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I’ve been trying to catch up on some of the movies released this year that I’ve missed, and last night was a step in the right direction. I watched three horror movies released in 2025 (two very new, one newly streaming on Shudder), so today I have a triple-feature for you! I’ll keep my thoughts on each one brief.
Movies of the Day
Clown in a Cornfield
Star Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (good)
I sadly missed Clown in a Cornfield in theaters, but now that it’s streaming on Shudder I decided to give it a watch. I enjoyed it, but I definitely think that the chatter about it being different from other slashers was overstated. It has a theme of generational conflict, sure, but many slashers tackle this idea. I actually thought some of the explicit explanations of the thematic conflict were corny. The overall plot is fun though. Very predictable, but fun. This is a fine slasher movie that includes some highly entertaining kill scenes. I recommend it to any slasher fan, so check it out on Shudder or AMC+.
The Lizzie Borden Game
Star Rating: 2.5 out of 5 (average)
The Lizzie Borden Game is about a group of friends hanging out at a “castle” in the woods for a Friendsgiving trip. They decide to play the Lizzie Borden game, which is pretty much just like Bloody Mary. They get freaked out when the game actually works and they see Lizzie in a mirror, and they fail to say the words to close the doorway they opened. Lizzie then starts killing them all. I enjoy the premise, but many vitally important plot points feel too contrived or nonsensical. Lizzie is nicely menacing though, and there is some interesting camerawork for a low-budget movie. It’s rather slow to get moving, but overall The Lizzie Borden Game is okay. It’s available to rent on Prime Video.
Sweeney Todd: Slice & Dice
Star Rating: 2.5 out of 5 (average)
Sweeney Todd: Slice & Dice is a serious effort to retell the classic story in a way that puts a focus on Sweeney Todd’s moral stance. The idea is there, and the performances are good, but the story feels more like an outline rather than a finished script. The plot points are there to drive the story, but there’s very little in the way of emotional investment. We understand why Todd feels the way that he does, but except for a couple of scenes, his interactions with other people are functions of the plot rather than moments that build character. The best way I can describe it is like skimming a book rather than reading it. The bones are all there, but there’s very little meat on them. I appreciate the gore in the kill scenes and some of Mrs. Lovett’s cooking, but I’d say this is a low 2.5 as far as entertainment and investment. If you want to watch, you can rent it on Prime Video.
In the News
- Chase Sui Wonders has been cast in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer pilot, playing a character believed to be a vampire named Shirley. Wonders previously starred in I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) as Ava, and in Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) as Emma. (Deadline)
- The 1995 b-movie slasher Jack-O is getting a sequel, and it recently launched an Indiegogo campaign to help raise funds. (Bloody Disgusting)
Birthdays
Natalie Mendoza was born on August 12th, 1978. She’s best known to horror fans for her role as Juno in The Descent (2005) and its sequel. In addition to movies and television, Natalie is also a singer (she recorded songs with her sister Rebecca as the pop duo Jackson Mendoza), and she performs in musicals. Most recently, Natalie played Satine in the Broadway production of Moulin Rouge.
Rebecca Gayheart is also celebrating a birthday today. Born on August 12th, 1971, Rebecca’s horror credits include Urban Legend (1998), Scream 2 (1997), From Dusk Till Dawn 3 (1999), and Santa’s Slay (2005). My favorite movie of hers is the teen thriller/comedy Jawbreaker (1999).
Events on This Day
Cujo was released in US theaters on August 12th, 1983. Despite mixed reviews when it was released, and even mixed reviews now, Cujo is an excellent horror film. Dee Wallace is fantastic as a beleaguered mother and wife doing her best to protect her child from a vicious dog, and the movie as a whole is as tense as it is heartbreaking. Cujo is streaming on MGM+.
Final Destination 5 was also released on August 12th, in 2011. Despite doing well in theaters, and despite the idea floating around that the plan was to shoot two more Final Destination movies back to back, another sequel didn’t happen until the release of Final Destination: Bloodlines in 2025. Final Destination 5 is on HBO Max.
More movies released on August 12th:
- Funeral Home (1982)
- The Skeleton Key (2005)
- Bodies Bodies Bodies (wide release, 2022)
Thank you for reading! I’m going to try to keep up the multi-movie-a-day pace as much as I can to try to catch up. I hope these shorter reviews are still interesting and helpful.
