9/7 - The Nun (Theater Showing)
9/8 - Day of the Dead: Bloodline
9/10 - Verónica
9/28 - Killer Klowns from Outer Space
9/29 - BEDEVILED
9/30 - Cabin Fever (2016)
10/1 - All Hallows' Eve
10/2 - The Diabolical
10/3 - The First Purge
10/4 - Slaughter High
10/5 - Tales from the Hood
10/6 - Hell Fest (Theater Showing)
10/7 - Malevolent (2018 Netflix original movie)
10/8 - X-Ray
10/9 - Schizoid
10/10 - Hereditary
10/11 - Mischief Night (2013)
10/12 - Demonic
10/13 - Halloween (1978)
10/14 - 47 Meters Down
10/15 - The Sentinel (1977)
10/16 - Visions
10/17 - Hack-o-Lantern
10/18 - Halloween (2018) (Theater Showing) (1st Showing)
10/19 - Halloween (2018) (Theater Showing) (2nd Showing)
10/19 - Halloween (2018) (Theater Showing) (3rd Showing)
10/20 - Halloween (2018) (Theater Showing) (4th Showing)
10/21 - Tales from the Hood 2
10/22 - American Poltergeist
10/23 - Blacula
10/24 - Poltergeist (1982)
10/25 - House of Fears
10/26 - Carrie (1976)
10/27 - Scream
10/27 - Scream 2
10/28 - Scream 3
Documentaries:
10/6 - Haunters: The Art of the Scare
TV Shows:
9/8 - The Purge: Season 1 - Episode 1 - What Is America?
9/10 - Fear The Walking Dead: Season 4 - Episode 13 - Blackjack
9/11 - The Purge: Season 1 - Episode 2 - Take What's Yours
9/13 - American Horror Story: Season 8 - Episode 1 - The End
9/18 - Fear The Walking Dead: Season 4 - Episode 14 - MM54
9/18 - The Purge: Season 1 - Episode 3 - The Urge to Purge
9/24 - Fear The Walking Dead: Season 4 - Episode 15 - I Lose People ...
9/24 - American Horror Story: Season 8 - Episode 2 - The Morning After
9/25 - The Purge: Season 1 - Episode 4 - Release the Beast
9/26 - American Horror Story: Season 8 - Episode 3 - Forbidden Fruit
10/1 - Fear The Walking Dead: Season 4 - Episode 16 - ... I Lose Myself
10/3 - The Purge: Season 1 - Episode 5 - Rise Up
10/7 - American Horror Story: Season 8 - Episode 4 - Could It Be... Satan?
10/7 - The Walking Dead: Season 9 - Episode 1 - A New Beginning
10/10 - The Purge: Season 1 - Episode 6 - The Forgotten
10/16 - The Walking Dead: Season 9 - Episode 2 - The Bridge
10/17 - The Purge: Season 1 - Episode 7 - Lovely Dark and Deep
10/18 - American Horror Story: Season 8 - Episode 5 - Boy Wonder
10/21 - American Horror Story: Season 8 - Episode 6 - Return to Murder House
10/25 - The Purge: Season 1 - Episode 8 - The Giving Time Is Here
10/26 - American Horror Story: Season 8 - Episode 7 - Traitor
10/27 - The Haunting of Hill House: Season 1 - Episode 1 - Steven Sees a Ghost
10/28 - The Walking Dead: Season 9 - Episode 3 - Warning Signs
Non-Horror Halloween:
9/29 - G.I. Joe: Season 3 - Episode 18 - The Phantom Brigade
9/29 - Duck Tales: Season 1- Episode 26 - Curse of Castle McDuck
First viewing. More of a thriller than a horror film. It's really stylish with lots of action.
Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943)
First viewing from the Frankenstein Legacy Collection. I like the humor in it.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)
1/2
First viewing. I like that they went for a comedy vibe for this sequel. Leatherface has a bit more humanity and personality to him as well.
The Frighteners (1996)
1/2
First viewing. I watched the director's cut. A really good showcase of mid 90s CGI.
The Unnamable (1988)
First viewing. Adapted from an H.P. Lovecraft short story. This creature feature is dull in the beginning, but picks up in the second half with a haunted house vibe. The final act with the creature is kind of hilarious, whether intentional or not.
Prehysteria! (1993)
Not horror or Halloween related, but another creature feature. This dinosaur family flick was released the same year as Jurassic Park. I used to rent it on VHS as a kid, so this was mostly a nostalgia rewatch for me. I like how there's edgier humor in this that wouldn't be in a "family film" today. I watched it on the new Blu-ray which looks good and has a commentary track, but it's also streaming on Amazon Prime.
You know I've never watched this entire movie, always bits and pieces here and there. It wasn't a challenge to get through since the movie is great, but I do wish it was a bit shorter. That's my only complaint with it. Heeeeeeere's Johnny!
9/5 - Alien vs. Predator (2004)
9/7 - Annihilation (2018)
9/10 - Upgrade (2018)
9/11 - A Quiet Place (2018)
Cooties (2014)
9/12 - I Am Legend (2007)
9/13 - Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)
Signs (2002)
9/17 - The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Annabelle: Creation (2017)
9/18 - mother! (2017)
9/19 - The Sixth Sense (1999)
9/22 - Hannibal (2001)
9/25 - Hereditary (2018)
9/27 - Poltergeist (1982)
10/1 - Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers [Producer's Cut] (1995)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
10/2 - The Black Room (2017)
10/6 - Suspiria (1977)
10/7 - The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
10/8 - Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)
Jason X (2001)
10/9 - The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (2009)
10/14 - The Evil Dead (1981)
10/15 - Evil Dead II (1987)
Army of Darkness (1992)
Get Out (2017)
10/16 - The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
10/17 - The Belko Experiment (2016)
10/18 - Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Zombieland (2009)
10/19 - Halloween (2018)
10/21 - House of 1000 Corpses (2003)
The Devil's Rejects (2005)
The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror XXIX (2018)
The Lords of Salem (2012)
It (2017)
10/23 - Psycho (1960)
The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
10/24 - Re-Animator (1985)
10/25 - Night of the Creeps (1986)
10/26 - The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
10/27 - Bride of Re-Animator (1990)
Drag Me to Hell (2009)
The Orphanage (2007) A well-made, creepy, slow burn Spanish horror film. Very effective, and surprisingly moving at the end. This got our annual MonsterFest off to a great start! Village Of The Damned (1960) Hadn't seen this in a few years. I forgot how very well-made and effective it is. Terrific movie, and a great looking new blu-ray from Warner Archive. *The Devil's Daughter (1973) 1/2 (YouTube) My wife and I are old enough to have seen a lot of silly 70's TV movies as kids and we have a soft-spot for them. This is a completely predictable "Rosemary's Baby" rip-off -- campy, and a LOT of nostalgic fun. Decent cast too, with Shelly Winters, Joseph Cotton and a post "Dark Shadows" Jonathon Frid. We liked it ... but if you grew up after the '70's, you'll want to knock a couple of skulls off. The Dead Zone (1983) Easily my favorite SK adaptation -- great story, great cast. Brooke Adams is beautiful! A favorite. Imported the Australian blu-ray. A little disappointing. The audio is definitely an upgrade, and the picture is too, but it's subtle. Ghost Story (1981) 1/2 Another old favorite. I'm a sucker for slow-burn, well-crafted ghost stories ... and this one has those qualities in spades. Cool to see these old-time actors -- the cast is excellent -- along side Alice Krige, who is perfection as Eva/Alma. Loses half a star for over-reliance on shock cuts to gooey dead faces. They get a bit repetitive after a while, and they're not necessary in this movie -- it's strength is "eerie", not shock. *The Little Stranger (2018) theatrical Gee, I wanted to love this. It looked like the kind of subtle ghost story that's right up my alley, but I guess even subtle can be overdone. EVERYTHING is laid between the lines, to the point that I really didn't understand what happened in the film. Had to read about it afterwards to figure out what I missed. Good premise, well made and well acted ... but it needs at least a LITTLE more overt storytelling. A big disappointment. *Cronos (1993) :1/2 This didn't do much for me either. Some nice moments early on, but mostly gooey and pointless. *sigh* *Cat Creature (1973) youtube 1/2 OK, I knew this wasn't going to be good, but I thought it would be entertaining. As I said (see: The Devil's Daughter) I have a fondness for campy 70's TV movie horror. I don't mind if they're silly, over-acted, unbelievable ... but this one was dull. How do you take a plot about a 2,000 year old cat creature stalking Los Angeles and make it boring? Simple: all "cop investigation" and very little cat. Interesting cast though -- Peter Lorre Jr? Who knew? (NOTE: OK, this is weird! Peter Lorre Jr wasn't related to Peter Lorre! Check this out: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0521137/bio) The Grudge (2004) 1/2 The best of the 4 we saw this weekend ... and the only one I had seen before. Not a great movie by any means, but fun and entertaining. (Are you listening, Cat Creature?) The Fog (1980) A favorite, and IMO, one of JC's best films. However, I might skip this one for the next few years. No fault of the movie, but I've seen it many times and it's become so familiar that it didn't do as much for me this year. Still, it earns it's 4 skulls. Asylum (1972) Boy, did I enjoy this! Never had the DVD, so I