This was alright. Bit basic. Entity keeps body swapping into different people. Chaos ensues. Another movie with Heathe Graham showing her boobs.
Pet Sematary: Bloodlines
4/10
IMO worse then the remake of the first film.
It's a Wonderful Knife
6/10
Enjoyable slasher. Not bad but just kinda average. Good cast though.
Fried Barry
7/10
This movie was a trip! Worth seeing atleast once.
House of Dracula
4/10
Didn't care for this one. The actor that played Dracula looked nothing like Legosi's Dracula so it was offsetting. Only good thing was Lon Chaney Jr as the Wolfman.
Werewolf of London
5/10
This wasn't bad. Nowhere near as good as The Wolfman though.
She-Wolf of London
4/10
It's ok for a Who done it...but the title throws you off. No Werewolves in this at all.
Last edited by FlamedLiquid; 10-14-2024 at 05:58 AM.
Truth be told, I am a complete sucker for any and every 1950s film that is even remotely related to the realm of horror, science fiction, or fantasy. Whether they're good films, bad films, or films that debatably even qualify for any of those genre classifications, I'm interested in them all and I can't help but love them all too. With that said, Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1956) is undoubtedly one of the absolute best films the 1950s has to offer and still holds up incredibly well despite its age or my own personal bias. After all, there is a reason why so many different filmmakers keep remaking, retelling, and re-envisioning this story and its thought-provoking concepts.
Points Of Interest include: Mysterious and suspicious happenings unfolding in an otherwise quiet California town, an appearance by Carolyn "Morticia " Jones, an unidentifiable body, giant pea pods that spawn foamy human doppelgängers, dynamic Dutch angles, stylistically moody lighting, extraterrestrial imposters slowly plotting a secret invasion of planet Earth, a cameo by future feature film director Sam Peckinpah, an all too relevant (at least at the time) allegorical subtext regarding postwar McCarthyism paranoia/hysteria run amok, striking and memorable location shots, and an unforgettable final warning to everyone in the audience delivered frantically by Kevin McCarthy as Dr. Bennell.
Röckzilla's Final Verdict: A stone-cold horror/science fiction classic from the atomic/space age that was truly ahead of its time and still highly influential/impactful today.
Film #24. It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
If you ask me, the sublime simplicity of It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) perfectly embodies the notion of "sometimes less is (actually) more". (A creative approach that is tragically overlooked and underused all too often nowadays in the Hollywood entertainment industry but alas, I digress.) This nearly 60 year old television special brilliantly showcases the strength(s) of this strategy in just under 30 minutes of run time with modest production values which makes the end result even more impressive overall. The story and its characters are so sincere and heartwarming as well that it's no surprise how this special has earned such an enduring legacy. Even as a proudly self-proclaimed fan of "all things obscene and extreme", I am completely unashamed to admit that I can't spend a single October without watching It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) at least once.
Points Of Interest include: Based on the Peanuts comic strip created by Charles Schulz, pumpkin guts, jumping into a pile of leaves (with a wet sucker), a flat-on-your-back football fake-out, occasionally awkward dialogue delivery from child actors, unintentional allegorical subtext regarding notions of denominational differences between varying religious faiths/ideals/practices (honestly, this aspect actually makes me enjoy the special even more now as an adult ), Lucy reading a TV Guide featuring herself on the cover, an invitation to Violet's Halloween party (accompanied by celebratory dancing), primitive homemade ghost costumes, a semi-romantic pumpkin patch for 2 on Halloween night, breathtakingly beautiful background artwork (especially the inky-black night skies), repeatedly receiving rocks while trick or treating, the somewhat surreal exploits of a World War I flying ace (or if you prefer this phrasing: a literal dog-fighter pilot), Charlie Brown's short-lived modeling career for Jack-O'-Lanterns, a festive game of bobbing for dog-lips, a possible sighting of The Great Pumpkin, and the inevitable disappointment which immediately follows the very end of October/Halloween.
Röckzilla's Final Verdict: An absolutely timeless and quintessential staple of the Halloween season, dearly beloved by generations of all ages. Good grief!
Just as Charlie Brown repeatedly says: "I got a rock",
Röckzilla repeatedly says: "I gotta rock!"
Or in other words...
Every October, Linus waits for The Great Pumpkin.
But every Rocktober, Röckzilla waits for the Rock-N-Roll Pumpkin... (say it again!) :
And I don't care what the lawyers say, the band's name is Green Jell-Ö NOT "Green Jellÿ".
That's how it was spelled on the original first pressing releases of Let It Be (1984) & Triple Live Möther Gööse At Budokan (1989).
A perpetually picked on prepubescent has a pit in the thicket where he causes problems by dropping people to their deaths. If you can say that line five times fast, give yourself a cookie. I don't remember seeing Sammy Snyders in any other films which is quite a shame considering how remarkable he is here playing the slightly psychotic prepubescent Jamie. His timing is good, his reactions are solid, his vocal inflections work, and he's skilled at interacting with his elders. Jeannie Elias plays the babysitter hired to watch Jamie while his parents are away and she's pleasant enough, even though she's not much more than an average actress when compared to other horror ladies of the eighties. The film moves along at a good clip with director Lew Lehman keeping Jamie's antics interesting. I love the light score Victor Davies composed for the movie, particularly the family friendly theme
[Show spoiler]over the end credits after Alicia has pushed Jamie into her own Troglodyte pit.
There's a little humor, a little nudity, and some little Trogs that rival the Critters for the title of hungriest horror fuzzballs of the decade. "The Pit" is just good, clean fun to enjoy on a lazy Sunday afternoon in October - which is exactly what I did.
