Carl's 5-Minute Film Reviews

[Dragonmanes]

I review horror movies daily on my blog along with tons of pics, articles, lists, and (hopefully) interviews, so I thought I would add reviews on here as well for anyone thats interested. Visit my blog for backlogged reviews and more!

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Most recent additions:

She-Devils on Wheels (1968): I had to start fast forwarding through this one 15m in.. Terrible Exploitation flick about a group of biker chicks that street race then bone dudes. Theres a fight at one point, but the majority of the movie is mindless filler that cant possibly have an audience. Theres no nudity before you ask Exploitation fans, just handfuls of boring and stupid. Avoid. 2/10.

Cannibal Apocalypse (1980): A strange hybrid of cannibal and post-DotD zombie action, with John Saxon starring as a Vietnam Vet that has been infected with a transferable virus that causes flesh eating tendencies. He and a group of Vets return to Atlanta and seige the city on a murderous rampage. Considerably less gory and sensational than Holocaust, but with an equal amount of striking social commentary on America's discarded Vets exacting their revenge on society. Shot well, acted well, but it is a strange flick that cant easily be categorized. I prefer Holocaust, Mountain, and Ferox to this one, but it is still a solid entry. Recommended to Italian fans for sure! 7/10.

The Being (1983): Stupid. Terrible. Awesome. Easily one of the best and worst flicks I have seen in a while, a completely cheesy throwback monster movie from the 80s. Tons of goo and blood, cheap monster effects, a rubber costume, but damn if it isnt entertaining as hell. A mutant monster terrorizes Idaho, while the city neglects to do anything for fear of the impact it will have on the potato industry. The cover art alone is fantastic, this is a must see for fans of The Thing and classic scifi/horror! 7/10.

Invaders from Mars (1986): Much like the neighboring Lifeforce, this Tobe Hooper offering has better creatures and effects than it does acting or plot. A small town falls prey to a hostile alien colonization, and its up to one boy to stop them! Seems fun, but the pacing drags and the characters are all pretty annoying. Karen Black particularly stands out with outrageous overacting in this one. The aliens are pretty cool, but dont excuse the rest of the film. For a cheesy alien romp thats safe for family fun its worth a go. 6/10.

Axe (1974): Three criminals pick the wrong farm to hold up in as a disconnected young girl dispatches them one by one! Subtle grindhouse flick that looks and feels much like LHotL, made on a shoestring budget with no name actors and few sets. The gore is shot tastefully in cutaways, but there is still plenty of the red stuff. At just over an hour, the film is short but concise, and is more effective that way with less filler. Its Reservoir Dogs meets Lizzie Borden, recommended! 7/10.

The Boogens (1981): Sets up for a decent monster flick, but doesnt ever break out into anything above average. A mining crew unleashes some ghoulish beasts when they attempt to reopen a mine, with deadly results! The build, acting, and scares are all done fairly well, but they boil into an anti-climatic end with a cheap rubber whatsit that fails to impress. Worth a shot for a little blood, a little gore, and a little monster action. 7/10.

Strange Invaders (1983): Good throwback to 50s scifi horror, where a husband attempts to locate his wife who has returned to her home town, one whose occupants vanished mysteriously and were replaced by aliens! The makeup and practical effects are fantastic, and the film creates a beautiful nostalgia of 50s film. The trouble is the pacing, as the film slows to a crawl at times. Look for Nancy Allen and Paul LeMat in leading roles. Recommended for popcorn scifi fun! 7/10.

New York Ripper (1982): Trashy Fulci giallo that is far from his best. Im the only person I know that doesnt like this flick, but after two viewings nothing has changed. There is a little gore, including a nipple and eyeball razor slice, but overall this falls disasterously short of the other giallo and slasher entries of the time. To top it off, the killer talks like a duck the entire movie. I dont know who convinced him this would be a clever gimmick, since it only goes from annoying to more annoying. Recommended only for giallo completists. Rating: 6/10.

