Barbie Ferreira - Margot Romero

Dacre Montgomery - Arthur Spevak

Josie Totah - Samantha Gravinsky

Aaron Holliday - Ryan

Jermaine Fowler - Josh

Charli XCX - Gabby

Kurt Yue - Neal

Summary

In Jacksonville, Margot Romero is a content moderator for TikTok-esque platform Kino, and responsible for filtering out offensive content.

She comes across a decapitation execution video and dismisses it as fake, but a 'stunt' involving an electric chair changes her mind.

As the videos quickly skyrocket in popularity, a comment states the murders are strikingly similar to those in Faces of Death, most of which was fake.

But a serial killer is reenacting snuff - for real.

Violence is the only means of dealing with reality

There might be other examples, but concept is the same principle as The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence), as Martin Lomax (Laurence R. Harvey), becomes obsessed with the first film, and decides to make his own "centipede".

Anyway, social commentary of people enjoying fucked up stuff online was surprisingly good.

Fresh from Dead Man's Wire, Dacre Montgomery's villain Arthur Spevak is actually terrifying, with calm and awkward demeanour often exploding into sickening violence.

Apart from being haunted by a video going viral of her sister killed on a train track, heroine is less watchable.

During a masterful split screen sequence, Margot thinks she's getting closer to Arthur, but the image alongside shows he's using her online activity to find her at the same time.

Shit builds to a shocking conclusion, which sees Margot getting the better of Arthur with a lipstick knife, leaving Arthur to bleed out watching the last part of film.

Having recorded the entire confrontation on a hidden body cam, she uploads video to Kino, smiling as comments roll in.

Mortal Kombat II (2026) - The scoop and digest

Before diving in, I have an interesting side story to tell.

The Asylum's mockbuster Immortal Combat¹ shares the same title of another film from 1994 (released in the UK as Resort to Kill).  Fairly obviously, American title rips off Mortal Kombat (1992), but the irony extends further, because Deron McBee (Muller) would play Motaro in MK Annihilation (1997).

Oh, the fourth episode of MK: Conquest (1998-1999) is Immortal Kombat.

WTF?

¹Probably coincidence, but the idea of actual historical figures competing in a fighting tournament has already been done by cult Neo Geo series World Heroes (1992-1995), which also features Joan of Arc and Genghis Khan (as Janne D'Arc and Julius Carn respectively).

There is no knowledge that is not power.

Anyway, Simon McQuoid returns to helm sequel, but instead of Greg Russo and Dave Callaham, screenplay is written by Jeremy Slater.

Karl Urban - Johnny Cage

Adeline Rudolph - Princess Kitana

Jessica McNamee - Sonya Blade

Josh Lawson - Kano

Ludi Lin - Liu Kang

Mehcad Brooks - Jax Briggs

Tati Gabrielle - Jade

Damon Herriman² - Quan Chi

Martyn Ford - Shao Kahn

Tadanobu Asano - Lord Raiden

Joe Taslim - Bi-Han/Noob Saibot

Lewis Tan - Cole Young

Hiroyuki Sanada - Hanzo Hattori/Scorpion

Chin Han - Shang Tsung

Max Huang - Kung Lao

CJ Bloomfield - Baraka

Desmond Chiam - King Jerrod

Ana Thu Nguyen - Queen Sindel

²Previously the voice of Kabal.

Summary

In Edenia, Emperor Shao Kahn kills Kitana's father King Jerrod in Mortal Kombat and unofficially adopts young lassie.

Rules: If one realm wins 10 tournaments in a row, it will be given dominion over the other.

20 years later, ahead of the final tournament, Kahn orders necromancer Quan Chi (who debuted in 1996 animated series MK: Defenders of the Realm) to revive Kano and Kung Lao.

On Earth, Lord Raiden and Sonya Blade tells washed up actor Johnny Cage that he's been selected as their fifth champion.

Despite calling bullshit, he soon warms to unenviable task.

Quan Chi takes Shinnok's amulet from Kano and steals Raiden's power for trinket, making Kahn immortal.

The battle to save the Earthrealm begins.

Flame represents fire

Does this kick original's ass?

Fuck yeah.

Despite an over-reliance on green screen (especially in Netherrealm) and Baraka looking stupid (at least in my opinion), I had a blast.

Gory fights are a huge step up from before and humour often lands, with Kano calling Quan Chi a 'big bleached dildo'.

Ha ha ha.

Kahn kills Cole and Jax, and Liu Kang uses Kung Lao's hat to gruesome effect.

Cage likens Raiden's 'cosplay' to Big Trouble in Little China (1986).  For those blissfully unaware, Raiden was based on Lightning, while David Lo-Pan provided the blueprint for Shang Tsung.

After the amulet is destroyed, Kitana ends Kahn's legacy of pain of cruelty.

Some time later, Cage, Sonya etc prepare to use Quan Chi to bring friends back.