This is another first time watch for me and I was a bit more excited for this one than some of the other first times I had on my list this year. I don't know about you, but I've always wondered what would happen if a cosmic spider crash landed inside a New York apartment building and began to grow. Spiders have always been some of my best cinematic friends. "Tarantula" from 1955, "The Spider" from 1958, "Kingdom of the Spiders" from 1977 and, particularly, "Arachnophobia" from 1990 have all topped my most watched list over the years. That's why I found "Sting" to be such a deeply frustrating film. Writer/director Kiah Roache-Turner doesn't hold tight enough to the leash and lets his creature feature get away from him. Some of it is humorous and moves with lightning quickness while some of it crashes into a brick wall of lethargy. The pacing is all over the place, there's too much time spent with the wrong characters, and there's too much emphasis placed on inopportune moments. It's a shame because Alyla Browne is one of the better child actors I've seen in the 2020 decade. Her delivery of the line "you are the bane of my existence" to her baby brother is note-perfect and her facial reactions are beyond compare. Jermaine Fowler also has the opportunity to show off his comedic talents as an exterminator and one wishes he had more scenes in the movie. In the end, the good slightly outweighed the bad, but I'm not sure "Sting" is something I will ever get around to watching again.
Having already taken us into outer space, into the heart of urban decay, into the madness of suburbia, and into the mind of a rock 'n' roll legend, where else could masterful director John Carpenter take us but into "The Fog." What can you put inside of said fog to inspire terror in the hearts of your audience? The correct answer would be pirate ghosts, of course! At the beginning of the 1980s, the concept of pirate ghosts felt like a thing of the distant past. So to have someone the caliber of Carpenter thrust this moldy oldy idea into the then modern age was an astonishing achievement. Naturally pirate ghosts alone aren't going to put the butts in the seats. You need to have a good cast of characters the pirate ghosts can stalk when they come out of the fog, and Carpenter stacked his cast with some of the best.
Adrienne Barbeau's radio personality is the glue that holds the strips of celluloid together. She's the touchstone for all who cross through Antonio Bay as she sits in her lighthouse and studies the strange events accosting her small town. Flesh out the roster of intended victims with horror stalwarts Tom Atkins, Jamie Lee Curtis, Curtis's mother Janet Leigh, and George "Buck" Flower - who perform at the uppermost level of their abilities - and you've got a party! My favorite cast member here was actually Hal Holbrook as the priest who ultimately must confront the pirate ghosts within the hallowed walls of his church. Not only was Carpenter responsible for directing duties, he also co-wrote this classic with Debra Hill and turned in another memorable score. "The Fog" might not reach the highest peak Carpenter's "Halloween" sits atop, but it damn sure tries its best to make it there.
½
College students have been stalked in a variety of different locations in horror films. In this instance, a psychotic killer has decided to stalk them on a moving train. Even though it takes place on New Year's Eve, the costume party theme makes it perfect viewing for the Halloween season. This was the last of Jamie Lee Curtis's original horror films I watched, not running across it until late in 1987. Jamie Lee plays her part effortlessly, as though slipping into horror movies had become like slipping into a second skin for her. Hart Bochner makes a marvelously congenial slime and actually manages to upstage our scream queen heroine on a few occasions, which is no small feat. Magician David Copperfield has charisma coming out of his ears, even if he doesn't always appear comfortable in front of a movie camera and would apparently prefer to remain on stage. Sandee Currie is superb in the best friend role opposite Jamie Lee. I was always amazed she didn't have any more high profile roles in her career. Sadly, neither Jamie Lee nor Sandee show off their assets, but Joy Boushel does bare her bounteous bosom briefly while trying to seduce Timothy Webber's character. Debuting director Roger Spottiswoode works well in the confined spaces of the train and manages to keep a fine line of tension running through the duration of this chiller. "Terror Train" might not be an unforgettable classic in the annals of horror history, but it is a fun little romp that keeps pulling me back in every few years for a repeat viewing.
When a killer is accidentally resurrected from his resting place, he roams the wilderness stalking and killing the teenagers responsible for waking him.
With its unique premise, a slasher film viewed from the killer's perspective is an interesting attempt to mix up the formula. However the fairly short runtime of 90 minutes was a slog to get through.
It's basically all of the stuff we never see in films like Friday the 13th or Halloween - the killer slowly walking from kill to kill. It should've been a fun take on an often stale genre, but it didn't completely work for me.
The story is basically non-existent and just tropey stuff we've seen a million times before. Why commit to this unique perspective shift while keeping the story so basic? The teen victims have zero personality either.
SCARES: Not really. The perspective shift means there are no scares or surprises because we are following everything as it happens.
CHEESE FACTOR: Not really that type of film. The acting isn't great, so there's some poor performances and dialogue.
KILLS & CREATIVITY: I am sort of mixed here. It features a really cool kill (head and hook) but also features a huge missed opportunity (wood saw). It was very bloody and violent, with some great makeup effects.
[Show spoiler]
#1 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice [Theatrical] -
#2 Walking Dead Season 8 [Blu] -
#3 Speak No Evil [Theatrical] -
#4 1922 [Netflix] -
#5 Babysitter [Netflix] -
#6 Babysitter Killer Queen [Netflix] -
#7 See No Evil [Tubi] -
#8 Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey [Peacock] -
#9 Silence [Netflix] -
#10 Purge: Season 1 [Blu] -
#11 Ginger Snaps [Tubi] -
#12 Triangle [Roku] -
#13 Circle [Netflix] -
#14 Autopsy of Jane Doe [Netflix] -
#15 Conference [Netflix] -
#16 Purge: Season 2 [Blu] -
#17 Hubie Halloween [Netflix] -
#18 No One Will Save You [Hulu] -
#19 The Open House [Netflix] -
#20 Rental [Blu] -
#21 We Have a Ghost [Netflix] -
#22 Vampires vs the Bronx [Netflix] -
#23 Cube Zero [AppleTV] -
#24 Backcountry [Netflix] -
As dull as dishwater! Someone recommend me a British Slasher that's actually good. I genuinely can't think of a single one. For some reason the formula just doesn't work this side of the water.
13/10 - Eight Legged Freaks (2002)
Must be at least 15 years since I saw this one. Very familiar setup, small town full of people banding together against an invasive species, this time it's giant mutated spiders. Some of the best laughs come via the sound FX for the spiders. The CGI is terribly dated though. Overall, a good slice of cheesy fun!
13/10 - Lord of Illusions (1995)
Not the best of Clive Barker's big screen adaptations. In fact, it's probably the worst, but that's no sin with competition like Hellraiser, Candyman and Nightbreed. He's one fvcked up dude, and I say that as a compliment. Odd seeing Scott Bakula in the lead but I thought he was great. Famke Janssen stunning as usual. As far as the movie itself, it barely needs explanation nor could I be bothered to give it one. It's unmistakably a Clive Barker film. Enough said!
