Looks like we've got ourselves a classic battle of vehicular combat legends. The 90's were an amazing time in the world, especially for video games. 1996 unleashed what would become an all-time great in the vehicular combat genre. Twisted Metal 2 (Sony Interactive, SingleTrac) had various drivers in modded vehicles battling it out in a winner-take-all tournament. The winner would see a single wish granted by returning heel 'Calypso', regardless of price, size, or reality. Unlike the first instalment in the series where contestants battled throughout L.A., this destruction derby is being fought all around the World. Not only do you get to fight Minion again, but a new boss 'Dark Tooth' has entered as the new end game. This release built on the success of the original with more intricate maps, better gameplay, and obvious graphical improvements. This series has some iconic characters that have stood the test of time. I was usually 'Thumper' or 'Road Kill' but some of the best fun I can remember was playing as 'Sweet Tooth'. It's hard to argue against 'Axel' being one of, if not the best characters this time around. He was just so satisfying to move around with. 'Outlaw 2' was also fun almost feeling like you were T-1000 chasing people down. In my opinion the best maps for Twisted Metal 2 are 'Paris' and 'New York'. In 1997 EGM ranked it 64th on their "100 Best Games of All Time" list, commenting that "The sheer amount of different vehicles, levels and weapons available at your disposal makes for awesome multiplayer matches." On to the great Vigilante 8 (Luxoflux). Released in 1998, the game is set in an alternate 1975. Australian terrorist Sid Burn is hired by OMAR (Oil Monopoly Alliance Regime) to dispose of all competing oil companies in the U.S. so that OMAR can establish an oil monopoly in the country. After hearing of reports of destruction by Sid's gang, the Coyotes, a kind-hearted trucker name 'Convoy' decides to take matters into his own hands, forming a group of his own, the Vigilantes, to combat and stop the tyranny of OMAR. Similar to TM2, there are various characters in modded vehicles with machine guns and other weapons that are found around the maps. Rockets, mines, mortars and more! via Nintendo Blast Unlike the Twisted Metal series, Vigilante 8 didn't have characters that stuck around in the mainstream. 'Y' the Alien and 'Torque' might be some of the most popular, although I was always a 'Chassey Blue' or 'Slick Clyde' main. Playing against 'Beezwax' drove me insane. The bees ruined my damn life even if the damage wasn't terrible in-game. Where Vigilante 8 really excelled was in the maps. Valley Farms, Hoover Dam, Ski Resort... ah man they were great. I actually think Casino City was the worst map in the game and even it was better than the top tier maps in Twisted Metal 2. The game was nominated for Best Playstation game at the 1998 CNET Gamecenter Awards, but lost out to Gran Turismo. Conclusion-burger Twisted Metal WINS = characters, plot, boss fights Vigilante 8 WINS = maps, multiplayer, weapons Both games have excellent story modes so I'd chop that up into a tie. As much as I love the story and characters for Twisted Metal 2, the map design, especially paired with multiplayer, is just too good in Vigilante 8. There was more intensity and crazier battles in my time playing Vigilante 8 compared to TM2, and the game just felt smoother and more complete. We declare the winner to be: Vigilante 8

