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 scream! Scream for your lives! Goofy Halloween fun.
[Show spoiler]1.) 9/24/13 - Halloween (1978)
2.) 9/25/13 - Halloween II (1981)
3.) 9/27/13 - Halloween H20
4.) 9/28/13 - House of 1000 Corpses
5.) 9/29/13 - The Devil's Rejects
6.) 9/30/13 - Jeepers Creepers
7.) 10/1/13 - The Thing (1982)
8.) 10/2/13 - Joy Ride
9.) 10/8/13 - American Psycho
10.) 10/12/13 - From Dusk Till Dawn
11.) 10/16/13 - The Fog (1980)
12.) 10/21/13 - The Burning
13.) 10/22/13 - Curse of Chucky
14.) 10/23/13 - Halloween 4
15.) 10/23/13 - Halloween 5
16.) 10/25/13 - Halloween (2007)
17.) 10/26/13 - 1408
18.) 10/27/13 - Day of the Dead (1985)
19.) 10/28/13 - High Tension
20.) 10/29/13 - Manhunter
21.) 10/30/13 - Halloween VI: The Curse of Michael Myers
2014 list
[Show spoiler]1.) 10/1 - The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
2.) 10/2 - Motel Hell
3.) 10/3 - Pumpkinhead
4.) 10/3 - The People Under the Stairs
5.) 10/4 - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
6.) 10/4 - From Beyond
7.) 10/5 - Toy Story of Terror
8.) 10/5 - Videodrome
9.) 10/6 - The Orphanage
10.) 10/6 - The Funhouse
11.) 10/8 - American Horror Story: Freakshow ep. 1
12.) 10/8 - Dawn of the Dead (1978)
13.) 10/11 - Casper
14.) 10/11 - Dead Snow
15.) 10/12 - Cronos
16.) 10/14 - A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
17.) 10/15 - The Vanishing (1993)
18.) 10/15 - American Horror Story: Freakshow ep.2
19.) 10/17 - The Blob (1988)
20.) 10/19 - Wrong Turn
21.) 10/19 - Halloween III: Season of the Witch
22.) 10/20 - Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
23.) 10/20 - Feast
24.) 10/21 - 28 Days Later
25.) 10/21 - Dawn of the Dead (2004)
26.) 10/22 - American Horror Story: Freakshow ep. 3
27.) 10/24 - Scream
28.) 10/25 - Scream 2
29.) 10/25 - Scream 3
30.) 10/26 - Scream 4
31.) 10/27 - Annabelle
32.) 10/27 - The Serpent and the Rainbow
33.) 10/28 - Alien
34.) 10/29 - Army of Darkness
35.) 10/29 - American Horror Story: Freakshow
36.) 10/31 - The Shining
2015 list
[Show spoiler]1.) 10/1 - Dressed to Kill
2.) 10/2 - Stir of Echoes
3.) 10/3 - The Hitcher (1986)
4.) 10/3 - The Hitcher (2007)
5.) 10/4 - When a Stranger Calls (1979)
6.) 10/7 - Candyman
7.) 10/8 - Christine
8.) 10/10 - What We Do in the Shadows
9.) 10/12 - The Omen (1976)
10.) 10/12 - Damien: Omen II
11.) 10/13 - Omen III: The Final Conflict
12.) 10/13 - The Omen (2006)
13.) 10/14 - Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
14.) 10/15 - Cube
15.) 10/16 - Hellraiser
16.) 10/16 - Hellbound: Hellraiser II
17.) 10/17 - The Loved Ones
18.) 10/19 - Crimson Peak
19.) 10/20 - The Lazarus Effect
20.) 10/21 - The Collector
21.) 10/21 - The Collection
22.) 10/23 - The Mothman Prophecies
23.) 10/24 - Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
24.) 10/24 - Parents
25.) 10/26 - Jacob's Ladder
26.) 10/27 - The Innkeepers
27.) 10/30 - The Frighteners
28.) 10/30 - 30 Days of Night
29.) 10/31 - Night of the Demons
2016 list
[Show spoiler]1.) 10/1 - Near Dark
2.) 10/4 - The Witch
3.) 10/5 - Cat's Eye
4.) 10/6 - Lord of Illusions
5.) 10/6 - Cat People (1982)
6.) 10/9 - Invaders from Mars (1986)
7.) 10/10 - Devil
8.) 10/10 - The Midnight Meat Train
9.) 10/11 - Wishmaster
10.) 10/12 - The Howling
