Movies
[BD Review] ‘The Dead Inside’ Is Anything But
I’ve been entertained by very few musicals in my life. Sweeney Todd, Rocky Horror, The Phantom of the Opera and Evil Dead: The Musical are the exceptions. Most of the time, however, it’s just people with the constant “need” to sing about whatever the hell is going on, the lame plots, the actors/singers who shouldn’t be singing/acting, etc. I’m not sure if director Travis Betz had folks like me in mind when he sat down to pen The Dead Inside, but it sure felt like it.
The story goes like this: Fiona and Wes are in a rut. Wes is a burned-out photographer currently shooting weddings to pay the bills, while Fiona is currently in the midst of a writer’s block, in spite of her success as author of a series of zombie novellas called ‘The Dead Survive’. Fiona soon begins to become unglued and decides to snip off one of her fingers with a pair of scissors and then with them tries to stab Wes in the heart. Wes is obviously freaked out by this, and ships Fi off to the psychiatric hospital. Unfortunately, it’s not her mind that’s the problem: Fiona’s been possessed by a dead girl named Emily. Now it’s up to Wes to try and reach Fiona and reclaim his lady.
I shouldn’t say that’s the only story that’s going on. In a twist of sorts, we’re presented with not only Wes and Fiona’s predicament, but also a zombie couple named Max and Harper, who are currently the subject of Fi’s writings. Now I don’t like to use the word ‘meta’ (since it seems to be the cool word for some people), but that’s what’s going on here. On top of that, you have Sarah Lassez and Dustin Fasching pulling double duties as both Fiona and Wes and Harper and Max, respectively. Now, having to act as two different characters in a film where you’re the only other actor seems daunting, but Lassez and Fasching manage to deliver great performances. Lassez in particular gets points for being able to ham it up as Harper, but also being able to shift between the mayhem of being possessed/not possessed and the cleverness of the musical performances. That’s not to say that Fasching is a slouch. Far from it, as he wields both the comedy and drama roles with ease. Kudos to Betz for being able to make the story as compelling and interesting as he can with so few characters.
Speaking of the comedy, Betz and composer Joel Van Vliet deserve praise for the engaging and downright catchy music and amusing lyrics. It’s not every day you get songs that talk about how much “fun” a zombie apocalypse would be to relieve oneself of their responsibilities. Of course, given the nature of Fiona’s predicament, the songs take a turn in tone, but still remain entertaining. In addition to the songs, Betz works wonders behind the camera with his cinematographer, Shannon Hourigan. Keeping in mind that this is still a low budget affair, the film is shot almost entirely in an apartment with two people. Hourigan compensates with some imaginative and often wonderfully-composed shots rich with colour.
Now obviously, some people are going to balk at seeing this one, since it’s a musical. It’s a given. That’s a minor problem. You could also say that another problem is the fact that Fashing doesn’t get the attention script-wise as Lassez does. Finally, you could say that the second half of the film lags a bit before picking itself up. Whatever the case may be, The Dead Inside still manages to entice and attract attention for not only flourishing under a low budget, but also having talent in front of and behind the camera that obviously love what they’re doing in telling a story, and are good at it. By all means if you have a hankering for horror with music and humour to go along with it, give The Dead Inside a spin. You may surprise yourself.
Audio/Video
The DVD is presented in 1.78:1 widescreen and as mentioned above looks damn nice with vibrant colour throughout. As for the audio, the Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround track matches the video with it’s quality: crisp, clear and a great mix, overall.
Special Features
First up are two commentary tracks. The first features Lassez and Fasching joking around and offering funny stories about their time making the film, and the other is the more serious one with director/writer/editor Travis Betz and cinematographer Shannon Hourigan. The latter focuses on things such as the budget, script and selection of songs, but is still enjoyable.
Following that is a 30-minute making-of featurette that shows just how much effort and care the cast and crew put into this film. Topics include makeup and other effects, choreography, singing and more. This is a perfect example of a featurette making you appreciate the film even more after you watch it, which is always a great thing to have.
Rounding things off is a deleted yet still enjoyable song entitled “What is Wrong”, and the film’s trailer.
The holiday weekend means a light week for new horror releases, but it does bring the return of Dark Castle Entertainment to select theaters. It’s being joined by 6 new horror movies.
Here’s all the new horror releasing June 29, 2026 – July 3, 2026!
For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.
You wished for it. The highest-grossing horror movie of the year (so far), Curry Barker’s Obsession, arrived on Digital on June 30.
In Curry Barker’s theatrical debut Obsession, after breaking the mysterious One Wish Willow to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.
Michael Johnston (“Teen Wolf”), Inde Navarette (“Superman & Lois”), Cooper Tomlinson (“That’s a Bad Idea,” Milk & Serial), Megan Lawless (The Death That Awaits), and Emmy Award-nominee Andy Richter (“Conan,” Elf) star.
