This week, the Grue-Crew fall prey to a cult of demon worshipers and avoid the trappings of a serial killer with dastardly intentions. Two new films are reviewed this week. The first is THE HERETICS from director Chad Archibald follows a young woman who is running from her past only to be abducted once again to face a fate worse than death. The second film is THE CLOVEHITCH KILLER from director Duncan Skiles tells a coming-of-age story where a young boy suspects a notorious killer's identity may reveal the monster to be too close to home.  Doc Rotten and Vanessa Thompson from Horror News Radio along with Jeff Mohr from Decades of Horror: The Classic Era share their thoughts about this week's awesome collection of streaming horror films. 

Gruesome Magazine Podcast - Episode 043
The Clovehitch Killer - The Heretics

The Heretics

A notorious cult kidnaps a young girl, and sacrifice themselves by the light of the locust moon. The next morning the girl awakes, caked in dried blood and surrounded by corpses...but safe - or so she thinks. Years later, the locust moon is about to rise again and the girl is captured once more by a surviving member of the cult. She is taken to a remote cabin where she learns that a demon has been growing inside of her all these years, and before the dawn, it will rise.

"From beginning to end, I was engaged in the story, so yeah, kudos to the director and everybody in The Heretics!" - Vanessa

"It was a fun watch. I was in it the whole way. … It’s definitely worth a watch." - Jeff

"Chad Archibald did a great job and I’m looking forward to more from him. … This has definitely solidified him as one of the talents to keep an eye on." - Doc

Director: Chad Archibald
Cast: Nina Kiri, Ry Barrett, Jorja Cadence

Release: The Heretics available on Demand November 6 and DVD January 5 from Uncork’d Entertainment.

The Clovehitch Killer

A shocking revelation turns a teenage boy's world upside down in this chilling look at the evil that can lurk below even the most wholesome surface. Tyler Burnside is a Boy Scout, a volunteer at his local church, and the dutiful son of an upstanding, community leader dad. Only one thing troubles the quiet Kentucky town he lives in: the unsolved murders in which ten women were brutally tortured and killed by a psychopath known as Clovehitch-that rocked the community more than a decade ago. When Tyler discovers a cache of disturbing images in his father's possession, he begins to suspect that the man he trusts most in the world may be Clovehitch-and that his deadly rampage may not be over. With unrelenting tension, director Duncan Skiles crafts a picture-perfect vision of the all-American family-and then piece by piece rips it to shreds.

"Two minutes in and I was in love with Dylan McDermott. I’ve never seen him do anything like this before. He’s almost completely unrecognizable because he so becomes this character." - Vanessa

It’s not your everyday serial killer movie. I think the script and the acting and the direction are excellent at taking you on the journey through this film and keeping you guessing. I think Dylan McDermott, Charlie Plummer, and Madison Beaty really excel." - Jeff

"This is a great surprise because it is not what the trailer suggests it is. It is a far richer, far deeper, far more interesting piece of film and the relationship between these characters is a big part of what makes this work." - Doc

Director: Duncan Skiles
Cast: Charlie Plummer, Dylan McDermott, Samantha Mathis

Release: In Theaters, On Demand and Digital HD: November 16, 2018 from IFC Midnight