There isn't a post-kredits scene, but a new version of Techno Syndrome is definitely worth sticking around for.

I'll leave you with these words of infinite wisdom.

May the screams of your enemies echo in your dreams.

'Probably' everything that Resident Evil Requiem ripped off - File 1

The latest mainline entry wasn't perfect, but still a hugely enjoyable experience.

https://nukesandknives.blogspot.com/2026/03/resident-evil-requiem_2.html

But as expected, Capcom couldn't fucking help themselves.

The Last of Us (2013)

Blister Head vs Clicker

Blister Borne vs Bloater

Talk about taking the Cordyceps.

Alien: Isolation (2014)

The Girl stalks Grace, just like the xenomorph terrorises Amanda.

When damaged and/or attacked, respective monsters retreat into the ceiling.

Now that's hilarious.

The Evil Within (2014)

Survival horror was developed by Tango Gameworks and directed by Shinji Mikami, who I bet wasn't consulted.

Grace Ashcroft is sent to the Wrenwood Hotel to report on the latest T-virus related death, while Sebastian Castellanos arrives at Beacon Mental Hospital to investigate a murder scene.

But that's only the beginning.

Victor chokeholding Grace vs Ruvik drugging Sebastian

Both find themselves hanging upside down and after freeing themselves, flee The Girl and Sadist.

In no particular order.

Meat grinder

Wrecked train

Jesus Christ.

Grace and Seb slide into a vat of blood.

Topping the lot though.

The Girl attacks Grace in a lift, but after she escapes, hag beast apparently plummets to her doom, with hand severed in the process. 

Seb has a similar experience, with Laura 'leaving' her arm behind as a parting gift.

Just... brilliant.

Alice universe

Undoubtedly the most famous set piece in Paul W. S. Anderson's original 2002 film was the lazer room trap.  In response, Capcom included a version in RE 4 (2005) and years later in Ada's campaign Separate Ways in the 2023 remake, with death scenes unfortunately censored.

Shit also appeared in The Umbrella Chronciles (2007) and RE 6 (2012).

For reasons beyond my comprehension, RE 3 (2020) stole a bevvy of scenes from Alexander Witt's 2004 sequel RE: Apocalypse, which was largely based on RE 3: Nemesis (1999).

That and more can be viewed here:

https://nukesandknives.blogspot.com/2024/05/probably-everything-that-resident-evil.html

Anyway, to business.

When Leon arrives in the ruins of Raccoon City, we can read a newspaper.

The Raccoon City Times
September 30, 1998
End of the world!
EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY

Nameplate is identical to 2002 film.

Headline and introductory paragraph references Day of the Dead (1985) and censored intro in RE (1996) respectively.

The Dead Walk! and Horror in Raccoon! More Victims Dead.

As a fun fact, a file in OG entitled Scrapbook contains the following:

RACCOON TIMES MAY 27, 1998

ANIMAL ATTACK? WOMAN MUTILATED

Article reports at around 10pm on May 20, the body of an unidentified 20-year-old woman was found on by a passer-by on the left bank of Marble River in the Cider District of Raccoon City.

For the record, this (or equivalent) doesn't appear in 2002 remake.

RE: Retribution (2012)

Emily is a clone of Grace.

Or shall we just call her...

Becky is a clone, but not of any established character. 

Implanted with false memories, she serves as the 'daughter' of Suburban Alice and Todd (a clone of Carlos Oliveira).

Emily is blind and Becky is deaf btw.

Hmmm.

Before escaping Rhodes Hill, we're forced to carry Emily, easily comparable to Alice rescuing Becky. 

Both pay tribute to Ripley and Newt in Aliens (1986).

"Close your eyes baby."

And.

RE: Degeneration (2008)
Claire Redfield earlier protected made-for-film character Rani Chawla from a zombie outbreak at Harvardville Airport.

Irritating flashback sequence at the orphanage (set in February 1990), has Chloe (Series 70) evading murderous Series 60 clones.

This slide found in the underground lab is immediately comparable to Alice clones awaking from suspended animation.

During the post-credits scene (only available in the canon ending), Grace tells Leon she's adopted Emily.

Guess what?

The real Alice 'emotionally' adopts Becky.

RE: The Final Chapter (2016)

Leon rides a Kawasaki KLR650, while Alice returns to Raccoon City on a BMW S 1000 XR.

Garmr vs Cerberus

Note how flesh and bone is exposed.

And the deal breaker.

Crater

(Ahem).

Believe it or not, the best is still to come.

Hokum - The scoop and digest

Supernatural horror is written and directed by Damian McCarthy.

Adam Scott - Ohm Bauman

Peter Coonan - Mal

David Wilmot - Jerry

Florence Ordesh - Fiona

Will O'Connell - Alby

Summary

Just before Halloween, writer Ohm Bauman (whose struggling to complete his Conquistador trilogy), travels from Washington to the Bilberry Woods Hotel in Ireland to scatter his parents ashes as they honeymooned there.