11.) 10/12 - Howling II: ... Your Sister is a Werewolf
12.) 10/14 - Turistas
13.) 10/16 - Night of the Comet
14.) 10/16 - The Return of the Living Dead
15.) 10/18 - My Bloody Valentine
16.) 10/19 - Scanners
17.) 10/19 - The Brood
18.) 10/21 - Bad Moon
19.) 10/21 - Nightbreed
20.) 10/24 - A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
21.) 10/24 - A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge
22.) 10/24 - A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
23.) 10/24 - A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
24.) 10/25 - A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child
25.) 10/25 - Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare
26.) 10/25 - New Nightmare
27.) 10/26 - Drag Me to Hell
28.) 10/28 - Bubba Ho-Tep
29.) 10/29 - Dead Silence
30.) 10/30 - The Thing (1982)
31.) 10/31 - Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
2017 list
[Show spoiler]1.) 10/1 - Gerald's Game
2.) 10/2 - Dreamcatcher
3.) 10/3 - Dark Skies
4.) 10/4 - Magic
5.) 10/5 - Deadly Blessing
6.) 10/11 - Burnt Offerings
7.) 10/12 - Clown
8.) 10/13 - The House of the Devil
9.) 10/15 - Carriers
10.) 10/16 - Altered States
11.) 10/16 - Ravenous
12.) 10/17 - Innocent Blood
13.) 10/17 - The Hunger
14.) 10/18 - The Babysitter
15.) 10/20 - Road Games
16.) 10/20 - Terror Train
17.) 10/21 - Body Snatchers
18.) 10/22 - Maniac (2012)
19.) 10/23 - Lifeforce
20.) 10/24 - The Wicker Man (1973)
21.) 10/24 - Slither
22.) 10/25 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer
23.) 10/25 - Vamp
24.) 10/27 - Pet Semetary
25.) 10/27 - The Dead Zone (1983)
26.) 10/29 - Graveyard Shift
27.) 10/30 - Silver Bullet
28.) 10/30 - Sleepwalkers
29.) 10/31 - Get Out
Nice double feature of these two Twilight Time titles.
1.) 10/1 - Amusement
2.) 10/2 - All the Boys Love Mandy Lane
3.) 10/3 - Kill List
4.) 10/4 - Creep (2004)
5.) 10/8 - The Puppet Masters
6.) 10/8 - Piranha (1978)
7.) 10/8 - Razorback
8.) 10/9 - The Lawnmower Man
9.) 10/12 - Ringu
10.) 10/15 - House
11.) 10/15 - House II: The Second Story
12.) 10/16 - Santa Sangre
13.) 10/17 - Halloween (1978)
14.) 10/18 - Halloween (2018)
15.) 10/19 - The Burrowers
16.) 10/19 - Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat
17.) 10/20 - Tourist Trap
18.) 10/22 - Thinner
19.) 10/22 - Sometimes They Come Back
20.) 10/22 - Cujo
21.) 10/23 - Apostle
22.) 10/24 - Once Bitten
23.) 10/27 - The Believers
24.) 10/27 - Audrey Rose
10/28
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4
Wes Craven's New Nightmare (a brilliant horror film for most of it's running time only to drastically drop in the last 15 minutes for a terrible climax sadly)
Freddy vs. Jason
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) (one of the greatest horror films ever made and was even surpassed by the masterful 2003 remake IMHO but oh boy Franklin. One of the top 5 most annoying characters in film history)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
01/10 - Mandy (2018)
01/10 - Blood Fest (2018)
01/10 - Stay Alive (2006)
02/10 - The Town That Dreaded Sundown (2014)
02/10 - IT (2017)
03/10 - Society (1989)
04/10 – Hellraiser (1987)
04/10 - Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)
05/10 - Ghostwatch (1992)