Directed by: Phil Sgriccia, Bill Benz, Iain B. MacDonald, Bertie Ellwood Starring: Anthony Mackie, Stephanie Beatriz, Anthony Carrigan Go Horror Rating: C Cards on the table here, I actually liked the first season more than I did this one. That doesn't necessarily mean much because I think both seasons were decent at best. One of my favourite video game series of all time just feels like it got the shaft with this adaptation. Notable characters from this season were: John Doe, Sweet Tooth, Calypso, Mayhem, Dollface, Axel, and Dave Inferior characters from this season were: Quiet, Mr. Grimm, Vermin, Stu, Raven The show is corny and the action scenes weren't even entertaining in a comical way. I get that the show is supposed to be a mashed potato sandwich with comedy, horror, and action but I just didn't find that any of those 3 elements blended or fed off each other. Vehicular combat is a hard thing to film and pull off, so I can't bury the entirety of those action sequences, but it definitely felt C grade with a B budget. Elite killers from across the Divided States, the absolute best in the murder-filled wastelands, and no one can take out a fucking PT Cruiser with machine guns and rocket launchers?!? I'm almost positive a 9-year-old in a Fisher Price foot-car and a nerf gun could have done more damage than what these slayers were doing. Aside from the absurd car-fighting, the writing and acting were well below average. Mackie isn't winning any awards for his acting in this but he's goofy enough and confident enough to get through the shit script. I don't love the chemistry between the mains so thankfully we had some secondary characters help carry this season. Mayhem, Axel and Calyspo were fun to watch but Grimm and Vermin were terribly annoying and drove me insane. It just felt like everyone else was there... just... there. One part of the season that could have been a lot more tense was when Calypso unleashed the Apocalypse 9. I thought this was an awesome angle but it ended up tripping all over itself. The robotic killers went from terrifying to easily dispatched in an anticlimactic way. I just felt there needed to be more animosity and violence between the contestants and not PG conversations with zero moxie. Like Commodus in 'Gladiator', Calyspo had some tricks up his sleeve during the final arena battle. The only issue (aside from the dogshit car battle itself), was the big surprise... MINION! This battle should have been a lot more nutty but even though he was seemingly indestructible, he looked like a retro YTV character and didn't invoke enough terror. At the end of the season, I appreciated it on a very surface-level of entertainment. I am genuinely surprised at the general consensus for the show. I'm not excited for a third season but I will absolutely watch it whenever it does come out.

Directed by: Casper Kelly, Paco Plaza, Alex Ross Perry, Bryan M. Ferguson, R.H. Norman, Anna Zlokovic Starring: David Haydn, Anna McKelvie, Adam James Johnston Go Horror Rating: C Man I wish they wouldn't stray so far from their roots with this series. To me, this isn't much better than Viral and probably the second worst in the franchise. I love me some campiness and low-grade gore, but this instalment left me disappointed. It was a mixed bag of both awesome and lame, and that's why we've decided on an average grade. Diet Phantasma: Pretty weak overall but there was just enough humour to make it passable. I think it only worked reasonably well as kind of the 'MC' tape of the movie. Coochie Coochie Coo: A murder-nipple-monster-mother, oodles of milk, a shapeshifting house and annoying teens had me counting the minutes till it was over. Left me unsatisfied. Ut Supra Sic Infra: From a director with an amazing resume, he left me high and dry after this tape. It was quite bland all-around and nothing memorable or that stood out. Fun Size: Now we're talkin'! I'm a huge advocate for the VHS series sticking to more of their original tapes that were actually scary and intense, but this type of fun-horror is very, very well done. Aside from a ho-hum factory setting, I loved the whole story. My biggest issue with this tape is how the word caramel is pronounced. Whenever I go, it better be by getting chopped up, covered in chocolate and packaged into "Fligs & Splipps". Kidprint: I can't believe how soft the general, horror-watching public is towards this tape. People are acting like it's the most off-side chapter in the franchise when, to me, it was pretty uneven and nonsensical, and the killer parts leaned more towards goofy than scary. I actually still enjoyed this one, it was just a bit rough around the edges. Home Haunt: This one was good fun. A haunted house gone rogue with some awesome scares and death scenes. It's always a good time when a cursed vinyl comes into play and I think it was very well executed. Overall rankings for the tapes: Fun Size Home Haunt Kidprint Diet Phantasma Ut Supra Sic Infra Coochie Coochie Coo

Directed by: David Yarovesky Starring: Bill Skarsgard, Anthony Hopkins, Ashley Cartwright Go Horror Rating: D The entire movie was ineffectual and a slog to get through. Skarsgard's performance was decent but this may be the first time I just couldn't enjoy an Anthony Hopkins performance (and that says a lot since I didn't even dislike him in 'Solace' as much as this.) It never really succeeds as a thriller and is completely void of a sensible plot. Improbable randomness and stupid rationalizations had me rolling my eyes throughout. The last act was vexing as all hell and essentially sealed this movie's fate as one that wasn't worth watching.