[Show spoiler]9/28 – Toy Story of Terror! – 4/5
9/28 – The Perfectionist – 3/5
9/29 – Halloweentown – 3/5
9/29 – Malevolent – 3/5
10/1 – Tale From The Darkside – 4/5
10/3 – It (1990) – 4/5
10/5 – Salem’s Lot (2024) – 3/5
10/7 – Dead Silence – 4/5
10/8 – Tucker & Dale vs. Evil – 4.5/5
10/9 – The Hills Have Eyes (2006) – 4/5
10/11 - Bodies Bodies Bodies -
not a bad who done is Clue style movie. nothing great though and ultimately forgettable.
10/13 - The Haunted Mansion (2003) - .5
First time viewing and watched with the kids. i liked this one a lot and Eddie Murphy was fantastic in it.
10/13 - Talk to Me - .5
enjoyed this one too. reminded me of It Follows a bit mixed with something else. was left confused at the end by one thing though.
[Show spoiler]we are obviously left asking if the mother ghost was actually her mother or not. at the end, we are left to believe it was not her mother as she jumps into traffic to kill herself going against what the mother was telling her to do. however, if she was NOT the mother, then why did the mother tell her that the father at the door was not actually her father and was bad? she seems to actually be helping her in one scene only to be lying in the last
Despite the title and subject, it's more "folk horror adjacent" than actual horror. Not sure what I think about anything that preceded it, but the last 5 or 10 mins were great.
The Evil Dead - 4.5/5 (rewatch, first 4K spin)
Evil Dead 2 - 5/5 (rewatch, first 4K spin)
Army of Darkness - 4.5/5 (rewatch, first 4K spin)
Evil Dead (2013) - 4/5 (rewatch, first 4K spin)
Evil Dead Rise - 4/5 (rewatch, first since theater)
Invaluable: The True Story of an Epic Artist - 3.5/5
Idle Hands - 3.5/5 (rewatch, first spin for the SF CE)
976-EVIL - 3/5 (rewatch, first BD spin)
Demons - 3/5
Demons 2 - 3/5
The Gates of Hell - 3.5/5
The Beyond - 3.5/5
The House by the Cemetery - 3/5
The Exorcist: Believer - 2.5/5
The Exorcism of Emily Rose - 3/5
The Exorcism of Molly Hartley - 2/5
The Last Exorcism - 2.5/5 (rewatch, first BD spin) The Exorcism of God - 2/5
MONSTERFEST 2024
Blue = blu-ray, * = first viewing
SEPTEMBER WARM-UP39 Films (17 first-time viewings) and 4 TV episodes
[Show spoiler]
TV EPISODES
ROUTE 66: LIZARD'S LEG & OWLET'S WING (1962) 1/2 This Halloween episode itself isn't great, but it guest stars Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr, and Peter Lorre. Chaney appears as the Hunchback (his dad's old role), the Mummy, and the Wolf Man. Karloff dons his Frankenstein monster make-up one last time. The story is nothing, but it's worth it to see these guys in something close to the make-ups that made them famous. Nostalgic fun. Cool blu-ray, with vintage horror commercials, a clip of Vampira, an episode of Suspense with Bela Lugosi, and two episodes of the Karlff show, The Veil. TWILIGHT ZONE: JESS-BELLE (1962) One of the best of the 1 hour episodes - a tale of witchcraft and a Were-cat. Great script by Earl Hamner, with a strong folk-tale favor. Really good. TWILIGHT ZONE: NIGHTMARE AT 20,000 FEET (1963) What a great Twilight Zone episode. A true TV-horror landmark. Shatner is GREAT in this. According to their titles, this flies 17,000 feet lower than the similarly titled movie above, but don't believe it. This soars miles above the competition. A stone-cold TZ classic, and a really fun capper to our Shatner-On-A-Plane double feature (with the TV movie The Horror At 37,000 Feet.) KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER - THE ZOMBIE The Zombie is one of the creepiest episodes of this series. In this one, Carl is investigating a crime involving voodoo and the reanimation of the dead. The climax, with our intrepid reporter desperately trying to fill the dead man's mouth and salt and sew it closed before it revives is pretty hair-raising. Fun to see this again. I think my wife and I will try to work the entire 1-season series into this year's Monsterfest.
MOVIES
THE SPELL (1977) 1/2 1970's TV movies appeal mainly to those of us that grew up with them. They have limitations on budget, FX, and gore, but to this former 70s kid they're cheesy fun. This one gets dismissed as a Carrie knock-off (though it was actually written before Carrie) but other than a few surface similarities they're not that much alike. The subject is witchcraft, not telekinesis, and the final revelation is far from Carrie's storyline. Over-all rather good for what it is. Well-acted with some effective moments and a fun surprise ending. WARNING: the Scream-Factory blu-ray only contains the extended version. Unfortunately, the additional scenes were obviously not part of the original movie. They add nothing, they're spliced crudely into the film, and the tagged on ending spoils the very satisfying original conclusion, and lowers my rating by 1/2 skull. I wish the added footage wasn't there, or was a bonus to the original film. *HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM (1959) 1/2 First time viewing this early slasher/gore flick. Not exactly good, but very entertaining! Michael Gough hams it up nicely, and if there are no surprises, there are plenty of smiles at this once-shocking film. Best remembered for those horrible loaded binoculars! LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL[/B] (streaming) (2023) 1/2 Really clever, and very well-done! The recreation of the 70s TV show is totally convincing. It loses me a bit at the ending when the faux-documentary approach is suddenly abandoned. It turns quite dark and, IMO, a bit less fun. Still there's much to like here, and I loved it until the ending. *AFRAID (2024) (Theatrical) This is getting absolutely TERRIBLE reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but my wife and I really enjoyed it. It's a bit silly in parts, but always engrossing, and very well-acted with convincing family relationships. It has a wonderful sense of paranoia, and it doesn't over-stay its welcome. Instead of endless climaxes, it comes to a swift, satisfying, and unsettling conclusion ...and stops. Bravo! Obviously I'm alone on this one, but I found it far more enjoyable than most theatrical horrors I have seen this year. I'm sure I'll add it to the collection when it comes out. *MOON OF