Horror Hype Woman

Author: Brandy Sims

  • Spoiler-free The Fetus review

    Terrifier 2 made me Lauren LaVera’s biggest fan, and I will watch any movie she is in going forward. When I heard about The Fetus, I knew I had to see it. I try to go into most movies knowing as little as possible, and this one was no exception. I knew there was a problematic fetus, and that was it. This will be a spoiler-free review, because I believe you should also watch this movie knowing very little. 

    The plot is simple: Lauren LaVera’s Alessa finds out she’s pregnant, and she knows a pregnancy for her doesn’t mean the same as it does for other people. Things escalate from there. The acting is a strength in this flick. Everyone commits to the story, which makes it work. Lauren LaVera is all in and shines like she always does. Bill Moseley (Alessa’s dad, Maddox) plays his usual crazy, unforgettable character well (compliment). Julian Curtis (Chris) plays the dumbass boyfriend turned good guy and does it well. 

    I just realized this is director Joe Lam’s first feature-length movie. I never would have guessed that. He shows talent in The Fetus, and I’d check out future movies of his. 

    There are some great special effects, makeup, and practical effects here as well. It really gives off a “throwback” vibe because of the cool practical effects. However, I did expect it to be a little bloodier, but it should please any gore-lover. 

    It has a tight runtime of 84 minutes, which I appreciated. It never dragged and kept me interested. Overall, The Fetus is an absurd, well-acted, fun little bonkers flick! 3.5/5 stars. 

  • Retro Review: Valentine

    Happy (almost) Valentine’s Day! I watched Valentine this week for the first time in several years. I remember loving this movie so much when it came out that I convinced my parents to buy it for me from Blockbuster. Oh, how I miss Blockbuster! Valentine is 24 years old now, which is crazy. I’ve always held it in high regards as one of the best, if not the best, Valentine’s Day-related horror movies out there. I’m not a big Valentine’s Day person, which is why I haven’t rewatched it in a long while. I sat down and watched it again this week and was blown away at how much it has held up over the years. The cast is filled with stars who each hold their own. The kills are inventive and bloody (who doesn’t love that hot tub scene?). The killer’s mask is creepy and cool. The plot is solid, and the motive is clear: revenge. The ending and the twist are effective. The vibe is spot on for the holiday. 90s bad boy David Boreanaz is great in this, as are all of the leading ladies. Marley Shelton is a good match for him. My favorite is Denise Richards playing the “sultry” friend; she nails it. I vaguely remembered the ending from seeing it as a teen, but I remember the first time I saw this being surprised and distracted by all the red herrings. 

    Screenshot

    I much prefer Valentine over most of the other Valentine’s Day horror movies. I love the cherub mask the killer wears and the traditional Valentine’s Day imagery and cliches (giving your girlfriend a cherub necklace for Valentine’s Day is cliche in the best way). Valentine just feels like THE definitive movie for the holiday. 

    Have you seen Valentine? Do you like it? Circle yes or no.

  • Welcome to the Horror Hype Woman blog!

    Hey there! I’m Brandy, and I’m your local Horror Hype Woman! I’ve been wanting to start a blog for all things horror (and horror-adjacent) for a while, and now is the time!

    Why horror and why this blog? I’ve loved everything horror-related since I was a kid. My main early movie memories were watching flicks I was probably way too young to watch, but I loved them. I was the kid who dressed up as Ghostface for Halloween instead of a princess or pumpkin. Horror has always been such a huge part of my life and my personality. I also love to write, so what better way to combine two of my favorite things?

    This blogging project is also in honor of my sweet furbaby, Zoey, who unexpectedly passed in September 2024. She was my whole world. We did everything together. She watched hundreds of horror movies with me, and I like to think she also loved all things horror and that she approves of this blog.

    ABOUT ME:

    I’m Brandy, and I’m a Southerner from Memphis, TN. I’m in my 30s and grew up with the slashers of the 90s. Scream is my all-time favorite movie. I’m an introverted nerd who loves researching and writing. I spend a lot of my free time watching horror movies and reading thrillers. I’m looking forward to sharing more and getting to know you too!

    ABOUT THE BLOG:

    I hope this will be a place of community for other horror fanatics to gather and engage. I will regularly post reviews, opinion pieces, media calendars and lists, and I’m hoping to include some interviews and spotlight pieces along the way. My goal is to post one or two times per week, depending how busy life is. I have a full-time job, so you can expect posts in the evenings and on weekends.

    I want to keep the first post relatively short, so without further ado, welcome fellow Scream Queens and Kings! I’m happy you are here for the ride!

    Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or comments. Also feel free to subscribe. Thank you for your support and happy haunting!