• PDI Press

    PDI Press

    BETTY WHITE VS THE STUPID WORLD: The Movie

    PDI Press
    January 17, 2022 2

    Betty White Vs the Stupid World (Chapter Seven)

    PDI Press
    January 16, 2022 1

    Betty White Vs the Stupid World (Chapter Six)

    PDI Press
    January 15, 2022 3

    Featured

    BETTY WHITE VS THE STUPID WORLD: The Movie

    John E. Meredith
    PDI Press
    January 17, 2022 2
    • PDI Press Catalog
    • PDI Press Writers
      • Fiction
  • Columns A-D
    • A Fistful of Dollar Comics
    • ABCs of Horror
    • All Binge… No Purge
    • Anything Joes
    • Beautiful Creatures
    • Big Eyes Smart Mouth
    • Big Sleeps and Long Goodbyes
    • Cahiers du Horror
    • Dispatches From the Field
    • Drive-In Saturday
    • Dungeons & D-Listers
  • Columns F-P
    • The Final Girl
    • First Looks… Second Thoughts
    • The Flesh is Weak
    • Innocence and Experience
    • Lost in Translation
    • Marvel at the Movies
    • Muppets 101
    • Page to Screen
    • Popcorn Cinema
    • The Psycho Drive-In Podcast
    • Psycho Essentials: The ’80s!
  • Columns S-Z
    • Schlock & Awe
    • Shakespeare on Film
    • Shot for Shot
    • Sick Flix
    • Unnatural Selections
    • Versus
    • Video Word Made Flesh
    • We Got Lists
    • Women in Horror
    • The Xeno File
    • Zombies 101
  • Reviews

    Reviews

    Superman (2025)

    Movies
    July 10, 2025 95

    Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025)

    Movies
    June 26, 2025 9

    Predator: Killer of Killers (2025)

    Movies
    June 8, 2025 14

    Featured

    Superman (2025)

    Nate Zoebl
    Movies
    July 10, 2025 95
    • Books
    • Comics
    • DVD/Blu-ray
    • Movies
    • TV
    • Series
  • Interviews

    Interviews

    Interview with Indie Horror Master, Chris Bickel

    Interviews
    July 13, 2018 397

    David Black: Carnies, Carnage, and the Creative Chaos of Darkness Visible

    Interviews
    March 7, 2017 223

    Jaiden Kaine joins the Marvel Universe as new Luke Cage baddie, Zip

    Interviews
    September 29, 2016 9

    SDCC 2016 Interviews: The Cast and Creators of Batman: The Killing Joke

    Interviews
    July 28, 2016 61

    SDCC 2016 Interviews: The Cast and Creators of Syfy’s Van Helsing

    Interviews
    July 27, 2016 4

    Wondercon Interview: The Cast of Damien

    Interviews
    April 16, 2016 3

    Featured

    Interview with Indie Horror Master, Chris Bickel

    The Final Girl
    Interviews
    July 13, 2018 397
  • News

    News

    Regular Show: The Complete Series DVD is here!

    News
    February 9, 2025 20

    “PATER NOSTER AND THE MISSION OF LIGHT” UNLEASHES TERRIFYING UNDERGROUND HORROR – A PSYCHEDELIC CULT MOVIE EXPERIENCE COMING SOON!

    News
    November 15, 2023 74

    Breaking Down The Upcoming DC Studios Slate

    Shot for Shot
    February 1, 2023

    Featured

    Regular Show: The Complete Series DVD is here!

    Paul Brian McCoy
    News
    February 9, 2025 20
    • Trailers
  • Psychos
  • Shop
Breaking
  • Superman (2025)
  • Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025)
  • Predator: Killer of Killers (2025)
  • From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (2025)
  • RSS
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Who We Be
  • Contact
    Home
    Movies

    31 Days of Halloween: Day 18 – Alyce Kills

    Paul Brian McCoy
    MoviesReviews
    October 18, 2013 10

    This Schlocktober, Psycho Drive-In will be exploring the world of horror cinema, featuring thirty one notable films released between Halloween 2012 and Halloween 2013. Next up is director/writer Jay Lee‘s Alyce Kills.

    Alyce1

    I’ll go ahead and say it up front. I had never seen a Jay Lee movie before this. Having only heard of Zombie Strippers!, I didn’t really have any interest in seeing a Jay Lee movie. I don’t know why, really. I guess Zombie Strippers! sounded like one of those horrible parody films that never really comes together to me, so I never bothered watching it. Then, when I checked out his IMDB page, I realized that there might be something to this guy.

