Ghastly Grinning - Rotten Tomatoes

Ghastly Grinning

Ghastly Grinning is not a Tomatometer-approved publication. Reviews from this publication only count toward the Tomatometer when written by the following Tomatometer-approved critic(s): Laura Di Girolamo, Michelle Swope, Molly Henery, Ryan Larson
Rating
Title/Year
Author
1
The Djinn (2021)

Ryan Larson

Emotionally impactful and intentionally frightening, The Djinn is a perfect gateway horror film for the next generation of horror lovers.
Posted Jun 8, 2021
2
Boys from County Hell (2020)

Ryan Larson

Punching equally hard with the humor in tandem with the horror, Boys is a resoundingly success entry of every genre it dips its toes into.
Posted Apr 29, 2021
3
Mortal Kombat (2021)

Ryan Larson

An otherworldly spectacle that marvels in its own absurdity, Mortal Kombat is a fast and furious exercise in frivolous gore and fantastical characters. Flawless? No. But a victory? Absolutely.
Posted Apr 22, 2021
4
Broadcast Signal Intrusion (2021)

Ryan Larson

Quirky, nostalgic, and deeply entrenched in noir and horror, Broadcast Signal Intrusion is an entrancing mystery that's sinister and smart.
Posted Mar 17, 2021
5
Son (2021)

Ryan Larson

Son hits in so many emotional spectrums and somehow does so with impact in each. It's not easy to craft a story that scares you or a story that pokes at your heart and somehow Kavanagh does both. Tearjerking and terrifying, Son is a must watch.
Posted Mar 16, 2021
6
Honeydew (2021)

Ryan Larson

It's a sickly sweet slice of horror that is as delectable as it is distressing, tapping into the best of Hooper and Craven, and Milburn has stamped himself as an exciting director to keep your eyes on.
Posted Mar 16, 2021
7
Willy's Wonderland (2021)

Ryan Larson

Willy's Wonderland feels like an eighties b-movie rager with Tex Avery antics actualized. Absurd, ridiculous, and so outrageous that it just might work. And because of Cage, it does.
Posted Feb 17, 2021
8
Sator (2019)

Ryan Larson

It can't be ignored that Graham dropped every ounce of passion and care into this project. It creeps into your brain, into your heart, and grips onto each with a piercing tenacity. Sator is a tour de force, isolating and chilling on every level.
Posted Feb 17, 2021
9
Sacrifice (The Colour of Madness) (2021)

Ryan Larson

Sacrifice is a vivid dreamscape full of tentacled terror and cultish chaos that is well worth a watch.
Posted Feb 9, 2021
10
La Casa (2019)

Ryan Larson

La Casa is more proof that so much of the most terrifying horror is coming out internationally right now. At a brisk 85 minutes, it never lets up and sneaks it's terrifying tendrils around your heart and gives it a little squeeze.
Posted Jan 25, 2021
11
Bloody Hell (2021)

Ryan Larson

It's equal parts Wrong Turn and John Wick and by the time the film hits the climax, it's a cathartic release that will have you cheering for the violence.
Posted Jan 25, 2021
12
PG: Psycho Goreman (2021)

Ryan Larson

An acid drenched Calvin and Hobbes, with existential quandaries and a wild imagination running rampant. You'll be hard pressed to have more fun than Psycho Goreman this year.
Posted Jan 25, 2021
13
Possessor: Uncut (2020)

Ryan Larson

Cronenberg has cemented himself as one of the most arresting and interesting voices in the genre. Possessor is an orgy of nightmarish psycho-trauma, hypnotic brutality and Waschowskian science fiction; a visual feast you must partake in.
Posted Dec 31, 2020
14
Blood Vessel (2020)

Ryan Larson

Blood Vessel isn't going to change the genre but it's not trying to. Instead, it's taking some of the most fantastical bullet points of it and honing in on them and extrapolating them into big bouts of bloodsucking fun.
Posted Dec 31, 2020
15
Scare Me (2020)

Ryan Larson

Scare Me is one of the most technically well done minimal masterpieces to ever grace the horror genre.
Posted Dec 31, 2020
16
Love and Monsters (2020)

