acidburn-10 Reviews

Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed (2004)

Fantastic Follow-Up that expands the mythology instead of copying the original - A Must See

[8/10 · 11 May 2024]

'Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed' is a solid sequel to the original cult classic from 2000 that reinvents its own universe and puts a fascinating new spin on the unique concept from the original. The second film in the 'Ginger Snaps' trilogy doesn't quite hit same the levels of originality like the first one did, but its still an entertaining horror flick and takes the teenage themes explored here and gets a lot more mature with them.

The Plot = Shortly after the events of the first film, we find Brigitte (Emily Perkins) on the run and trying to find a cure for her werewolf blood lust before the next full moon. After a gruesome encounter with another werewolf, she's sent to a rehab clinic, but soon enough the werewolf tracks her down and begins killing people at the clinic.

What I liked about this entry is that despite the story being an extension of the first film, it doesn't come across as a cheap retread and instead goes for a darker and grittier tone with a slower pacing that takes its time exploring new characters and themes, and therefore creates a more dramatic and emotionally charged film. The horror elements on display here are also strong with its cold and clinical colour scheme which gives the movie an eerie atmosphere with compelling visuals and a healthy amount of blood and gore thrown in for good measure. The main problem I have with this is the ending which wasn't bad by any means, but it did leave things up in the air and left me wanting more, and sadly we didn't get a proper resolution. Other than that, this is still a fantastic and well-made werewolf genre film.

The performances here are top notch with Emily Perkins taking centre stage this time and gives one hell of a performance as Brigitte and proves that she's more than up to the task of carrying the film with her more well-rounded character. Tatiana Maslany gives a scene stealing performance as Ghost and she was simply phenomenal in her role. Katharine Isabelle makes for a welcomed return although in a limited screen time was a smart move and shows why she's a legendary screen queen of the horror genre.

Overall 'Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed' is a worthy follow-up to what is perhaps one of my all-time favourite werewolf horror films, and while this may not be as great as that said film, this is still a definite must see.

The Dentist (1996)

Decent Horror Flick even if the idea's better than the execution

[6/10 · 10 May 2024]

'The Dentist' is a fun darkly comedic and fairly twisted 90's horror flick with an intriguing premise that plays off a very common fear of not only going to a dentist but what if you're dentist goes psychotic and decided to drill your teeth out, and this movie does a pretty good job with that concept as it does get pretty intense at times, but its let down slightly by its off-kilter pacing and rather flat cinematography. Thankfully what elevates this above mediocrity is the central performance by Corbin Bernsen.

The Plot = A successful dentist named Dr. Alan Feinstone goes off the deep end when he catches his wife Brooke (Linda Hoffman) cheating on him and despite getting his revenge on her, he decides to enact cruelty on his staff and patients.

I remember seeing this at my local video store way back in 1996 and being a big fan of horror films, I just had to seek this out and at the time I really liked this and even now viewing it again many years later I still found it rather enjoyable. Directed by Brian Yuzna and while it's not his greatest work, but like all of his films there's still fun to be had here. His direction is solid here and he does throw in some pretty nerve-racking scenes, but the overall look of the film feels very made for TV with some very questionable set designs. This is one of those movies where the idea is better than the execution as it lacks consistency and fails to maintain interest all the way through. Thanks to the strong performances namely from Corbin Bernsen who turns in a fantastic performance as the demented lead, there's just enough to enjoy here.

Overall 'The Dentist' is a pretty good horror slasher flick even if its lacking in some areas. Still decent though.

Blue Sunshine (1977)

Wild and Drug Infused Cult Classic Gem

[7/10 · 9 May 2024]

'Blue Sunshine' is a weird horror flick from the late 70's which is drenched in a paranoid drug infused illusions and crazed frantic moments that captures the tense atmosphere of the film brilliantly. Intriguing and altogether masterfully shot this psychedelic horror thriller takes you on a hell of a journey as it delves into one outrageous moment to the next in this rather surreal and bizarre outing by director Jeff Lieberman.

The Plot = Jerry Zipkin (Zalman King) who at a party witnesses a horrific triple murder involving his old friend Frannie Scott (Richard Cristal) who has mysteriously turned into a homicidal maniac. Then a bizarre series of murders begins in L. A., involving the same pattern and could this be down to a dangerous form of LSD called Blue Sunshine which the killers took ten years before be causing this mayhem?

The movie is an odd cinematic experience that can't quite figure out which genre it really belongs to and that's what makes it so entertaining with its off-kilter premise and equally unhinged presentation. The direction by Jeff Lieberman is solid as he pushes the tone of the production to almost unbearable levels of insanity that manages to somehow work in its favour and thanks to its quick pace it never becomes dull, and the story unfolds at a steady pace. This is a weird yet fascinating horror flick with political elements that will hold your attention and keep you on the edge of your seat throughout its runtime.

The performances here are strong with Zalman King who takes on the role of the unfortunate hero and he gives a fantastic performance in giving you someone to root for as he seriously puts all of himself into his performance. Deborah Winters gives a solid and likeable performance as Alicia and helps keep the movie grounded. Mark Goddard plays the sleazy politician perfectly. Robert Walden gives a solid performance as Doctor Blume and finally Ray Young gives a fantastically over the top performance and helps round the cast out wonderfully.

Overall 'Blue Sunshine' is a one-of-a-kind cinematic oddity that could have only came out in the drug infused 70's and we're grateful for it.

Cube (1997)

Mind Bending and Unique Sci-Fi Horror cult classic

[9/10 · 9 May 2024]

'Cube' - a mind bending and brilliantly original sci-fi horror flick with a simple yet effective premise which uses the framework of a traditional sci-fi set-up and instead turns everything upside down by having ideas open to interpretation as you follow these characters on their abstract journey that's devoid of reason, while at the same time the movie manages to be clever and philosophical without ever becoming boring. This movie is a great example of how to execute a unique idea to its fullest potential.