[woodenheart]

That is pretty cool ,went on your blog thingy..nice pictures...you have one with George Romero :mhehe:

[Dragonmanes]

Thanks! Hoping to have 2-3 reviews up daily, all depends on what I can geet away with with the wife. Shes been on an X-Files kick so I have been losing a lot of movie time but I rarely miss a day! I have a short attention span and hate reading long reviews that give away too much of the movie, so this 5-Minute review format suits me well.

[FrighT MasteR]

Good stuff; very reminiscent of how I used to review films before I started UHM :thumbup3:

[Dragonmanes]

Awesome then Im on the right track :yes: I just love the genre and love watching movies, my main goal is to help new and old fans find new films they may not have seen otherwise, which is why Im here too!

[FrighT MasteR]

:hi5:

[Dragonmanes]

Piranha (1978): Easily the best of the Jaws rip offs, but at least it is self-aware (note the Jaws arcade in the opening scene). This time, a bio-engineered piranha with military implications being unleased on an unsuspecting river resort, with bloody results! As cheesy as the film is, the acting and directing are good, and the fish effects make for B-movie fun. Who can beat a river full of bloodied, half eaten children? Must see for Animals Attack fans but highly recommended to everyone! 8/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Night of the Werewolf (1980): Probably Naschy's crowning acheivement in the Hombre Lobo series, if not the most successful. Beautiful coloring and atmosphere, with a vintage gothic appeal. The direction in the film is superior to many of the earlier entries, with a more craftsmanly approach in set design and effects. The makeup is fantastic, the only distracting thing is the overly theatrical performances of the vampires. Waldermor Daninsky returns from the grave once again to battle his vampiress master! Recommended to any Gothic horror or werewolf fan! 8/10.

Piranha 2 (1981): The most unbelieveable part of this entire Jaws-clone is that it was directed by James Cameron. The film is even more Jawsy than its predecessor, placed on a tropical island resort that doesnt want to warn the tourist of the impending piranha/grunion/flying fish mutants that are about to jack their shit up. The plot is grossly retread, acting ranges from ok to terrible, but thankfully Cameron does manage some ok makeup and effects, or at least the best possible end result given the presumably $0 budget. The film stinks, bad, but Piranha fans can likely put aside its flaws for cheap fishy fun. 3/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Cry_Wolf (2005): Actually a fairly decent teen horror, with interesting editing, vivid colors, and better than average teen acting. A group of private school teens convince the campus that a killer is stalking students, but as the friends begin disappearing, they must find out if everything is a huge joke or if a real killer is on the loose. Much smarter than most teen horror, with a good reveal, but unfortunately the film doesnt retain rewatchability after seeing the ending. Still, recommended as a clever slasher entry. 7/10.

[Dragonmanes]

The Gruesome Twosome (1967): The typical absurd plot and dreadful acting you would come to expect from HG Lewis, but coupled with the same bloody payoffs. A deranged mother and her idiot son own a wig shop, and offer young women large sums for their hair. Little do they know, it'll cost them their head!!1 There is some aweful humor that is so bad it becomes funny again, and the scalping/gutting scenes rank up there with Blood Feast, but the plot isnt as entertaining as many of the other Lewis entries. Remains a staple for gore fans! 5/10. Gore: 8/10.

[Misfit]

so u gonna keep posting them here or start new threads?

[Dragonmanes]

I typically review 2-3 films per day, so rather than take up more board space than necessary and make it easier for people that dont care to avoid my reviews, I prefer to keep them all in a single thread

[Dragonmanes]

Something Weird (1968): A man is brutally scarred and gains ESP after being electrocuted, then seeks the help of a witch to restore his looks in exchange for his loyalty and sexual devotion. He then uses his new powers to secure fame and fortune while doing the witch's evil bidding. The title couldnt be more appropriate, since the film is an LSD-induced nightmare. It makes little sense, and what does make sense is both boring and stupid. None of the defining HG Lewis blood or gore are anywhere to be found, just a bumbling psychic and even stupider policemen. I would say the worst acting is easily performed by the witch, but when the scale goes from terrible to terribler, its hard to rate the cast in terms of terriblest. This is a big pass, nothing interesting going on the entire film. 4/10.