05/10 - Night Of The Demons (1988)
06/10 - The Prowler (1981) w/Joe Bob Briggs
06/10 - Psycho (1998)
06/10 - Psycho II (1983)
07/10 - Psycho III (1986)
08/10 - Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)
09/10 – From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
09/10 – Urban Legend (1998)
10/10 - Urban Legends: Final Cut (2000)
11/10 - Kill Your Friends (2015)
11/10 - Severance (2006)
11/10 – Wrong Turn (2003)
12/10 – House On Haunted Hill (1999)
13/10 - The Funhouse (1981)
14/10 – The Addams Family (1991)
14/10 – Addams Family Vaues (1993)
15/10 – The Evil Dead (1981)
16/10 – Evil Dead II (1987)
16/10 – Army Of Darkness (1992)
17/10 - As The God’s Will (2014)
17/10 - Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1992)
18/10 – Halloween (1978)
19/10 - Halloween (2018)
19/10 - Parents (1989)
21/10 – The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
22/10 - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre II (1988)
23/10 - The Cabin In The Woods (2012)
23/10 - Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988)
24/10 – Critters 2 (1988)
24/10 - Errementari: The Blacksmith And The Devil (2017)
25/10 – Halloween (2018)
26/10 – Drag Me To Hell (2009)
26/10 - Hobo With A Shotgun (2011)
27/10 – Fun Size (2012)
Charming little movie that I appreciate for its Halloween vibes.
28/10 - Into The Dark: The Body (2011)
This flat out sucked and I had to shut it off. By the 30 minute mark I was already bored of the writer's personal/political affiliation just oozing off the screen. It's just too much and the worst part about the non-stop 'lefty rhetoric' is that it wasn't done with any finesse, cleverness or humour. I mean, if there was some valuable insight from the leftist perspective in there then great, but it was just trite, banal regurgitation of what you see people on Twitter moaning about like 'mansplaining' or 'white privilege' etc. That nonsense doesn't help me enjoy a movie and it's a huge turn-off for me personally. The low budget and poor writing didn't help either.
#21
The Body Snatcher (1945)*
In this drama/morality tale, a crooked doctor learns the hard way of why he shouldn’t perform medical experiments on ultra-fresh “corpses.” A fantastic Boris Karloff performance elevates this Burke and Hare styled story from ordinary to very good. Bela Lugosi, in what amounts to a glorified cameo, is good in his big scene as well. Check it out.
#20_Jason Goes To Hell (1993) #19_IT (2017)* #18_Beetlejuice [4K Remaster]* (1988) #17_The Innocents (1961)* #16_I Walked with a Zombie (1943)* #15_Alucarda (1977)* #14_Coraline (2009)* #13_Amityville II: The Possession (1982)* #12_Suspiria (1977) #11_Killer Workout (1987)* #10_Prophecy (1979)* #9__The Prowler (1981)* #8__Revenge of the Blood Beast (1966)* #7__Mr. Boogedy (1986) #6__Nightmare Castle (1965)* #5__Tourist Trap (1979)* #4__Crimson Peak (2015)* #3__Sisters (1972)* #2__Prince of Darkness (1987)* #1__The Fog (1980)
36. INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS 1978
This is the best version of the classic Body Snatchers story. Donald Sutherland and the entire cast are great as they all slowly turn. I didn't discover this until a few years ago but have made it a part of my marathon every year since.
