It's not too shabby of a comedy horror flick but all the blood and guts rely on CGI and it really takes away from it. I have more fake blood than this movie does. And what bloood it does have it looks like watered down paint. Maybe I'm just too old school. But if there was no CGI it would have been 8/10 easy.
73 Reviews
Disappointing, but one major stand-out
terrorfirmer-ie1 May 2020
Found this disappointing, out of the 5 segments, only two are good, and only one is truly great.
The other 3 I found extremely sub-par, lazy writing and just generally uninspired. One is slasher bit with a twist, one is about religion, another is about death and afterlife....none of these 3 were very good.
I did very much like the one where the woman goes to get her facial scar removed - this was the second short film and was a really cool sort of old school 'body horror' piece.
And I absolutely LOVED the black and white fourth segment, it was actually superb and very like something you would see in Black Mirror. It's dark, unsettling, creepy, compelling, with superb acting.
That segment is completely in a league of its own and I would almost say is kinda too good considering the rest of the movie isn't of similar quality. I would have easily watched an hour or even feature length of it.
Overall this collection is worth a watch considering 2 out of the 5 segments are quite good.
The other 3 I found extremely sub-par, lazy writing and just generally uninspired. One is slasher bit with a twist, one is about religion, another is about death and afterlife....none of these 3 were very good.
I did very much like the one where the woman goes to get her facial scar removed - this was the second short film and was a really cool sort of old school 'body horror' piece.
And I absolutely LOVED the black and white fourth segment, it was actually superb and very like something you would see in Black Mirror. It's dark, unsettling, creepy, compelling, with superb acting.
That segment is completely in a league of its own and I would almost say is kinda too good considering the rest of the movie isn't of similar quality. I would have easily watched an hour or even feature length of it.
Overall this collection is worth a watch considering 2 out of the 5 segments are quite good.
One out of five stories merit interest, the rest are mediocre genre spoofs
maxxdolo6 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
My take on this is probably not a popular one, as I have seen many user reviews praise the first and last segments, the one I felt merited watching it is not mentioned by anyone. Spoilers from here on out.
The first segment is a take on traditional slasher movies. Overall unappealing costume and set design with the gore being the only real highlight. The main characters have been running from a killer through the woods, they appear clean, no torn clothing, soon it appears that they are fleeing from a boring slasher villain and starting in media res helps few thing but a convoluted twist ending with poor cg. Not a great start, but ok.
The second segment is funny and entertaining enough, it features one of the few unsettling scenes (a dream) and is really predictable.
The third segment is an absolute snooze fest with few appealing twists or justifications for it's narrative, and awful cg ruins whatever charm the gore and low-key synthwave could have brought to the affair.
The fourth segment is the only one that in my opinion makes the movie worth watching. It features genuinely scary shifts in reality, and i found the concept of "descending realities" to be an interesting one. It has shades of the silent hill otherworld or the downside from S L Grey's "The Mall". Interesting effects and a cool, ambiguous concept. Not earth-shattering, but being shot in black and white makes this segment stand out even more. I get why most people tuning into something like this would find it unappealing, I guess, but with the fifth and third segments book-ending it this one stands out like a speck of gold in a pile of dung.
The last segment is embarrassing. The sixth sens meets awful writing and poor characters. Featuring a murder man robber who has little to do but antagonize the main character and lacks any motivation beyond being a bad man who does bad things for undefined reasons. Also we have an edgy dreadlock girl who attempts suicide because she is edgy or something. Absolute drivel.
I get that most of these installments seem like they're trying to play up the shlock but they come off as boring and unispired, which when you're given the opportunity to experiment and execute tighter, more focused horror narratives they all come off as lazy, by-the-numbers, derivative trash with plots anyone who has watched a few horror movies can see coming from a mile away. Instead of phoning it in they should have phoned someone with an actual original, or at least, funny idea.
The first segment is a take on traditional slasher movies. Overall unappealing costume and set design with the gore being the only real highlight. The main characters have been running from a killer through the woods, they appear clean, no torn clothing, soon it appears that they are fleeing from a boring slasher villain and starting in media res helps few thing but a convoluted twist ending with poor cg. Not a great start, but ok.
The second segment is funny and entertaining enough, it features one of the few unsettling scenes (a dream) and is really predictable.
