The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Reviewer Recommends (September 28th, 2025)

This series will highlight my weekly journey through previously released films, whether they are rewatches for me or new discoveries. Here are my picks:     

House on Haunted Hill (1959)

Are you ready to start the spooky season a bit early? Vincent Price is one of the most beloved icons of horror and starred in so many cult classics in the 50s and 60s. House on Haunted Hill is one such film that is a nice, tight little flick with some campy and fun horror elements. The set-up is interesting with a group of folks asked to join an eccentric wealthy man and his wife in a rented mansion for the night. If they stick around? They will make $10,000. The film opens with eerie theremin music and floating heads on Elisha Cook Jr. and Vincent Price to set the scene. There are some ghoulish visuals brought to life with moving floors and plenty of string. William Castle is a puppeteer of campy horror with some iconic practical effects. Honestly, watching Price and Carol Ohmart delivering toxic banter is worth the 75 minutes investment alone.

KPop Demon Hunters (2025)

What is one of the most unexpected hit films of 2025? Netflix found a gold mine with KPop Demon Hunters. This electric film with plenty of franchise possibilities is an animated feature that is an awesome mixture of KPop musical, action, and fantasy. The soundtrack is full of nonstop bangers that will be earworms for a long time to come. The action is exhilarating for sure with plenty of cool demon designs and thrilling slicing and dicing. The animation is bold and vibrant with a cool distinct style that pops on screen. There are some unexpected wrinkles to this character dynamics and relationships and the central conflict between our female protagonists and their demonic boy band counterparts is such a blast. This film flies by with plenty of heart, thrills, and laughter along the way.

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022)

What makes Weird such an enjoyable biopic? The fact that it is a fake biopic is such a clever and fun idea that it really matches Al Yankovic’s parodying vibe. You wouldn’t expect to see a film that is really about Yankovic’s story and instead, we are treated to a thrilling, bonkers, and funny parody film. This film is jam-packed with cameo appearances, jukebox musical numbers, and a zany parody approach to its story. This might not quite reach the riotous potential of its premise but Weird still has plenty of funny and bonkers moments along the way. Daniel Radcliffe and Evan Rachel Wood deliver a pair of fully committed and fun performances that make a lasting impression for sure. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story is a fresh breath of air in a tired genre that keeps disappointing in 2025.

The Ring (1927)

Did you know that Alfred Hitchcock was a huge fan of boxing? This inspired him to create a film called The Ring back in 1927. This is a tale of boxing rivals who also become romantic rivals as well. There is a strong and engaging love triangle at the center of this film with that trademark tension and suspense that Hitchcock knew how to create so well. Their trio of actors at the center of the film do a great job of selling this conflict as well with a variety of feelings from lust to jealousy to anger to affection. This early Hitchcock silent film all leads up to quite the climactic boxing match that is full of haymakers and brutality in the titular ring. Entertaining and engaging, Hitchcock shows off some of that early talent right here.

House of Usher (1960)

Just how great was Vincent Price? There is a reason why he was such a horror icon. The sense of menace and class was unmatched and so unexpected. His iconic voice and attitude made any scene that much better. Price made many great films with Roger Corman and one such classic is House of Usher. We do not know what is more terrifying…the legacy of the Usher family or the decomposing home that housed them. The production design is excellent with the titular house being so creepy and haunting. The costuming is perfect to capture the period. Price is excellent as the morbid and twisted member of the family, Roderick Usher. There is plenty of menace, fear, and looming death packed into this 80-minute haunting gem.

The Vanishing (2018)

What really happened on a remote Scottish Isle to the team working a lighthouse? Based on a true story, The Vanishing recounts a possible outcome for these three missing men. An isolated drama turned bloody crime thriller, The Vanishing is quite the shocking experience that explores the darkest depths of man and its greed. An unexpected chest full of gold pits these three men against each other as well as a murderous crew of sailors who will do anything to recover their plunder. The dynamic duo of Peter Mullen and Gerard Butler are powerful and bring great presence to the film. There are dark twists, bloody brawls, and deeply emotional moments that make this quite the compelling and underseen thriller. The setting and music just really tie together this directorial effort from Kristoffer Nyholm.