hadn't seen it since the VHS days. I love all the old Amicus anthologies, and although I had forgotten some of it, this is one of the best. The wrap around story is much better than most, and each tale worked quite well. Decent blu-ray too -- some nice extras. Silence Of The Lambs (1991) What a powerful movie this is. Jody Foster and, especially, Anthony Hopkins are so perfect in their roles. Controlled, understated, underplayed and completely chilling. Also, for a film with such gruesome subject matter, it's surprisingly restrained -- it's dark and oppressive, but most of the violence is off-screen. A smart, well-made, grim thriller. My wife and I tend to stick to lighter, "fun" horror movies, but this one is too good to miss. *Ghost Stories (2018) 1/2 I can't stop thinking about this movie! Too many jump scares perhaps, but there is a lot more here than shock. This film demands to be watched closely with no distractions, and the closer you watch, the more you'll get out of it. Plus, it's a lot of fun! I hate it when people say "You didn't get it" if you don't like a certain movie. However, in this case, if all you see is what's in plain sight ... you didn't get it. Or at least you missed the best part. A new classic. Trick Or Treat (2007) 1/2 I love the way this movie looks, and the way the stories intertwine. I like the Sam character, and all the Halloween iconography too. It's a fun film, that loses half a skull for me for being a bit too sleazy in spots. (Really don't enjoy hearing a 10 year old say "butt-f***.") Still, very enjoyable. The Funhouse (1981) 1/2 This gets off to a really lunk-headed start -- dumb characters, cheesy dialogue -- but once they get inside the funhouse and the main story starts, it really goes! We see the "monster" close enough and long enough to realize that it's an immobile mask, but this works as a fun, simple horror movie. Captures the whole garish carnival atmosphere nicely too. Turn off your brain and go for a ride. *Unsane (2018) (Amazon streaming) 1/2 This has ... *ahem* ... a few problems. It's impossible to like the main character -- she's obnoxious -- and it's really, really far-fetched. Unless, of course, she imagined the whole thing (which I tend to believe. She's obviously nuts.) I like the ambiguity of the ending, but this was pretty "meh.". The most impressive thing was that the whole movie was shot on an iPhone! Looked pretty good too. Near Dark (1987) I've always liked this one -- it's a really cool reworking of the whole vampire mythology. Great cast -- Lance Henriksen is amazing. So is Bill Paxton -- first time I've seen it since he died. Funny that neither of the leads, Adrian Pasdar (Caleb) or Jenny Wright (Mae), went on to much movie success. They're both quite good -- and she was gorgeous! A favorite ... even if the whole
[Show spoiler]"vampires are cured by a transfusion" idea
is a little unconvincing! Repulsion (1965) 1/2 This movie takes its time -- there's a lot of mundane details of our main character's life. But there's also a growing sense of unease, the sense that things are not right. By the final third of the movie, she has left all reality behind and what happens is all the more shocking because the first half of the film is so restrained. Maybe not a "fun" movie -- but a disturbing and effective portrait of mental illness. Very chilling. Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) I've seen this many times, but I still have such mixed emotions about it! It's fun to watch, and as eye-candy it's an easy 5 skulls, but as an adaptation of Dracula ... well, it's far more concerned with over-the-top style than substance. It's fun (and occasionally very good, when it calms down a bit) but I wish more of the talent and money had been aimed at the story instead of the flash. (Although it's fun to watch Keanu's hair constantly change color!) The Fly (1986) 1/2 Watching this last night, I was really admiring it -- it has a literate, witty script, great performances and incredible make-up. I always forget how good it really is. Then the final act hits and pulls me out of the movie. All the sympathy the film has built for the characters is forgotten under a ton of (incredibly well-done) gore. It's still fun in a "Ewww! Look at that!" way, but it's so much more than that before the ick hits the fan. A 5 skull movie that loses 1 and 1/2 under the glop. (Fun fact: I never noticed before that Jeff G says "Help Me, please help me" to Geena D -- that must be a nod to the original film.) A Quiet Place (2018) 1/2 Who would have thought that a PG-13 film with no profanity, no gore, and no nudity would become such a big hit -- and be so intense? When this came out last spring it was a real breath of fresh air, and it plays just as well at home. Incredibly fun old-school monster movie with an amazing sound design. Yeah, it's got a few plot holes ... but who cares? The most fun I've had at a monster movie in ages. Psycho (1960) Not a lot to say about this movie, except that it still holds up. Big time. It doesn't matter that everyone knows the reveal -- the acting, the cinematography, the tight construction all really work. Why on earth didn't Tony Perkins get nominated for an Oscar? A classic that I admire more every time I see it. *Psycho IV (1990) A first time watch, and a disappointing one. The worst of the sequels by a long shot, and surprisingly, where it fails most is the writing. Joseph Stefano, who did the original Psycho script, also wrote this, but it has some truly cringe-worthy dialogue. ("That's all that thing of yours is for, making wee-wee!") Sadly there was potential here, and a few decent ideas, and even a decent moment or two, but it never takes off. It's always good to see Anthony Perkins as Norman, and it's worth owning just for that, but Tony AND Norman both deserved a far better farewell. City Of The Dead (1960) Quick! Name the movie: a 1960 black and white thriller with a pretty blonde that stays in a lonely hotel, and disappears from the movie halfway through after being
[Show spoiler]stabbed to death by the owner.
The second half of the film has her sibling searching for her and finding out the shocking truth about the innkeeper. Psycho, you say? Nope. City Of The Dead! A fun, old school horror movie with fantastic atmosphere, and Christopher Lee to boot. A low-budget, but very effective and eerie little film, with an especially chilling prologue set in the 1700's. A real Halloween treat, and a great blu-ray too! Fade To Black (1980) : (Amazon Prime) I'm tempted to call this a first viewing -- it's been over 30 years, and I didn't remember much of it ... if I had, I wouldn't have watched again. There's actually a very good idea here: a movie obsessed kid, killing his enemies in the style of characters from films. There are several cool movie clips, movie references and memorabilia, plus a few nice shots. And Dennis Christopher is pretty good. But everyone else is awful, and the script is a complete mess. A missed opportunity, but at least it was fun to watch. The House That Dripped Blood (1971) Another old Amicus anthology movie ... but one of the lesser ones. The best story is probably the third, about Christopher Lee and his voo-doo practicing daughter, but none of the four tales have quite the punch of the stories in Asylum, or Tales From The Crypt. Still, a good time ... and a wonderful blu-ray. Great colors on all those cheesy 70's era ascots that everyone wears in this. The Sentinel (1977) 1/2 Geez, what an incoherent mess! Very campy movie (with an amazing cast!) that tries really hard to horrify ... and misses. A few decent moments, but mostly silly. HOWEVER: If you've always wanted to see Beverly D'Angelo as a mute, nude, cymbal-playing, brain-eating lesbian from Hell ... this film gets my highest recommendation. The Undying Monster (1947) The first 15 minutes of this are so good, and so atmospheric and so well shot that it could easily give the best Universal horrors a run for their money. Unfortunately, it settles into a talky mystery film. It perks up near the end, but it never lives up to the promise of those wonderful opening scenes. Black Sabbath (Italian version - 1963) This is absolutely one of the best (and scariest!) anthology films ever made ... and the original Italian version is the way to see it. The American version completely rewrites one of the stories (The Telephone) to remove the lesbian element of the story. They did a clever editing job, but it's not the same story, and not as good. In the original, all three stories are really strong, and surprisingly creepy. The dead witch in A Drop Of Water is still frightening after all these years. Karloff is great as a Wurdalack (Romanian vampire) preying on his family. Sometimes They Come Back (1991) :1/2 Really enjoyable TV movie. Almost gave it 4 skulls because I really like the story and the film works well for me ...but there's enough cheese in it that 3 1/2 is more realistic. A great way to wrap up September!