The third segment is an absolute snooze fest with few appealing twists or justifications for it's narrative, and awful cg ruins whatever charm the gore and low-key synthwave could have brought to the affair.
The fourth segment is the only one that in my opinion makes the movie worth watching. It features genuinely scary shifts in reality, and i found the concept of "descending realities" to be an interesting one. It has shades of the silent hill otherworld or the downside from S L Grey's "The Mall". Interesting effects and a cool, ambiguous concept. Not earth-shattering, but being shot in black and white makes this segment stand out even more. I get why most people tuning into something like this would find it unappealing, I guess, but with the fifth and third segments book-ending it this one stands out like a speck of gold in a pile of dung.
The last segment is embarrassing. The sixth sens meets awful writing and poor characters. Featuring a murder man robber who has little to do but antagonize the main character and lacks any motivation beyond being a bad man who does bad things for undefined reasons. Also we have an edgy dreadlock girl who attempts suicide because she is edgy or something. Absolute drivel.
I get that most of these installments seem like they're trying to play up the shlock but they come off as boring and unispired, which when you're given the opportunity to experiment and execute tighter, more focused horror narratives they all come off as lazy, by-the-numbers, derivative trash with plots anyone who has watched a few horror movies can see coming from a mile away. Instead of phoning it in they should have phoned someone with an actual original, or at least, funny idea.
Snoozzzzzzze Cinema
nebk26 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Not great by any stretch of the imagination. Even though there are some noticeably talented actors in the roles (Richard Chamberlain, Elizabeth Reaser and Mickey Rourke) the talent is offset by the number of less talented actors in the other roles. Some of the segments have a certain horror charm but the writing and acting is mediocre at times and the segments look more suitable for 20 minute Twilight Zone episodes rather than as a feature film. I did sort of like the segment in which a girl is having her facial scar fixed by Dr. Mirari (Chamberlain) and the segment called This Way To Egress about a woman who seems to be in a different dimension (Reaser). The rest I thought were more or less uninteresting although the segment called Dead does have one good jump scare. I also found Mickey Rourkes look scary although that has nothing to do with the film, rather the fact that he has teeth so white and so fake that they might scare you. Or maybe it's the fact that he looks orange.
Overall Nightmare Cinema has nothing really new to offer and is ultimately mostly forgettable. There are better horrors out there.
Overall Nightmare Cinema has nothing really new to offer and is ultimately mostly forgettable. There are better horrors out there.
Underappreciated
darkandstormyknight13 August 2019
A satisfying low-budget movie that does many things right with unexpected twists and clean choreography. There's a clear understanding of technique and an entertaining experience. The pace slows in segments, but I've seen movies with bigger budgets that tell more cliched stories.
Plastic surgery is best story in here !
saptesh78623 December 2019
It is a kind of horror movie. Five different persons connect in a lonely cinema hall where they can see their own secrets and sins in different way. All five stories having a lot of blood sequences rather than interesting story plots. Only one story of plastic surgery of a woman to look good for his fiancée is interesting and we can feel real horror with anxiety. Rest four looks wastages. So my recommendation is that it is not much suggestive. If you want to kill time with some meaningless horror then go for it. But you want real value of your time then avoid.
Awesome anthology movie
evanleehawk23 June 2019
Ooof. What a waste of talent
Malpaso1319 February 2020
6 overall but a 10 for the first story
BlackClassClown17 July 2018
Warning: Spoilers
A pretty fun anthology with some star directors of genre, including Joe Dante and Mick Garris. I had one clear favorite here, and that was directed by Alejandro Brugues (Juan of the Dead) who pulled out all the stops and had some pretty wild twists in what begins looking like a standard issue "girl chased by blade wielding psychopath in remote woods" story to something really funny and unexpected. The other tales are all okay and shot well. Plenty of blood and guts and VFX. What you don't get is great writing. An exorcism story never explains itself. It looks very cinematic, but I didn't understand what was going on or why really. The last story about a kid whose family is murdered is a cool ghost tale, but never explains why the killer is so intent on this kid and this family so it was hard to connect to. But the flick is fun overall if you watch for the first story and then enjoy some gore, some scares, a creepy Mickey Rourke, hot nuns getting boned, and cinematic eye candy.
Waste of time, another stinker.
psxexperten27 January 2020
I used to enjoy old movies with Mickey Rourke, but after all the plastic surgeries it look like his face is actually melting, and his acting is average at best.