The Plot = A group of strangers awaken to find themselves trapped inside a giant cube. Each one of them is gifted with a special skill and they must work together to escape an endless maze of deadly traps.

I remember seeing this when it first came out and became instantly enthralled by its surreal nature and interesting characters which is what makes this movie really work as well as the engaging mystery element as you're kept on the edge of your seat throughout its runtime. The direction by Vincenzo Natali is outstanding as he makes full use of its obvious limited budget and creates something incredibly thought provoking and yet entertaining at the same time.

The cast here are simply excellent and well written with each character brining their own individuality to their roles. Maurice Dean Wint is outstanding as the unhinged cop Quentin, Nicole De Boer is great as the intelligent schoolgirl with plenty of wit, David Hewlett provides interesting depth as the cynical Worth, while Nicky Guadagni provides solid support as the levelheaded doctor Holloway, and then finally Andrew Miller rounds off the cast nicely as the autistic Kazan, a firm standout performance.

Overall 'Cube' is something that well and truly transcends its genre and the end result is something incredible and unique. A must see for any fans of sci-fi horror.

Damien: Omen II (1978)

Satisfying Sequel that successfully continues the original's storyline

[8/10 · 7 May 2024]

'Damien: Omen II' is a solid sequel to the first 'Omen' film in that it successfully continues the storyline established in the original film without feeling stale and repetitive and further develops the Damien character as he comes to terms with who he really is. However, this follow-up doesn't quite manage to live up to the greatness of the original due to a few flaws, but there's enough here to enjoy such as the effective narrative, chilling atmosphere, interesting characters, and elaborate death scenes, all of which do makes up for some of the movie's shortcomings.

The Plot = It's seven years after the events of the first film and Damien Thorne (Jonathan Scott Taylor) is now living with his uncle Richard Thorn (William Holden) & Aunt Ann (Lee Grant). Damien is about to turn 13, and finally learns that he is the son of the Antichrist. And must follow his destiny. Meanwhile dark forces begin to kill anyone who gets in his way.

The direction by Don Taylor is effective as he infuses the movie with a level of care and consistency by delivering a more character driven story with the family dynamic being a firm highlight of this sequel. The movie also manages to move along at a decent breakneck pace without any dull or boring parts. Although what holds this movie back from being a classic is a few things, firstly the strange storyline decision of not having Damien knowing who he is which not only made things rather confusing but given his names in the title he has very little to do here. There's also a severe lack of suspense and scares, but thankfully the over-the-top death scenes and satisfying finale does make this film a satisfying viewing experience.

The acting performances here are top notch and each of the characters do gives the movie the emotional weight. Jonathan Scott Taylor delivers a strong performance as Damien as he goes from wide eyed innocence to emotionless and creepy effectively, he's simply brilliant in the role and in a lesser actors' hands would have brought the whole film down. William Holden and Lee Grant both delivers fantastic performances, and both elevates this production with their engaging characters and brilliant chemistry together.

Overall 'Damien: Omen II' is a satisfying sequel to the classic original that manages to continue the storyline without staining it's legacy (that would come with some of the later entries).

The Exorcist III (1990)

The Only Worthy Sequel to the Original

[8/10 · 7 May 2024]

'The Exorcist III' is the third film in 'The Exorcist' franchise and next to the iconic original, this is widely considered to be the best sequel and rightly so as in my opinion this is the only one that can even be compared to the original in terms of quality and overall greatness. Written and directed by William Peter Blatty and based upon his own novel 'Legion' and here he creates an effective horror movie with a tense and thought-provoking narrative that moves at a slow but never boring pace with plenty of great twists and turns throughout and some genuinely unsettling scares thrown in for good measure.

The Plot = Detective Kinderman (George C. Scott) gets more than he bargains for as he investigates a series of murders which strangely resembles the work of the Gemini Killer (Brad Dourif), only he died 15 years ago. Could there be a copycat killer or is he still alive or could there be supernatural forces at work?

The movie takes a wildly different tone from the other films in the series as this entry goes for a darker mystery psychological thriller with supernatural elements thrown in and that's what not only sets it up apart from the others but helps it stand on its own as a strong entry. The atmospheric dread, the surreal set pieces, haunting visuals, and psychological approach is what makes this flick so strong and compelling. Although I wouldn't call this a perfect flick as there are some minor problems such as the writing seemed a bit sloppy in parts, which I know was down to the studio re-shoots and changing the director's original vision and the overblown ending feels a little at odds with the rest of the movie, but again that was studio interference. None of these minor elements takes that much away from the overall quality of the flick as it's still an intriguing viewing experience.

What really makes this movie work is the excellent acting performances from everyone involved. George C. Scott takes on the detective character originally played by the late Lee J Cobb in the first 'Exorcist' and well and truly makes it his own and delivers a compelling and well-rounded performance. Ed Flanders is also great here as Father Dyer and his chemistry with George C. Scott is a high point of the film. Jason Miller also delivers a strong performance here and then finally Brad Dourif who delivers a steal stealing performance as The Gemini Killer, demented, and engaging at the same time, he really gives this role is all and ranks as one of his finest performances of his career.

Overall 'The Exorcist III' may not be as iconic as the 1973 original but it's a more than worthy follow-up and far better than any of the other awful sequels that came before and after it.

Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)

Awful, Baffling and yet somewhat Fasincating

[3/10 · 6 May 2024]

'Exorcist II: The Heretic' is the utterly baffling, awful, and yet somewhat fascinating sequel to the classic 1973 original 'The Exorcist' by William Friedkin, which still to this day ranks as one of the scariest movies of all-time. How it managed to spawn a sequel as bad as this is beyond me. There are almost no redeeming qualities to this flick down to the bad direction, muddled plot, dull pacing, and lacking any sort of scares or tension. This movie is an awkward and weird mess from start to finish.