Ryan Larson

Love and Monsters is a feel good movie in the most absurd of circumstances. You wouldn't necessarily expect to find your heart swell and a multitude of laughs from a wasteland world full of giant monsters but hot damn, Matthews makes it happen.
Posted Dec 31, 2020
17
Archenemy (2020)

Ryan Larson

A gangster film infused with Kirby crackles, trap music, and golden age science fiction, Archenemy is a little bit of everything with a whole lot to like.
Posted Dec 31, 2020
18
Death of Me (2020)

Ryan Larson

Steeped in dark magic and ancient tribalism, Death of Me isn't the freshest take on the genre but it's still a good one.
Posted Oct 14, 2020
19
Alone (2020)

Ryan Larson

It would have been easy to lose this one in the shuffle of the title and subject matter but Hyams manages to make it stand out by tapping into the utter despair and soul crushing meaning of the word.
Posted Sep 18, 2020
20
The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020)

Ryan Larson

The Babysitter: Killer Queen has more blood, more laughs, and more Robbie Amell with no shirt on. In my book, that makes it a winner all around.
Posted Sep 10, 2020
21
The New Mutants (2020)

Ryan Larson

The New Mutants is a peek at how we could blend horror and superheroes together and it's a fun, angsty adventure that exists in both realms.
Posted Sep 9, 2020
22
Slaxx (2020)

Ryan Larson

It manages to do what the movies in this vein have to do to succeed: it takes a premise that is completely absurd and by allowing it to be bonkers when it needs to be, but grounding it when necessary, Slaxx is a perfect fit.
Posted Sep 9, 2020
23
A Ghost Waits (2020)

Ryan Larson

A darkly comedic, surprisingly charming little movie about being alone, love and the afterlife.
Posted Sep 9, 2020
24
The Dark and the Wicked (2020)

Ryan Larson

The Dark and the Wicked is a deeply unsettling masterpiece. It mounts dread and tension on top of chair jolting jumps and emotionally charged performances, delivering one of the scariest films of the year.
Posted Sep 9, 2020
25
There's No Such Thing as Vampires (2020)

Ryan Larson

It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but There's No Such Thing As Vampires presents some interesting ideas. It's when it highlights the creature or the road movie tropes that it succeeds but loses its footing in between.
Posted Sep 9, 2020
26
The Owners (2020)

Ryan Larson

The Owners proves itself a smart and violent entry in the home invasion genre that serves as a potent reminder to never judge a book by its cover.
Posted Sep 9, 2020
27
1BR (2020)

Ryan Larson

Brydon Bloom is a strong heroine and still stands out in spite of an uneven script, bringing a grounded sensibility to the role, and she'll be an actress to watch.
Posted Aug 27, 2020
28
The Oak Room (2020)

Ryan Larson

It's about the ability to enthrall people with nothing but a hook and a punchline and it succeeds on both fronts. Minimalistic and hypnotic, The Oak Room will keep you glued to the screen and the edge of your seat.
Posted Aug 27, 2020
29
PVT CHAT (2021)

Ryan Larson

PVT Chat is an anxiety ridden comedy and love story that shines because of the leads.
Posted Aug 27, 2020
30
Dinner in America (2020)

Ryan Larson

inner in America is a molotov cocktail of punk rock, classism and romance. Skeggs is delightful, affable and charming and Gallner shines in perhaps the most powerful performance of his career.
Posted Aug 27, 2020
31
You Cannot Kill David Arquette (2020)

Ryan Larson

What we're told is that this is the story of Arquette getting back into professional wrestling. What we're giving is an intimate, tragic and inspirational story about a man doing anything he can to find even a glimmer of himself again.
Posted Aug 27, 2020
32
Unearth (2021)

Ryan Larson

Unearth is cinematically striking, with its stunning cinematography and chilling body terror, but the third act is the only piece of the movie that feels like it has any stakes.
Posted Aug 27, 2020
33
Get Duked! (2020)