[FrighT MasteR]

Are you reviewing these films after watching'em, or are these movies something you've seen a long time ago and reviewing them out of memory?

[Dragonmanes]

Woops probably should have mentioned that in the intro, all reviews are performed on a 'Have-Seen' basis. I'll only post on a film one time, so subsequent re-watches wont be reposted, but some reviews will be backlogged from my DVDAF account but will only be posted in here after a rewatch, where I will either revise the review if my thoughts or opinions have changed, or leave it as is if they havent. If my wife decides to go on an X-Files bindge and I dont get to anything for a few days, I will sometimes post old reviews for movies I will never watch again, but I will preface the reviews with "Backlogged" if it is a film that I didnt just recently watch.

Most reviews will be posted immediately following the completion of the film.

[FrighT MasteR]

:thumbup3:

[Dragonmanes]

The Dark (1979): This film really tries to outlive what it really is, a stupid, boring monster romp. It takes way too much time setting up the characters, when none of them are particularly interesting and little that transpires is of much interest to the audience. There is too much waiting for too little payoff, with special effects that wouldnt impress a 5yr old. Reminds me of a terrible ripoff of The Manitou for some reason, probably the ridiculous lazer eyes. Save yourself the trouble. 4/10.

[steelba]

interesting.

[koolmike]

Good stuff Dragon.

[Dragonmanes]

Blood Sisters (1987): Dreadful slasher flick by porn director Roberta Findlay. This DVD would have been a complete waste if God didnt reach down through the clouds and give mankind the gift of Joe Bob Briggs. Dont watch the film without his commentary track. Period. Otherwise there should be a suicide warning on the cover. A sorority holds its initiation at a haunted whorehouse; boredom ensues. No interesting kills, little blood, some nudity, bland cardboard acting. Pass. 4/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Mirrors (2008): The most overrated horror film I have seen in years. Few scares, a plot that combines Thir13en Ghosts with the original Boogeyman, and a whole lot of CG. An ex-detective takes a job as a night security officer at a burnt out department store, only to find out that the mirrors of the store are haunted and have killed many people. He figures out its a ghost and a new character is introduced in the final 4th of the film that solves the J-horror-esque mystery. This film would have been infinitely better in a much smaller scope or if it had been done by the Japanese. The production feels bigger than the plot itself, similar to how I felt about Dead Silence. Really, the plot is just an elaborate take on The Boogeyman, and is no better with only a few redeeming gore moments. See it to decide if I'm wrong, but I probably wont watch this film again. 7/10 for production, 6/10 for entertainment.

[Dragonmanes]

Sat down and talked with Judith O'Dea of NotLD fame this weekend, you can check out my interview on my blog:

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[Dragonmanes]

American Gothic (1988): Actually a fun, cheesy slasher in the vein of Motel Hell and Mother's Day. A group of friends run into a deranged family in the woods, where the conservative parents have stunted their middle-aged adult children's mental capacities to that of adolescents. Dont cross Ma or Pa though, or its off with your head! Confident acting in this 80s oddity, with a few laughable deaths and plenty of popcorn fun. Superior to many of the other late-era slasher flicks, and recommended to Motel Hell fans. 7/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Wishmaster (1997): One of the rare occasions where I have been blown away by CG in a horror film. Kurtzman's combination of physical and visual effects make for stunning visual storytelling, coupled with competent acting and directing. Wishmaster was definitely one of the better 90s flicks, with Divoff introducing a smart and sinister new villain along with a killer cast of cameos. It is a fanboy's dream and always comes recommended. An evil Djinn is awaken to grant wishes, but Alexandra must find a way to destroy him before making the third wish and unleashing hell on earth. 8/10.