The Plot = Set 4 years after the events of the first movie with Regan (Linda Blair) trying to life a normal life after her demon possession from the previous entry and is now under the care of psychiatrist Dr Gene Tuskin (Louise Fletcher). Meanwhile a Priest Father Lamont (Richard Burton) is investigating the death of Father Merrin, which leads him to New York and comes to discover that the demon still lurks within Regan and must find a way to destroy it once and for all.

One thing that you could admire about this flick is that its certainly ambitious and at the very least it wasn't just a safe retread of the first film. However, what we do get is a truly bizarre disaster of a film that takes a huge risk but falls flat. This is a prime example of directors John Boorman and Rospo Pallenberg having too much free reign. However, the visuals are somewhat impressive with some interesting camerawork and decent special effects, but that's about the only positive I could give to this.

The performances here are decent with Linda Blair again giving a strong performance despite the awful writing. Richard Burton brings some much-needed screen presence to this flick, and he does a commendable job with the clunky dialogue. Louise Flecther gives a fine performance as the psychiatrist.

Overall there's a reason why 'Exorcist II: The Heretic' is considered one of the sequels of all-time as its simply horrendous.

Night of the Living Dead (1990)

One of the better horror remakes out there

[8/10 · 5 May 2024]

'Night of the Living Dead' is a solid remake of George A Romero's 1968 classic which essentially has the same premise as the original, yet updated to fit a more modern archetype and features excellent practical effects and a lot more violence and gore, but still maintains the creepy atmospheric tone of the black and white classic. Directed by the legendary Tom Savini who injects a cool visceral quality into the movie that really brings everything to life.

The Plot = Barbara (Patricia Tallman) and her brother Johnnie (Bill Mosley) are visiting their aunt's grave where they find themselves attacked by a zombie. Johnnie is killed while Barbara manages to escape to a remote farmhouse, where she meets Ben (Tony Todd) who tells her that the dead are coming back to life, and soon more survivors turns up and they must fight against the zombies to survive.

This is a remake that justifies its existence thanks to the tremendous effort by everyone involved and thanks to Tom Savini's fantastic direction the movie opts for a more realistic take on the zombie genre with its graphic nature of the zombies, intense violence, gorier content, and an array of effective scare scenes that calls upon the original film. This is one of those rare instances of a horror remake being almost as effective as its original counterpart and its well worth seeking out.

The interesting characters and the line-up of wonderful actors to portray them is another aspect that helps this rise above the usual remake fodder. Patricia Tallman is sensational here and her character arc going from victim to badass zombie killer is outstanding thanks to her heartfelt and genuine performance. Tony Todd is equally as impressive in his role with his engaging screen presence and intensity, he's truly a fantastic actor. Tom Towles delivers a fun and over the top performance as the antagonist Harry and finally the inclusion of Bill Mosley is pure casting genius, and he really makes the most of his limited screen time.

Overall 'Night of the Living Dead' doesn't quite top Romero's classic, but it's still a fantastically entertaining watch in its own right and deserves far more love than it gets.

Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II (1987)

Cheesy Guilty Pleasure Supernatural Slasher Flick

[7/10 · 4 May 2024]

'Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night 'is a sequel in name only to the 1980 disco slasher flick 'Prom Night' starring Jamie Lee Curtis. While the original was more of a straightforward teen slasher flick, the 2nd film in the series goes for a more supernatural revenge direction and it's an entertaining effort that features some unsettling moments, bizarre and cool death scenes, and creates a memorable killer in the form of Mary Lou Maloney.

The Plot = Beginning in 1957 at Hamiliton High where bad girl Mary Lou Maloney (Lisa Schrage) is about to be crowned prom queen until her jilted former boyfriend Billy Nordham (Steve Atkinson) attempts to play a prank on her, but it goes horribly wrong resulting in her death. Now 30 years later, a young high school girl Vicki Carpenter (Wendy Lyon) accidently unleashes Mary Lou's vengeful spirit and possesses her body to seek revenge.

When I first saw 'Prom Night 2' I was sorely disappointed as I was hoping for more of a continuation of the original and plus, I wasn't a fan of the new direction this sequel took. However, many years later I gave this another shot and found it rather enjoyable and appreciated it for what it was. I'm a big fan of the original, and while this doesn't quite compare, its still a solid effort. The supernatural elements introduced to the plot does help it stand out and leads to creating many creative and interesting set pieces with plenty of fun death scenes and a healthy dose of sleaze. The movie may be lacking in scares or tension, but the introduction of the new villain Mary Lou almost more than makes for some of these shortcomings and adds a layer of fun and humorous moments.

The cast here are pretty solid with an excellent performance from the legendary Michael Ironside as the school's principal, he's awesome as usual. Wendy Lyons gives a good performance as Vicki and does a good job playing both sides of her character. Then finally Lisa Schrage provides an entertaining performance as the fun and sexy killer Mary Lou.

Overall 'Prom Night 2' is a very underrated supernatural slasher flick, sure its cheesy as hell, but on the whole it's a fun guilty pleasure romp that deserves more attention.

Highway to Hell (1991)

Ridiculously Fun Romp

[7/10 · 3 May 2024]

'Highway to Hell' is a strange yet fun horror comedy fantasy movie hybrid with a simple premise set in a world where nothing really seems to makes sense with everything seems like it was thrown together at the last minute, but that's all a part of this movie's charm as it's an entertainingly nonsensical wacky thrill ride from start to finish and despite obvious flaws within its writing and budget restrictions there's never a dull moment.

The plot = Charlie Sykes (Chad Lowe) and his girlfriend Rachel Clark (Kristy Swanson) are travelling to Las Vegas to get married in secret. They decide to take a detour through a deserted highway, despite being warned not to drive through there at night and gets pulled over by Hellcop (C. J. Graham) who kidnaps Rachel and takes her into hell. Charlie must go to hell to rescue her.