All the high score is as usual from friends of cast and crew.
Old skool horror anthology. Better than VHS 1-2 n The ABCs of Death 1-2 but below Trick or Treat.
Fella_shibby1 September 2019
Mick Garris (known for his adaptations of Stephen King's stories n the creator of Masters of Horror) directs the sequences of the theatre where characters from all the segments eventually turn up.
The first seg - The Thing in the Woods is directed by Alejandro Brugués (Juan of the Dead) n is a homage to the slashers n alien/creature films of the 80s filled with solid gore, comedy n the scream of the final girl.
The second seg - Mirare is directed by Joe Dante (Gremlins, Howling, Piranha) n it deals with cosmetic surgery. The segment's conclusion is ridiculous and unpleasantly sarcastic. Mayb Dante feels bad for Mickey Rourke's hard luck.
The 3rd seg - Masht is directed by Ryûhei Kitamura (Midnight Meat Train) n it takes place in a Boarding School where staff and pupils are possessed by Demons. It has sex without nudity (the sex mayb offensive to some including myslef), weird demonic seizures (hyperextension of joints). I dont know y these demons r obsessed with creating deformities in the joints. Some scenes r spooky n the demonic face is creepy. It has lots of impalings n decapitations. Some like me may b offended with kiddies' deaths.
The 4th seg - This Way to Egress is directed by David Slade (30 days of Night). It is about a woman who loses touch with reality n is slipping into parallel universe. This one is very surrealistic n frightening at times.
The 5th seg - Dead is directed by Mick Garris n is set in a hospital where a boy fights evil spirits and a real life murderer. The acting of the boy is awesome.
The first seg - The Thing in the Woods is directed by Alejandro Brugués (Juan of the Dead) n is a homage to the slashers n alien/creature films of the 80s filled with solid gore, comedy n the scream of the final girl.
The second seg - Mirare is directed by Joe Dante (Gremlins, Howling, Piranha) n it deals with cosmetic surgery. The segment's conclusion is ridiculous and unpleasantly sarcastic. Mayb Dante feels bad for Mickey Rourke's hard luck.
The 3rd seg - Masht is directed by Ryûhei Kitamura (Midnight Meat Train) n it takes place in a Boarding School where staff and pupils are possessed by Demons. It has sex without nudity (the sex mayb offensive to some including myslef), weird demonic seizures (hyperextension of joints). I dont know y these demons r obsessed with creating deformities in the joints. Some scenes r spooky n the demonic face is creepy. It has lots of impalings n decapitations. Some like me may b offended with kiddies' deaths.
The 4th seg - This Way to Egress is directed by David Slade (30 days of Night). It is about a woman who loses touch with reality n is slipping into parallel universe. This one is very surrealistic n frightening at times.
The 5th seg - Dead is directed by Mick Garris n is set in a hospital where a boy fights evil spirits and a real life murderer. The acting of the boy is awesome.
Mick Garris Rallies the Horror Masters Again
brianpjoynt23 June 2019
Aw, yeah! This is a pretty good anthology for a Saturday night watch. Garris and company know how to bring the fun to the horror, which is what got me into horror films in the first place. My favorite horror films all have a sense of fun: Waxwork, Nightmare on Elm Street 3 - Dream Warriors, Lost Boys, etc. It's gotta be scary AND fun to get me hooked and coming back. Mick Garris is well aware of these dynamics, and they show in Nightmare Cinema.
While not as precise and crafty as Garris's Masters of Horror (which remains his defining work as a director and producer), this feels in the same vein, and in the same universe. If you're a fan of the masters, of 80s horror, Nightmare Cinema delivers the goods. I'll always get excited for anything that has Mick's name attached. He's a legend in the genre, and it's great to see something new from him.
While not as precise and crafty as Garris's Masters of Horror (which remains his defining work as a director and producer), this feels in the same vein, and in the same universe. If you're a fan of the masters, of 80s horror, Nightmare Cinema delivers the goods. I'll always get excited for anything that has Mick's name attached. He's a legend in the genre, and it's great to see something new from him.
Don't bother Looking. It's a utter waste If time right from the beginning to end
rohit-536999 April 2020
This is my first review after having watched several horror movies based on IMDb reviews.
