“Outbreak” (** out of four) was a run-of-the-mill horror thriller about a state park ranger (Billy Burke) and his wife (Jessica Frances Dukes) who are struggling in dealing with their missing teenage son (Taylor Handley) and soon find themselves in the midst of a zombie epidemic that threatens all of them. Relatively well-made and well-acted but yet another derivation of “28 Days Later”/”World War Z”/ “The Walking Dead” without any surprises. No relation to the underrated 1995 Dustin Hoffman thriller of the same name.

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“Mountain Shark” (** out of four) was a passable horror thriller about a group of military hunters (Ema Ekaete, Emily Felicia Moore, Julia Quayle, and others) who are sent out into the dark mountains on a covert mission but soon discover the deadly title creature that is out to kill them one by one. Yes, it’s one more killer-shark movie that the world didn’t exactly need but it’s better than most others, thanks to moody direction from Greg AK and vivid visual effects and shark attacks. This actually won some awards at various international horror festivals.

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“Fog City” (** out of four) was a passable horror thriller about a mysterious fog that encompasses a small town and the various friends (Victoria Konefal, Connor Wells, and others) who congregate together in a house but find it might already be too late and they don’t know who to trust. Obviously inspired by (i.e. rips off) John Carpenter’s “The Fog” and script is relatively weak but good filmmaking and eye-candy cinematography from Michael Sollidum helps to keep it watchable.

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“Run” (*1/2 out of four) was a senseless horror shocker about a married couple (Vjosa Halili and Jeremy Miller) renewing their wedding vows in a deserted desert town who become targeted by a sicko (Jeremy Green) who entwines them in a deadly game of love and vengeance where they have to (you guessed it) run to stay alive. More style than substance and film’s style is pretty hard-edged and ugly anyway. No relation to the 1991 Patrick Dempsey clunker of the same name; viewers would be best to “run” far away from both of them.

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“Fog City” (** out of four) was a passable horror thriller about a mysterious fog that encompasses a small town and the various friends (Victoria Konefal, Connor Wells, and others) who congregate together in a house but find it might already be too late and they don’t know who to trust. Obviously inspired by (i.e. rips off) John Carpenter’s “The Fog” and script is relatively weak but good filmmaking and eye-candy cinematography from Michael Sollidum helps to keep it watchable.

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“Graveyard Shark” (0 stars out of four) was a bottom-of-the-barrel horror comedy about a renowned creature hunter (Stephanie Ward) who teams up with a group of townsfolk (Michael John Gilbert, Berndele Welch, and others) to uncover the myth of the title creature who terrorizes a small town. Some of the costumes look like they were literally bought at Family Dollar and some of the acting is abjectly painful. If Ed Wood were still alive and making schlock horror movies, it might have looked a lot like this. This one deserves to be buried and left in a “graveyard.”

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“Forgive Me Father” (** out of four) was a muddled horror melodrama about a world-weary detective (Cindy Humphrey) who investigates a series of grisly murder mutilations and finds that the path to the truth and the killer may turn her life and her sanity inside-out. Fairly strong opening with gripping visuals and strong horror holds your attention but film soon sputters out and becomes enervated and routine. Plot has some similarities to “The Exorcist 3” but at least it’s FAR better than that unforgivable disaster.

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“A Good Enough Day” (** out of four) wasn’t a good enough movie about a man (Cameron Deere) who is at the end of his life with a long-term illness and tries to make amends in his life with the various people he has wronged and tries to come to terms that some may not be forgiving to him. Somber, well-intentioned story has a few quietly powerful moments but result is too muted and mild to really connect. Deere does his best in attempting to carry film and John Silvers’ lyrical music score is another plus.

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“Ballistic” (*1/2 out of four) was a slovenly pulp action melodrama about a homeless veteran (David Lamont) who discovers that the man (James Jaysen Bryhan) who murdered his sister years earlier has been released from prison earlier than expected sending him into a blackout rage and downward spiral where revenge is the only thing on his mind. Potentially scathing story of vengeance and social commentary on our weak justice system is defeated by rambling pace and weak script and filmmaking. Film deserves praise for being made for only $4,000 but is hardly anything to go “ballistic” over.

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“My Son’s Deception” (*1/2 out of four) was a plastic and predictable suspense thriller about a mother (Kate Drummond) who becomes increasingly concerned about her son (Tyseen Smith) and his business and the affects it’s having on his sanity and well-being which spirals out of control into deception and murder. Ridiculous story full of laughable dialogue from unlikeable characters; only for those desperate to watch anything from Netflix. 30-year old Smith is a little miscast playing an 18-year old.

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