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 their 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
[Show spoiler]
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
[Show spoiler]
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. THE HAUNTED STRANGLER (Criterion Channel) (1958) Karloff is a novelist pursuing the identity of the infamous "Haymarket Strangler", but it turns out to be someone much closer than he suspected. This falls a little flat, but there is still much to like. Boris is great, as usual, and the setting and story idea are fine. Part of the problem is that we find out who the killer is half-way through and it seems to be running out the clock after that. Still worth seeing, especially to see Karloff and some good individual scenes. The Criterion Channel has a really wonderful print. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1925/29) The grand daddy of Universal horror movies. Even after nearly 100 years, Lon Chaney is the reason to see this silent classic. He is simply wonderful. This was our first time re-watching it since we set up our movie room a few years ago, and it was a revelation. Eerie and exciting, with humorous moments, wonderful sets and of course Chaney's unforgettable make-up. An excellent print from Image, with an effective score. I don't think I've ever enjoyed this film more than I did tonight. MURDERS IN THE ZOO (1933) 1/2 A really fun (and lurid!) pre-code horror classic. Lionel Atwill is great as the obsessive, jealous husband who kills those who get too close to his wife, then kills again to cover the crimes. 91 years later, the opening scene of one man getting his mouth sewn shut so he'll "never kiss another man's wife again" is still a shocker. This early talkie doesn't have a musical score and it needs one, but it still works quite well. Depression-era audiences that spent their hard-earned nickel or dime to see this must have been knocked for a loop.
CAT PEOPLE (1942) A troubled young woman has never known love because she believes she will transform into a cat and kill her lover if she does. (This would be a poor way to start her recent marriage!) Nothing is overt in this film, everything is subtle, suggested and laid between the lines. Because of the movie code of the era, they can't quite spell out that sexual arousal is what she fears will make her change and they use "kiss" instead. It's a bit too vague - but I'll still take it over the quite explicit remake from the 80s. Beautiful looking film with great use of light and shadow. And my goodness, was Simone Simon a cutie! Meow.
KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER Ep 5 (1974) 1/2 In "The Werewolf", Carl encounters the title monster ...on a cruise ship?! Logic was never this show's strong suit, but as usual, humor and clever dialogue save the day. A fun episode.
7.5/10
Very decent slasher from 2012. A plethora of axe beheadings!!
10/10
An all time favorite and a total dose of euphoria for me on each watch. I twee with delight at the opening and sing along with every stupid song. What I wouldn't give for a vinyl soundtrack. Atanas Illitch channels a rockstar slasher with unmatched enthusiasm.
The Strangers is such an intense film from beginning to end. I’ve seen it many times since it came out, and it still keeps me on the edge of my seat.
31 Days of Halloween 2024:
[Show spoiler]
1. The Monster Squad
2. Ready or Not
3. Frankenstein
4. Dracula
5. Friday the 13th (2009)
6. The Wolf Man
7. Mr. Boogedy
8. The Invisible Man
I really do like the Amityville Horror film series, particularly all of the official entries. The original is one of my favorite haunted house films. The remake has a lot that I like about it. It’s fast paced, well acted, and very entertaining; and it’s one of the better films in the series.
31 Days of Halloween 2024:
[Show spoiler]
1. The Monster Squad
2. Ready or Not
3. Frankenstein
4. Dracula
5. Friday the 13th (2009)
6. The Wolf Man
7. Mr. Boogedy
8. The Invisible Man
9. The Strangers
October 15th - It's Time For Some Good Ol' Fashioned Franky-Baby:
Film #29. Frankenstein (1931)
I have said it before and I will say it again: it's just not Halloween without the classic Universal Monster films, period! And with that said (again), I honestly think that James Whale's immortal masterpiece Frankenstein (1931) may in fact be the one film that perfectly embodies both the spirit of the Universal Monster films collectively as well as (American) Halloween movie watching traditions in general. Despite being over 90 years old by now, it still holds up incredibly well. On a slightly off topic note, I'm really excited to see what Guillermo Del Toro has in store for his vision of Frankenstein too!
