The Flesh People (2026) | Nothing says friendship like splitting rent, removing kidneys on the kitchen floor, and serving neighbors suspicious mystery meat afterward. #jackmeatsflix

My quick rating - 4.8/10. The Flesh People reminds me of a dare that was issued to some sleepy film school kids who were asked to come up with a nasty cannibal comedy. This was their result. A grotesque nightmare flick, filled with drug-induced visions and dark humor. The film makes no effort to hide how messed up it is.

The movie follows two roommates trying to survive the meat grinder that is New York City. Ricky, played by Jorge Carrión Álvarez, starts off as this timid, awkward guy before rapidly transforming into a complete lunatic once the pills and desperation kick in. Sharing the chaos is Geraldine, played by Louise Heller, an aging theater actress who huffs paint like it is a personality trait. The second she appeared onscreen, I knew this movie was going to fully commit to insanity.

And commit it does.

The humor in The Flesh People comes from conversations that no functioning humans would ever have. These two casually discussing black-market kidney removal surgeries on their kitchen floor like they are planning Taco Tuesday is exactly the kind of absurd energy this movie thrives on. Their brilliant entrepreneurial idea? “Discounted surgery and dentistry.” Because apparently New York’s healthcare system was not terrifying enough already.

The operation scenes that follow are some of the funniest moments in the movie simply because of how casually horrifying they are. Every successful surgery just means more drug money, which naturally leads to worse decisions. Soon starvation kicks in, Ricky starts eyeing his roommate like a late-night snack, and before long somebody is literally cooking their own pinky finger. Viola. Cannibalism. And apparently human meat tastes fantastic.

The script throws out lines so ridiculous you cannot help but laugh. “If they’re old enough to drink, they are old enough to be eaten” sounds like something written during a 3 AM caffeine overdose, yet somehow it lands perfectly within this movie’s sleazy tone.

Director Keshav Srinivasan clearly understands practical gore effects are half the fun here. There are some genuinely entertaining bloody moments mixed with weird hallucination sequences that give the whole movie a grimy underground feel. Physics, however, does not exist in this universe. At one point a cleaver to the top of someone’s head basically results in instant decapitation, which makes absolutely no sense, but honestly, this movie crossed the realism line about fifteen human body parts ago.

Where The Flesh People struggles is pacing. What starts as a hilariously deranged concept eventually drags on much longer than it should. The central joke works best in short bursts, and the film occasionally feels like it is repeating itself while trying to stretch its feature-length runtime from material that might have worked even better as a tighter midnight movie.

Still, for horror junkies who appreciate a movie that’s cheap, sleazy, gory, practical, and so dark it may very well be criminal, The Flesh People delivers plenty of nasty fun. It is strange, dirty, bloody, and absolutely bonkers in its own unique, indie way. The movie is currently floating around the festival circuit, and it feels destined to become one of those “you HAVE to see this insane thing” recommendations among horror crowds once streaming links finally appear. You can check this out from June 29th to July 26th at the New York Lift-Off Film Festival.

The Flesh People (2026)

https://jackmeat.com/the-flesh-people-2026/

Tuner (2026) | Turns out hyper-sensitive hearing is either a terrible medical condition or an incredible resume booster for professional thieves. #jackmeatsflix

My quick rating - 6.7/10. Not sure I have watched a heist movie built around a profession that normally puts people to sleep. Up until now. Tuner takes piano tuning and somehow turns listening very, very carefully into one of the coolest criminal skills in recent memory. I figured I was in for a slow start as Niki (Leo Woodall) and Harry (the always exceptional Dustin Hoffman) made their rounds tuning pianos. Turns out, I was only a few scenes away from realizing that perfect pitch is apparently just one career change away from safecracking.

The idea is absurd in a good way. Niki has hyperacusis, making him acutely sensitive to sound, yet rather than focusing on this being solely an inconvenience, Turner makes a weapon out of it. Now all those clicks, tumblers, and metal whispers within a safe become a composition waiting to be solved. Who knew all those years spent playing and listening to pianos would end up leading him into criminal activities? Somewhere, a locksmith is questioning every music lesson they skipped growing up.

