Twice a month Joe Lipsett will dissect a new Amityville Horror film to explore how the “franchise” has evolved in increasingly ludicrous directions. This is “The Amityville IP.”
It’s time to revisit the Amityville “franchise’s” most prolific director, Mark Polonia. Thus far we’ve experienced his work on Amityville Death House (famed for its bizarre Spider woman climax) and, more recently, Amityville Exorcism.
Which brings us to Polonia’s third title in the “series”: Amityville Island. Oddly enough this film is something of a spiritual sequel to Exorcism, in that it features brief flashbacks of that film’s lead, Melanie (Marie DeLorenzo). The reveal of that character’s fate is quite grim: in between films Melanie shot up a diner as part of a slate of unexplained murders in Amityville.
Unsurprisingly for these films, Melanie’s actions have very little bearing on Island. There’s a reporter,...
It’s time to revisit the Amityville “franchise’s” most prolific director, Mark Polonia. Thus far we’ve experienced his work on Amityville Death House (famed for its bizarre Spider woman climax) and, more recently, Amityville Exorcism.
Which brings us to Polonia’s third title in the “series”: Amityville Island. Oddly enough this film is something of a spiritual sequel to Exorcism, in that it features brief flashbacks of that film’s lead, Melanie (Marie DeLorenzo). The reveal of that character’s fate is quite grim: in between films Melanie shot up a diner as part of a slate of unexplained murders in Amityville.
Unsurprisingly for these films, Melanie’s actions have very little bearing on Island. There’s a reporter,...
- 9/12/2023
- by Joe Lipsett
- bloody-disgusting.com
Twice a month Joe Lipsett will dissect a new Amityville Horror film to explore how the “franchise” has evolved in increasingly ludicrous directions. This is “The Amityville IP.”
After an “in name only” outing with Amityville Prison (aka Against The Night), there’s something reassuring about Amityville Exorcism, which delivers exactly what the title suggests.
This is the second outing for director Mark Polonia after Amityville Death House, who swaps out writer John Oak Dalton for “franchise” newcomer Billy D’Amato. Alas, what made Death House an entertaining, albeit uneven, watch – ie: a pair of gonzo sequences – is mostly absent in this film.
Exorcism begins with a typical Amityville set piece in which father Charles Humes (Ken Van Sant) murders his wife and daughters in their home. Polonia and cinematographer Lukas K. Reynolds shoot this sequence in a dream-like fashion: partially in slow motion, with an accentuated heartbeat pounding on the soundtrack.
After an “in name only” outing with Amityville Prison (aka Against The Night), there’s something reassuring about Amityville Exorcism, which delivers exactly what the title suggests.
This is the second outing for director Mark Polonia after Amityville Death House, who swaps out writer John Oak Dalton for “franchise” newcomer Billy D’Amato. Alas, what made Death House an entertaining, albeit uneven, watch – ie: a pair of gonzo sequences – is mostly absent in this film.
Exorcism begins with a typical Amityville set piece in which father Charles Humes (Ken Van Sant) murders his wife and daughters in their home. Polonia and cinematographer Lukas K. Reynolds shoot this sequence in a dream-like fashion: partially in slow motion, with an accentuated heartbeat pounding on the soundtrack.
- 7/18/2023
- by Joe Lipsett
- bloody-disgusting.com
Stars: James Carolus, Steve Diasparra, Danielle Donahue, Jamie Morgan, Ken Van Sant, Sarah Duterte | Written by Aaron Drake | Directed by Mark Polonia
I think I’ve watched more films by Mark Polonia during this past year in lockdown than I have in the rest of my life. Which is apt given this, his latest film, deals with a global viral pandemic… Though unlike the current one we’re experiencing here in the real world, the virus in Virus Shark comes from a shark. As if I needed to explain that given the title!
Dubbed Shvid-1, the virus has decimated the globe, with millions dying, riots and violence in the streets, martial law declared everywhere. Basically the world has turned to shit. The only thing standing between humanity and what looks to be the end of the world are a group of scientists working 800 metres under the sea, trying to find...
I think I’ve watched more films by Mark Polonia during this past year in lockdown than I have in the rest of my life. Which is apt given this, his latest film, deals with a global viral pandemic… Though unlike the current one we’re experiencing here in the real world, the virus in Virus Shark comes from a shark. As if I needed to explain that given the title!
Dubbed Shvid-1, the virus has decimated the globe, with millions dying, riots and violence in the streets, martial law declared everywhere. Basically the world has turned to shit. The only thing standing between humanity and what looks to be the end of the world are a group of scientists working 800 metres under the sea, trying to find...