THE WOLF (Streaming) 1972 Another of those 70s TV horrors, this time set in the Louisiana bayou and starring David Janssen as a southern sheriff. We had never seen it before, but despite a cool setting, decent story and good acting, it was just too tame. There's more investigation footage than werewolf action, and when the climax did come, it was undercut by weak werewolf make-up. It was fun for our September warm-up, but I doubt we'd watch it again. *THE PSYCHIC (1977) 1/2 First time viewing, and a pretty good film. It's one of those Italian productions where everyone is ridiculously overdressed and badly dubbed. The plot gets a bit murky in spots, but over-all this is quite enjoyable. Very suspenseful as different parts of our heroine's vision come to pass. Well worth watching! THE MUMMY (1932) One of the Founding Fathers of Fear. Moves a bit slower than some, but it's so well shot and edited. Basically an Egyptian-themed re-write of Dracula, with Van Sloan and Manners back in their Van Helsing/Harker roles, the Nubian servant for Renfield, Zita Johann in the Mina role and under the control of the monster. and an amulet replacing the cross. Probably not quite as strong as Frankenstein, but wonderful and still deserving of 5 skulls. DEAD CALM (1988) An impossibly young Nicole Kidman stuck at sea with bonkers Billy Zane, while Sam Neill fights to escape a watery would-be grave. Really quite a good thriller (after a completely unnecessary opening with the death of a child.) Good performances all around. The final moments lapse into been-there-done-that killer clichés, but it's so much fun getting there that it doesn't matter. A minor classic. DEMENTIA 13 (Director's Cut) (1963) I doubt anyone would call this a great film, but Francis Ford Coppola's directorial debut is certainly interesting. This print removes the silly "Dementia 13 test" prologue, and an additional murder added by another director at Roger Corman's insistence to pad the running time. While the story is a bit muddled, it's plain to see the potential of young Coppola. Some great shots and cool scenes. A fun, worthwhile curio. Wonderful print too! *SPEAK NO EVIL (2022) (On Shudder) I hated this film. We watched it in preparation for the remake opening this week, but now I doubt I'll even see it. The premise is fine (though the bombastic score screams "HORROR MOVIE!" before anything sinister even happens.) The behavior of our protagonists gets dumber as it goes, however the film doesn't really derail until the scenes at the end. At that point I was done with it. Why was this made? Not for the poorly developed characters. Not for the plot, which becomes nonsense half-way through when our heroes begin doing thing that NO ONE would ever do. Not for the back-story - there isn't one! No explanation at all for these people and what they do. That just leaves the pointless - and utterly tasteless - cruelty at the end. If watching suffering is all there is, count me out. This isn't entertainment. BAD RONALD (1974) 1/2 This is another of those fun, fondly remembered 70s TV movies, and one of the better ones! Ronald is an outcast kid who lives alone with his sick mother. He gets in trouble with the law, so mom helps hide him in a secret room in the house. Unfortunately mom dies, and Ronald is still hiding in the walls when a new family moves in. Hilarity ensues. If you grew up with these TV films and understand their limitations, make it 4 skulls - it's quite good for what it is. If you're too young to have been there, or have no patience for vintage cheese, you should probably just move along. A really fun film, and a remarkably good looking blu-ray! SOMETIMES THEY COME BACK (1991) This was a 1991 CBS TV movie, and despite a few cheesy elements (the campy "undead" makeup, occasionally cringy dialogue) it's a favorite of mine. It's an engrossing story, mostly well-acted, and ends on a surprisingly bitter-sweet note. I really enjoyed it! Only complaint: why is this in the 2:35 aspect ratio? It was filmed and shown at 4:3. The German Koch Media release blu-ray offers 2 versions - in 1:78 and 2:35. 2:35 it's way too tight, with lots of heads cut off at the top and the chin. Annoying! (NOTE: After writing this, I bit the bullet and bought the German release. MUCH better! The framing looks much more natural at 1:78.) *BURIED ALIVE (1990) 1/2 My wife and I have been on a vintage TV movie kick this month, and this was a fun new discovery! Frank Darabont directed it - it was his very first film - for the USA Network. Tim Matheson gets bumped off (almost!) by his cheating wife, and wakes up to find himself ...wait for it ... Buried Alive. I assumed the movie would be a survival flick about his attempt to escape, but no. He was out fairly quickly and the films heads in a completely unexpected direction. It's becomes a campy, comic book-style story that would have fit in well in Creepshow. The second half may not be very realistic, but it's a lot of fun. Great final scene! A really enjoyable blind buy. Good blu-ray from Kino. TRILOGY OF TERROR (1975) 1/2 This landmark TV horror movie gave school kids the screaming meemies for weeks after it aired. No one who saw it then has every forgotten it. It's made up of three stories, all starring Karen Black, who is quite good throughout. The first story, about date rape(!) is tame, but pretty good with a nice twist at the end. 3.5 skulls. The second, a tale of 2 sisters, is obvious and forgettable and would score a 2 at best. However, it's the final story - about a "Zuni fetish doll" - that this film is remembered for. It starts quietly, but once it gets going it's frantically paced and relentless in it's tale of survival between a woman and the action figure from Hell. Unlike anything ever produced for TV up until that time, and still very effective. A solid 5 skulls. That story alone made this film a must-see. *TRILOGY OF TERROR 2 (1996) I had never seen this sequel before, and never even knew it existed until recently. Producer Dan Curtis (Dark Shadows) is back with 3 more stories, this time all featuring Lysette Anthony ...who proves that she is no Karen Black by ranging from poor to just adequate in her three starring roles.