    His first film, Noon Blue Apples sounds intriguing, The Slaughter sounds fun, Zombie Strippers! does look like a great idea once I actually looked at it (and will be going into my next annual Easter Zombie Movie Marathon, most likely), and The House with 100 Eyes might be worth checking out, too. And if any of these films have the creativity and energy that Alyce Kills does, then I feel extremely comfortable diving into his oeuvre.

    Alyce2

    Alyce Kills (originally released in 2011 as Alyce, but only finding American distribution for a May release of this past year) is a return to the more serious, psychological horror that Lee began his career with that also brings a bit of that social commentary that was broadly laid out in Zombie Strippers! along for the ride. Alyce (Jade Dornfeld) is already a bit off at the beginning of the film, nursing an unrequited love for her best friend Carroll (Tamara Feldman), behind on her rent (with a supporting role casting coup of Tracey Walter as her put-upon landlord), and working a soul-crushing job overseen by a hostile bitch boss (supporting role casting coup number two, Rena Owen).

    After a night of drink, drugs, and heartache (Carroll discovers her boyfriend Vince (another great cameo casting coup, James Duval), Alyce accidentally/on purpose (??) pushes Carroll off the roof and finds herself suddenly sliding headlong down a rabbit hole (get it?) of drug abuse, illicit sex, madness and murder.

    It’s the very definition of slow burn during the first act, and keeps the pacing deliberately controlled through Alyce’s initial bout of self-destruction. That’s going to put a lot of viewers off, but you know what? It works. It lays the groundwork and provides an amazing launching point for Jade Donfeld’s virtuoso performance as Alyce. As the middle of the film develops, Eddie Rouse appears as Rex — the drug-dealer who facilitates Alyce’s psychological downfall — and blows the roof off the place.

    Alyce3

    The dynamic between Rex’s philosophical/psychotic monologues and Alyce’s initially passive slide into horror is breathtaking. The energy in the air whenever these two are on-screen made my flesh crawl. I never had any idea what was going to happen next or what they were going to say. There are moments between these characters that will stick with me for a long time.

    But ultimately, Rex is also a supporting character, usually situated in the Mad Hatter role between the constantly passing out Mouse (Catero Colbert) and the freaky pervert March (Brian McGuire). This is one of the most overt Alice in Wonderland reference in the film, and in another writer/director’s hands, might not have worked, but Alyce was already so psychologically broken by the time they meet that their surreally horrifying and completely realistic drug dealing den was a work of perfection.

    Alyce 4

    By the time we move into the final act, Alyce is off the rails, her obsession with Carroll provoking both murderous acts and sexually awkward behavior (at a funeral, no less!), that climax in an over-the-top, violent bloodbath and inventive do-it-yourself corpse disposal.

    The aggression that Dornfeld brings to the role as she goes about “tenderizing” one of her victims is both disturbing and invigorating. Thanks to the emotional groundwork laid through the beginning of the film, Alyce’s descent into madness and murder never takes a false step. We watched her disintegrate in front of our eyes, becoming judge, jury, and executioner to everyone who has disappointed her in her life.

    This is good stuff.

    (Visited 940 times, 1 visits today)

    Related

    31 Days of Halloween 2013Alyce KillsJade DornfeldJay Lee

    FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
    Previous The Funhouse (1981)
    Next 31 Days of Halloween: Day 19 – American Mary
    monsterid
    Paul Brian McCoy
    Co-Founder / Editor-in-Chief / Dreamweaver
    Paul Brian McCoy is the Editor-in-Chief of Psycho Drive-In. His first novel, The Unraveling: Damaged Inc. Book One is available at Amazon US & UK, along with his collection of short stories, Coffee, Sex, & Creation (US & UK). He recently contributed the 1989 chapter to The American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1980s (US & UK). He also kicked off Comics Bulletin Books with Mondo Marvel Volumes One (US & UK) and Two (US & UK) and PDI Press with Marvel at the Movies: 1977-1998 (US & UK), Marvel at the Movies: Marvel Studios (US & UK), and Spoiler Warning: Hannibal Season 1 - An Unauthorized Critical Guide (US & UK). Paul is also unnaturally preoccupied with zombie films and sci-fi television. He can be found babbling on Twitter at @PBMcCoy.