This movie may not be to everyone's taste and never quite reaches that sweet spot between gore & comedy, but there's more than enough to enjoy here with plenty of memorable and clever set pieces, bizarre characters, and witty dialogue with plenty of energy and enthusiasm infused into the production. This is one movie that I'm a little surprised doesn't have a bigger cult following, part of the problem could have been that people didn't know how to classify what genre it belongs to, fantasy, yes there are elements of that here, comedy, again there are a few funny parts, but it doesn't stick with that all the way through and as for the horror elements well there's some, but its generally lacking in any sort of scares or gore. This doesn't fully commit to any of those genres which is what makes it interesting and while overall it doesn't work a 100% like a lot of strange movies, its still a fun time.

The performances here are strong, from the main cast right down to the cameo appearances. Chad Lowe gives a strong leading man performance and brings a lot of charm to his down to earth character. Kristy Swanson does fine as the female lead with plenty of charisma. Patrick Bergin delivers a standout performance as Satan. Gilbert Gottfried, Lita Ford, Ben Stiller, Jerry Stiller, & Amy Stiller each round out the bizarre casting brilliantly, and then finally C. J. Graham is an absolute delight as Hellcop, and the most memorable character in this flick.

Overall 'Highway to Hell' is a ridiculously fun romp that while may not fully commit to any genre, its an entertaining watch nonetheless.

The Legend of Hell House (1973)

Fantastic Haunted House Horror Flick

[8/10 · 30 April 2024]

'The Legend of Hell House' is a brooding and atmospheric. Haunted house horror flick. With a compelling narrative., a solid cast., and a fantastically creepy location. Bathed in a cool gothic tone. Written by Richard Matheson and based upon his novel 'Hell House', this classy production is a fantastic thrill ride from start to finish and a prime example of a supernatural ghost story done right.

The Plot = Four people including a physicist Dr Barrett (Clive Revell), his wife Ann (Gayle Hunnicutt), and two mediums Ben (Roddy McDowall) & Florence (Pamela Franklin) arrive at the infamous Belasco House (a.k.a. Hell House) to investigate the paranormal events that has occurred there over the years Previous visitors to the house have either died or gone mad and its up to the team to survive the week and solve the mystery of Hell House once and for all.

The movie is highly entertaining and manages to sustain chills and excitement throughout its runtime thanks to the classy production that boasts some vivid and disturbing imagery and a foreboding nature with enough intense scares to leave an ever lasting impression. The direction by John Hough is highly creative as he uses many quirky camera angles to frame the action and the haunting atmospheric mood which gives off a rather tense and uneasy feeling. The special effects work here is incredibly strong and balances the tone of the movie rather well without going over the top. The mystery element is another high point of this movie and adds even more intrigue and keeps you on the edge of your seat right up until the final act, which wasn't as strong as the rest of the events leading up to it, which is why I scored it an 8/10, but its still a strong effort.

The intimate cast of characters is another aspect that works well for this flick with each of the 4 main cast giving excellent performances. Roddy McDowall, Pamela Franklin, Clive Revill & Gayle Hunnicutt each adds interesting layers to their roles and is the main reason why this movie is as good as it is.

Overall 'The Legend of Hell House' remains a standout.in the haunted house genre, but the only minor flaws is the final climax felt a little disappointing and lacks the same impact it had upon repeated viewings. Other than that this is a still a cracking flick.

Bride of Re-Animator (1990)

Strong and Worthy Sequel

[8/10 · 29 April 2024]

'Bride of Re-Animator' is a fun chaotic horror comedy sequel to Stuart Gordon's original cult classic 'Re-Animator' from 1985. This sequel blends slapstick humour with blood-soaked mayhem to combine into one hell of an entertaining ride drenched in gory goodness. This demented production is a fantastic follow-up to the original that not only manages to stand on its own but also brings several new elements into the mix to further enhance its story.

The Plot = A few months after the catastrophic conclusion of the first film, Doctor Herbert West (Jeffery Combs) and his associate Dan Cain (Bruce Abbott) have relocated to Peru during the civil war to continue their experiments which involves bringing the dead back to life. But after all is not well and they retreat to American soil along with their new assistant Francesca (Fabiana Udenio). Once they're back the doctors proceed to create a perfect woman from dead tissue.

While this second entry in the trilogy isn't quite as strong as the first one, its still an entertainingly grotesque romp thanks mainly to seeing Jeffery Combs & Bruce Abbott back in action again and effectively continuing the interesting narrative that the first one set up and this one wastes no time getting into the undead madness filled with unbelievable moments, outrageous gore, and overall weirdness. Brian Yuzna takes over the directing duties this time around and he does a fantastic job with the outlandish material with fantastic production, cool special effects, and even the titular bride herself was an interesting and quirky addition to this fun filled movie.

Both Jeffery Combs and Bruce Abbott reprises their iconic roles and again gives exceptional performances as they ease back into their roles with perfection with Bruce Abbott playing the more levelheaded and saner Dan Cain, he's fantastic as always. While Jefferey Combs again steals the show as Herbert West and goes all out as the mad scientist driven by his ambition. The supporting cast here are strong with Claude Earl Jones giving a strong performance as the detective. Fabiana Udenio is also another fabulous addition to the cast as is Kathleen Kinmont who tragically ends up becoming the bride. Then finally David Gale adds even more fun and mayhem to the flick returning as the evil Dr Hill (this time as a floating head) and delivers a bizarre and wonderfully over the top performance.

Overall 'Bride of Re-Animator' is a worthy sequel even if it doesn't quite compare to the original, but it's still an absolute blast from start to finish and definitely worth checking out.

Night of the Comet (1984)

Outrageous and Fun Sci-Fi/Horror/Comedy/Action romp

[8/10 · 28 April 2024]

'Night of the Comet' is a fun and wild 80's horror cult classic film that blends elements of sci-fi with tongue in cheek humour to create a fantastic adventure romp filled with plenty of action, suspense, zombies, and danger at every turn. This flick is an entertaining oddity that revels in its absurd nature and doesn't take itself too seriously with its unique blend of genres and 80's charm.