Points Of Interest include: Based on Mary Shelley's 1818 novel, a stark warning to all of the squeamish viewers in the audience regarding the horrors about to unfold on screen, grave robbing at a grim cemetery, Colin Clive's brilliantly unhinged portrayal of Dr. Frankenstein, Dwight Frye as his grimy hunchback lab assistant Fritz, cutting down a deceased hanged man, a spooky European castle with a large laboratory to conduct secret experiments in, stealing a (criminal) human brain from a medical school, assembling dead body parts from various sources in hopes of creating new life, a strong jolt of electricity from a lightning storm, some brief blasphemous scientific exclamations, the unnerving entrance of Frankenstein's monster subtly played by "?" (a.k.a. Boris Karloff), Fritz cruelly tormenting the monster with fire just for fun, a misunderstood monster in chains, another hanging body (this time done by the monster), Frankenstein's monster breaking free and on a rampage (of sorts), a rather large and very real bump growing behind actor Frederick Kerr's right ear (seriously, take a look for yourself... what is that thing?! It's WAY scarier than the monster, or even the film, itself.), Frankenstein's monster learning about "things that float in the lake" and "things that sink in the lake" from a little girl (with disastrous end results), gratuitous display of Schuhplattler accompanied by Lederhosen and Tyrolean hats, some brief monster snarling, a powerful traumatized march into town carrying the corpse of a dead loved one, an angry mob of villagers wielding torches, and a fiery finale at an old creepy windmill.
Röckzilla's Final Verdict: An essential, definitive, and irreplaceable icon of horror cinema. Forever synonymous with October/Halloween celebrations, at least by my standards.
Film #30. Bud Abbott And Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
If you ask me, the combination of horror and comedy in a film is much like the combination of chocolate and peanut butter in trick or treat candy. Sure, they are both equally enjoyable by themselves but when they're put together they create a sensation that's simply amazing and in some cases unforgettable. Well, at least when done properly that is. Luckily, the combination of horror and comedy in the film Bud Abbott And Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)is done quite properly here which makes for an oh so sweet Halloween treat... Just like a very specific candy brand with a registered trademark that I will not fully endorse by name here ever so shamelessly.
Points Of Interest include: A super cool animated opening title sequence, the much beloved comedic duo of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, Lon Chaney Jr. as Larry Talbot The Wolf Man, plenty of snappy dialogue, some physical slapstick shenanigans thrown in for good measure, McDougal's House Of (Wax) Horrors, delivering crates which turn out to be Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula and Frankenstein's Monster (this time portrayed by Glenn Strange), Dracula hypnotizing the dimwitted, frightened gibberish, the secret laboratory of a creepy castle located on a secluded island, old-school animation sequences showcasing the transformation between vampire and vampire bat, the discovery of spooky hidden passages, some "too-close-for-comfort" encounters with multiple monsters, an outdoor masquerade ball under full moonlight followed by a werewolf chase through the woods, an attempted brain transplant, Wolf Man grappling with Dracula (including off a balcony and then falling down into the ocean), Frankenstein's monster set on fire, and even a surprise appearance from The Invisible Man (voiced by Vincent Price).
Röckzilla's Final Verdict: An absolute hoot for fans of the classic Universal Monsters that also have a sense of humor.
A classic mon-star deserves a classic rock star and when it comes to combining the horror with the heavy, Alice Cooper is the true pioneer.
WE'RE NOT WORTHY! :
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
The Pope's Exorcist - 3/5
The Exorcism - 2/5
Accidental Exorcist - 2.5/5 The Exorcists - 2.5/5
I really like Land of the Dead. Being the fourth film in George A Romero’s Dead series, it had some very high expectations when it came out. It’s different from the three films that came before it, but I think it holds its own really well. It’s got a great cast of memorable characters, a great story, and in the almost 20 years since its release, it’s proven itself to be a more than worthy entry in the series. I’ve always liked this film.
31 Days of Halloween 2024:
[Show spoiler]
1. The Monster Squad
2. Ready or Not
3. Frankenstein
4. Dracula
5. Friday the 13th (2009)
6. The Wolf Man
7. Mr. Boogedy
8. The Invisible Man
9. The Strangers
10. The Amityville Horror (2005)
All countries
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Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
10/10-10/13
It's WAY scarier than the monster, or even the film, itself.), Frankenstein's monster learning about "things that float in the lake" and "things that sink in the lake" from a little girl (with disastrous end results), gratuitous display of Schuhplattler accompanied by Lederhosen and Tyrolean hats, some brief monster snarling, a powerful traumatized march into town carrying the corpse of a dead loved one, an angry mob of villagers wielding torches, and a fiery finale at an old creepy windmill.
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