    Related Posts

    31 Days of Halloween: Day 31 – Hellbenders

    Paul Brian McCoy
    MoviesReviews
    October 31, 2013

    31 Days of Halloween: Day 30 – All the Boys Love Mandy Lane

    Paul Brian McCoy
    MoviesReviews
    October 30, 2013

    Daily Top Ten

    • star-wars-headerLost in Translation: The History of Adaptations, 1970-79 by Scott Delahunt
    • goldfinger-headerLost in Translation: The Bond Project – Goldfinger by Scott Delahunt
    • mary-shelleys-frankenstein-headerEZMM 2024 Day 4: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994) by Paul Brian McCoy
    • taminellaTales from Muppetland: The Frog Prince (1971) by Jessica Sowards
    • Boon and Loretta in the Rear View MirrorJustified 6.11 “Fugitive Number One” by Thom V. Young
    • i-spit-on-your-grave-09The Final Girl: I Spit on Your Grave (2010) by The Final Girl
    • justice-league-blu-09Advance Review: Justice League (2017) Blu-ray by Paul Brian McCoy
    • lost-in-space-headerPDI All-Stars Present: What We’re Watching While On… by Psychodr
    • hurtAgent Carter 2.05 “The Atomic Job” by Laura Akers
    • john-wick-3-blu-rayJohn Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum arrives on Digital… by Psychodr
    400x400 GI Joe Funko Banner

    Weekly Top Ten

    • i-spit-on-your-grave-09The Final Girl: I Spit on Your Grave (2010) by The Final Girl
    • superman-headerSuperman (2025) by Nate Zoebl
    • star-wars-headerLost in Translation: The History of Adaptations, 1970-79 by Scott Delahunt
    • 80s-headerLost in Translation: The History of Adaptations, 1980-89 by Scott Delahunt
    • goldfinger-headerLost in Translation: The Bond Project – Goldfinger by Scott Delahunt
    • babylon-5-blu-ray-04Babylon 5 Complete Series Blu-ray Review by Paul Brian McCoy
    • mary-shelleys-frankenstein-headerEZMM 2024 Day 4: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994) by Paul Brian McCoy
    • 2001Lost in Translation: The History of Adaptations, 1960-69 by Scott Delahunt
    • belladonna-03Big Eyes Smart Mouth: Belladonna of Sadness by Serdar Yegulalp
    • FrankensteinLost in Translation: The History of Adaptations, 1930-39 by Scott Delahunt

    psychodrivein

    We came here to chew bubblegum and write intelligent reviews and commentary on cult TV and movies! And we're all out of bubblegum!

    Today at https://psychodrivein.com Cahiers du Hor Today at https://psychodrivein.com

Cahiers du Horror 17: Director Roundup July 2025 

Who will be the next José Mojica Marins?
—
Read more of Fred’s article at the link in our profile!

#CahiersDuHorror #PanosCosmatos #OwenEgerton #RodrigoAragao #DemianRugna
    Today at https://psychodrivein.com Anything Joes: Today at https://psychodrivein.com

Anything Joes: S02E30 - Jaren Gets A Comic Grail

In this episode of ANYTHING JOES, Jaren scores a long-time comic grail and we’re celebrating! 
—
Watch the @AnythingJoesPod guys at the link in our profile!

#AnythingJoes #GIJoe #MarvelComics
    Today at https://psychodrivein.com Anything Joes: Today at https://psychodrivein.com

Anything Joes: ZARTAN UNBOXED! | Hiya Toys 1:18 G.I. Joe Figure Review & Comparison 

In this video, Greg cracks open the Hiya Toys 1:18 scale ZARTAN figure and takes a detailed look at his design, articulation, and accessories.
—
Watch Greg at the link in our profile!

@AnythingJoesPod #AnythingJoes #Zartan #HiyaToys #GIJoe
    Today at https://psychodrivein.com The Psycho Dri Today at https://psychodrivein.com

The Psycho Drive-In Podcast 07: Superman (2025)

Join Paul and John on the Psycho Drive-In Podcast as they delve into the first official DC Universe live-action film release, Superman!
—
Listen to the boys at the link in our profile!

#PsychoDriveIn #PsychoDriveInPodcast #Podcast #Superman #JamesGunn #DavidCorenswet #RachelBrosnahan #NicholasHoult #DCU #DC
    Today at https://psychodrivein.com Lost in Transl Today at https://psychodrivein.com

Lost in Translation 483: One More Trailer

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a period piece set in the 60s, around the time the comic was first published.
—
Read more of Scott’s article at the link in our profile!

#LostInTranslation #FantasticFour #FantasticFourFirstSteps #MarvelStudios #MCU
    Today at https://psychodrivein.com Superman (2025 Today at https://psychodrivein.com

Superman (2025)

Superman is proof that the DC film universe might actually have the perfect person in charge of charting their cross-franchise courses.
—
Read more of Nate’s review at the link in our profile!

#Superman #JamesGunn #DavidCorenswet #RachelBrosnahan #NicholasHoult #DC #DCU
    Today at https://psychodrivein.com Lost in Transl Today at https://psychodrivein.com

Lost in Translation 482: Examining Recent Trailers

Two new trailers dropped that are of interest to Lost in Translation: Spaceballs 2 and The Naked Gun!
—
Read more of Scott’s article at the link in our profile!