The Plot = 2 teenage valley girls, Samantha (Kelli Maroney) and Regina (Catherine Mary Stewart) who find themselves along with a few others, as the sole survivors after a comet's wiped out most of the life on earth leaving behind zombies and other assorted maniacs to fight over what's left of the world. The girls soon team up with another fellow survivor Hector (Robert Beltran) to survive and try and find some answers as to why this has happened.

Sure, this movie is very much a product of its time, making it kinda dated, but who cares as who doesn't love 80's pop culture references and if anything, it's added even more entertainment value and charm to it. The overall look and feel of the film are rich in imagery with its many desolate and lonely locations and unpopulated areas gives everything an eerie and unsettling vibe and the red hazy lensed visual palette sets a rather haunting and ominous tone. The cool looking zombies, the unhinged punks, and evil government agents, this movie is packed full of memorable characters and villains that the survivors come up against are effective and adds even more tension to the terrifying situation that they're up against. This movie is without a doubt a shining example of the fun of the 80's with its entertaining story, well-paced runtime, fantastic effects and just an all-round good time.

The acting performances in this are particularly strong with a likeable cast of characters with amazing chemistry together. Catherine Mary Stewart is fantastic as the older and more mature Regina, she's stunning and her charisma shines in balancing both the emotional and comedic tone of the movie and keeps everything grounded, she's the driving force of the flick. Kelli Maroney is also fantastic as Samantha the younger and more immature sister who brings much of the comedic elements to the film, she's believable as the bubbly and bratty cheerleader type and is a blast to watch and brings a lot of energy to her role. Robert Beltran gives an excellent performance as the male lead and balances the outrageous nature of the production quite well.

Overall 'Night of the Comet' is a hell of a lot of fun, it may be lacking in scares, but there's enough to enjoy here in this cult classic gem of a movie.

The Changeling (1980)

Iconic classic haunted house movie that still holds up incredibly well

[10/10 · 28 April 2024]

'The Changeling' is widely considered to be one of the greatest ghost stories ever made and with good reason, as it's a compelling and creepy movie ripe with an intense atmosphere that relies more on subtlety, scares built on tension, and eerie sounds that slowly gets under your skin, instead of the usual jump scares that you get from modern horror movies. Another great aspect about this movie is the intriguing mystery which balances the horror elements of this story perfectly thanks to the well written script and the controlled and stylish direction by Peter Medak.

The Plot = After the tragic death of his wife and daughter music composer John Russell (George C Scott) moves to Seattle and ends up staying in an old Victorian styled mansion that has been vacant for many years and soon he discovers why as the house appears to be haunted.

The movie engages you from the start right from its devasting opening to the haunting scenes of the house as well as the mystery of what happened there as pieces of the puzzle slowly comes together and leads to a fantastically thrilling final act with many effective twists and turns throughout its runtime. The scares, the creepy imagery and even the house itself becomes a character within itself with its cool Victorian-era architecture, creepy hallways filled with dust and cobwebs and eerie lighting gives everything that classic haunted house ambience. Even to this day this movie still holds up incredibly well and remains a crowning achievement within the horror genre.

The lead performance by George C. Scott is simply excellent as he creates a compelling and sympathetic character as you follow him on his journey throughout. Trish Van Devere also offers a great supporting turn, and the two characters have fantastic chemistry together.

Overall 'The Changeling' is exceptional, one of the greatest haunted house flicks ever to grace the big screen, perfectly paced, brilliantly acted, and strongly recommended.

Rituals (1977)

Raw, brutal and emotional overlooked gem

[9/10 · 27 April 2024]

'Rituals' is an extremely underrated and obscure horror gem from the 1970's. Classy, intelligent, well written, and intense, the movie generates most of its scares by not knowing who or what is out there as well as the unsettling atmosphere of the untamed wilderness that surrounds the 5 main characters. On the surface this can be seen as a mere 'Deliverance' rip-off and despite a few plot similarities this overlooked classic is far more than that and deserves far more love and attention that it's gotten over the years.

The Plot = 5 Doctors: Harry (Hal Holbrook), Mitzi (Lawrence Dane), Martin (Robin Gammell), Abel (Ken James) and DJ (Gary Reineke), heads into the Canadian wilderness for their annual yearly outing, only to find that they are being stalked by an unknown crazed killer.

The direction by Peter Carter is well crafted as he presents a natural and engaging narrative with stunning cinematography that makes full use of its creepy setting and fills it with enough uneasy tension, nerve racking sequences and brutal violence to sustain momentum throughout its runtime. What really makes everything come together is the brilliant cast that this movie has to offer with each of the 5 main characters delivering natural and outstanding performances that really gives this movie that raw emotional depth that elevates this horror flick far above the usual slasher fare.

Overall 'Rituals' is an excellent psychological horror flick that comes highly recommended with its superb writing, well executed narrative, and incredible acting, this movie deserves to be more well known and find the audience it well and truly deserves as it's a classic.

Rats: Night of Terror (1984)

Don't expect anything groundbreaking from a movie called 'Rats', just a fun schlocky b-movie fun

[7/10 · 27 April 2024]

'Rats: Night of Terror' is a ridiculously weird and obscure 80's Italian horror flick directed by Bruno Mattei & Claudio Fragasso. Overflowing with over-the-top silliness and strangeness around every corner filled with mind boggling sequences, this off-kilter production goes all out with its absurd premise of killer rats and just runs with it and delivers an overall fun viewing experience.

The Plot = Set during the post-apocalyptic, where most of humanity lives underground, a group of biker's comes across a deserted urban landscape where they decide to take shelter, only to find that the place is infested by killer rats.