PREVIOUSLY WATCHED IN OCTOBER
[Show spoiler]
Dark Night Of The Scarecrow (1981) 1/2 Started off October with a fun one. Not exactly a classic, but quite good for a 1981 TV movie. Lots of effective moments and a good story over-all. Surprisingly good blu-ray too. The Fly (1958) Hadn't seen this in a few years -- what a great movie! Watched the remake in September, and I have to admit, I prefer the original. The remake starts off incredibly well, but it gets lost in the gore. This movie, while cheesier, is just fun all the way through, and it really is well-constructed. The mystery framework is well done. I imagine audiences in the 50's did a lot of screaming at the big reveal and at the famous "help me!" scene. Favorite moment: When the cat disappears and you can still hear its "disembodied cat atoms" yowling. Bucket Of Blood (1960) 1/2 Campy, ultra low-budget fun from Roger Corman. This was one of his early quickies (and it shows) but it's quite enjoyable with a strong sense of humor. Dick Miller is great. Spider Baby (1967) 1/2 If ever a film deserved to be called a cult classic, it's Spider Baby. Lon Chaney is actually quite good, as are Jill Banner, Sid Haig and Beverly Washburn. Funny, sleazy, sexy and creepy all at once. No other film is quite like this. * Frankenstein (2004) 1/2 Really interesting TV adaptation of Mary Shelly's novel, supposedly the most faithful version. I've never read the book, so I enjoyed seeing how much it differed from the classic Karloff film. A few weak spots, and the monster is too normal looking for the horrified reactions he gets in the film, but it's a great story. Well worth watching. Straitjacket (1964) I had forgotten how cheesy this is! Fun, though. Over the hill Joan Crawford camping it up for William Castle, with severed heads-a-flyin'. What's not to love? A Game Of Death (1945) 1/2 Really interesting double feature last night -- the original Most Dangerous Game, and this film - it's remake, made 13 years later, by the same studio, even using quite a bit of the same footage! It's a very close remake, with one interesting plot change in the middle. It's was directed by Robert Wise at the beginning of his career. Pretty good! In fact I was going to give it 4 skulls ... until we watched the original afterwards: The Most Dangerous Game (1932) Very, very similar to it's remake ... but just better. More tightly paced, punchier, more style to the direction ... and it has the lovely Fay Wray. I liked the character of the brother better in the remake, but otherwise this version was the clear winner. An all-time classic thriller. Creepshow (1982) 1/2 Fun anthology that really captures that comic book feel. Steven King is very funny in it, and Hal Holbrook and Adrienne Barbeau are amusing too. Their story, The Crate, is the best in the film, although all the tales work well. Not as good a movie as Dead Of Night or Ghost Stories, but it's much more tongue in cheek than those and it's very successful at what it does. One of the better horror anthologies. Masque Of The Red Death (1964) What a great movie! Probably Roger Corman's best film. Price is wonderful, and the sets are fantastic. Great blu-ray too, with fantastic color. Might be a little padded in the middle (I'm talking to you, dream sequence) but it's still too good to get less than 5 skulls. It Follows (2015) 1/2 Whaddya know? An original idea in a horror movie! Very enjoyable - and creepy - film, with some interesting quirks to mull over. For example, when is this set? The kids watch old black and white movies on CRT TV's, phones have cords, and only one cell phone is ever seen but it seems contemporary in other ways. It's got a number of plot holes (like how does the first guy know what's going on when he thinks he "must have gotten it" from a one-night stand, who obviously didn't tell him) but it certainly works. One of the better horrors in recent years. * Magic (1978) (Amazon streaming) I actually saw this back in the 70's(!) when I was in high school, but I didn't remember any of it -- so I'm calling it a first time viewing. Good film! Anthony Hopkins is great. I expected this to be one of those "evil doll is really alive" films, but that's not what it is at all. A terrific, slow-burn suspense thriller. Well worth seeing -- I won't wait another 40 years to watch it again! Tales From The Crypt (1972) One of the best of the old Amicus anthologies. Every story is a winner. Joan Collins was quite the eyeful back in the day! Fun, fun movie -- and an excellent blu-ray! *Horror At 37,000 Feet (1973) (YouTube) Capt Kirk, Jed Clampett, the Rifleman, the Professor from Gilligan's Island and a few other out-of-work TV actors battle some oozing, chanting Druid glop on an airliner that's stuck in mid-air. Quality cheese! I can't help myself with these campy 70's TV horrors. Worth watching just to see the Shat as an alcoholic former priest who finds his faith again just in time to get thrown out of the airplane. * The Spiral Staircase (1945) 1/2 A first viewing, and I bet I will like it even better next time. It has style and atmosphere to spare, and a great gothic mood. Unfortunately, the story wasn't quite as impressive - after a wonderful opening not a lot happens until the end. Still, this was so well done that it was very enjoyable. Great PQ too! BTW - why this called The Spiral Staircase? There is one in the house, but it's certainly not central to the plot. The Vampire's Ghost (1945) 1/2 A fun little obscure B from the 40's. Really different for a vintage vampire movie -- it's set in the wilds of Africa, the vampire wears white, runs a bar and walks around in the daylight wearing sunglasses! Some low-budget shortcomings - mostly the acting from some of the supporting cast - but a good, and very original film. A nice change of pace, and a really beautiful blu-ray. War Of The Worlds (1953) (DVD) A wonderfully well-made film with a smart script, fine performances, great color and fantastic special effects. I don't care that you can see the wires -- the ship design is ultra-cool and the models of Los Angeles are flawless. It's of it's time (especially the main female role -- she's there to be pretty and get rescued) but it's still full of wonder, and miles ahead of the Spielberg remake. I can't imagine how amazing this must have been in 1953. WHERE IS THE BLU-RAY?! * WNUF Halloween Special 1987 (Amazon streaming) (2013) Well, that was different! Probably only deserves 2 skulls as entertainment, but I give it one extra for originality and the convincing look of a small-time 80's TV broadcast. Too long, and the actual "story" ends pretty weak, but it's amazing what can be done by people with no money (supposedly a $1,500 budget!) and a lot of creativity. Love the commercials! Trilogy Of Terror (1975) 1/2 If you grew up in the 70's, that creepy little doll is seared indelibly into your brain. Of course, the third segment is great and why the film is remembered, but it's all enjoyable. The first story is fairly good, the second is pretty obvious. What I had forgotten - and what is surprising for 70's TV - is how sleazy some of it is! Subtle (and some not so subtle) references to date rape, masochism and gang rape. The entire first story makes you squirm in this in these days of Cosby and the #MeToo movement. Angel Heart (1987) (Amazon streaming) 1/2 This is another almost first viewing ... it's been over 30 years and I remembered next to nothing about it. A disappointment. Great cast, wonderful look, but it wears out it's welcome, and it's so convoluted that a character at the end has to make a long speech explaining everything that happened. It certainly had it's moments, but it's less than the sum of its parts ... and it has a sex scene so ridiculously over the top that even Michael Douglas must have rolled his eyes. The Thing From Another World (1951) (DVD) This film often gets put down because "the remake is so much better", but you really can't compare them fairly. They are very different films from completely different eras. The later film is great, but taking this one on it's own, it's extremely well done. Great cast, smart realistic dialogue, terrific story, lots of suspense. For it's era, it's pretty grim -- the idea of the (never shown) dead crew members strung up by their heels, throats slit, to feed to growing plant aliens is creepy. One of the best alien invader film ever made. Burn Witch Burn (1962) 1/2 This movie is somewhat obscure, but it's loaded with dark atmosphere and menace. Fine acting, a good story -- a near classic. The only thing that hurts it is a certain incoherence near the end. Some plot elements get muddled and confusing. It's a shame, because it's a terrific, creepy film otherwise. * Dead Of Winter (Amazon streaming) 1/2 When I saw the trailer and the cast, this looked like a winner. It's very well made, nicely shot and certainly has its moments ... but it gets more silly and unbelievable as it goes. Hard to accept three woman that look exactly alike, to the point that even one's sister can't tell the difference. Fun, but suspension of disbelief went south for the winter with logic. * Tourist Trap (1979) (Shudder) This was a first viewing for my wife. I actually saw it in theaters when it was new and I was just 18. As I recall, I liked it. What I didn't recall is that I must have been an idiot at 18. They don't get much dumber that this. Night Of The Demon (DVD) (1957) This isn't just a great horror movie ... it's a great movie, period. Far too many horror films get by on gore, shock, visuals and a frantic pace - logic and story need not apply. This film is smart, has a great script, fine acting, a wonderful story and some unforgettable scenes (like the windstorm, or the scene on the train.) It's suspenseful, intelligent and eerie.