For me, the first story - a tale of infidelity and grave robbery - is the best. The climax features some very nasty inhabitants of the graveyard, and if they're not exactly realistic looking, they work, and had me squirming in my seat. 4 skulls. The second story, of resurrection from the grave, has the poorest acting of the three and would get a 3 at best. The third was perhaps the biggest disappointment. It's a direct sequel to the original Zuni Fetish Doll story, but it offers nothing new. After an adequate set-up it's basically a remake and even copies the original's suitcase scene note for note. Maybe 3 skulls. A fun film, but other than the first gruesome tale, it's no threat to the original. *SPEAK NO EVIL (2024) 1/2 My wife and I watched the original Danish version a few days ago, and hated it. While the premise was great, the ending was so dark, ugly and pointless that it completely wiped out the fun of the film. After reading that this version ended differently, we gave it a chance. Very different animal! Where the original is more "serious" and dark, this is a popcorn thriller. Unfortunately, like many modern popcorn flicks, it didn't know when to stop and had a silly, over-baked climax, but it was still a good time at the movies. It might not be "art" (though McAvoy is excellent) but it's fun. Many will prefer the more brutal original, but we came out of this one smiling instead of depressed. Mission accomplished. *ANTS (aka IT HAPPENED AT LAKEWOOD MANOR) (1977) 1/2 This is one of those films they always had at Blockbuster (the cover was a close-up of Suzanne Somers' cleavage, covered with ants, remember?) Finally saw it, as part of our Ant Attack double feature. Typical 70s TV eco-horror, and a lot of fun. A quaint lakeside hotel does some reconstruction and unleashes a colony of mutant, poison-injecting ants on the guests. (They're gonna hate their Yelp reviews.) Campy fun, with a lot of effects that were never meant to be seen in high-def. Still, a lot of scenes made me squirm. How did Myrna Loy end up in this, along with all those familiar 70s TV actors? Suzanne Somers is an eyeful! Surprisingly for a Kino release, the picture quality was a bit disappointing - clean, and in a choice of two aspect ratios, but waaay too bright looking. THEM! (1953) All-time 50s Sci-Fi classic. Humorously, the film takes great pains to present all the opening unexplained deaths as a mystery ...despite the movie poster and trailer featuring tons of giant ants carrying screaming people away! Look fast for young Leonard Nimoy in an early role. A terrific, suspenseful film, really well-written and acted, with wonderful footage of mid-50s Los Angeles. Easily the best of the "big bug" movies. *FEAR NO EVIL (1969) This movie was a real surprise! It's early for a TV movie - in fact it was the very first ever NBC "Movie Of The Week". Unlike many TV films from the era, it's not cheesey in the slightest. In fact, it's remarkably serious, and quite good. It's definitely a slow-burn film (and maybe a little talky) but the atmosphere is excellent, the acting is quite good and story is intelligent. It's also subtle - we had to rewatch the ending before we picked up an important detail that expalins the action in the climax. Great performance from Carol O'Conner in a small but important role. This was a blind buy, but it's definitely a film I am looking forward to watching again. COUNT DRACULA (DVD) (1977) Dracula gets the BBC Masterpiece Theatre treatment. A really excellent adaptation! It has it's flaws - it was shot on video tape so the picture quality is poor, and special effects shots consist mainly of garishly colored negative images. But story is everything, and it really shines in that department. It's closer to the book than most versions, and includes many bits that are usually left out. Jordan is used sparingly, but he makes a cold, cruel and intelligent Dracula. Renfield and Van Helsing (Frank Finley) are both excellent. (On the other hand, the English actor playing Quincy has a laugh-out-loud bad "Texas accent.")
It's low-tech and soft looking, but truly chilling and even disturbing in parts. For story and atmosphere, I would rank this among the very best adaptations of Dracula. THE HORROR AT 37,000 FEET (DVD) (1973) 1/2 This is the TV movie where former series stars went to die. William Shatner (Kirk!) Buddy Ebsen (Jed!) Russell Johnson (Professor!) Chuck Connors (The Rifleman!) Roy Thinnes (The Invaders!) and other fading stars are stuck on a plane with an evil Druid whatzit that causes freezing temperatures, oozes green glop and makes the plane stand still in mid-air! Before long the passengers are at each other's throats and arguing about who gets to be tonight's human sacrifice. Only alcoholic, defrocked priest Bill Shatner can save us all! This epic may smell as bad as last weeks fish, but it's so much fun. A one-skull cheese-fest with 5-skull entertainment - I'll call it 3 1/2. A must see! *RITUAL OF EVIL (1970) 1/2 What a difference a year makes! This is the sequel to 1969's Fear No Evil. Both films were pilots to a proposed series called Bedeviled, to star Louis Jordan as a psychiatrist battling the occult. The first film (which we just saw for the first time) is intelligent, subtle and creepy, and it ranks among the best of vintage TV horror films. This sequel is talky, muddled and lackluster. Where the first film slowly built in suspense to a great climax, this one meanders along without ever building to much of anything. Enjoyable enough for one viewing, but a real letdown after the excellent first film. *THE SAVAGE BEES (YouTube) (1976) 1/2 Not bad little 70s TV eco-horror, and not nearly as cheesy as I expected. It turned out to be a decent film with a number of tense scenes, and a memorable climax featuring a bee-covered Volkswagen slowly driving through New Orleans to the Super Dome. Soft and choppy print that may have been missing a few shots, judging by the continuity. We watched it because we have a blu-ray of the sequel, and wanted to see the original film first. *TERROR OUT THE SKY (1977) A "more of the same" sequel with some good moments. It spends way too much time on a "who cares?" romantic triangle, but the bee attacks are good, and the ending was strong, and surpisingly, a little poignant. Still, if Kino was only going to put one of these films on blu-ray, the first film would have been the better choice. DARK NIGHT OF THE SCARECROW (1981) This TV movie came out during the slasher film craze, and while TV standards kept the gore off screen, it's a surprisingly well done entry in the genre. It's also the first (and probably the best) of the few killer scarecrow movies that have been made over the years. The acting is strong, the mood is eerie and the death scenes, while bloodless, are suspenseful and really well ...executed. (Thank you, I'll be here all week!) This film is a little gem among vintage TV horrors, and the VCI blu-ray is really excellent! *NEVER LET GO (Theatrical) (2024) 1/2 This film is kind of a mixed bag for me. On the plus side it's atmospheric, original, and very well acted (the two boys are really excellent.) But it couldn't seem to make up it's mind about the reality of what we see. It's not merely ambiguous, it shows things that contradict each other, as though the filmmakers wanted to have it both ways, and for me, that didn't work. My wife liked it more than I did and gave it the extra half-skull, but we both agreed that with a little shaping this could have really been great. Well worth seeing, but a bit of a missed opportunity, too. FRANKENSTEIN (2004) This is a serious two-part TV adaptation of the original Mary Shelly novel, with a story that's a far cry from the Universal and Hammer versions. A good looking film with a good cast (nice to see Donald Sutherland and William Hurt again) and said to be pretty faithful to the book. It's tragic, poignant and thought-provoking ...but also a bit head-scratching in some parts, like Frankenstein's sudden rejection of his creature. Apparently, so is the novel. One complaint: the monster's look is too tame. He's odd looking at worst, so the horrified reactions of the people that see him are a bit hard to buy.