Look you're not gonna get anything groundbreaking from a movie called 'Rats: Night of Terror', but the least you can expect is something campy and schlocky and that's what you get. The movie's jam packed with nonsensical moments and baffling character interactions that will leave you scratching your head. However, with its interesting plot, cheesy special effects, and plenty of cool kills with some great gore effects and it does at least provide the goods in that department. What also helps is that the movie's well-paced with enough going on, so you'll never get bored with everything leading to an unexpected shocking climax.

The cast each gives equally warped and absurd performances for such a strange premise as this, but at the very least they were memorable with many quirky standouts that adds to this usual atmosphere such as Ottaviano Dell'Acqua as the leader Kurt, Geretta Gertta as the badass femme fatale Chocolate, Gianni Franco as tech genius Video, Moune Duvivier as Lilth the sexy punk chick, Massimo Vanni as the unhinged Taurus and Fausto Lombardi gives an odd performance as Deus.

Overall 'Rats: Night of Terror' is pure 80's b-movie fun that flies off the rails and relishes in its insanity.

Daughters of Darkness (1971)

Stylish, Engaging and Mesmerzing

[10/10 · 27 April 2024]

'Daughters of Darkness' is an underrated stylish vampire horror masterpiece that takes its inspiration from Elizabeth Bathory, a countess who tortured and killed hundreds of young girls and bathed in their blood. The movie transcends its inspiration by creating one of the most unique entries in the vampire sub-genre; thanks to its flawless production and well executed narrative that focuses more on mood and atmosphere rather than violence and does a fantastic job of building unnerving tension throughout and everything falls perfectly into place.

The Plot = Newlywed couple Stefan (John Karlen) & Valerie (Danielle Ouiment) arrive at the seaside town of Ostend, Belgium during the off-season, where they encounter a mysterious yet strikingly beautiful countess Elizabeth Bathory (Delphine Seyrig) and her assistant Ilona (Andrea Rau). The young couple soon becomes friends with the two mysterious women which in turn soon leads to danger.

The movie is glamourous erotic stylized and most importantly intriguing vampire story that strays away from most of the usual vampire cliches and instead presents the viewer with a more character study approach and thanks to the amazing performances from each of the 4 main cast members, it manages to pull this off effectively. The slow burn pacing may be a bit off putting for some, but for me personally I was fascinated by every aspect of this flick as it manages to maintain an eerie other worldly atmosphere throughout its runtime. The direction by Harry Kumel is superb as he presents everything with an elegant and seductive aesthetic that gives everything an off-kilter dreamlike quality that manages to draw you into the world this movie presents you with.

The performances are excellent from the 4 main cast members and each as fantastic chemistry together. Delphine Seyrig stealing the show as the countess by delivering a stunning and mesmerizing performance that dominates every aspect of the production. She is simply enthralling with her elegant features, her long slow lingering gazes and her gothic aura with many layers to her character. Andrea Rau contrasts nicely against the countess with her raw sensuality as the very tragic figure. Danielle Ouiment delivers a likeable and naïve charm to her role and John Karlen delivers an engaging performance as the husband especially as the movie progresses and his true colours begins to come to light.

Overall 'Daughters of Darkness' is definitely one of the best vampire horror flicks from the 1970's with its fantastic blends of horror and eroticism all wrapped together in one of the most stylish, unique and well-made horror flicks of all-time.

Galaxy of Terror (1981)

Entertaining Cult Classic B-Movie romp

[7/10 · 25 April 2024]

'Galaxy of Terror' is a fun over the top and yet extremely cheesy low budget 80's horror/sci-fi romp with gruesomely entertaining set pieces, grotesque special effects and a colourful cast of characters that makes this wicked and demented movie a good time. Drenched in morbid wonder and consumed with shocking moments helps elevate this above some of the Z-grade Alien knockoffs.

The Plot = A ragtag group of space travellers are sent out on a rescue mission to the planet Morganthus, once there they discover a strange pyramid structure which they proceed to investigate, and a strange alien influence starts killing them off one by one in bizarre and strange ways.

The movie is not subtle by any means as it dives into some pretty nasty, seedy, and mean spirted situations, and yet it still manages to maintain a certain sense of charm and respectability thanks to its cool special effects, beautiful set designs and superb attention to detail to the production thanks to future iconic filmmaker James Cameron and the fantastic direction by Bruce D. Clark whose vivid visuals brings everything to life in such wonderful and imaginative ways.

The cast is another aspect of why this flick works so well as we're blessed with several familiar genre faves who each goes above and beyond in delivering fantastic performances. Edward Albert gives a commendable leading man performance as Cabren. Erin Moran gives a strong performance as the timid and intelligent Alluma. Bernard Behrens, Zalman King, Grace Zabriskie, Ray Walston & Taaffe O'Connell each gives memorable and outstanding performances in their roles. Sid Haig gives a totally memorable and badass performance as the mute Quuhod and Robert England gives a standout performance in one of his earliest roles as Ranger.

Overall 'Galaxy of Terror' is a vile, brutal and yet entertaining flick that may be a bit thin on plot with quite a few nonsensical scenes, and yes the similarities to a certain sci-fi horror classic are a bit on the nose, but who cares its still a fun ride through and through.

The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)

Superb Poe Adaptation with Vincent Price and Roger Corman at their upmost peak

[9/10 · 4 December 2023]

'The Pit and the Pendulum' is an excellent and stylish gothic horror film directed by Roger Corman which delivers a great cast, impressive visual flair, and effectively constructs an ambiance of foreboding doom. Based upon the short story of the same name by Edgar Allan Poe and starring the legendary Vincent Price, this is already a recipe for success, and it doesn't disappoint thanks to a well-paced narrative that manages to build the mystery throughout its runtime.