Admittedly, a couple of FX shots haven't held up -- the one of the demon by the train tracks is pitiful -- but for atmosphere and an unforgettable story, this is hard to beat. * Halloween (2018) (Theatrical) 1/2 Why on Earth is this getting good reviews? I liked what they did with Laurie's backstory, and the references to the original were fun ... but everything else was worthless. The "story" was all over the place! We start with a pair of investigative journalists that
[Show spoiler]get killed off immediately.
Then we get a doctor that turns out to be
[Show spoiler] a murderer ... and then gets killed off immediately.
Then the usual parade of nameless horny teens that get
[Show spoiler]killed off - but not fast enough -
before we get to the main, underwhelming confrontation. Standard slasher junk, with no narrative focus. Sloppy, ugly and tired. Ghost Of Frankenstein (1942) 1/2 The fourth film in the Frankenstein saga. Things get a little silly by the time we get to the brain switching, but there is still much to love in this film. Lugosi is great as Igor, the sets, lighting and mood are wonderfully eerie as usual, and Chaney is impressive as the monster, even finding some sympathetic moments via his friendship with the child. No where near as good as the first two films of the series, but a really enjoyable movie just the same. The Bad Seed (1956) A great camp-fest of a movie with the world's most obnoxious child. Henry Jones is wonderfully slimey as LeRoy. The book and play had a chilling ending with
[Show spoiler]the mother dying and Rhoda surviving,
but due to the Hayes code restrictions, the movie is saddled with the most outrageous deus ex machina ending ever. It literally takes an act of God to stop this kid! Pure cheesy fun. The Night Stalker (1971) I had forgotten just how good this really is. The series was fun, but it got pretty silly. This pilot film is smart and really well crafted. Great blu-ray too -- really impressive! Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1956) A great sci-fi classic. This is another film that is often put down because "the remake is better." Bunk. They are both great films, each in the style of their respective eras. I love 'em both. Some might prefer the 70's style of film making, but that doesn't make the original any less good. The crisp B&W photography and the mood of paranoia in this are great. Fine performances, sharp dialogue. An all-time favorite! Dr Terror's House Of Horrors (1965) 1/2 The first Amicus anthology. Better films would follow, but this has it's charms. Always good to see Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing together, and this also features the very young Donald Sutherland. Good wrap-around story, and a couple of strong tales. Planet Of The Vampires (1965) 1/2 Mario Bava sci-fi opus. Pretty cool! The story is muddled, and it's almost impossible to tell everybody apart in those leather outfits, but it's got mood to spare. Dated, but eerie and creative. Fun twist at the end. The Tingler (DVD) (1959) 1/2 Gotta love William Castle. This one is out there .... even for him. See Vincent Price take Hollywood's first ever LSD trip, and wrestle with an over-sized rubber centipede. And remember: Scream! Scream for your lives! Goofy Halloween fun.
Targets (DVD) (1968) This film should be much better known. It's intense, it's frightening and it's far more timely now than when it was made. More a thriller than a horror film, but incredibly suspenseful, and it gives you something to think about long after it's over. If you have never seen this, find it and watch it. A powerful movie.
Island Of Lost Souls (1932) The 30's gave us some of the greatest horror films ever made -- but few still have the power to frighten. This one does. Nightmarish, grim and way over the line for the time with it's suggestions of beastiality and rape. Laughton is great, as is Lugosi in his small but unforgettable role. The best of the three movies versions by a country mile.
Last edited by charlieray1; 10-29-2018 at 04:47 PM.
[Show spoiler]1/10 - John Carpenter's Halloween (1978)
2/10 - Halloween II (1981)
3/10 - April Fool's Day* (1986)
4/10 - Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
5/10 - Ghostbursters* (2016)
6/10 - Rob Zombie's Halloween (Unrated) (2007)
7/10 - Rob Zombie's Halloween II (Unrated) (2009)
8/10 - Copycat* (1995)
9/10 - Fade to Black* (1980)
10/10 - Scream (1996)
11/10 - Scream 2 (1997)
12/10 - Scream 3 (2000)
13/10 - Scream 4 (2011)
14/10 - Hocus Pocus (1993)
15/10 - A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)
16/10 - A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
17/10 - A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: Dream Master (1988)
18/10 - A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)
19/10 - Freddy's Dead: The Final Friday (1991)
20/10 - Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994)
21/10 - The Brain that Wouldn't Die* (1962)
22/10 - The Evil Dead (1982)
23/10 - Evil Dead 2 (1987)
24/10 - Army of Darkness* (1993)
25/10 - Bride of Chucky* (1998)
25/10 - Halloween* (2018)
26/10 - Seed of Chucky* (2004)
27/10 - Curse of Chucky (2013)
28/10 - Alien (1979)
29/10 - Carrie (1976)
I still prefer the 2002 version
House of Frankenstein was well, it was a huge mess. House of Dracula thankfully is a more cohesive movie. It's still not great, but it's decent.
The Eleventh Annual 31 Days of Terror
[Show spoiler]
* = First-time viewing
Sept. 30/Oct. 1.
1. The Strangers (2008)
2. Evil Dead II (1987)
3. Don't Breathe (2016)
4. Halloween 5: The Curse of Michael Myers (1989)
5. Zombie 3 (1988)*
6. Night of the Living Dead (1990)
7. One Missed Call (2003)
8. Dark Water (2002)
Oct. 2
9. Hush (2016)*
10. The Vampire Doll (1970)*
11. The Thing (1982)
Oct. 3
12. The Boneyard (1991)
13. The Howling (1981)
Oct. 4
14. Vampire Circus (1972)*
15. The Thing (2011)
Oct. 5
16. The Gorgon (1964)
Oct. 6
17. Army of Darkness (1992)
18. Zombie 4: After Death (1989)*
19. Ringu (1998)
20. Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
21. The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
22. Vamp (1986)
Oct. 7
23. 13 Ghosts (1960)*
24. The Babysitter (2017)*
25. Gerald's Game (2017)*
26. Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
Oct. 8
27. Trailer Park of Terror (2008)
28. The Mummy's Hand (1940)
29. Ju-On (2002)
Oct. 9
30. The Exorcist (1973)
Oct. 10
31. Pulse (2001)
32. The Wolf Man (1941)
Oct. 11
33. In The Mouth of Madness (1994)*
34. The Hills Have Eyes (2006)
Oct. 12
35. The Exorcist III (1990)*
36. The Hills Have Eyes 2 (2007)
37. Wrong Turn (2003)
Oct. 13
38. White Zombie (1932)
39. The Burning (1981)
40. Hostel (2005)
41. Cherry Falls (2000)
42. Ju-On 2 (2003)
43. Friday the 13th (1980)
Oct. 14
44. The Living Dead Girl (1982)
45. Scars of Dracula (1970)
46. Hellraiser (1987)
Oct. 15
47. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)
48. The Mummy's Tomb (1942)
49. The Mummy's Ghost (1944)
Oct. 16
50. The Return of Count Yorga (1971)*
Oct. 17
51. The Mummy's Curse (1944)
Oct. 18
52. The Funhouse (1981)
53. House on Haunted Hill (1999)
Oct. 19
54. House of 1000 Corpses (2003)
55. Pulse (2006)
Oct. 20
56. One Missed Call (2008)
57. Cabin Fever (2002)
58. Cabin Fever (2016)*
59. As Above, So Below (2014)*
Oct. 21
60. Twins of Evil (1971)*
61. A Quiet Place (2018)*
Oct. 22
62. Corpse Prison: Part One (2017)*
63. Lake of Dracula (1971)*
64. The Mummy (1959)
Oct. 23
65. House on Haunted Hill (1959)
Oct. 24
66. Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
Oct. 25
67. Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday (1993)
Oct. 26
68. A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)
69. The Unnamable (1988)*
70. The Terror (1963)
71. House on Haunted Hill (1959)
72. Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943)
Oct. 27
73. The Strangers: Prey at Night (2018)*
74. A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
75. The Grudge (2004)
76. Jason X (2001)
77. The Ring (2002)
78. House of Frankenstein (1944)
You know I've never watched this entire movie, always bits and pieces here and there. It wasn't a challenge to get through since the movie is great, but I do wish it was a bit shorter. That's my only complaint with it. Heeeeeeere's Johnny!
you might enjoy the internation edition then...