[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
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
::::Having watched "Night of the Living Dead" hundreds of times since I first saw it 29 years ago, THIS was truly such a wonderful experience. My first time seeing it on the big screen and looking better than ever with an excellent pre-show surprise. Such a treat.::::
Haven't been able to watch anything the last few days, but I did find this today. Very slightly nsfw, and you're welcome: think I just discovered our new favorite video...
10/28:
Amityville 3D (1983) 1/2
Decent 3D effects and eerie score salvages this confusing and flat out boring flick.
The Phantom of the Opera (1989) 1/2
Though uneven in the third act, it's a solid, atmospheric and entertaining adaptation of the original story.
13 Ghosts (1960)
Not even William Castle's gimmicks could make this movie enjoyable.
Totally devoid of any kind of suspense, tension or scares. Pure campiness across the board.
The last week of October I always watch movies full of cold, leafy October atmosphere.
Sleepy Hollow
Perfect October/Halloween atmosphere- fog, falling leaves, witches, bats, pumpkins, jack o'lanterns, misty graveyards, great villain
Land of the Dead .5
Obviously not Romero's best but I do dig the atmosphere. It's entertaining at least. Good fall atmosphere.
Jason Goes to Hell .5
I definitely have some nostalgia for this movie as it's the first Friday movie I saw in the theater. But I honestly think the cinematography is pretty good. I've stated before I love the director's commentary and knowing that info gives subsequent viewings an added charm. It comes across as a high budget high school/fan film. The gore in the unrated version goes full bore into Grindhouse-like violence. I don't watch this film to fit it into the Friday the 13th canon. I watch it to be entertained.
RZ's Halloween II .5
This movie is nuts. It gruesome but artful. It's sophisticated yet trashy. I love the Grindhouse feel. I love how a direct sequel to a horror movie gives PTSD from the previous movie such screen time. Yeah Laurie is shrill and grating but I think it works incredibly well. I've watched this about 5-6 octobers in a row but I may take next year off. I love the October atmosphere but dang I'm always fairly depressed after watching it. Again, I think that is a good thing.
Enjoyable movie for what it is. Would have been interesting to see their original vision for the movie, but we do get some hints scattered throughout the movie of what it would have been like.
22. Parents -
I really didn't like the style/direction they went for. Just not for me.
[Show spoiler]21. Winchester -
It is your modern run of the mill ghost movie. They had an excellent setting to create a sense of dread or any sense of atmosphere but they did not even bother with that and instead resorted to cheap jump scares. I have no idea how Jason Clarke and Helen Mirren got involved in this.
20. Halloween Resurrection -
First they chicken out of the H20' ending (with a lame explanation to boot), then they completely mishandle Laurie, and then they added some found footage garbage which does not work at all. And to top it off you have Busta Rhymes.
19. Bunny The Killer Thing -
After reading the plot synopsis, I thought it had the potential to be a hilarious, over the top monster film but for whatever reason it fails to deliver.
18. Halloween (2018) -
Would actually give this 3.75/5. Good sequel and thought it did a better job than H20 showing the effects Myers had on Laurie Strode. I hated how they utilized the doctor though. I did like all the references to the previous films especially the Halloween II
[Show spoiler]kitchen
scene. But the best one hands down were the Halloween III
[Show spoiler]costumes making an appearance
.
17. Halloween H20: 20 Years Later -
Happy to see Jamie Lee Curtis back and the previous 3 films being ignored. The ending was also so satisfying. I'm a bit conflicted about the setting though. I liked that they decided for the movie to take place in a new place, and I liked the boarding school setting, but on the other hand, Haddonfield goes hand in hand with the Halloween franchise.
16. Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers (Producer's Cut) -
First time seeing either version of the film. I like how they attempted to link it back to the first film but the cult story-line absolutely ruined it for me. Plus I could not stand the story with the baby. I felt like it was distasteful and an insult to the franchise. I did like the look of Myers in this one though.
15. Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers -
This had so much potential with how the last movie ended but it was wasted. I hated Jamie's telepathic abilites, the cult story-line, and the Myers house being so different.
14. Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers -
I have seen this so many times now (thanks AMC ) but the ending is still so effective. I hate Myer's mask in this movie though.
13. Halloween II -
Every time I watch this film, I find more stuff in it that makes me want to roll my eyes. It is still good but doesn't get anywhere near the original.
12. The Town That Dreaded Sundown -
I saw the original movie and read a book about the real life murders called "The Phantom Killer" (which I recommend reading) a couple of years ago. I guess the movie was decent but in the back of my head I kept thinking that it was kind of distasteful.
11. Halloween -
Still a classic and the best horror movie ever. I was also impressed with the 4K transfer. The outdoor scenes especially looked stunning.
10. Where The Dead Go To Die - ZERO
I can usually stand watching crappy movies, but this trash reached a whole other level. Stopped watching it after 25 minutes.
9. Blood Fest -
Really good homage to the horror genre. My only complaint is that I wished they could have spent some more time in the park before things turned south. They did a good job with their limited budget but I wonder what else they would have done if they had a bigger budget.
8. The First Purge -
Decent entry but ultimately more of the same. So if you liked the last 2 movies you will probably get some enjoyment out of this one as well.
7. The Lodgers -
I'm usually a fan of gothic horror but this one was very mediocre.
6. Hallows' Eve -
Bad acting, an awful script, and unoriginal kills. Also I know they are on a limited budget but it is very unrealistic that at all the attractions except for one there is nobody else at them except for the main characters.
5. Hereditary -
The first hour was excellent but I hated the direction they went for the rest of the movie.
4. Unsane -
First half of the movie showed a lot of promise but then I felt it started to lose its suspense and my interest as well. It's a shame as well as I was really looking forward to watching this movie after seeing the trailer a few months ago.
3. Cellar Dweller -
Only things going for this movie is the nice monster design and the movie's short runtime.
2. Paranormal Activity -
Found it to be pretty boring at times and not scary at all but I appreciate what they did with the budget that they had.
1. Leatherface -
Not what I was expecting but still enjoyable and serves as a good prequel.
I don't know what it is, but I really like something about this sequel even though it seems to be the most hated among all the sequels. I like how stylish it feels and how Michael just feels like a brutal killing machine in this one. Not to mention that the mask looks the best it has since the 2nd movie. I do admit that I hate they unceremoniously
[Show spoiler]kill off Jamie Lloyd
and how the whole cult storyline doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
Oh, the horror so far this year:
[Show spoiler]Drag Me to Hell*: The Boy*:: Last Shift*:1/2 Little Evil*: The Collection*:1/2 A Quiet Place*:1/2 As Above, So Below:1/2 It (2017):1/2 Thriller: The House With a Clock in Its Walls*: Dreamcatcher: Hereditary*: The Village:1/2 Friday the 13th (1980): Hell Fest*:1/2 Chernobyl Diaries:1/2 Before I Wake*: Fright Night (2011)*: Van Helsing: I Know What You Did Last Summer: I Still Know What You Did Last Summer:1/2 Wishbone: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: Tales of Halloween*:1/2 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning:1/2 Children of the Corn*: The VVitch*: Unfriended: Dark Web*:1/2 Friday the 13th Part 2: Friday the 13th Part III:1/2 Goosebumps:1/2 Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween*: Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter: Slither: Friday the 13th: A New Beginning: Halloweentown: The Thing (1982):1/2 The Thing (2011): Halloween (1978): Evil Dead (2013): Halloween (2018)*: The Crazies (2010): Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation*: Halloween II (1981):1/2 Friday the 13th (2009): Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers:1/2 Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers: The Craft*: The Haunted Mansion: Hocus Pocus:
All countries
Argentina
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Chile
China
Colombia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Denmark
Finland
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
India
Latvia
Lithuania
Malaysia
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Singapore
South Africa
South Korea
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
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.
JohnnyBoy's 31 Days of Horror
) but the ending is still so effective. I hate Myer's mask in this movie though.
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