The title of HYSTERICAL PSYCHO (currently awaiting theatrical release after assorted festival dates) refers to at least one of the characters and is a pretty good description of the movie itself as well. It’s a berserk, over-the-top, wildly uneven assault of humorous and homagistic horror that’s decidedly not for all tastes—but those who do enjoy its flavor are gonna eat it up.

There haven’t been too many movies lately revolving around witchcraft and satanic rituals, and in that respect, THE HAGSTONE DEMON is a fun breath of fresh air. Shot on what was clearly a low budget, Jon Springer’s tale of a haunted apartment complex (which has played festivals and is awaiting wider release) is generally successful and entertaining throughout.

Once upon a time, the promise of an unrated or extended cut was exciting. The advent of DVD and the attendant special features opened up a whole new world of rare behind-the-scenes material, excised bits and alternate takes we had only heard about. Now, more often than not, it’s simply a sham. Two more seconds of barely noticeable gore? Oh, cool.

The important thing to remember about Emily Hagins, the budding filmmaker at the center of the documentary ZOMBIE GIRL: THE MOVIE (which has been playing the fest circuit for the last year or so), is that she’s a 12-year-old. A real 12-year-old, not a miniature adult of the type we’ve been conditioned to expect from the cinema, and that no doubt would have taken center stage if this were a calculated reality-TV program.

H.P. Lovecraft is not always easy to figure out; some might say you could go mad trying. But SOTA Toys seems to have a firm grasp on his creatures in their Nightmare line. This tribute to the eldritch author comes in the form of some of the most ornate and detailed sculptures available for public consumption.

American author Kim Paffenroth (pictured) and the zombie subculture appear to make unlikely bedfellows, but there is a reason for the associate professor of religion’s obsession with the shambling, gut-ripping undead: His works generally focus on the timeless battle between good and evil. In 2006’s GOSPEL OF THE LIVING DEAD, he tore into George A. Romero’s films to show how they utilize Christian imagery, via well-researched, in-depth synopses and analyses. It made for a great read and garnered Paffenroth a coveted Bram Stoker Award.

Rockstar Games embodies the industry standard: They set the bar, then they raise it. The GRAND THEFT AUTO franchise laid the foundation for their cash-vacuum production, and yet they continue to improve on the model. RED DEAD REDEMPTION not only continues the time-honored tradition of wreaking havoc in an open-sandbox environment, it redefines it with topnotch story-writing and character depth, positioning itself as a Game of the Year candidate.