Monsterland

"The best thing about horror anthologies is that each story is short, so if you get bored, fed up, or mildly suicidal, just remember it'll be over soon." - Last Chance Lance, Rue Morgue magazine

The above quote perfectly applies to Monsterland, a diverse horror anthology, produced by Dread Central. One of this anthology's best assets is the brevity of many of the shorts. Monsterland is as uneven as any anthology, but at least the shorts that don't work end before they have a chance to sour the overall taste of the film.

As for the best segments, the first one up is The Grey Matter. Starring Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Girls, The Punisher) as a working stiff who finds his life changed after his brain is invaded by a charismatic parasite who helps him land a date with his dream girl. This one is funny, gross, and, dare I say it, charming. It's one of the longest segments, at almost 20 minutes, but it's also probably my favorite.


Other standouts include the sleep paralysis tale Hag, which stars Megan Duffy (Holidays, Maniac remake), John Franklin (Children of the Corn, The Addams Family), and Eileen Dietz (Pazuzu's face in The Exorcist!!) and features some genuinely unsettling moments. Meanwhile, Happy Memories may not actually be horror in the strictest sense, but it is one of the most beautifully bizarre things I have seen in a while.


Finally, Hellyfish (directed by Patrick Longstreth and Robert McLean) ends the anthology on a high note. Featuring giant killer jellyfish action set to dramatic music, it's a short I would love to see made into a feature.

Monster Land is currently free on Tubi, a website I highly recommend for getting your free horror fix.