Welcome to Tubi Tidbits where we discuss horror movies that I have watched but are either not big enough nor bad enough for a full-length review. As you read these micro-reviews, please keep in mind that everything said comes from my own personal preference. There are movies on this list that you may find more enjoyable than I did or ones you disliked more than I did.
That is the beauty of Horror. It is all subjective.
The goal of Tubi Tidbits is not to put a score on these movies per se, but to introduce you to new movies found on the Tubi Streaming App. There are literally hundreds of movies on Tubi and it can be quite difficult finding one you may like. Especially considering that a of of these were indie or direct-to-video releases.
So, while there is a scoring system in place, please do not take my word as law. I try to keep summaries and reviews for this segment tight and concise; enough to give you an idea of what you’d be expecting if you choose to watch these films.
With that said, please enjoy Tubi Tidbits!
Laid the Rest (2009)
What is it?
A woman with amnesia finds herself the primary target of a mysterious serial killer wearing a chrome skull mask. She teams up with a truck driver named Tucker and his best friend – a recluse named Steven. Now, the trio must keep themselves one step ahead of Chromeskull least they find themselves added to the growing number of bodies he leaves behind.
Review.
If I had to compare Laid to Rest with another horror movie, I would compare it to Damien Leone’s Terrifier. By this I mean Laid to Rest is about style more than substance. The story is razor thin and follows the usual slasher-movie fare. By which I mean it has a mysterious killer hunting down and slaughtering everyone and anyone he comes across while on his journey to find and murder his primary target. It really feels like the story primarily exists just to move our characters from Point A to Point B.
I wouldn’t say that is a negative. I feel like this movie was designed to showcase the effects rather than tell some kind of enthralling story. Where Terrifier was (in my opinion) made to show off the stellar performance of David Howard Thornton as Art the Clown, Laid to Rest feels like it was made to show off it’s fantastic practical effects. The kills are violent, and visceral – each one designed to outdo the last. I daresay that Chromeskull is probably one of the most brutal slasher villains I have ever seen. He kills without mercy and with maximum aggression – making every murder a work of practical-effects art.
Now I would like to take a moment to clarify something. I do not feel like this is one of those films that goes too far with its violence. This is not Martyrs or the Guinea Pig movies. It’s goal is not to disturb audiences but to provide them with bloody, gory good time. So if you are in the mood for a slasher movie with top-notch makeup and a hardcore killer than this is the movie for you!
I give Laid to Rest a 4/5
The Mutilator (1984)
What is it?
A group of college students spend Fall Break at a condo on the beach. What they do not realize is that the condo is also the headquarters for a deranged lunatic. With a wide variety of tools at his disposal, the lunatic decides to turn his attention on the students for trespassing on his property
Review:
On the surface you may dismiss Mutilator as another generic 80s slasher movie. And, to a certain extent, you’d be right. The story is as basic as it gets. Horny students using a remote location in order to drink and have sex. But what makes Mutilator different, to me at least, is the fact that the group feels like genuine friends. I cannot describe how many slasher movies have a friend group that has me wondering why they are friends to begin with. Such is not the case with Mutilator. The chemistry the cast has with one another makes their friendship feel real. As such I find myself rooting for the characters instead of counting down the time until their inevitable deaths.
Speaking of character deaths; that is where the movie really shines. For you see, the killer lives up to the movie’s title. He uses a wide variety of weapons including a boat propeller, a trident, and the titular fishing hook.
As such I would recommend Mutilator for those who want a good old-fashioned slasher movie. While it may not be as creative or as gory as other slashers movies of the decade, it is still an entertaining and fun watch.
I give Mutilator a 3/5
That is it for this episode of Tubi Tidbits! Please remember that the streaming service Tubi rotates their library regularly so if you don’t see these movies be patient. They will return to circulation soon enough.