US version: 144 minutes
International: 115 minutes
9/28 – Sinister – 4/5
9/29 – The Boy – 3/5
10/10 – Lights Out – 2.5/5
10/11 – Tales From The Hood 2 – 2.5/5
10/12 – Blumhouse’s Truth or Dare – 3/5
10/13 – It Follows – 4.5/5
10/14 – Hotel Transylvania – 4/5
10/17 – The Ritual – 3.5/5
10/18 – Mom and Dad – 3.5/5
10/23 – An American Werewolf in London – 4/5
10/25 – Halloween (Rob Zombie) – 3.5/5
10/26 - Leatherface -
Didnt like this movie much at all due to the fact that it adds basically nothing to the franchise. an "origin" story should provide further details to the character. This movie actually gives you more questions than answers..
31 Days of Halloween 2018 (first time viewing in bold) 10/01 The First Purge (2018) - 10/01 Summer of ’84 (2018) - 10/01 Ghost Stories (2017) - 1/2
10/02 Insidious: The Last Key (2018) - 1/2 10/02 Subspecies (1991) - 1/2 10/03 Terrifier (2016) - 1/2 10/04 Blood Fest (2018) - 10/05 Murder Party (2007) - 1/2
10/06 Maniac Cop (1988) - 10/07 Malevolent (2018) - 1/2 10/08 The Neon Demon (2016) - 1/2 10/10 It Came from the Desert (2017) - 1/2
10/11 Hereditary (2018) -
10/12 The Witches (1990) - 10/12 Midnighters (2017) - 1/2 10/13 Hold the Dark (2018) -
10/14 Halloween (1978) - 10/14 Halloweed (2016) -
10/14 Predator (1987) - 1/2 10/17 The Heretics (2017) -
10/18 Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - 1/2
10/18 Nightmare on Elm Street: Freddy's Revenge (1985) -
10/19 Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Warrior (1987) - 1/2
10/19 Frailty (2001) -
10/20 Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Master (1988) -
10/21 Mirrors (2008) - 10/21 Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Child (1989) - 10/21 The Wildling (2017) - 1/2 10/21 Unsane (2018) - 10/22 Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991) -
10/23 Wes Cravens New Nightmare (1994) - 1/2 10/25 The Lullaby (2018) - 1/2 10/25 Ghoulies 2 (1988) - 1/2
10/27 Triangle (2009) - 1/2
10/27 Drag Me to Hell (2009) -
10/28 Evil Dead (2003) Unrated - 10/28 The Pit (1981) - 1/2 10/28 The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016) - 10/28 The Dark (2018) - 1/2
________________________________________________ 31 Days of Halloween 2017 (first time viewing in bold)
[Show spoiler]10/01 Alien: Covenant (2017) BD - 1/2
10/01 Wishmaster (1997) BD –
10/01 Wishmaster 2: Evil Never Dies (1999) BD - 1/2
10/03 Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell (2001) BD – 10/05 47 Meters Down (2017) BD - 10/06 Wishmaster 4: The Prophecy Fulfilled (2002) BD - 10/07 Cult of Chucky (2017) VOD -
10/08 Stake Land (2010) VOD - 1/2 10/09 Stake Land 2: The Stakelander (2016) VOD - 1/2 10/10 XX (2017) VOD - 10/11 Wish Upon (2017) BD - 1/2 10/12 Death Note (2017) VOD - 10/12 Dig Two Graves (2014) VOD - 1/2 10/12 Minutes Past Midnight (2016) VOD - 10/13 The Babysitter (2017) VOD -
10/14 The Graveyard Shift (1990) TV - 1/2 10/15 Temple (2017) VOD - 1/2 10/15 It Stains the Sand Red (2016) VOD - 1/2 10/16 Better Watch Out (2016) VOD - 1/2 10/17 Amityville: The Awakening (2017) VOD - 10/18 Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016) VOD - 1/2 10/19 The Transfiguration (2016) VOD - 10/20 1922 (2017) VOD - 10/21 They're Watching (2016) VOD - 10/22 Red Christmas (2016) VOD - 10/23 Gerald's Game (2017) VOD - 10/24 The Windmill (2016) VOD - 1/2 10/25 I Am the Pretty Thing that Lives Inside the House (2016) VOD - 1/2
10/25 Arachnophobia (1990) TV -
10/26 The Watch (2012) TV - 1/2 10/26 Willard (1971) TV - 10/27 Shortwave (2016) VOD - 1/2 10/27 Creep 2 (2017) VOD - 1/2 10/28 Jigsaw (2017) Theatre -
10/28 Ghostbusters (1984) BD - 10/28 Galaxy of Horrors (2017) TV - 10/29 Annabelle: Creation (2017) BD - 1/2 10/29 Shadow People (2013) TV - 10/30 Raw (2017) VOD - 10/30 Backtrack (2015) TV - 1/2 10/31 Dark Tower (2017) BD -1/2 10/31 Nosferatu (1922) TV - 1/2 Total: 42 (78% First Time Viewing)
________________________________________________ 31 Days of Halloween 2016 (first time viewing in bold)
[Show spoiler]09/29 Rob Zombie's 31 (2016) VOD - 1/2 10/02 The Neighbor (2016) BD - 10/03 Blair Witch (2016) Theatre - 10/04 The Purge: Election Year (2016) BD - 10/05 Frankenstein (1931) TV -
10/06 Spawn (1997) TV - 1/2 10/07 The Remains (2016) VOD - 1/2 10/08 POD (2015) VOD - 1/2 10/08 The Invitation (2016) VOD - 1/2 10/09 The Woman in Black (2012) TV – 1/2 10/09 Creep (2014) VOD - 1/2
10/10 Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) BD – 10/10 Timecrimes (2007) BD – 10/11 Ghostbusters (2016) BD - 10/12 Holidays (2016) VOD - 10/13 Don’t Breathe (2016) Theatre - 10/14 Dreamcatcher (2003) TV - 1/2 10/15 Bad Milo (2013) VOD - 1/2 10/16 The Pack (2015) VOD - 10/17 Before I Wake (2016) VOD - 10/18 They Look Like People (2015) VOD - 10/19 Honeymoon (2014) VOD - 10/19 Pandemic (2016) VOD - 1/2 10/20 Midnight Son (2011) VOD - 1/2 10/21 Christine (1983) BD - 10/21 Maximum Overdrive (1986) VOD - 1/2 10/22 Black Swan (2010) VOD - 10/22 The Canal (2014) VOD -
10/23 Cats Eye (1985) BD - 1/2 10/23 ABCs of Death 2 (2014) VOD - 10/24 Blood Lands (2014) VOD -
10/24 Carrie (1976) BD -
10/25 It (1990) BD - 10/26 Lights Out (2016) BD - 1/2
10/26 The Night Flier (1997) DVD -
10/27 Bettlejuice (1988) BD -
10/28 The Omen (1976) TV - 1/2 10/29 The Omen II: Damien (1978) TV - 10/30 The Omen III: The Final Conflict (1981) TV -
10/31 The Changeling (1980) TV -
10/31 Day of the Dead (1985) BD -
10/31 Addams Family Values (1993) TV - Total: 42 ( 73% First Time Viewing)
________________________________________________ 31 Days of Halloween 2015 (first time viewing in bold)
[Show spoiler]10/01 Green Inferno (2015) Theatre - 10/01 Dead Before Dawn (2012) VOD - 1/2 10/02 Starry Eyes (2014) VOD -
10/02 Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995) VOD-
10/03 Child's Play (1988) VOD - 1/2
10/03 Child's Play 2 (1990) VOD - 1/2 10/03 Child's Play 3 (1991) VOD -
10/03 Stay Tuned (1992) DVD - 1/2 10/04 The Gallows (2015) VOD -
10/05 Bride of Chucky (1998) VOD - 1/2 10/05 Seed of Chucky (2004) VOD - 10/07 Curse of Chucky (2013) VOD - 1/2 10/09 Backcountry (2014) BD - 10/09 Tremors 5 - Bloodlines (2015) BD - 10/10 The Human Centipede 3 (2015) VOD - 10/10 Sleepwalkers (1992) TV - 1/2 10/11 Dark was the Night (2014) VOD - 1/2 10/12 Oculus (2013) VOD - 1/2 10/13 The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014) VOD - 1/2 10/14 Stitches (2012) BD - 10/15 Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead (2014) VOD - 1/2 10/16 The Town that Dreaded Sundown (1976) VOD - 1/2 10/17 Tales of Halloween (2015) VOD - 10/17 Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013) TV - 10/18 Here Comes the Devil (2013) VOD - 1/2 10/18 Grabbers (2012) VOD - 1/2 10/20 Crimson Peak (2015) Theatre - 1/2