[Dragonmanes]

A Taste of Blood (1967): AKA 'A Taste of Boring Dracula Retread,' this Lewis flick offers little blood in place of a modern Dracula yawn where Dracula's descendant drinks from a bottle of blood/cognac left to him by his Grandfather, only to have the Dracula blood in him rewaken to stalk and kill the Helsing descendants in bloody revenge. Sounds much cooler than it plays out, and is an extreme chore to watch at 118m. There is a valid effort made with lighting and makeup on a presumably $0 budget, but in the end it is a tired derivitive that has been done better before and after this film. 4/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Doomed to Die (1940): Karloff returns as Mr. Wong to solve the murder of a business tycoon killed in cold blood in his office. Much more of a murder/mystery than a horror film, but it offers an ok build and typical pulp 40s acting/dialogue, at least enough to carry the feature. Superior lighting effects lend the film stark contrast, adding to the visual appeal. Leave this one to the horror noir crowd, not much to offer the common gore hound. 6/10.

[Yannis]

That is some good shit Dragon. Love the reviews and pretty much agree with most of them.

[Dragonmanes]

Thanks for reading! I try to get as much info accurately protraying the film in as little space as possible, I cant read more than a paragraph of most reviews without getting ADD lol..

Quarantine (2008): With all the complaints I heard about this film, I expected a trainwreck, which it was not. The drag at the beginning I feel strengthens the films integrity, not only introducing the characters but establishing that this is 'real' and not an edited work of fiction. Im sure the biggest complaint involves the pacing and structure, which admittedly slows to a crawl at points, but keep in mind the film is called Quarantine, not Rabid People Kill Everyone. The majority of the film and terror focuses on the aspect of being locked off from society and marginalized for fear of contagion. Taken from this perspective, the addition of the diseased only adds to the suspense and thrill. There are many smart moments where the film maintains its visage, with the camera being dropped, the mic going out, and the blood smears on the lense, which again add strength to the 'hyper-realism' aspect of the film. The diseased themselves are absolutely terrifying, and many of the scares are completely unexpected, and created strictly through visuals and camera work, not cheap sound effects. Add to that competent, believeable acting and you have a winner in my opinion. Smart, scary, believeable, all words I would use to describe the film. A newscrew are trapped in a condemned building full of bloodthirsty tenants when they tag along with a group of firefighters for a new story. 8/10.

[Billy The Puppet]

Hmmm 8/10 looks generous lol. I cant say anything as I havnt seen it but ive seen [Rec] and it was brilliant. By the look of the remake trailer it seems to have just copied it scene by scene with the only difference being different actors/actresses and the fact it is in English.

[Dragonmanes]

By comparison I would rate Rec and Cloverfield at 9/10, which I know is going to throw up red flags for many horror buffs but I am a huge proponent of the hyper-realism kick that has become the new trend lately. Cloverfield, Rec, and Quarantine were each leaps ahead of Diary of the Dead, with Rec probably leading the pack in character/plot integrity and believeability. Even though the concept has been attempted several times in the past with Cannibal Holocaust and Blair Witch, I feel the implementation in the most recent entries has allowed new filmmakers to offer unique twists on the Monster and Zombie films that have grown too formulaic. They also offer rough, naturalistic acting and dialogue that you dont typically see in a polished Hollywood release. Granted Cloverfield was a big budget release, but what I particularly liked about Cloverfield was how they managed to destroy buildings and insert a giant monster into a frame that is constantly shaking. For films like Spider-man, where the camera is on a computerized crane or dolly, these effects are planned far in advance and the animators can easily jump in to add their effects. I cant even begin to fathom how them managed to achieve the same excellent quality in the gittery frame for Cloverfield.

These are the films that I would expect to have the biggest disagreeances with when talking with most other fans. I love them, but its easy to see how many people arent quite as impressed with the films as I am.

[Dragonmanes]