Director Daniel Roher manages to maintain a very tight pace. This movie never outstays its welcome and transitions from quiet moments with characters to scenes of robbery very fluidly. Another thing I should mention is the fantastic soundtrack, because it integrates well with what happens in the scenes and not just plays over it. When you combine this with superb editing and sound design, the safecracking scenes feel exciting without using explosions and gunfire. Perhaps the heroes of Tuner are the editors and sound department.

The cast certainly does their part as well. Leo Woodall makes Niki an easy protagonist to root for, balancing awkward charm with growing confidence as his unusual talents pull him further into dangerous territory. Dustin Hoffman brings his experience to Harry, while Jean Reno feels perfectly cast as the intimidating Maestro, Marius Maissner. Havana Rose Liu also shares terrific chemistry with Woodall as Ruthie, giving the film enough heart to keep the criminal antics balanced.

The ending lands with a funny payoff that had me legit smile. And the movie never takes itself so seriously that it forgets to have fun. This allows it to stand out as something other than yet another dark crime thriller.

Baby Driver came to mind, and yes, there are similarities. Both movies have a young protagonist who succeeds in the crime world thanks to his special musical talent. Past that, though, they couldn't feel more different. Baby Driver relies on stylish action and high-speed car chases, while Tuner builds its thrills through meticulous editing, sound, and pacing.

As much as I enjoyed Tuner, I do have one nagging criticism. I cannot help feeling that it is not something that will stick with me for long. It is a fun, clever movie with very strong performances and a brilliant twist at the core of it, but once it was over, it seemed like one of those movies that you will be happy to recommend. As you will most likely tell someone that it is the one with the piano tuner, that will help you to remember the title. Fortunately, I was entertained while I was watching it, and sometimes that's all a good heist movie really needs.

Tuner (2026)

https://jackmeat.com/tuner-2026/

Sanctus House (2026) | The behind-the-scenes photos during the credits looked like they had way more fun making it than I had watching it. #jackmeatsflix

My quick rating - 2.3/10. I went into Sanctus House completely blind. No trailer. No reviews. Just a 64-minute runtime, Richard Grieco's name on the poster, and a plot about a haunted house. Sometimes, that's enough for a buried treasure to be found. Other times, it feels like you're in the haunted house, but every actor called in sick.

It is a promising start to a movie with two people running around the forest until one of them yells off-screen, and the other falls off a cliff. All the while, the camera fixates itself on what appears to be the most aggressively mundane house ever. A news report informs us that the infamous Sanctus House has claimed two more victims, only for a police officer to shrug and basically blame hiking accidents instead. If the haunted house isn't involved, someone owes that poor building an apology.

Enter four college students researching urban legends. Naturally, they end up recording YouTube videos instead, because that's how all serious academic research begins. Richard Grieco plays the caretaker, looking like he's seen far scarier things than this script. He explains his father built the house, starts dropping bits of family tragedy, and before long, the movie starts steering toward something far more religious than supernatural.

The biggest problem is that every character feels like they were assembled from the "Generic Horror Cast Starter Kit." Skeptic, worrier, curiosity seeker, and one whose only character quality is existing until the next scary moment happens. There is not much that happens beyond functional in the dialogue with acting ranging from stiff to melodramatic. I knew something was brewing when Cam (Aden Pettet) suddenly quoted a Bible verse out of nowhere. That's usually not a subtle storytelling cue.

To its credit, Sanctus House squeezes some decent production value out of its budget. The drone shots of the surrounding landscape actually look quite nice and occasionally give the film a bigger scope than it deserves. Unfortunately, the special effects budget appears to have been allocated to "invisible attackers," leaving much of the horror to your imagination. Sometimes less is more. Here, less is...well...less.

The film loses all subtlety in the end. It repeatedly hammers home its Christian message with all the finesse of someone trying to assemble IKEA furniture using a sledgehammer. Regardless of whether you believe the same things that the filmmakers do, it is such an awkward delivery of the message that it just dominates everything else. The ending alone is as much of a punch to the face as a cotton ball hitting carpet. Followed by more religious text and behind-the-scenes stills that looked considerably more entertaining than the preceding hour.