10/21 The Cave (2005) TV -
10/22 The Craft (1996) TV - 1/2 10/23 ReKill (2015) VOD -
10/24 Leprechaun 4: In Space (1996)TV -
10/25 Re-Animator (1985) BD - 1/2
10/26 Halloween (1978) BD - 1/2
10/27 Halloween II (1981) BD -
10/28 Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1983) BD - 1/2 10/29 Bone Tomahawk (2015) VOD -
10/30 Ghostbuster (1984) BD -
10/30 Ghostbusters II (1989) BD - 10/31 The Town that Dreaded Sundown (2014) BD -
10/31 The Changling (1980) TV - 1/2
10/31 Army of Darkness (1992) BD - 1/2 10/31 Ash vs Evil Dead (2015) TV - Total: 42 (61% First Time Viewing)
31 Days of Halloween 2014 (first time viewing in bold)
[Show spoiler]09/29 Grave Halloween (2013) TV - 1/2
09/30 Godzilla (2014) 3D BD -
10/01 Frankenstein's Army (2013) BD -
10/01 The Conspiracy (2012) VOD -
10/02 Humanoids from the Deep (1980) VOD - 1/2
10/02 The Conjuring (2013) TV - 1/2
10/03 Willow Creek (2013) BD - 1/2
10/04 Cabin Fever: Patient Zero (2014) BD -
10/05 Ghostbusters (1984) BD -
10/06 The Sacrament (2013) VOD -
10/07 Ghostbusters 2 (1989) BD -
10/08 House (1986) VOD -
10/09 Carrie (2013) VOD - 1/2
10/11 The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007) VOD - 1/2
10/11 Beetlejuice (1988) BD -
10/12 Odd Thomas (2013) VOD -
10/13 The Amityville Horror (1979) BD -
10/13 Amityville II: The Possession (1982) BD -1/2
10/14 Amityville 3D (1983) BD - 1/2
10/15 From Beyond (1986) BD -
10/16 Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014) VOD -
10/17 Tremors (1990) TV - 1/2
10/18 Tremors 2: Aftershocks (1996) TV -
10/19 World War Z (2013) 3D BD -
10/19 Leprechaun (1993) VOD -
10/20 The Believers (1986) VOD -
10/22 Scanners (1981) BD -
10/23 American Mary (2012) VOD - 1/2
10/24 Absentia (2011) VOD -
10/25 Fantastic Fear of Everything (2012) VOD -
10/25 Ravenous (1999) VOD - 1/2
10/26 Tremors 4: The Legend Begins (2004) TV -
10/26 Basketcase (1982) BD - 1/2
10/27 Silent Hill: Revelation (2012) 3D BD - 1/2
10/27 Halloween (1978) BD -
10/28 Night Breed: The Directors Cut (1990) BD - 1/2
10/28 Trick 'r Treat (2007) BD -
10/29 Frankenweenie (2012) 3D BD - 1/2
10/30 Evil Dead (2013) BD -
10/30 Slither (2006) BD - 1/2 Total: 40 (57% First Time Viewing)
31 Days of Halloween 2013 (first time viewing in bold)
[Show spoiler]10/01 The Bay (2012) BD - 1/2
10/01 Grave Encounters (2011) DVD -
10/02 Grave Encounters 2 (2012) DVD - 1/2
10/03 Lake Mungo (2008) DVD -
10/04 The Blob (1988) VOD -
10/05 Pumpkinhead (1988) VOD - 1/2
10/06 Salem's Lot (1979) DVD -
10/08 The Burrowers (2008) -
10/09 The Devil's Backbone (2001) BD - 1/2
10/10 Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) VOD -
10/12 Lifeforce (1985) BD -
10/13 Friday the 13th Part III (1983) TV -
10/14 Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) TV -
10/15 Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988) TV - 1/2
10/16 Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) TV - 1/2
10/18 Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday (1993) TV -
10/19 Stephen King's Silver Bullet (1985) TV -
10/20 Tales From The Hood (1995) VOD -
10/21 In The Mouth Of Madness (1994) BD -
10/22 The Stuff (1985) VOD -
10/23 C.H.U.D (1985) VOD - 1/2
10/24 Creature (1985) VOD -
10/25 Aftershock (2012) VOD -
10/26 Ghoulies (1985) VOD - 1/2
10/27 Maniac (2012) VOD -
10/28 Troll (1986) VOD -
10/29 Brain Dead (1990) VOD -
10/30 Aliens (1986) TV - 1/2
10/31 Hatchet III (2013) BD - 1/2 Total: 29 (65% First Time Viewing)
31 Days of Halloween 2012 (first time viewing in bold)
[Show spoiler]09/29 Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010) BD - 1/2
09/30 The Entity (1982) BD -
09/30 Priest (2011) TV -
10/01 Exit Humanity (2011) BD - 1/2
10/02 The Innkeepers (2011) BD -
10/03 Hostel 3 (2011) TV -
10/04 Body Bags (1993) DVD - 1/2
10/05 Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988) BD -
10/08 Jeepers Creepers (2001) BD - 1/2
10/10 The Prophecy (1995) Netflix - 1/2
10/11 Altered (2006) Netflix - 1/2
10/11 The Shrine (2010) Netflix - 1/2
10/12 Shadow (2009) Netflix -
10/13 Ahh! Zombies! (2007) (a.k.a Wasting Away) Netflix - 1/2
10/13 The Human Centipede (2009) Netflix -
10/14 Tetsuo: The Bullet Man (2009) Netflix -
10/15 Hotel Hell (1980) TV -
10/16 Fright Night (1985) Netflix -
10/17 Tales From The Crypt: Demon Knight (1995) Netflix -
10/18 The Children (2008) Netflix -
10/19 Prometheus (2012) BD -
10/20 The Human Centipede 2 (2011) Netflix -
10/20 Dream Home (2010) Netflix -
10/22 Feast (2005) BD -
10/23 The Lost (2006) BD -
10/24 Excision (2012) BD -
10/24 The Black Cat (1934) TV -
10/25 Cube (1997) BD - 1/2
10/26 No Telling (1991) Netflix -
10/28 Eden Lake (2008) dvd - 1/2
10/29 Halloween (2007) BD -
10/30 Halloween II DC (2009) BD -
10/31 Brainscan (1994) TV -
10/31 The Wolfman (1941) TV - Total: 34 (76% First Time Viewing)
31 Days of Halloween 2011 (first time viewing in bold)
[Show spoiler]10/01 The Collector (2009) TV - 1/2
10/01 Trollhunter (2010) BD -
10/01 Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010) PPV - 1/2
10/02 Scream 2 (1997) TV -
10/03 Vampires (1998) TV -
10/04 The Last Exorcism (2010) BD - 1/2
10/05 The People Under The Stairs (1991) TV - 1/2
10/06 Vanishing on 7th Street (2010) TV - 1/2
10/07 Re-Animator (1985) DVD - 1/2
10/07 Magic (1978) TV -
10/08 Bride of Re-Animator (1990) DVD -
10/08 Alien: Resurrection (1997) TV -
10/09 Cirque du Freak: The Vampires Assistant (2009) TV -
10/11 Poltergeist 2 (1986) BD -
10/13 Martyrs (2008) BD - 1/2
10/15 Beyond Re-Animator (2003) DVD -
10/16 Thinner (1996) DVD -
10/16 Sabertooth (2002) TV -
10/17 House on Haunted Hill (1999) DVD - 1/2
10/17 Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh (1995) TV -
10/17 The Walking Dead: S2 E1 (2011) TV -
10/18 House on Haunted Hill (1958) TV -
10/19 Mimic: Directors Cut (1997) BD - 1/2
10/20 Dead Alive (1992) BD -
10/21 Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990) TV -
10/22 Paranormal Activity (2007) BD - 1/2
10/22 From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money (1999) TV -
10/23 Dawn of the Dead (1978) BD - 1/2
10/23 The Walking Dead: S2 E2 (2011) TV -
10/23 Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006) TV - 1/2
10/24 Ginger Snaps (2000) TV -
10/27 I Saw The Devil (2010) TV - 1/2
10/28 Tales from the Crypt (1972) TV - 1/2
10/29 The Devils Rejects (2005) BD - 1/2
10/30 The Walking Dead: S2 E3 (2011) TV -
10/31 The Thing (1981) BD - Total: 33 (48% First Time Viewing)
31 Days of Halloween 2010 (first time viewing in bold)
[Show spoiler]10/01 The Final Destination (2009) -
10/01 Horror of Dracula (1958) -
10/02 Hatchet (2006) -
10/02 The Brides of Dracula (1960) -
10/04 Triangle (2009) - 1/2
10/05 Frozen (2010) - 1/2
10/08 The Plague of the Zombies (1966) - 1/2
10/09 The Evil Dead (1981) - 1/2