If you're looking for gruesome horror, move along. But for a look at how the legend began, this is well-worth watching. CARRIE (2002) 1/2 Unpopular Opinion: This is a good film, and in at least one way, it's as good as the 1976 classic.
First the bad: Incredibly, this was a pilot for a Carrie TV series(!?) so it has a silly ending that allows the story to continue. The climax goes on too long, and it is loaded with CGI effects that haven't aged well at all - some are very bad indeed.
The good: Angela Bettis is absolutely excellent in the title role! To her credit, she plays it much differently than Sissy Spacek. Where Sissy inspires sympathy, Angela gives off a dangerous vibe. She's a time bomb, and it's obvious from the start that she's damaged and ready to blow. You feel for her but at the same time you fear her. In it's own way, it's every bit as good a performance as Sissy gave in the original. Many of the other roles (in particular, Tommy Ross, the gym teacher, Carrie's mother, and villain Chis Hargensen) are also very good. The writing and flash-back structure are solid and effective.
Yes, the 1976 version is the best and a horror classic. But this film should be remembered as mostly very good TV horror. And despite it's flaws it should be seen, if only for Angela Bettis' excellent, and sadly overlooked, performance. SCREAM, PRETTY PEGGY (1973) 1/2 Another 70s TV horror cheese-fest. A college student takes a house-keeping job at a creepy old mansion ...where she is warned to stay away from that LOCKED ROOM! (No prize for guessing where she ends up.) Entertaining junk, but the student is so annoying, I quickly found myself wishing the movie was called "Scram, Pushy Peggy!" This movie manages to rip off Jane Eyre, Psycho and House Of Wax without being as good as any of them. It's easy to guess where it's headed, but at least Bette Davis is on hand to look ancient and say rude things. A fun time-waster. DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK (1973) This is one of two 70s TV movies (along with Trilogy Of Terror) that absolutely terrorized kids when they first aired. This one came first. It's a low budget, two-week wonder, directed by John Newland - the host of One Step Beyond. Kim Darby unbolts a forgotten little door in her old house, and accidentally releases the tiny creatures that have been waiting inside. The miniature sets and props used to make the creatures appear small work very well, and no kid that saw it then has ever forgotten the whispering voices echoing through the house. Seeing it as an adult, it's interesting to note the strong theme of women being dismissed as "emotional" and kept in their place by the men in their lives. Surprising social commentary for a cheap monster movie. A really fun, spooky film and an all-time favorite. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY (2007) 1/2 My wife and I have only seen this once before, as part of our 2019 MonsterFest. Reading my old review, we were pretty impressed then - 4 1/2 skulls. Somehow, it didn't play the same for me this time. It seemed less unique, and much too long. I still admire how it was done, and the ending moments still pack a wallop, but maybe this type of film - all anticipation, with little actual story - doesn't hold up to repeat viewings. Or maybe there have been too many imitators since then. Or maybe it was just the wrong night for it. GORGO (1961) For nearly 100 years, from The Lost World (1925) to Godzilla Minus One (2023) giant monsters have been trampling the world's cities with alarming regularity. A few of these fearsome creatures stand head and scales above the rest. Unfortunately, Gorgo isn't one of them. He's stuck in the "also ran (amuck)" category. No real characters here, just tons of stock footage and a very familiar plot - but Gorgo does bring a few new things to the table. A different city - no Tokyo for this monster - Technicolor, and his mama! And that's enough. Despite lots of sub-par effects, the miniatures of London are wonderful and there are lots of great, luridly-colored shots of them getting smashed to bits. And who can resist a story of a mother's love? Nothing very original, but we throughly enjoyed all of Gorgo's ferocious adventures. Bless his glowing red eyes and wiggly little ear flaps. *WAKE IN FRIGHT (aka OUTBACK) (1971) (Streaming) We watched this because a friend wanted to see it, and because of its 97% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Never again. Not really a horror film, but the story of an unhappy schoolteacher stuck in the Australian outback who inadvertently spends his Christmas holiday stranded in an even more remote, isolated village. He falls in with some local nut jobs (Donald Pleasance is one of them!) At first appalled by thier lifestyle, he eventually descends to their level of drunken, mindless violence. The whole film has a "what is the point of this?" vibe, but what completely crossed the line was actual (lengthy) footage of an illegal kangaroo hunt where we watch real animals being shot, stabbed and eviscerated in the name of drunken fun. It went from unpleasant to inexcusable at that point. Despite it's glowing reviews, I'm sorry I saw it. *CABIN IN THE WOODS (2011) (Streaming) Original, bizarre horror comedy with five students who spend the night in a remote mountain cabin and encounter every horror cliché known to man - without knowing that they are being observed and manipulated by scientists in an underground bunker. A few good laughs and a very original premise, but it overstays its welcome (despite a fun cameo from Sigourney Weaver) and is just too out-there for my tastes. Worth seeing, but a one-and-done for me. THE RITE (2011) 1/2 Most critics dismissed this film (though Roger Ebert liked it) but I think it's pretty good of it's kind. It has good dialogue, some well-drawn characters, a fine performance from Anthony Hopkins, and it builds slowly with very little in the way of cheap scares along the way. It's no classic, and like many (many!) horror films it over-does it a bit towards the end, but for a slightly lower-voltage possession film I think it's solid - certainly better than many - and well-worth watching. THE BODY SNATCHER (1945) NOW you're talking! This is a terrific, intelligent film that features one of Boris Karloff's very best performances. He is unforgettable as a nineteenth century resurrection man who psychologically tortures the doctor he supplies bodies to. This film marked the last time that Karloff and Bela Lugosi ever appeared together, and though Bela's screen time is brief, his big scene with Boris is great. Wonderful direction by Robert Wise, a fine score and moody cinematography. A chilly 5-skull classic. DIE, DIE MY DARLING (1965) Wild Hammer thriller that's a far cry from their familiar gothic horrors. Stephanie Powers pays a visit to Tallulah Bankhead, the religious fanatic mother of her dead boyfriend, only to be kept prisoner because mom considers her married to her boy for eternity! Lurid, over the top and really fun film in the Grand Guignol style. Tallulah is great in her final role, and Donald Sutherland has one of his first as a half-wit albino handyman. *SALEM'S LOT (2004) (Streaming) Will there ever be a really great version of this? The 1979 one is fondly remembered, but mostly for the boy floating at the window and Mr. Barlow's Nosferatu-style make-up. The rest of it is very mediocre. The continuity is poor and choppy, and whole characters and subplots get dropped half way through. This 2004 version is roughly equal - it doesn't do the floating boy or Mr. Barlow nearly as well, but the over-all production is a little better and the second half is campy fun. However, it's nearly impossible to keep the many characters straight, and despite a good cast (Rob Lowe, Donald Sutherland, Rutger Hauer, James Cromwell) most feel wrong in their parts. Only Cromwell comes off well as the priest. Mostly entertaining, but nothing special. Maybe the version coming out this week will be better. MY BLOODY VALENTINE (3D) (2009) I'm not a slasher fan, but this (and Friday the 13th 3D) are so campy, with so many throw-it-at-the-screen 3D effects that I have to switch off my brain every few years and enjoy them. Really cool opening 3D montage in this, plus it keeps you guessing who the killer is until the last illogical moment. (And for those who keep track, it also has the most gratuitous nude scene in movie history.) A little guilty pleasure junk to end our September warm-up.