Sanctus House (2026)

I don't mind horror films with faith-based themes when they're woven naturally into the story. Sanctus House doesn't weave. It swings. From the two-dimensional characters, lackluster dialogue, minimal scare factor, and fizzled ending, this house of horrors never justifies the hour spent. The only urban legend here is that someone might find this genuinely frightening.

https://jackmeat.com/sanctus-house-2026/

The Last Voyage Of The Demeter (2023) | One chapter of Bram Stoker's classic turns into 2 hours of watching Dracula eat a ship full of sailors. #jackmeatsflix

My quick rating - 6.3/10. I went into The Last Voyage of the Demeter knowing the basic premise and honestly wondering how they were going to stretch one chapter of Bram Stoker's Dracula into a nearly two-hour movie. Turns out, putting Dracula on a ship with nowhere for anyone to escape is a pretty solid start.

The first thing that grabbed me was just how good this movie looks. The Demeter itself feels alive, and not in the friendly Disney ship kind of way. Every hallway. Dark corner. Even a creaking floorboard feels like something horrible is waiting around the next bend. Half the movie takes place in near-total darkness, and that works. Every time somebody wandered off alone, I knew they were about to have a really bad evening.

What I really liked was the crew. They actually feel like real people instead of the usual collection of horror movie victims waiting for their turn. Liam Cunningham does a great job as the captain, trying to keep everyone together while things slowly spiral into complete chaos. Watching the crew slowly realize they're trapped on a floating buffet for Dracula was half the fun. To be fair, if I were on a ship and people kept disappearing every night after loading a suspicious coffin from Transylvania, I probably would've connected the dots a little sooner.

All the horror aspects are executed very well. There are jump scares, but the constant feeling of uneasiness is what got to me. In this movie, Dracula is not a romantic gentleman in a cape but rather an outright horror monster. Transformation effects are executed superbly, while the killings that do happen have no restrictions at all. The gore isn't over-the-top, but just brutal enough to show us how this version of Dracula wouldn’t want to be interviewed.

Some people will probably say the movie drags in the middle, and at 118 minutes, I get it. Personally, I wasn't bothered. The slower pace gave me time to get invested in the crew before Dracula inevitably turned their workplace into the world's least enjoyable cruise.

The ending didn't completely land for me and seemed to be setting things up a bit too much. This wasn’t enough to prevent me from thoroughly enjoying this flick. The Last Voyage of the Demeter turned out to be a good-looking gothic horror movie full of atmosphere, fine acting, creepy monsters, and lots of suspense.

The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023)

If you're a fan of Dracula, classic Gothic horror, or just enjoy watching people realize they're trapped. On a ship. Soon to be served up as dinner for Dracula, this is well worth checking out.

https://jackmeat.com/the-last-voyage-of-the-demeter-2023/

Hold the Fort (2025) | The funniest part might be everyone calmly explaining the annual demon invasion like it's garbage collection day. #jackmeatsflix

My quick rating - 5.5/10. I do love me a good low-budget horror comedy. But when they embrace madness, once in a while, they manage to hit upon that perfect point where enthusiasm wins out over finance. Hold the Fort had me convinced that I had stumbled upon one of those hidden jewels. That trailer was absolutely fun, and with its short 76-minute duration, there couldn't be much filler. Unfortunately, while it comes close, it never quite survives its own HOA meeting.

The movie wastes no time. An elderly couple is barricaded inside their home, fully armed and preparing for...something. An eerie orange glow hangs outside before we're suddenly introduced to a blood-soaked old woman happily announcing she's ready to sell the house. If that doesn't scream "great neighborhood," I don't know what does.

Our unlucky newcomers are Lucas (Chris Mayers) and Jenny (Haley Leary), who move into what appears to be your average suburban nightmare. Jenny quickly discovers the true horror of homeownership - the homeowners association. Except this HOA doesn't care about your mailbox color. They're busy defending the neighborhood from portals to hell during the equinox. Honestly, that's a much better excuse for mandatory meetings than discussing lawn height.