10/12 Return of the Living Dead (1985) - 1/2
10/15 Cujo (1983) -
10/19 Sleepaway Camp (1983) - 1/2
10/21 Prince of Darkness (1987) -
10/23 Predators (2010) - 1/2
10/24 The Exorcist (1973) -
10/28 Night of the Demons (2009) - 1/2
10/28 Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday (1993) -
10/29 Urban Legend (1998) - 1/2
10/30 Videodrome (1983) - 1/2
10/31 The Hills Have Eyes (2006) - Total: 19 (63% First Time Viewing)
[Show spoiler]9/06/18: The Little Stranger * (2018):
9/07/18: The Nun * (2018):
9/10/18: Predator (1987):
9/11/18: Predator 2 (1990):
9/12/18: Predators (2010):
9/14/18:The Predator * (2018):
9/21/18: Fade To Black * (1980):
9/23/18: The Hidden (1987):
9/24/18: Season Of The Witch * (1972):
9/25/18: Assassination Nation * (2018):
9/27/18: Thriller (1983): The House With A Clock In Its Walls * (2018):
10/01/18: Night School * (1981): Body Bags * (1993): Pumpkinhead * (1988):
10/02/18: Raising Cain (1992): Split (2017):
10/03/18: Eyes Of A Stranger * (1981): Hell Fest * (2018): Someone's Watching Me! (1978):
10/04/18: Misery (1990):
10/05/18: X: The Man With The X-Ray Eyes * (1963): Body Parts * (1991):
10/06/18: Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2011): Island Claws * (1980): The Bride * (1985):
10/07/18: Carrie (1976): The Fury (1978): Jennifer * (1978):
10/08/18: Twice-Told Tales * (1963): All The Boys Love Mandy Lane * (2006): Hideaway * (1995):
10/09/18: Dracula (Spanish version, 1931): Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992):
10/10/18: ParaNorman (2012): Dr. Giggles * (1992): The Cabin In The Woods (2012):
10/11/18: The Omen (1976): Damien: Omen II (1978): The Final Conflict: Omen III (1981):
10/12/18: Corpse Bride (2005): Hush (2016): A Quiet Place (2018):
10/13/18: Trick ‘r Treat (2009): Ghost Stories * (2018):
10/14/18: The Mephisto Waltz * (1971): Dark Shadows (2012):
10/15/18: Night Of The Creeps (1986): Slither (2006):
10/16/18: Creature From The Black Lagoon (1954): The Monster Squad (1987):
10/17/18: The Island Of Dr. Moreau * (1977): The Relic (1997): The Lift * (1983):
10/18/18: Magic (1978): The Silence Of The Lambs (1991):
10/19/18: Halloween (1978): Halloween II (1981):
10/20/18: Halloween * (2018): Starry Eyes * (2014): Rabid * (1977):
10/21/18: Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1956): Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978): Body Snatchers (1994):
10/22/18: The Dark Half (1993): Secret Window (2004):
10/23/18: The Haunting (1963): Crimson Peak (2015):
10/24/18: The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971): Dr. Phibes Rises Again * (1972):
10/25/18: Cutting Class * (1989): Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? * (1971): Creepshow (1982): Cat’s Eye (1985):
10/26/18: The Crazies (1973): Dawn Of The Dead (2004):
10/27/18: Hotel Transylvania 3 * (2018): Monster House (2006): Coraline (2009):
10/28/18: Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969): Dracula Has Risen From The Grave (1968): Taste The Blood Of Dracula (1970):
10/29/18:
“We have plenty of murder in New York without benefit of Ghouls n’ Goblins!”
“You’re a long way from New York, Constable.”
-Sleepy Hollow (1999):
-The Wolfman (2010):
Still on a Hammer kick with a pair of modernized takes on the celebrated British horror studio. Tim Burton’s 1999 take on Washington Irving’s classic tale (more recently the subject of a solid Fox television series) re-imagines timid schoolteacher Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) as a police constable in 1799 New York, whose wholesale beliefs in the new sciences of detection are put to the test when he’s assigned to investigate a rash of murders in the remote village of Sleepy Hollow, where the victims have been found decapitated (“Clean as dandelion heads, apparently”, remarks the Judge who sends Ichabod on his quest, played in a great cameo by Hammer vet Christopher Lee). Ichabod arrives with his self-made instruments and books of up-to-date science and anatomy, to become embroiled in a tangled web of deceit and conspiracy amongst the township’s untrustworthy members, as well as becoming fond of Katrina Van Tassel (a ravishing Christina Ricci), daughter of the town’s most prosperous member (Michael Gambon). Sleepy Hollow is a marvel of visual design, with Rich Henrich’s Oscar-winning sets and Emmanuel Lubezki’s luminous, Oscar-nominated cinematography perfectly matched with Danny Elfman’s surging, passionate score to carry the viewer away into a gorgeously gloomy atmosphere of autumnal dread. It’s also brimming with Burton’s trademark humor, making the R-rated gore go down easy. Depp anchors the film with his impeccable comic timing, and his courtship of Ricci gives the film an aching human dimension that give the funhouse frights a solid framework to prop them up. It’s one of Burton’s most enjoyable films, and a must for Halloween-time viewing.
In a related vein, the criminally underrated 2010 remake of the classic 1941 Universal version of The Wolfman retains a lot of the same technicians that worked on that earlier film, like production designer Heinrichs, composer Elfman, and screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker. Director Joe Johnston (The Rocketeer, Captain America) might not be an “auteur” on the same level of Burton, but he is an impeccable craftsman, and with such a terrific tech team on his side (with the addition of Oscar-winning makeup effects by the great Rick Baker), he creates a rock-solid take on the material, bracingly bloody without ever tipping over into becoming needlessly disgusting. Benicio Del Toro is ideal casting as the cursed Lawrence Talbot, with great support from Anthony Hopkins as his grandiloquent father, a particularly lovely Emily Blunt as his ex-brother’s fiancé (and new love interest) and Hugo Weaving as a jaded police detective investigating the rash of gruesome murders that have swept the countryside near Dartmoor, England. It’s a film full of enthusiastically R-rated violence that nevertheless has a certain classicism about it, recalling a bygone age of cinematic shivers with a Shakespearian grandeur. Too many people at the time of the release groused about the usage of CGI to augment Baker’s makeup work, and, to be fair, a few of the mid-transformation shots look a bit dodgy. And yet, to dismiss the film as a whole for these handful of subpar F/X shots is truly missing the forest for the trees. Scary, romantic and atmospheric, The Wolfman is one of the best horror remakes done, and, in a just world, this would have been the leadoff film for the hoped-for cinematic “Dark Universe” that crashed and burned on the runway last summer with the release of the cluttered, charmless Tom Cruise take on The Mummy.