Ryan Larson

Get Duked! is an eccentric, eclectic party, accompanied by hip hop bangers and splatstick antics, and is a guaranteed good time.
Posted Aug 27, 2020
34
Detention (2021)

Ryan Larson

Detention is scary from every angle, as well as beautiful and poetic, and is absolutely the best video game adaptation to ever hit the horror genre.
Posted Aug 24, 2020
35
Random Acts of Violence (2020)

Ryan Larson

An entertaining movie, as far as kills go, it's a vicious masterpiece. Perhaps the most violent yet hypnotic movie since Green Room, it just can't keep its end goal clear and ultimately will leave you satisfied but still wanting more.
Posted Aug 21, 2020
36
Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula (2020)

Ryan Larson

Peninsula is a zombie filled, high octane, bullet riddled ride and if that's what you're looking for, you'll come out happy.
Posted Aug 21, 2020
37
The Mortuary Collection (2019)

Ryan Larson

Smart, well crafted, beautifully designed from top to bottom and will leave you wanting more. Add this to your rotation of favorite anthology classics because it's a blast.
Posted Aug 21, 2020
38
The Columnist (De Kuthoer) (2020)

Ryan Larson

It's able to reach anyone who's been on the hurtful side of internet dragging but with a particular appeal towards women and has a vicious bite, full of wit and charm, that makes it a particularly satisfying and cathartic experience.
Posted Aug 21, 2020
39
The Pale Door (2020)

Ryan Larson

Elevated by the performances, it's successful because of the heart and passion of every actor and crew member involved. While it's not the most refined project, The Pale Door is a fun ride through the Old West.
Posted Aug 21, 2020
40
Fried Barry (2020)

Ryan Larson

Fried Barry is like having an acid trip during an out of body experience. It's surreal, wild, exciting, disturbing and ultimately a must see. I can promise you won't see anything like this movie this year, or any year, maybe ever.
Posted Aug 21, 2020
41
Spree (2020)

Ryan Larson

Spree is a companion piece for this generation's obsession with online celebrity status and manages kills and shrills along the way.
Posted Aug 10, 2020
42
She Dies Tomorrow (2020)

Ryan Larson

A barrage of performances, colors and noises that blended together create an erratic and absolutely spellbinding genre bender. Part panic attack, part magic act, all must see.
Posted Aug 4, 2020
43
Host (2020)

Ryan Larson

Host is the most refreshingly creative and truly frightening found footage film since Paranormal Activity. Charming, funny, terrifying and smart, Host is a must see for the pandemic generation.
Posted Jul 31, 2020
44
Deep Blue Sea 3 (2020)

Ryan Larson

Deep Blue Sea 3 isn't reinventing the shark genre but it's certainly an entertaining holdover after having been spoiled with genre heavy years after The Meg, 47 Meters and The Shallows.
Posted Jul 29, 2020
45
Amulet (2020)

Ryan Larson

Daring and unafraid, Garai bursts onto the scene with a bonkers morality tale that is drenched in body horror, religious allegory, and feminist overtones.
Posted Jul 23, 2020
46
The Rental (2020)

Ryan Larson

Playing around in different genres and daringly intertwining slashers with mumblegore, with a healthy dose of brutality, makes The Rental well worth the stay.
Posted Jul 22, 2020
47
Two Heads Creek (2019)

Ryan Larson

Two Heads Creek isn't a game changer but it's worth the price of admission. It hits the ground running and never lets up, doling out laughs and carnage along the way.
Posted Jul 15, 2020
48
Relic (2020)

Ryan Larson

This modern era of horror builds itself on anxiety and dread, often aiming for the gut. Relic hits all the same notes but in the aim, it aims right for the heart.
Posted Jul 8, 2020
49
Followed (2020)

Ryan Larson

A worthy watch for any horror fan, whether they're into found footage or not. Le and crew have made a sleek, sometimes mean and sometimes funny entry into the genre, expertly crafting some of the creepiest moments of found footage in recent memory.
Posted Jun 25, 2020
50
Scare Package (2020)

Ryan Larson

Scare Package is a charming, razor sharp, body melting, blood splashing good time.
Posted Jun 25, 2020