#LostInTranslation #Spaceballs2 #TheNakedGun #Trailers
    Today at https://psychodrivein.com Final Destinat Today at https://psychodrivein.com

Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025)

FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES is a return to form for a franchise that never should have been on the brink of death.
—
Read more of Nate’s review at the link in our profile!

#FinalDestination #FinalDestinationBloodlines #AdamBStein #ZachLipovsky #KaitlynSantaJuana #TonyTodd
    Today at https://psychodrivein.com Anything Joes: Today at https://psychodrivein.com

Anything Joes: S02E29 - File Card Focus: Big Boa
 
Greg and Jaren return to take a hard look at Cobra’s one-man trainer: Big Boa! 
—
Watch the @AnythingJoesPod gang at the link in our profile!

#AnythingJoes #GIJoe #Cobra #BigBoa #FileCardFocus
    Follow on Instagram

    Look Who's Talking

    Shawn EH
    Shawn EH - 5/4/2025
    Thunderbolts* (2025)
    Yep, very well done; avoiding the big flashy battle that these heroes (can any of you fly?)...
    Ideonova
    Ideonova - 12/26/2024
    Page to Screen: F. Paul Wilson’s The Keep
    Not living up to the source material? What source material? The book is a predictable, at times...
    Fred L. Taulbee Jr.
    Fred L. Taulbee Jr. - 8/17/2024
    Cahiers du Horror 03: Frank Henenlotter and The Brain that Wouldn’t Die
    I need to see that again. Maybe make it a double feature with All of Me. Steve Martin is someone you...
    RSSTwitterFacebookinstagramtumblr

    Archives

    Large_rectangle_336X280
    • PDI Press
      • PDI Press Catalog
      • PDI Press Writers
        • Fiction
    • Columns A-D
      • A Fistful of Dollar Comics
      • ABCs of Horror
      • All Binge… No Purge
      • Anything Joes
      • Beautiful Creatures
      • Big Eyes Smart Mouth
      • Big Sleeps and Long Goodbyes
      • Cahiers du Horror
      • Dispatches From the Field
      • Drive-In Saturday
      • Dungeons & D-Listers
    • Columns F-P
      • The Final Girl
      • First Looks… Second Thoughts
      • The Flesh is Weak
      • Innocence and Experience
      • Lost in Translation
      • Marvel at the Movies
      • Muppets 101
      • Page to Screen
      • Popcorn Cinema
      • The Psycho Drive-In Podcast
      • Psycho Essentials: The ’80s!
    • Columns S-Z
      • Schlock & Awe
      • Shakespeare on Film
      • Shot for Shot
      • Sick Flix
      • Unnatural Selections
      • Versus
      • Video Word Made Flesh
      • We Got Lists
      • Women in Horror
      • The Xeno File
      • Zombies 101
    • Reviews
      • Books
      • Comics
      • DVD/Blu-ray
      • Movies
      • TV
      • Series
    • Interviews
    • News
      • Trailers
    • Psychos
    • Shop
    • PDI Press
      • PDI Press Catalog
      • PDI Press Writers
        • Fiction
    • Columns A-D
      • A Fistful of Dollar Comics
      • ABCs of Horror
      • All Binge… No Purge
      • Anything Joes
      • Beautiful Creatures
      • Big Eyes Smart Mouth
      • Big Sleeps and Long Goodbyes
      • Cahiers du Horror
      • Dispatches From the Field
      • Drive-In Saturday
      • Dungeons & D-Listers
    • Columns F-P
      • The Final Girl
      • First Looks… Second Thoughts
      • The Flesh is Weak
      • Innocence and Experience
      • Lost in Translation
      • Marvel at the Movies
      • Muppets 101
      • Page to Screen
      • Popcorn Cinema
      • The Psycho Drive-In Podcast
      • Psycho Essentials: The ’80s!
    • Columns S-Z
      • Schlock & Awe
      • Shakespeare on Film
      • Shot for Shot
      • Sick Flix
      • Unnatural Selections
      • Versus
      • Video Word Made Flesh
      • We Got Lists
      • Women in Horror
      • The Xeno File
      • Zombies 101
    • Reviews
      • Books
      • Comics
      • DVD/Blu-ray
      • Movies
      • TV
      • Series
    • Interviews
    • News
      • Trailers
    • Psychos
    • Shop
    Type to search or hit ESC to close
    See all results
    Username
    Password
    Remember Me
    Lost password?
    Create an account
    Username
    Email
    Cancel
    Enter username or email
    Cancel