While doing the deed in the woods, Ohm meets a man called Jerry who regularly consumes milk laced with magic mushrooms.

He's a prick to everybody else, but Ohm warms to bartender Fiona, revealing his mother was shot dead and father drank himself to death.

She tells him about the honeymoon suite, said to be supposedly haunted by a witch.

After humiliating bellhop Alby and his dreams of being a writer, Fiona finds Ohm has hung himself, but rescues him.

Days after recovering in hospital, he returns to the hotel and informed by desk clerk Mal that Fiona went missing during the Halloween party, with Jerry being the prime suspect.

Suffice to say, the suite is reopened.

Where memories are made

Atmospheric yes, but calling this scary is ironically like the meaning of title - nonsense.

Suite is blatantly The Shining's Room 217/237, but no naked bathtub lady here.

Ohm's mom (Mallory Adams), who Ohm accidentally killed, and the witch (Sioux Carroll), serving as a metaphor for guilt, employ devastatingly dull jump scares, which we've seen a billion times before.

Of course spirits are part of narrative, but having already murdered Fiona, Mal is the main villain.

As the hotel burns, witch drags Mal into the underworld as Ohm makes peace with his mother's ghost, escaping both the basement and suite.

Back at the hospital, Alby admits to spiking Ohm's whisky with Jerry's hallucinogenic concoction and although shocked, Ohm promises to read Alby's manuscript and gives his Conquistador book a more hopeful ending. 

Daymare: 1998 - Beyond the Horror - Part 4

After three epic slices, the best is saved until last (which perhaps takes Italian developer's admiration too far).

Miscellany

Go Ballistic Feb. 9th vs Ashley Graham - RE 4 (2005)

Luis Sera: [eyeing up Ashley's figure] "Well, I see that the President's equipped his daughter with ballistics too."

H.A.D.E.S. office vs S.T.A.R.S. office - RE 2 (2019)

Joe Dutch vs Unnamed guy in Room 001 - RE (2002)

And.

RE: Dead Aim (2003)
P.T. ended it all in Room 201 on the Spencer Rain.

Spencer Crackhorn

The name of Keen Sight's founder is an amalgam of Oswell Spencer and Martin Crackhorn.

An email from j.phelps to alma.genner begins with Dearest Alma, which is virtually identical to the start of Researcher's Will - My dear Alma,

City pamphlet is an advertising guide from Neil Carson, describing stunning scenery in Redcrest Mountains and the annual Apple Blossom fair, a tradition that Keen Sight has been celebrating every summer for over 80 years.

File ends with:

Please enjoy your stay in my lovely city.

Thank you.

Neil Carson,

Keen Sight Mayor

RE 2 - N64

Random as fuck, but similarly titled EX file Raccoon City Pamphlet is written in the same manner, with ending verbatim.

Please enjoy your stay in my lovely city. Thank you.

Michael Warren

Raccoon City Mayor

City Guide in RE 3: Nemesis mixes shit up and focuses more on the man himself.

Fun fact.

Devlin Harris is the Mayor in S.D. Perry's novelisations.

Now for the mainline PS1 trilogy.

Survivor is technically canon, but shitty spin-off is ignored anyway.

RE (1996)

Daymare vs Biohazard (JP)

InvaderStation (an obvious parody of PlayStation) is identical to font used in North American/European cover art.

Love this one.

12061996

PC port was initially released in Japan on December 6 1996.

Burton's Construction vs Barry Burton

Okay then.

V-Jolt is the key

When created, chemical is used to instantly weaken Plant 42.

RE 2 (1998)

Letter to Doug

According to its author (Annette, a nod to Annette Birkin), her husband Doug MacReady, a sewage worker, is a fucking loser, and even threatens to cheat on him with the plumber.

What a bitch.

She also hopes a giant crocodile will take a piece of his fat ass.

Monster was actually an alligator, but whatever.

A. Wong

D&D Gun Shop vs Gun Shop Kendo
 

R.P.D. (Rapid Post Delivery) vs R.P.D. (Raccoon Police Department)

Kinda cute I suppose.

This too shall pass is an adage of Persian origin about impermanence.

Guess what?

As a special bonus.

Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City

RE 3: Nemesis (1999)

Finally, time to go overboard.

Aoyama Corp. Japan

Kazuhiro Aoyama was game's director and helped develop Daymare in its very early stages.

Grady's Inn

Books

D&D Gun Shop vs Eagle's Pet Shop

Black Jack Pub vs Bar Jack

Chalk tracks

Paracelsus Sword¹ vs "Rail Cannon"

¹As mentioned by Technology Division Colonel Franklin Hart in Classified Photo File.

Heart-Avir

Drug is their version of Aqua Cure, Safsprin or Adravil.

The end.

(Thank Christ).

Prequel Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle was released in 2023.

I might take a look.