38. THE EVIL DEAD 1981
I guess I should be embarrassed to say it but this was my first viewing. I liked it quite a bit, especially the first third or so before anything really happens, where the tension and sense of dread is about as high as anything I've ever seen. I can't get over that porch swing just knocking into the wall but everyone decides to go ahead and spend the night anyway. I will give the monster makeup a pass as I know this was done on a small budget and they did the best they could with what they had. I will have to try and see the rest of this series but definitely enjoyed checking this out for the first time and will probably watch it again soon.
[Show spoiler]
1. HALLOWEEN 3
2+3. PHANTASM 1+2
4. CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON
5. HALLOWEEN
6. DRACULA 1931
7. ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN
8. THE INVISIBLE MAN
9+10. FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 5+6
11. ZOMBIELAND
12. ALIEN COVENANT
13. VAN HELSING
14-16. SCREAM 1-3
17. EVENT HORIZON
18. PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 1943
19. THE MUMMY 2017
20. ANNIHILATION
21+22. FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 7+8
23. FRANKENSTEIN 1931
24. THE WOLF MAN 1941
25. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2
26. THE CABIN IN THE WOODS
27. HALLOWEEN 2018
28. THE WOLFMAN 2010
29. JASON GOES TO HELL
30. THE FIRST PURGE
31-33. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3-5
34. FRIDAY THE 13TH 2009
35. BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA 1992
36. INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS 1978
37. UPGRADE
SEPTEMBER
1. 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE
2. THE MUMMY 1959
3. SALEM'S LOT
4+5. FRIDAY THE 13TH 1+2
6. THE MUMMY 1932
7. THE THING 1982
8. SHAUN OF THE DEAD
9. FREDDY VS. JASON
10. THE PURGE
11. LAND OF THE DEAD
12. RAMPAGE
13-15. POLTERGEIST 1+2+2015
16. ALIEN VS. PREDATOR
17. THE MEG
18. DAWN OF THE DEAD 2004
19. THE PURGE ANARCHY
20+21. FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 3+4
22. THE THING 2011
23. PROMETHEUS
24. THE PURGE ELECTION YEAR
The Midnight Hour Harry Belafonte's daughter! Dom DeLuise's son! Michelle Pffeifer's sister! The guy from Reading Rainbow! The girl from Tron! This made-for-tv film is a favorite of mine from when I was younger. Not a great movie, but nostalgia is a powerful drug. Plus, it has a great score by Brad Fiedel. I keep hoping for a Blu-ray...
Return of the Living Dead Part II (1988) (First-time viewing)
Day of the Dead (1985)
The Eleventh Annual 31 Days of Terror
[Show spoiler]
* = First-time viewing
Sept. 30/Oct. 1.
1. The Strangers (2008)
2. Evil Dead II (1987)
3. Don't Breathe (2016)
4. Halloween 5: The Curse of Michael Myers (1989)
5. Zombie 3 (1988)*
6. Night of the Living Dead (1990)
7. One Missed Call (2003)
8. Dark Water (2002)
Oct. 2
9. Hush (2016)*
10. The Vampire Doll (1970)*
11. The Thing (1982)
Oct. 3
12. The Boneyard (1991)
13. The Howling (1981)
Oct. 4
14. Vampire Circus (1972)*
15. The Thing (2011)
Oct. 5
16. The Gorgon (1964)
Oct. 6
17. Army of Darkness (1992)
18. Zombie 4: After Death (1989)*
19. Ringu (1998)
20. Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
21. The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
22. Vamp (1986)
Oct. 7
23. 13 Ghosts (1960)*
24. The Babysitter (2017)*
25. Gerald's Game (2017)*
26. Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
Oct. 8
27. Trailer Park of Terror (2008)
28. The Mummy's Hand (1940)
29. Ju-On (2002)
Oct. 9
30. The Exorcist (1973)
Oct. 10
31. Pulse (2001)
32. The Wolf Man (1941)
Oct. 11
33. In The Mouth of Madness (1994)*
34. The Hills Have Eyes (2006)
Oct. 12
35. The Exorcist III (1990)*
36. The Hills Have Eyes 2 (2007)
37. Wrong Turn (2003)
Oct. 13
38. White Zombie (1932)
39. The Burning (1981)
40. Hostel (2005)
41. Cherry Falls (2000)
42. Ju-On 2 (2003)
43. Friday the 13th (1980)
Oct. 14
44. The Living Dead Girl (1982)
45. Scars of Dracula (1970)
46. Hellraiser (1987)
Oct. 15
47. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)
48. The Mummy's Tomb (1942)
49. The Mummy's Ghost (1944)
Oct. 16
50. The Return of Count Yorga (1971)*
Oct. 17
51. The Mummy's Curse (1944)
Oct. 18
52. The Funhouse (1981)
53. House on Haunted Hill (1999)
Oct. 19
54. House of 1000 Corpses (2003)
55. Pulse (2006)
Oct. 20
56. One Missed Call (2008)
57. Cabin Fever (2002)
58. Cabin Fever (2016)*
59. As Above, So Below (2014)*
Oct. 21
60. Twins of Evil (1971)*
61. A Quiet Place (2018)*
Oct. 22
62. Corpse Prison: Part One (2017)*
63. Lake of Dracula (1971)*
64. The Mummy (1959)
Oct. 23
65. House on Haunted Hill (1959)
Oct. 24
66. Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
Oct. 25
67. Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday (1993)
Oct. 26
68. A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)
69. The Unnamable (1988)*
70. The Terror (1963)
71. House on Haunted Hill (1959)
72. Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943)
Oct. 27
73. The Strangers: Prey at Night (2018)*
74. A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
75. The Grudge (2004)
76. Jason X (2001)
77. The Ring (2002)
78. House of Frankenstein (1944)
Oct. 28
79. Killer Bees (2005)*
Oct. 29
80. House of Dracula (1945)
81. Return of the Living Dead Part II (1988)*
82. Day of the Dead (1985)
The Midnight Hour Harry Belafonte's daughter! Dom DeLuise's son! Michelle Pffeifer's sister! The guy from Reading Rainbow! The girl from Tron! This made-for-tv film is a favorite of mine from when I was younger. Not a great movie, but nostalgia is a powerful drug. Plus, it has a great score by Brad Fiedel. I keep hoping for a Blu-ray...
Don't forget the kid from 70's cult favorites Ben and Burnt Offerings, the villain from Robocop/dad from That 70's Show and the star of the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers...I like to remember the girl from Tron as the girl from Caddyshack, but good on her for dressing like Let's Dance era David Bowie for the Halloween party.
Nostalgia is indeed a powerful drug, and this TV-movie that often seems to draw inspiration predominantly from Michael Jackson's Thriller video lays on the camp and the cheese pretty thick but yeah, I'd have to pick up a Blu of this as well if they ever release it.
Oh, and kudos to the beauteous Shari Belafonte for pulling off playing a high school girl at age 30!
Don't forget the kid from 70's cult favorites Ben and Burnt Offerings, the villain from Robocop/dad from That 70's Show and the star of the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers...I like to remember the girl from Tron as the girl from Caddyshack, but good on her for dressing like Let's Dance era David Bowie for the Halloween party.
Nostalgia is indeed a powerful drug, and this TV-movie that often seems to draw inspiration predominantly from Michael Jackson's Thriller video lays on the camp and the cheese pretty thick but yeah, I'd have to pick up a Blu of this as well if they ever release it.
Oh, and kudos to the beauteous Shari Belafonte for pulling off playing a high school girl at age 30!
And of course...Dick Van Patten! And The Smiths "How Soon Is Now"! I also read somewhere that Macauley Culkin plays a trick-or-treater, but that could be bull****.
There's a part of me which misses made-for-tv movies and mini-series.
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31 Days Of Horror 
Still, it earns it's 4 skulls.
It's impossible to like the main character -- she's obnoxious -- and it's really, really far-fetched. Unless, of course, she imagined the whole thing (which I tend to believe. She's obviously nuts.) I like the ambiguity of the ending, but this was pretty "meh.". The most impressive thing was that the whole movie was shot on an iPhone! Looked pretty good too.
Body Bags * (1993): 
Linear Mode