I do give the movie a chance if the beginning is boring / cliched until I have watched the end. But this movie is really bad. I wouldn't recommend since all the short horror stories are meaningless and lack a storyline.
And it's neither scary. My final advice save yourselves some time. Or watch evil dead once again. That would really be a good option.
I do give the movie a chance if the beginning is boring / cliched until I have watched the end. But this movie is really bad. I wouldn't recommend since all the short horror stories are meaningless and lack a storyline.
And it's neither scary. My final advice save yourselves some time. Or watch evil dead once again. That would really be a good option.
Silly fun, but not great
garymathe-7617322 June 2019
some strange choices, but worth a chance
yuzuruizawa29 June 2019
Starts off okay and slowly gets worse.
spacelrd-116 July 2019
4 out of 5 not bad
pensacolacomputer23 June 2019
Okay-ish Film. The Different Stories Make It Work!
grahammwiles23 June 2019
This film turned out okay mainly because of the different short films, which made all the difference. It wasn't fantastic but certainly not horrible either. Mickey Rourke looks blimming awful but at least the horror that he is adds to the films overall tone.
The film certainly could have been put together a bit better which scores it a straight 5 out of 10 stars.
The film certainly could have been put together a bit better which scores it a straight 5 out of 10 stars.
Good, but a very dissapointing ending
rossmccarthy199015 November 2019
I though the segments individually were pretty good. Some good twists, and good variety in styles. Not amazing, but better than a lot I've seen. (Better than the new twilight zone 2019 episodes.)
However the overarching story of "the projectionist" was it's biggest flaw. It started very intriguingly, and you really want to see this is all wrap up together. But it's never fleshed out. It's tied together in such a vague and inept manner that it comes across (and probably was) just a means to an end. Something to tie the story together without much effort or any real payoff. It was a shame, really.
However the overarching story of "the projectionist" was it's biggest flaw. It started very intriguingly, and you really want to see this is all wrap up together. But it's never fleshed out. It's tied together in such a vague and inept manner that it comes across (and probably was) just a means to an end. Something to tie the story together without much effort or any real payoff. It was a shame, really.
A mixed bag
aeongale6 November 2019
I do enjoy these horror showcase films. This one starts out stupid but later it knows it's stupid and really turns it up making it amusing. The second and third act are pretty boring, an exercise in special effects and gore if nothing else. Fourth is excellent, easily the most serious one in which a woman appears to be losing her mind. Last one being okay, fairly basic "see dead people" plot without being overly cheesy. The projectionist attempt to hold these shorts together doesn't add anything. ABCs of death is much better.
Horror anthology for fans only
patphonic30 June 2019
Don't waste your time...
sargonnn11 October 2020
Unfortunately Disappointing
misanthr0pist22 February 2021
Yet another disappointing horror anthology.
Unfortunately 4 out of the 5 short stories here were super disappointing. During the first segment, the acting was so awful I nearly bailed out then.
The only segment that held any weight at all was the second-to-last, titled 'This Way to Egress'. It was really experimental, unique, and interesting. The direction and cinematography was very David Lynch-esque, which I really appreciated. I'd be interested in seeing a feature with a similar concept.
Unfortunately, this was a let down when talking generally. If you can find the second to last segment on YouTube or somewhere, definitely give it a watch; but I'd skip the rest.
Unfortunately 4 out of the 5 short stories here were super disappointing. During the first segment, the acting was so awful I nearly bailed out then.
The only segment that held any weight at all was the second-to-last, titled 'This Way to Egress'. It was really experimental, unique, and interesting. The direction and cinematography was very David Lynch-esque, which I really appreciated. I'd be interested in seeing a feature with a similar concept.
Unfortunately, this was a let down when talking generally. If you can find the second to last segment on YouTube or somewhere, definitely give it a watch; but I'd skip the rest.
Hit or miss
KittyG2623 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The five stories within this film are a bit hit or miss - the one with the priest is particularly weak - but the fourth story, an abandoned wife and mother having a mental breakdown, is nothing short of a masterpiece. Worth watching for this segment alone.
Two out of five isn't bad
dar041725 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
With five short stories that all take place at a creepy movie theater what could go wrong. The good news is two of them are solid. The Thing in the Woods and Dead work in their own way. A cabin story that starts at the end is told in reverse. Dead another "I see dead people" plot that is eerie enough to not feel recycled. The other three stories can just be skipped.
See also
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