Jerry (Julian Smith) enthusiastically welcomes the couple to the neighborhood party, promising it's "to die for," which turns out to be surprisingly accurate. The residents casually explain that witches, werewolves, demons, and the dreaded Stickman may appear once the portal opens. Everyone treats this like discussing tomorrow's weather forecast, and somehow that's one of the funniest running jokes in the movie. Also, any raffle where the grand prize is a shotgun immediately gets points from me.

Once the monsters arrive, Hold the Fort finally lets loose. Flying witches explode heads with magical attacks, kung fu spirits possess victims into martial arts zombies, fake blood flies everywhere, and the neighborhood's resident badass McScruffy (Hamid-Reza Benjamin Thompson) strolls in like he owns the place. The practical effects intentionally embrace that B-movie charm instead of trying to hide it, and the creature makeup, especially the final monster, looks surprisingly solid.

Unfortunately, Lucas almost derails the fun. The movie spends far too much time making him the painfully timid guy everyone wants to yell at through the screen. There are only so many jokes built around "coward eventually becomes brave" before you start rooting for the monsters. Jenny telling everyone that his greatest survival skill is running fast leads to one of the movie's funniest exchanges, with Ted immediately asking, "What's your mile time?" because apparently sprinting away from demons now requires verified athletic credentials.

There are enough laughs all the way through, along with good action and a few drug-related jokes that are actually pretty funny. There is potential here, yet the screenplay just cannot seem to find a way to balance the ridiculous plot line and the appealing characters (not Lucas). It's one of those movies that keeps showing flashes of what it could have been.

The strangest decision comes during the credits, where a deleted dream sequence plays that is noticeably better than the awkward kung fu zombie sequence that actually made the final cut. Watching it almost feels like discovering the editor accidentally left the stronger scene on the cutting room floor. The outtakes that follow are fun, and the cast looked like they had just as much fun making Hold the Fort as I wanted to have watching it.

Hold the Fort (2025)

I was hoping that this would turn into another one of those horror comedies that people would talk about for years (They Will Kill You comes to mind). It comes very close, but just never seems to be able to get there. However, if you think that having an HOA meeting interrupted by witches and demons and exploding heads and shotgun raffles sounds like fun, you’ll be right at home.

https://jackmeat.com/hold-the-fort-2025/

Seven Snipers (2026) | Tim Roth and Radha Mitchell deserved a better script, or is the best defense against one sniper inviting a whole bunch of other snipers? #jackmeatsflix

My quick rating - 4.3/10. The name Tim Roth was enough to get Seven Snipers onto my watchlist. The movie opens with some beautiful sweeping shots of Ipswich, Queensland, before introducing Radha Mitchell out for a morning jog. I've been a fan of hers ever since Pitch Black, still one of Vin Diesel's better movies. She lives quietly on a remote farm with her teenage daughter Anja (Annabel Wolfe), whose rebellious "my mother sucks" attitude wastes no time reminding us that teenagers remain one of cinema's most reliable survival hazards.

The peaceful family drama lasts all of five minutes before bullets start flying, and suddenly it seems like everyone in Australia owns a sniper rifle. Ryan Kwanten shows up pretending to be interested in buying the property, which is about as convincing as a telemarketer calling to "check in." He quickly reveals himself and warns Mitchell's character, better known as Voodoo Child, that the Dragon (Tim Roth) is coming.

The upside? A heavily armed team of military specialists arrives to protect her from the legendary sniper. The downside? They've basically gathered a whole buffet of targets in one convenient location. I couldn't help laughing at the idea of defending against the world's greatest sniper by assembling a group of other snipers in wide-open positions. It's like fighting a shark by jumping into the water with more swimmers. (Yes, I just watched Deep Water lol.)

Apparently there's a $10 million bounty on Voodoo Child's head, attracting the world's deadliest marksmen to collect the prize. Roth wastes no time reminding everyone why his Dragon is feared. One particularly gruesome interrogation scene involving a skull inspection is delivered with such casual confidence that it almost becomes darkly funny. Unfortunately, once the bullets settle, the movie starts relying heavily on flashbacks to explain the connection between Dragon and Voodoo Child, and while they fill in some history, they never really explain why Dragon suddenly decides now is the time to return.

