Volumes of Blood: Horror Stories is an anthology horror film, sequel to the episodic film Volumes of Blood (2015). This second chapter incorporates as many as eight horror segments for a total duration of two hours.
Result of collaboration between multiple directors, Volumes of Blood: Horror Stories is a successful horror anthology. Credit, this, to the well-delineated script but also to the direction, the commitment of the acting cast, the music section that is always up to par, but above all to Cassandra Baker's enjoyable special effects.
Volumes of Blood: Horror Stories is a film that oozes love for the genre and, as such, is designed to provide discerning audiences with what they need: horror, disgust, violence, blood and a dash of irony.
Certainly indebted to cult episodic films, this new anthology becomes the keeper of precious horror stories enriched by constant twists and turns then enhanced by the presence of multiple serial killers or unexpected (and perfectly realized) murders/accidents caused, for the most part, by a masked psychopath called "The Face."
Volumes of Blood: Horror Stories opens with an introductory episode entitled "Murder Death Killer". The segment is directed by Nathan Thomas Milliner while the screenplay is by the same director along with P.J. Starks. The protagonists of the story are Vallie (Barbie Clark) and Dick (Warren Ray), a couple who meet with Mr. Dawson (Thomas Dunbar) to loot an old plumbing warehouse. The two actually have other plans in mind but their plan will blow up due to the presence of a dangerous creature (Aric Stanish) inside the store...
“Murder Death Killer" enjoys an apt location and surprising special effects (of note are the disfigurement of Dick's face, the amputated fingers, the slashing of the throat, and the crushing of the skullcap).
We then move on to the very nice episode frame namely "Haters" written by Nathan Thomas Milliner and P. J. Starks and directed by the latter. Here it is clear that "Murder Death Killer" is nothing more than a film screened at the cinema. In fact, viewing it are the protagonists of "Haters" that is, Kevin (Kevin Roach) and Nate (Milliner), two horror fans who make fun of usher Malco (Gerrimy Keiffer) in the movie theater. Back home, the two friends will receive an unexpected guest who will interrupt their conversation about cinema (remakes, reboots, old and new cinema...) and something else, too.
This episode is a kind of homage to horror fans. Also of note are the posters posted in the room, specifically those of some independent horror films: "Plank Face," "The Dooms Chapel Horror," and "Murder Death Killer" itself.
From "Haters" branch off the other segments that are actually the films viewed by the protagonists of the said episode.
It proceeds with a short film about Halloween night. Thinking about it is director Sean Blevins (A Brush with Death) with "Trick or Treat", written by, among others, himself in collaboration with P.J. Starks.
Plot: It is Halloween night. Chad (Chad Benefield) works as a security guard at the library. An emergency call forces him to go away and leave his girlfriend, Mallory (Shelby Taylor Mullins) alone. Unfortunately, the young woman will be visited by a stranger and more...
"Trick or Treat" is a perfect short film for witch's night. Like its predecessors, it is a memorable segment that is also striking because of the heinous murder that is carried out and is very reminiscent of that in American History X (the sidewalk sequence).
The protagonists of "Haters" move on to the viewing of "A Killer House". This segment is directed by James Treakle (the script is by P.J. Starks). Indeed, let us recall that in Volumes of Blood: Horror Stories, the rooms of a rented house serve as locations for terrifying flashbacks. The protagonist of this story is a young married couple, Ash (Jacob Ewers) and Laurie (Erin Troutman), intent on buying the house proposed by Mr. Stine (Christopher Bower) on New Year's Day itself.
The idea of developing a story in each room visited is ingenious. In fact, four other segments branch off from here, namely "Feeding Time" (a girl's room), "Blood Bath" (bathroom), "Fear, For Sinners Here" (salon) and "The Deathday Party" (basement).
"Feeding Time" is directed by John William Holt (The Dooms Chapel Horror) for a screenplay by P.J. Starks and Jason Turner
Plot: It's Thanksgiving Day. To avoid being fired, insurance agent Boone (Caleb Shore) must succeed in getting at least one contract signed. The young man, desperate, ends up at Mallory's (Mullins) house. The girl, however, is in tears and claims to have a monster in her closet. Boone does not believe her, however, decides to take a look at the young woman's room to calm her down.
Impressive episode with a mysterious and heinous creature in action. Praiseworthy sequences of the attack showing a tasty fracture of bones.
In "Blood Bath" a bloody Father's Day is celebrated. The episode, perhaps the weakest in the anthology, is written by P.J.Starks while directed by Jon Maynard (Nearly Dead). However, it too is filled with enjoyable splatter sequences.
All Andrew (Kevin Arnold) and his wife Sara (Bridget Michelle Hoover) want to conceive a child in the shower. When the girl reminds him to take his medication, suddenly All begins to have brutal visions. Convinced that his wife is dead, he invites his friend Steven (Moses Moseley) to watch in the bathtub...
In "Fear, For Sinners Here" celebrates Christmas. Written and directed by Nathan Thomas Milliner (Encyclopedia Satanica), this segment is the heart of the anthology. "Fear, For Sinners Here" in fact enjoys an intriguing script, good direction, and a surprising ending. The acting also lingers as does the music by Rocky Gray.
Plot: Carol (Jessica Schroeder) is wrapping presents for her son Joey. The girl seems very anxious and even the Christmas carols sung by the children outside her door bother her. Her Christmas will become even more tragic when she is visited by a hooded girl (Julie Streble) armed with candy canes.
We also mark this particular segment for the unsuspected ending.
“The Deathday Party" is written by P.J.Starks and directed by Justin M. Seaman (The Barn). As "Fear, For Sinners Here" e "Murder Death Killer", this episode also leaves its mark. It impresses with the characterization of lead characters, their acting efforts (Jay Woolston and Cindy Maples), and the claustrophobic atmosphere recreated.
Plot: It is John's (Jay Woolston) birthday, and his wife Almeda (Cindy Maples) is eager to show him her present. A visit from their boring neighbors, Fred (Huskisson) and Nancy (Anne Walsh), however, will change their plans. However, the couple decides to involve the intruders in their private party as well.
The film ends with a roundup of murders carried out at the hands of "The Face" in the name of splatter and genuine gore.
Volumes of Blood: Horror Stories is produced by P.J. Starks and Eric Huskisson (The Confession of Fred Krueger) and Christopher Bower (The Dooms Chapel Horror).
Special fx supervisor: Cassandra Baker; special fx team: Alexis Dahl and Josh Morris.
Rocky Gray, Mikel Shane Prather and Josh Coffey handled the soundtrack.