OCTOBER: THE MAIN EVENT!
TV EPISODES
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KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER - "The Ripper" (1974) We've decided to re-watch the complete 1-season series for our MonsterFest. This is the first episode, and it's quite good. The show gets pretty silly before the end, but this is an entertaining episode with snappy dialogue, good character bits and a fine "monster of the week" - Jack the Ripper is back. KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER Ep 3: (1974) 1/2 We're working our way through the 70s TV series. In "They have Been, They Are, They Will Be" Carl is on the trial of bone-marrow slurping aliens. Very tongue-in-cheek with lots of funny lines. They cheap out by making the aliens invisible, but a good time is still had by all. KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER Ep 4 (1974) The Vampire is one of the better Kolchak episodes. Lots of snappy/funny dialogue and amusing character bits, plus the vampire attacks are pretty viscious. I think this is meant to be a direct sequel to the original Night Stalker movie, about a vampire in Las Vegas, though it never quite says that. Really enjoying going through all these eposides again after many years.
MOVIES
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30 DAYS OF NIGHT (2007) What a great premise - vampires invade an Alaska town where the sun won't rise for 30 days. Very well crafted, with strong characters and tons of suspense. Very intense, if a little gruesome in parts. Unexpectedly moving ending, and a great looking blu-ray. A great start to October! THE SHINING (1980) It may not be true to the book (which I haven't read) but despite Stephen King's well-known complaints, this is a great film. We hadn't seen it in 4 or 5 years so it was a treat to watch again. I was struck by how good the child that plays Danny is! It's quite a performance for a boy so young. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have Nicholson a bit more normal in the early scenes so there would be more contrast to his behavior as he deteriorates, but that's a minor complaint. A classic. *SALEM'S LOT (Streaming) (2024) Well, we've watched all three versions of this story now. Each have their strengths and weaknesses, with no version being definitive. This one is no classic - it's one of those hokey B movies where someone dies and immediately someone begins shouting "Vampires!" Lots of familiar horror clichés, some humor, some very cool shots and some very cheesy dialogue. As an adaptation of the book it's probably the weakest of the three, but also the most fun if you're in the mood for campy horror.
All three versions are very flawed, but I say the 1979 version has the most iconic images (like the boy at the window, and head-vampire Mr. Barlow) the 2004 version is the best at telling the story and the new version is the most mindless fun to watch. But will anyone ever made a really great version? BURNT OFFERINGS (1976) Fun haunted house variation from Dan "Dark Shadows" Curtis. Karen Black and husband Oliver Reed rent a mansion for the summer for them, their son and their elderly aunt, Bette Davis. They would have been better off going to Disney World. This is an old-school creepfest with no jumpscares but lots of atmosphere. No prize for guessing the ending, but it's a lot of fun getting there. If you prefer slow-burn eerieness to constant shocks, you'll have a good time. *THE SHINING (1997 mini-series) 1/2 The biggest problem this mini-series has is the existence of the Kubrick movie. Taken on it's own, it's a solid TV movie (although with some poor CGI effects.) But the movie does exist so you can't help but compare them. Kubrick wins, obviously, for acting, mood, cinematography and effects - but the reason to see this version is the story. There is so much more here - Jack's character arc, Wendy's strong personality, and the back-story we're all new to me on this first viewing. If you can accept this as a separate, stand-alone film, it's very enjoyable, with many effective scenes. It's very close to the book, with a screenplay by King himself, but ironically, that made me appreciate the Kubrick film even more. I had no idea that the novel didn't include the hedge maze, the creepy twin girls or the "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" scene, and those have all become iconic in movie history. This film can never do that, but I'm glad I saw it. HOUSE OF WAX (in 3D) (1953) All-time Vincent Price classic, and one of the films (along with The Fly and House On Haunted Hill) that changed his image and established him as a horror star. The 3D is great fun (watch out for that paddle-ball guy!) and sets and atmosphere are wonderful. It's a very old-fashioned feeling film - very melodramatic - and I can't imagine anyone not guessing who the villian is, but that's all part of the appeal. Thoroughly, completely enjoyable from start to finish. DRACULA (1979) 1/2 What a lavish production this is! Beautiful sets and costuming, great John Williams score. Frank Langela makes a suave and sophisticated Count - even if it's a little hard not to snicker at his Saturday Night Fever hair. (Apparently he was buried with his blow dryer and styling comb.) This version features as much romance as horror, but with it's wonderful cast and atmosphere it's a standout among the many, many versions of the story. ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES (1959) Guilty pleasure time! This movie is so cheap, so trashy and so bad, but I can't help but enjoy it. Yvette Vickers certainly helps - she was a beauty! Then there are the disgusting title monsters. Truthfully, they look like guys in black Hefty bags with suckers added, but they make these revolting slurping noises as they drain their victims. This is one-skull vintage drive-in trash, with five-skull laughs. I'll call it three and hope that next time someone will rescue poor Yvette. THE SORCERERS (1967) 1/2 This is an obscure Boris Karloff film from late in his career. The young director Michael Reeves (who died after his next film, Witchfinder General) had real potential. Karloff is a penniless old hypnotist. But he has developed a device that allows him and his wife to control the mind of any person that they use it on, and to actually experience the physical sensations of what that person does under their control. Unfortunately it becomes addictive. It was a very low-budget film and it shows (the device looks mostly like headphones, tape recorders and Christmas lights) but the acting is good, and the story is engrossing. If you can overlook the low-budget trappings and "swingin' sixties" nightclub scenes, it's a very worthwhile watch. MR HARRIGAN'S PHONE (2022) (Netflix) 1/2 This is a handsome well-acted film, based on a Stephen King novella. A boy strikes up a friendship with a wealthy recluse that he is hired to read to, and through his cell phone, he appears to still be in contact with his elderly friend after death. Donald Sutherland in great in one of his last roles. It's a very low-key story with a wonderful premise, and although it never quite catches fire like it should, my wife and I enjoyed it very much. A good, thoughful film that might have been an excellent one with a bit more shaping. (My wife says ) THE DUNWICH HORROR (1970) 1/2 100% pure USDA cheese. Dean Stockwell is an evil ne'er-do-well with some weird unseen thing locked in an attic room. His sinister plan is to mate it with poor, virginal Sandra Dee, and end the world. Or something. Stockwell is pretty hard to buy as the embodiment of evil (Peter Fonda turned the role down - he would have been much better.) Lots of chanting, psychedelic colors and a laugh-out-loud funny climax as Stockwell and Ed Begley (in his last role) do battle by frantically shouting gibberish at each other during the big de-flowering ceremony. I almost sold this disc once because the movie is so bad, but happily I came to my senses and kept it for the very same reason. FIEND WITHOUT A FACE (Streaming) (1958) 1/2 This movie would be completely forgotten, if it wasn't for its final 15 minutes. It's got silly dialogue, a "who cares" romance, and the usual angry villagers who just want law and order in their sleepy little town. To make it worse, it has invisible monsters, robbing us of whatever thrill this cheapie might have had. But then, they become visible, and the movie becomes infamous. Slithering, leaping, quivering brains - complete with antennae and long spinal-columns are everywhere, wrapping their bony tails around unsuspecting necks and sucking their brains out. They are slimy, utterly disgusting, and wonderful. And a drive-in classic was born. WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953) For my money, this is the finest sci-fi movie of the 1950s, and so beautifully made. The effects (including the miniatures of Los Angeles) are wonderful, and the alien machines are the epitome of menacing cool with their sleek lines and snake like hiss. Even the campy bits - the constantly imperiled heroine and the "God in his wisdom" ending - work perfectly in the film and add to the whole "Gee whiz!" feel. An all-time 5 skull classic that has never been topped. I love this film. HOUSE OF HORRORS (1945) 1/2 This is just a low-budget B picture from Universal, but it's quite enjoyable. It's stars the unfortunate Rondo Hatton as the Creeper. Rondo suffered from Acromegaly which had distorted his features. Universal shamelessly promoted him as the only movie monster that required no make-up. There was going to be a series of Creeper films, but he died after making the second one, The Brute man. This is well-shot with lots of atmosphere, good characters and a fun revenge story. It's well-cast and pretty good for a 66-minute cheapie. HORROR ISLAND (1941) House Of Horrors, one of 4 films from the Creeping Horror Universal collection was quite enjoyable. This one, on the other hand, is a snoozer. A strictly by-the-numbers "hidden treasure in a haunted castle" story, with a Scooby Doo ending and confused plotting. One and done.
DEVIL (2010) 1/2 This is a really original film about five people trapped on an elevator, who turn out to be there for reasons that four of them don't suspect. I'm not sure why it wasn't better received critically - it has just 50% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it basically killed off M. Night Shyamalan's proposed series of "Night Chronicles" movies. While he didn't direct it, Shyamalan produced and wrote the original story, and it certainly feels like one of his better films. It's well constructed, tight (only 81 minutes) with strong acting, lots of fun scares and a plot that keeps you guessing, plus, like Sixth Sense and Signs, it has a very satisfying redemption angle to it. Really enjoyable, and an underrated film.
Last edited by charlieray1; 10-15-2024 at 02:37 AM.
this is a really eerie, moody low budget thriller that starts off strong... and then, unfortunately, slows down considerably and has a very anti-climactic ending.
Still well worth a look for several unnerving sequences....
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Low budget but up my alley.
" Jones, an unidentifiable body, giant pea pods that spawn foamy human doppelgängers, dynamic Dutch angles, stylistically moody lighting, extraterrestrial imposters slowly plotting a secret invasion of planet Earth, a cameo by future feature film director Sam Peckinpah, an all too relevant (at least at the time) allegorical subtext regarding postwar McCarthyism paranoia/hysteria run amok, striking and memorable location shots, and an unforgettable final warning to everyone in the audience delivered frantically by Kevin McCarthy as Dr. Bennell.
), Lucy reading a TV Guide featuring herself on the cover, an invitation to Violet's Halloween party (accompanied by celebratory dancing), primitive homemade ghost costumes, a semi-romantic pumpkin patch for 2 on Halloween night, breathtakingly beautiful background artwork (especially the inky-black night skies), repeatedly receiving rocks while trick or treating, the somewhat surreal exploits of a World War I flying ace (or if you prefer this phrasing: a literal dog-fighter pilot), Charlie Brown's short-lived modeling career for Jack-O'-Lanterns, a festive game of bobbing for dog-lips, a possible sighting of The Great Pumpkin, and the inevitable disappointment which immediately follows the very end of October/Halloween.
The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires 
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