Based on a story by director James Kondelik (Behind The Walls) and a screenplay by Canadian writer Victor Rose, survival thriller Pitfall headed home to Digital on June 30. Family is murder in this Cineverse release.
In Pitfall, a young man becomes separated from his friends in the woods and plunges into a ten-foot pit lined with spikes, impaling his leg and leaving him helpless. As reality sinks in and his situation grows dire, he realizes the fall wasn’t an accident.
The film stars Richard Harmon (Final Destination: Bloodlines), Alexandra Essoe (The Pope’s Exorcist), and UFC champion Randy Couture (The Expendables) as the ruthless killer who stalks his prey in the woods. Marshall Williams (The Ice Road), Jordan Claire Robbins (The Umbrella Academy), and Matt Hamilton (Murder for Sale) also star.
The Amityville IP leans into Jaws with Amityville Shark House, just in time for the Fourth of July holiday too, as it released on Digital June 30.
Will Collazo Jr. (Amityville Thanksgiving) and Shawn C. Phillips (Amityville Karen) co-direct from a script they wrote with Julie Anne Prescott.
In the movie, after discovering an ominous shark idol hidden beneath the decaying floorboards, Richard unknowingly awakens an ancient and savage force. As the entity begins to merge with him, a quiet coastal town descends into blood-soaked chaos.
With each victim claimed, the monstrous predator grows stronger, fueling a cult’s belief that their dark god has been reborn. Now, the race is on to stop the carnage before evil consumes everything in its path.
Phillips and Prescott also star alongside Tasha Tacosa, Maritza Brikisak, Gigi Gustin (The Retaliators), Adam Marino, and Carl Solomon.
Available on Digital, Blu-ray, and DVD as of June 30 is Jacked, directed by John Fucile from a script he co-wrote with Simon Fraser.
The synopsis: “Set in the summer of 1987, JACKED follows two small-town teenagers whose day at the lake turns into a fight for survival after their car breaks down and they encounter a violent stalker.”
Marla Jean Robison, Tom Koch, Anthony Cipriani, Wynn Reichert, Kam Perez and Bella Marie star.
Get ready to work up a killer sweat and maybe spill some blood with Slashercise, a workout meets slasher hybrid that arrived exclusively on Bloodstream on July 1.
Written and directed by Ama Lea (Deathcember), the retro-styled feature follows “a masked killer known only as Meathead as he stalks the fitness clubs of Los Angeles, turning workout sessions into blood-soaked nightmares. As the city’s top trainers are picked off one by one, a group of determined fitness fanatics must fight back before they become the next bodies on the mat.”
Vanessa Decker (Stiletto), John Bloom (The Last Drive-In With Joe Bob Briggs), Spencer Charnas (Ice Nine Kills), Sarah French (Blind), Kelli Maroney (Night of the Comet), Sarah Nicklin (V/H/S/Halloween), Diana Prince (The Last Drive-In With Joe Bob Briggs), Jared Rivet (The Once and Future Smash), Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp), Tiffany Shepis (Victor Crowley), and Lisa Wilcox (A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master) star.
After a record-breaking box office run, A24 and director Kane Parsons’ feature debut is heading back to theaters with bonus footage. AMC Theatres is unleashing Backrooms: Everything Must Go Editiontoday, July 3.
In the film written by Will Soodik, the owner of Cap’n Clark’s Ottoman Empire discovers a strange doorway in the basement of the furniture showroom. He sets out to explore the mysterious, liminal space, walking headfirst into a creepypasta nightmare.
Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsvestar.
AMC describes this release as a “theatrically exclusive post-credit” with additional footage from Kane Parsons. Expect 16 minutes of bonus footage, with the new version clocking in at 2 hours and 6 minutes.
The Last Exorcism director Daniel Stamm and Dark Castle Entertainment are back with Lockbox, in select theaters July 3. It adapts Soren Narnia‘s Knifepoint Horror Podcast story “Winthrop” by Emmy-winning playwright Justin Yoffe.
In Lockbox, “Seeking peace after her mother’s death, Ellen retreats to a rural town and takes in her severely traumatized cousin Winthrop. Their fragile domestic balance shatters when an erratic neighbor warns that Winthrop is dangerous. As strange phenomena escalate, Ellen must put everything on the line to defend Winthrop from a dangerous otherworldly entity determined to track him down.”
Lou Taylor Pucci (Touch Me, Evil Dead), Carla Gugino (The Haunting of Hill House, Gerald’s Game, The Fall of the House of Usher) and Katharine Isabelle (Ginger Snaps, Backrooms) star.
This week’s new release roundups are presented by Lockbox.
Be careful who you let in. Carla Gugino and Lou Taylor Pucci star in Lockbox, only in select theaters this Friday. Get tickets.
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