The Plot = Francis Bernard (John Kerr) travels to Spain after hearing of the death of his sister Elizabeth (Barbara Steele). When he arrives, he's greeted by her late husband Nicolas Medina (Vincent Price) whose very much overcome with grief over the loss of his beloved wife. Soon Francis begins to find out about the family's sordid past, he becomes convinced that there's more to his sister's death than he's led to believe.

This is a classic Vincent Price/Roger Corman horror vehicle through and through that uses the original Poe short story as a springboard and what they've built from that is absolutely astounding, with effective twists and turns that will honestly leave you stunned and its one of those movies that with repeated viewings further enhances your enjoyment as you get to see everything building towards those moments nicely. The direction by Roger Corman is outstanding as he brings a grandiose and elegant style to this flick with plenty of moody gothic set pieces and gorgeous matte paintings that helps this stand out amongst the other modestly budgeted horror films of the time period. One of Vincent Price's finest horror films of his career.

Vincent Price as always gives a fantastic performance, and no other actor was better suited to Edgar Allan Poe adaptations than he was. He embodies both the sophistication and macabre despair that a Poe character demanded. Barbara Steele gives a solid performance in her limited screen time, but definitely makes an impression with her haunting beauty and mysterious elegance to her role. John Kerr gives a strong leading man performance and handles the material quite well. Both Anthony Carbone and Luana Anders also gives decent and interesting performances and helps round out the amazing cast nicely.

Overall 'The Pie and the Pendulum' is a masterful horror experience that showcases both Vincent Price and Roger Corman at their upmost peak in this superb adaptation.

Tales of Terror (1962)

Atmospheric and Effective Vincent Price anthology feature

[8/10 · 3 December 2023]

'Tales of Terror' is a delightful gothic horror anthology film headlined by the master of the macabre himself Vincent Price and based upon the legendary tales of Edgar Allan Poe. Each tale is drenched in a moody atmosphere, elaborate set pieces, and memorable characters, this creepy production well and truly hits the mark in creating a horrifying good time.

This movie utilizes its anthology structure by bringing three Edgar Allan Poe stories to life in an overall successful manner. 'Morella', 'The Black Cat', & 'The Case of Mr. Valdemar' each embraces the mournful and demented writings of Poe with exceptional clarity and surprising wit and charm. From cursed bloodlines, revenge, and a tale of life after death, with each tale bringing plenty of shocking and entertaining moments.

Vincent Price takes centre stage in all 3 tales showcasing his acting range and basically just hamming it up to iconic levels. In each story he portrays 3 very different characters and brings these haunted and mesmerizing characters to life with his trademark wit and overall presence can be felt throughout this masterfully crafted anthology film and an overall just a perfect showcase of what he brings to the horror genre and why he's such an icon of the genre. Other standout performances include Basil Rathbone as the sadistic Carmichael and brings a strong sinister edge to his role. Maggie Pierce gives a decent performance as the beautiful Leonora; Peter Lorre gives an hilarious and outstanding performance as the abusive drunk Montresor.

Overall 'Tales of Terror' is a strong and nicely structured horror anthology gem that's crafted beautifully with haunting imagery and plenty of atmosphere. This is a solid Vincent Price horror film through and through.

The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)

Compelling, Campy, & Delightful

[9/10 · 30 November 2023]

'The Abominable Dr Phibes' is a superbly twisted horror classic starring the legendary Vincent Price that perfectly blends dark humour and horror into a gloriously macabre fun filled time full of over-the-top death yet very inventive death sequences, surreal imagery, and plenty of style, and of course an engaging premise that keeps you entertained throughout.

The Plot = Dr Anton Phibes (Vincent Price) seeks out revenge on the nine doctors he deems responsible for his wife's death.

The movie has a very clear and distinct vision to it, which helps smooth over some of the patchy script writing, but thankfully the pacing is well handled and the creativity of the death scenes which are inventive and done in a fun tongue in cheek way. The direction by Robert Fuest is outstanding with some of the finest horror visuals that the 1970's had to offer with gorgeous and grand set designs and stunning psychedelic visuals that uses a vibrant colour palette that gives the movie a cool gothic atmosphere to it.

Vincent Price gives a powerful performance as the title character and gives the role a great deal of gravitas and engaging screen presence. Joesph Cotton gives a sterling performance as Dr Vesalius and really shines as the movie progresses. The rest of the cast were fine but lack the fluidity of giving naturalistic performances and comes across as rather dry and stiff.

Overall 'The Abominable Dr Phibes' is a fantastic Vincent Price vehicle, it's fun, campy, absurd, and just a delightful watch.

The Brood (1979)

Complex Horror that makes you think

[8/10 · 24 November 2023]

'The Brood' is a grisly yet intelligent psychological body horror film directed by the master of the sub-genre David Cronenberg. The movie is a firm early Cronenberg classic that lays bare to all the themes that would later be replayed and perfected in so many of his later movies. Weird, disturbing, intense, and yet completely original, this flick is a fascinating viewing experience in sheer terror.

The Plot = Frank Carveth (Art Hindle) notices several bruises on his 5-year-old daughter Cindy's (Candice Carveth) body after visiting his estranged wife Nola (Samantha Eggar) who's under psychiatric treatment at the Somafree Institute run by Dr Raglan (Oliver Reed). Frank believes his wife is responsible for the injuries and sets to investigate Dr Raglan's unconventional therapy techniques. At the same time a series of brutal murders begins to happen to members of Nola's family, could these events be connected.

Powerful and unsettling on both a physical and mental level, the movie deals with complex themes and manages to be both refreshing and engaging at the same time. The cold stark atmosphere perfectly suits the story which is rather frightening. The horror elements are well done featuring many fantastic visuals and graphic violence where everything builds nicely to a compelling and shocking climax. David Cronenberg's direction is outstanding as always and shows how to create an effective horror film on a limited budget. A brilliant horror cult classic and must see for any fans of the director's work.

The cast performances here are excellent with both Samantha Eggar and Oliver Reed being the instant standouts of the production with they're intriguing, and potent characters holds the entire film together. Art Hindle also gives a solid and sympathetic leading man performance.

