Why Watch? A short that you’ll remember next time you go clothes shopping. The director of Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer packs terror, paranoia and baseball into a few short minutes with a tale that would feel right at home in The Outer Limits or in a film starring Chuck Connors. What does it cost? Just 7 minutes of your time. 9 if you like to watch credits. Check out Still Life for yourself:

Previously, on Boiling Point… I bitched about Hollywood not releasing enough horror movies in October. This week, I’m taking aim at them for not releasing any monster movies – pretty much ever. I’ve come to ask where all the monsters have gone. Monster movies have a special place in any horror fan’s heart. Whether you’re a fan of giant mutated ants, hybrid beasts, strange aliens, or any crazy old weird thing someone dreamed up that crawled out of a swamp and raped a cheerleader, monsters are awesome. The bigger, badder, and bloodier the better. It seemed for years that even if you weren’t looking for a monster, one would come out of the darkness and tear your face off. Nowadays, you’re hard pressed to get your shit packed in by a mythical beast even if you go defecating on Native American burial grounds.

It can be tough following a successful film debut especially when your interests take your sophomore effort in a different direction from what worked so well the first time. Jon Knautz’ first feature was the horror comedy Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer, and while the film remained low profile it served definite notice that he was a filmmaker to watch. It’s filled with creatures crafted with love and practical effects and combines the grue with broad comedy. Knautz’ new film, The Shrine, retains some of that same solid effects work, but there’s not a funny moment to be found. Well, at least not an intentionally funny one. A journalist, her best friend, and her reluctant boyfriend head to rural Poland to investigate the disappearance of an American backpacker, but they only find active and suspicious resistance from the locals. Further digging reveals a mysterious and creepy shrine in the fog-enshrouded woods and a deadly secret that they’d have been better off never learning. Now they must not only fight to survive but also answer the most important question of their lives… how many Polish people does it take to whack three stupid Americans?

If you’ve ever felt mad at the world and wanted to get back at it by punching it square in the face or if you’ve ever seen your family torn apart by a hairy monster, you definitely need to know Jack.

The year of 2008 will most definitely not be remembered as a great year for horror, but that didn’t stop us from trying to pull together a list of the best of what was offered.

Brian Gibson loves to buy DVDs. Come with him on his weekly journey into the depths of credit card debt as he tells you what to buy, rent and avoid.

The power trio behind Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer sat down recently to talk with FSR about the film, the future, and Freddy Krueger’s tool. You just can’t plan ahead for some answers…