trashgang This is a script that really could happen but to say it was a real horror story that goes a bit too far for me. The story itself and the acting was okay but for an entry into Masters Of Horror it lacked on horror. This episode opens with telling about an experiment were a disease was ended by turning flies into non active breeders. By doing so the disease was ended. Further into the story we move towards humanity were the females have to be killed to stop breeding. The males are out for a kill but one girl do survive dressed as a guy and it's up to her to survive. In that particular part we do have more of suspense then horror and towards the end it turns into some science-fiction story looking more like an episode for The X-Files in stead of Masters Of Horrors. But why it is shown here comes due the sometimes graphic violence toward women. But for me it just didn't work. Some will have problems with the fact about killing women and entering some messages about belief in a God and so on but the ending...what a turn-off.Gore 1,5/5 Nudity 1/5 Effects 3/5 Story 3/5 Comedy 0/5

Witchfinder General 666 I'll be the last one to deny that Joe Dante deserves praise for films like "Piranha", "The Howling" and even "Gremlins", but his contributions to "Masters Of Horror" both rank among the lesser episodes of the series. This seventh episode of the second season, "The Screwfly Solution" definitely has its qualities, but it also lacks in many departments. The episode is based on the acclaimed short story of the same name by Alice Sheldon (written under her pen name 'James Trippee Jr.'), which I haven't read. For some reason, most MoH episodes that try to deliver something political seem to fail as true Horror films. This is also the case with "The Screwfly Solution". The idea behind "The Screwfly Solution" was probably to make a socio-critical comment rather than to deliver pure Horror or genuine scares. Maybe this was also the case with the story - as stated above, I haven't read it. The episode is about a mysterious, rapidly spreading virus that, for some reason, makes men murderously aggressive towards women... The episode is not terribly suspenseful, so there should be a message behind it. Now, what does this episode want to tell us? That there is too much violence against women, and that violence against women is bad? I agree, of course, as anybody in their right mind would, but I certainly didn't need a "Masters of Horror" episode to tell me that. Even worse, Dante throws in comedy again. Some female characters seem deliberately made to be annoying, and it sometimes seems as if Dante is unable to decide whether to make a comment against violence against women, or actually provide some understanding for the men's aggression. The episode is not without irony, of course, and, as stated above, it does have its qualities. It does make a point, even though, in my opinion, not a very memorable one, and the performances are good. English actress Kerry Norton is great as the protagonist, and the episode also stars none other than the great Elliott Gould in a supporting role. I wasn't so happy about the casting of soap opera actor Jason Priestley at first, but he is actually decent enough in his role. Overall, the episode has some qualities, as far as I am concerned, it is only recommendable to enthusiastic fans of "Masters Of Horror".

Woodyanders A strange and lethal virus causes men to go insane and savagely murder women in a psychotic fit of religious fervor whenever they are sexually aroused. Scientists Alan (an engaging performance by Jason Priestley) and Barney (the always excellent Elliott Gould) try to find a cure while Alan's feisty wife Anne (well played by the lovely Kerry Norton) and spunky daughter Amy (the solid Brenna O'Brien) flee to the woods of Canada where it's still safe. Director Joe Dante, working from a bold and biting by Sam Hamm, delivers a chilling mix of stinging social commentary and unsettling doomsday end-of-the-world thriller that offers plenty of spot-on incisive stuff about religious fanaticism run dangerously amok, misogynistic male violence against women, and how mankind's own self-destructive nature will eventually turn on him. Moreover, Dante relates the gripping story at a snappy pace, maintains a grimly serious tone throughout, stages the jolting moments of brutal violence with unflinching explicitness (an alarming psychotic outburst in a strip club is especially potent and upsetting), and adds a wickedly amusing line in pitch-black humor to further spice up the already tasty brew. Hummie Mann's spooky'n'shivery score and Attila Szalay's glossy, intimate cinematography are both top-notch. The acting is uniformly sound as well, with Linda Darlow a stand-out as sarcastic epidemiologist Bella. The surprise twist ending packs quite a punch. A praiseworthy sci-fi/horror winner.

Poe-17 I love the frequently misnomered "Masters of Horror" series. Horror fans live in a constant lack of nourishment. Projects like this (and the similar "Greenlight Project" with gave us "Feast" - like it or lump it) are breeding grounds for wonderful thought bubbles in the minds of directors with a horror bent to develop and bring to maturation food for we who love to dine on horror.This one began with a kernel of really-kool-idea and ran ... right off the edge of "where in the world am I going with this?!!!".I don't know how to spoil the spoiled but "SPOILER AHEAD" All of a sudden ... no, there was that light drifting across the night sky earlier ... we have long haired luminescent aliens (huh? ... HUH?) brain drilling males and ... yeah, I get it but ... well ... the worst curse of storytelling - a rousing and promising set up without a rewarding denouement.Cue to storytellers ... your build up has to have a payoff that exceeds build up. Not the other way around. Storytelling math 101.End of Spoilers - Big Oops!