Overall 'The Brood' is a complex and dramatic horror flick that really makes you think.

Near Dark (1987)

Epic 80's cult-classic vampire flick

[9/10 · 23 November 2023]

'Near Dark' a fascinating and wildly innovative vampire western hybrid that take the traditional aspects of the vampire lore and puts a modern and gritty spin on the sub-genre. Intimate in its presentation and unbound in its unorthodox approach, this 80's cult classic has all the gore and frightening moments that you'd expect from a horror movie and yet thanks its personal approach with its various cast of interesting characters makes it a unique viewing experience.

The Plot = Caleb (Adrian Pasdar) a small-town farmer's son goes through a life changing experience with a pack of vampires after he's bitten by a beautiful young drifter named Mae (Jenny Wright) and he reluctantly ends up joining the group led by Jesse Hooker (Lance Henriksen).

The movie is without a doubt one of the most unique vampire films of all-time with its usual blending of genres and grounding them in the harsh reality of Western grit which makes for an interesting viewing experience. This is pure 80's cult classic insanity at its finest with its surreal atmosphere, brutal and animalistic elements, visceral violence, and intense nerve-racking sequences. The direction by Kathryn Bigelow is outstanding and by using an intimate approach to the production really delves into the raw grit and desolate landscapes of the film, bringing a sense of realism and danger to the proceedings as well as a sense of quality to the excellent flick.

The outstanding cast is what really brings this production to life with extremely incredible performances by everyone involved. Adrian Pasdar gives a strong performance as Caleb and eases into the fish out of water role perfectly and does a commendable job with the unsettling material and holds his own against some legendary character actors. Lance Henriksen gives a stellar performance as the leader Jesse, intimidating, weary and intense, he totally owns the role. Jenny Wright is a firm standout as the wholesome but deadly Mae. Jenette Goldstein is fantastic as the unhinged femme fatale Diamondback and is simply fantastic in her bombastic presentation of the character. Joshua John Miller is also great in his role of Homer and brings a child like innocence to the vampire clan. Then last but certainly not least is the legendary Bill Paxton as the wildly charismatic and deranged Severen, he is the shining star of this flick as he steals every scene, he's in, off the wall and brutal, he completely makes this character his own.

Overall 'Near Dark' is a wonderful vampire genre treat that engages you from the start and never pulls back from its seedy content and violent sequences, this is one horror flick that thrives in its twisted vampire lore while establishing an outstanding cast of characters which brings everything to life. An epic 80's vampire film through and through.

Army of Darkness (1992)

Wild Tongue In Cheek Thrill Ride

[9/10 · 23 November 2023]

'Army of Darkness' is the 3rd and final entry in Sam Raimi's original 'Evil Dead Trilogy' and caps off the saga in a unique yet fun way by going down the fantasy adventure hybrid route and yet still retaining that heavy dose of horror and comedy that is just simply entertaining to watch. This unforgettable gem is anything but your typical horror fare.

The Plot = Ash (Bruce Campbell) finds himself transported back to medieval times, where he must retrieve the Necronomicon and save a kingdom from an army of the dead so he can finally return to his own time.

This entry in the series continues the tongue in cheek nature of previous entry and goes in an even wilder and wackier direction full of over-the-top sequences, cartoonish silliness and creative visuals which gives the flick an almost animated feel to it, making for a dark comedy that always pushes the limits of insanity as it delves back and forth between horror, action, adventure, and slapstick comedy. The combinations of these genres are highly enjoyable and balanced out quite well, thanks to Sam Raimi's vibrant direction and Bruce Campbell's stellar anti-hero performance with these 2 elements combined you can't fail. The special effects are gruesome yet highly creative, and jam packed with outrageous creature designs that serve to frighten and entertain you at the same time in hilarious fashion.

Bruce Campbell once again reprises his iconic role of Ash Williams and bringing plenty of camp flavour to the not so heroic deadite slayer and having a total blast with the role and hell this even feels like a natural progression for his character and nails every aspect of it.

Overall 'Army of Darkness' may be lacking that special something the first 2 movies had, but its still a solid entry in the series and thrives in its off-beat nature and out of control nature. This is comedic horror gold and a wild entertaining ride from start to finish.

Thanksgiving (I) (2023)

Entertaining Throwback to 80's & 90's Slasher Flicks

[8/10 · 22 November 2023]

'Thanksgiving' is a fun cartoonishly violent holiday themed slasher flick that successfully homages the aesthetics from the slasher films from the 80's and 90's and breathes some much-needed new life into the genre. The movie provides plenty of gruesome kills and effective chase sequences as well as some fun throwback moments to other films of the genre without over doing it and yet still managed to find its own identity.

The Plot = A year after the horrific riot on Black Friday ended in tragedy, a masked killer begins terrorizing the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts and killing off those who were responsible one by one, leading up to a bloody finale.

I remember seeing the original fake trailer back in 2007's "Grindhouse" movie and instantly loved it and hoped that one day it would become a feature length movie. Now finally 16 years later we finally got one and it didn't disappoint. Directed by Eli Roth (who also did the fake trailer) delivers a twisted homage with plenty of jaw dropping moments, inventive Thanksgiving themed kills and plenty of dark comedy that blends seamlessly with the carnage and mayhem. There are a few minor flaws such as the predictable nature of the narrative and lack of an effective mystery element, but none detracts any enjoyment from this flick.

The performances are top notch here with Nell Verlaque providing a decent and serviceable performance as the final girl Jessica. Addison Rae, Milo Manheim, and Gabriel Davenport each gives solid performances. Patrick Dempsey and Gina Gershon were also strong additions to the cast.

Overall 'Thanksgiving' is a clever, entertaining slasher flick that delivers plenty of genuine enjoyment and serves as an effective love letter to the golden age of slasher classics.