As many of you know, we're pretty big into metal, hardcore, punk and anything in between. We also think these genres blend perfectly with Halloween and the Fall season. We thought it'd be fun to make a little list of 31 heavy tunes to get people into the season. ' Mephisto ' by Crystal Lake ' Chin Check ' by Filth ' Swallowing the Rabbit Whole ' by Code Orange ' Stick Tight ' by Terror ' Blackened Sun ' by Get the Shot ' Second Death ' by Black Tongue ' Where I'm From ' by Zulu ' Magnetic ' by Wage War ' Neo Seoul ' by After the Burial ' Invisible Enemy ' by August Burns Red ' Magnolia ' by Bury Your Dead ' Crooked ' by Dealer ' Unlike Us ' by Hacktivist ' My Time ' by Equalizer ' This Verdant Coil ' by Truent ' Wake the Dead ' by Comeback Kid ' Shock ' by Fear Factory ' Rusted Over Wet Dreams ' by Emmure ' Territory ' by Sepultura ' Coagulate ' by Snapcase ' Jupiterian Vibe ' by Samael ' The Lion War ' by The Ghost Inside ' Ten Ton Hammer ' by Machine Head ' Zeitgeist ' by Incendiary ' The Failsafe ' by Misery Signals ' Drown in Fog ' by Art of Attrition ' Sidewinder ' by Volumes ' Nights ' by Thrown ' Deceiver ' by The Browning ' Outsider ' by Veil of Maya ' Gungrave ' by Erra

Directed by: Emilie Blichfeldt Starring: Lea Myren, Ane Dahl Torp, Thea Sofie Loch Naess Go Horror Rating: S 2025's been a wild year for horror with big hits and movies with lasting impressions. The Ugly Stepsister is grisly, and superb! A movie flooded with gore, genitals, and grim psychology, it provides a plethora of 'oh fuck' moments. Great acting, make-up, costume design and setting makes this not-for-grandma version of Cinderella, a must-see for any horror fan.

Directed by: Zach Cregger Starring: Julie Garner, Josh Brolin , Alden Ehrenreich Go Horror Rating: A We seem to have some trickery afoot in the sense that I thought I knew what I was getting into, but somehow it wasn't what I was expecting. It was very well crafted and reminded me in some ways of Prisoners (2013), and kept me feeling tense most of the way through. I'll admit I found the mystery part to be a little colourless, but it didn't feel wrong due to the feral and deranged nature of the movie. Main characters are all awesome and secondary cast also kicked ass (hello, Amy Madigan!). It's a skin-crawling and bleak movie that felt balanced and ominous. It's sure as hell a Cregger film, which was wholeheartedly welcomed as a horror fan.

Directed by: Anna Kendrick Starring: Anna Kendrick, Daniel Zovatto, Autumn Best Go Horror Rating: A Kendrick kicks major ass as the star, and as the movie's director. A great view into 70's prejudice and how confining it would have been to be a woman at that time, in L.A. Some of the most terrifying parts in the movie were any time we saw Zovatto's teeth but I digress. All 3 of our mains were exceptional and a damn-near perfect amount of tension throughout. A serial killer movie done right, respecting fully it's true crime aspect with an extremely effective climax.

Directed by: Terence Bernie Hines Starring: Kate Noel, Bre ck Cuddy, Tanya Champoux Go Horror Rating: F Where do we start with this movie... We probably shouldn't bother. I want to obliterate this movie in many ways but I'll just say that it's absolutely terrible.

Directed by: Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou Starring: Billy Barratt, Sally Hawkins, Mischa Heywood Go Horror Rating: A I usually hate when people use the term 'slow burn' because it seems like half the films that are released nowadays carry that tag. I also believe that 'slow burn' can have different variations. Bring Her Back is undoubtedly within that style, but in a perfectly consistent and dreadful manner. The film evokes certain emotional responses out of the viewer, even if they can't personally relate. A fantastic cast that really leaves it all out on the table. The trauma, abuse, and grief will seep into your soul and leave you feeling stained.