- 2/22/2021
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Stars: Titus Himmelberger, Natalie Himmelberger, Jennie Russo, Steve Diasparra, Jeff Kirkendall | Written by John Oak Dalton | Directed by Mark Polonia
Ahhh, the late ’80s/early ’90s… the heyday of shot-on-video horror. Where anyone could pick up a camera, make a movie and get it into video stores; well at least in the US. This was also the era that made household names out of the likes of Donald Farmer, Tim Ritter, and the Polonia Brothers… Filmmakers who, to this day, are still producing low budget genre films and still have a rabid fan base! I’m not going to lie though, the oeuvre of these filmmakers is somewhat of an acquired taste. Always low budget, often made with recurring cast and crew, very much what you’d call DIY filmmaking – right down to using familiar stock music and stock video footage. Yet often times truly falling into that “so bad they’re good category.
Ahhh, the late ’80s/early ’90s… the heyday of shot-on-video horror. Where anyone could pick up a camera, make a movie and get it into video stores; well at least in the US. This was also the era that made household names out of the likes of Donald Farmer, Tim Ritter, and the Polonia Brothers… Filmmakers who, to this day, are still producing low budget genre films and still have a rabid fan base! I’m not going to lie though, the oeuvre of these filmmakers is somewhat of an acquired taste. Always low budget, often made with recurring cast and crew, very much what you’d call DIY filmmaking – right down to using familiar stock music and stock video footage. Yet often times truly falling into that “so bad they’re good category.
- 11/9/2020
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Stars: Danielle Donahue, Jeff Kirkendall, Bob Dennis, James Carolus, Steve Diasparra, Ken Van Sant, Todd Carpenter, Austin Dragovich, Laurie Smith, Frank Humes, Houston Baker | Written by John Oak Dalton | Directed by Mark Polonia
I’m not going to lie, the oeuvre of the Polonia Brothers is somewhat of an acquired taste. Always low budget, often made with recurring cast and crew, very much what you’d call Diy filmmaking – right down to using familiar stock music and stock video footage (tell me you don’t recognise this films blood-drip filled opening credits? I’ve seen it offered as a design from tons of “video editors” on Fiverr). You have been warned… But for those familiar with the Polonia’s work, Jurassic Prey is more of the same cheesy fun that you’ve come to expect!
Jurassic Prey, originally released on Full Moon’s streaming service under the title of Meateaters,...
I’m not going to lie, the oeuvre of the Polonia Brothers is somewhat of an acquired taste. Always low budget, often made with recurring cast and crew, very much what you’d call Diy filmmaking – right down to using familiar stock music and stock video footage (tell me you don’t recognise this films blood-drip filled opening credits? I’ve seen it offered as a design from tons of “video editors” on Fiverr). You have been warned… But for those familiar with the Polonia’s work, Jurassic Prey is more of the same cheesy fun that you’ve come to expect!
Jurassic Prey, originally released on Full Moon’s streaming service under the title of Meateaters,...
- 4/28/2017
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Stars: Michelle Simone Miller, Kathryn Metz, Rich Lounello, A.J. DeLucia, Steve Diasparra, Danielle Donahue, Ken Van Sant | Written and Directed by Brett Piper
The latest film from cult auteur Brett Piper (They Bite, The Screaming Dead, Raiders of the Living Dead) Queen Crab is – from start to finish – a loving, action-packed tribute to the classic days of practical stop-motion animation, evoking the days of Ray Harryhausen creature features.
The official synopsis reads thus: A meteor crashes into a quiet lake in the remote countryside, awakening a centuries-old beast. She emerges from the deep and tears through a nearby town and its inhabitants. The humans must fight for their lives and stop this Queen Crab before she can hatch an army of babies that will overrun the entire world.
Though to be fair that synopsis exagerates things a little. It’s more a case of girl develops relationship with a crab,...
The latest film from cult auteur Brett Piper (They Bite, The Screaming Dead, Raiders of the Living Dead) Queen Crab is – from start to finish – a loving, action-packed tribute to the classic days of practical stop-motion animation, evoking the days of Ray Harryhausen creature features.
The official synopsis reads thus: A meteor crashes into a quiet lake in the remote countryside, awakening a centuries-old beast. She emerges from the deep and tears through a nearby town and its inhabitants. The humans must fight for their lives and stop this Queen Crab before she can hatch an army of babies that will overrun the entire world.
Though to be fair that synopsis exagerates things a little. It’s more a case of girl develops relationship with a crab,...
- 10/25/2015
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
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