Kantemir (2015)

It's been 12 years since Robert Englund last donned the razor fingered glove and striped jumper of the nightmare master Freddy Krueger - since then, while he has been shining in our hearts, he maybe has not been shining on our screens.

Kantemir is the latest instalment in what seems to be a run of roles for Englund that would make Wes Craven spin in his grave.

In fact, although it's not a completely duff film, it does somewhat draw a lot of parallels to Craven's "New Nightmare". A cast of actors are assembled to act out a play, and as time progresses they start to become the roles themselves including a lot of (literal) backstabbing.

Director Ben Samuels draws influence from surreal horror such as A Company Of Wolves or Gothic to deliver what is still a toddler-stage film for him.

As I said, it's not a complete botch, there is enough there to keep you watching but such a rich canvas could have used not only more experience but a complete re-write (especially the ending) - Keep an eye on Samuels as this could be one of his "early years" films before he becomes the next Ken Russell.

5/10 Masks

Fear Clinic (2014)

When the cast includes Robert Englund it could go one of two ways. Nightmare On Elm St or...Zombies vs Strippers.

Sadly, Fear Clinic edges towards the latter. I had to watch it twice as the first time round I felt that I kept missing things and that the plot was hard to follow. Second time round I realised that it was just that the film wasn't interesting enough to hold my attention.

Which is a shame as the plot was quite good - Englund plays a doctor who finds a way to cure patients of their fears and phobias by constructing a floatation tank that allows them to virtually live out their fears and confront them.

Predictably - it doesn't all go to plan. This coupled with an underhanded deal carried out by a pair of bungling criminals (one played by Slipknot's Corey Taylor) ensures that Fear Clinic lives up to it's name.

Now I'm not sure if it was the pace, the editing or the cast but even with the face of Freddy Krueger present, nothing thrown at me by this piece stuck. Even on the second watch.

It could be that a re-edit could sort this movie out, as is it just feels messy and confusing which is a shame given the potential.

3/10 Masks