Radha Mitchell makes the absolute best of what little she is working with, and Roth manages to inject some real menace each time he appears. Seriously, the cast needs a much better script, since they are basically carrying the whole thing themselves. The writing just keeps undercutting any sense of tension with bad choices, strange behavior, and far too many plot holes.

Then comes the finale, which somehow turns into a "drop your guns and settle this with your fists" type showdown. In a movie called Seven Snipers. That was the only creative choice? If you're expecting a tactical sniper thriller full of patience, strategy, and long-range cat-and-mouse games, you're going to be sorely disappointed because that's pretty much absent here.

Seven Snipers (2026)

Seven Snipers has capable performances, gorgeous Australian scenery, and a few entertaining moments, but the script simply can't keep up with its cast. There are plenty more head-scratching moments I could dissect, but honestly, the movie already did enough damage to itself. Sometimes the biggest missed target isn't the sniper's shot. It's the screenplay.

https://jackmeat.com/seven-snipers-2026/

Mutilator 2 (2023) | Watching Mutilator 2 is like attending a horror convention after-party that accidentally turned into a slasher movie. #jackmeatsflix

My quick rating - 4.1/10. I was genuinely surprised to discover Mutilator 2 existed. Not only am I a fan of the original The Mutilator from 1984, but seeing writing credits from Jen and Sylvia Soska immediately grabbed my attention. Back in the day, the Soska sisters would've probably been shouting this one from the rooftops to horror fans like me. These days, they're a little busier than when they were making the convention rounds.

The setup is actually pretty clever. More than 35 years after the original film, a crew is shooting a remake at the same Atlantic Beach, North Carolina location. Cast members from the original movie show up for a wrap party while the remake is finishing production. Naturally, because this is a slasher movie, someone starts murdering people one by one. It's a concept that feels like it was tailor-made for us fans of the original.

The movie doesn't try to hide where it came from. It starts off with a scene that becomes obvious fairly quickly and features actors reenacting scenes from the 1984 movie. It's a nice touch, even if the acting had me raising my eyebrows. Actually, "raises eyebrows" might be generous. The acting got so awkward that I found myself wondering if it was deliberate. Honestly, I hope so because the alternative is concerning.

Among the main attractions here is seeing the veteran actor Terry Kiser playing the part of the original actor who played the killer, Jack Chatham, who has since passed away. It is obvious that horror enthusiasts will be delighted by the use of cast members from the original film. Despite the fact that Mutilator 2 is doing something totally ridiculous, it definitely pays tribute to its heritage.

Ridiculous doesn't even begin to describe the hilarious blowjob scene with the prop of the severed head and some form of glue. The gag keeps returning throughout the film, and I found myself laughing more than I probably should have. The cast party scenes have been dubbed an amateur comedy stand-up routine that just happened to be filmed in the middle of a slasher film. It has its hits and misses and bombs.

The first kill is oddly edited and feels a little clunky, but once the body count starts rising, the movie settles into a decent groove. The practical effects deserve credit. They always do. They aren't exactly on the level of Tom Savini's legendary work, but at least they're real effects instead of a bunch of weightless CGI blood splatters. The film also follows the sacred slasher commandments. If characters decide to wander off alone, remove clothing, or head to the beach for romantic activities, their life expectancy drops dramatically.

The kills themselves are pretty interesting and entertaining, which is precisely what we come to see. Unfortunately, after building momentum, Mutilator 2 delivers an ending so anticlimactic, I'm pretty sure everybody decided it was quitting time. It's not terrible, but it definitely lands with a thud rather than a scream.

The end credits could possibly be the most brilliant idea of the entire movie, highlighting the special effects used to create the killings. It's a fun little reward for sticking around.

Mutilator 2 (2023)

Ultimately, Mutilator 2 comes across as less of a sequel and more of a reunion party that every once in a while reminds us that it is still meant to be a slash horror flick. The fans of The Mutilator will definitely get their money's worth with all of the fun that they will have reminiscing about the first film. But after 40 years, I was hoping for a bit more.

https://jackmeat.com/mutilator-2-2023/