Amusement (2008): Conventional slasher that suffers from style over substance. The sets and directing are far superior to the plot, which lacks a voice and identity as it jumps between three story and timelines without deciding if it is a slasher, a revenge flick, or torture porn. There are a few attempts at suspense and gore, but it ultimately fails to gross out or scare. It also fails to give any insight as to how or why the killer can create such intricate traps a la Saw, or why he is killing to begin with (minus a brief flashback). The film just doesnt succeed on any more than a visual staindpoint. A trio of friends are stalked by a mysterious figure from their past in a clown outfit. 6/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Saw V (2008): Better than its given credit for, but definitely the weakest in the series. The good: much of the loose ends and gaps intentionally left unfulfilled by the previous films are tied together in a neat little package, with the typical flashbacks and clips to support it. The bad: after five films, the 'new' backstory feels contrived and cheapens Jigsaw's work and integrity as defined by the previous entries. The person left to resume his work is neither as clever or as empathetic, leaving the audience with only the low-life scum set in the new traps to identify with. Overall, it just doesnt function on the same suspenseful adrenaline rush created through the superior character work and thoughful traps that we have come to expect from the series, but it is still superior to most 5th installments and a majority of the torture porn trash being shelled out recently. With Jigsaw dead, the last remaining detective must overcome his own game set by the accomplice that he knows is still at large. 7/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Mountain of the Cannibal God (1978): Second only to Cannibal Holocaust, this flick is much more cinematic than its brethren and offers a much more interesting plot with more action and adventure and (seemingly) less forced gore and exploitation. There are still some extreme moments of animal cruelty, perversion, and gut muching, but Martino presents it in a much more polished and tasteful manner. A must see for gore and cannibal fans! A woman hires a crew to help search for her missing husband in the dense jungle, only to be enslaved by the same cannibal tribe that killed him! 8/10.

**BE SURE to watch the interview with Martino on the AB or BU discs, the editing of his disputing the animal cruelty and explotative sex scenes intercut with the anaconda being hand fed a monkey and a cannibal raping a pig is priceless, one of the single funniest moments in horror VD history!!**

[Dragonmanes]

Wishmaster 2 (1999): Formulaic retread on the original plot, but it offers a few inventive deaths and more over the top acting by Divoff. A buglar uncovers the ruby prison containing an evil Djinn, and must face off with him after he has collected 1000 souls to save humanity from enslavement. The acting has dropped off, there are no remarkable cameos, but the makeup and effects work maintain a high level of quality. It is a guilty pleasure and will certainly please fans of the original! 7/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Otis (2008): Last House on the Left goes to prom! Otis takes a few borrowed ideas and creates an original torture-porn dark comedy. Otis is getting ready for 'prom' with his fifth 'Kim,' but she had better do as she says or he'll tighten her shackles and crank up the electricity! After their daughter escapes her kidnapper, her parents plan their revenge.. Plenty of smart humor and exceptional performances, particularly that of Otis. The film isnt without its flaws, with an annoying FBI agent and struggles with pacing, but for an Indie horror effort it comes highly recommended as one of the best for 2008! 8/10.

[Dragonmanes]

The Indestructible Man (1956): It is what it is, a man made monster romp with more of the pulp detective work common in pre-1960s horror. A dead criminal is revived with superhuman strength and resistance after being experimented on post-mortem, escaping and attempting to reclaim his stolen loot, with deadly results! Reminiscent of the Hulk plot, slow pacing, an ok later performance by the fading Lon Chaney Jr.. Also keep in mind, by man made monster I mean just a bullet-proof dude, so dont expect Lou Ferrigno or anything. Id leave this one to the classics buffs. 5/10.

[Billy The Puppet]

Saw V (2008): Better than its given credit for, but definitely the weakest in the series. The good: much of the loose ends and gaps intentionally left unfulfilled by the previous films are tied together in a neat little package, with the typical flashbacks and clips to support it. The bad: after five films, the 'new' backstory feels contrived and cheapens Jigsaw's work and integrity as defined by the previous entries. The person left to resume his work is neither as clever or as empathetic, leaving the audience with only the low-life scum set in the new traps to identify with. Overall, it just doesnt function on the same suspenseful adrenaline rush created through the superior character work and thoughful traps that we have come to expect from the series, but it is still superior to most 5th installments and a majority of the torture porn trash being shelled out recently. With Jigsaw dead, the last remaining detective must overcome his own game set by the accomplice that he knows is still at large. 7/10.

Of course as you will all know by now, I love this film as i do with all of them.

But I agree it is the weakest in the series and personally I think a lot of that is due to the lack of footage to do with John Kramer. Not enough Tobin Bell...!!

[koolmike]

Dude, we already have a full time movie critic here :D

[Dragonmanes]

Which of the films is your favorite outside of the first, Billy? Outside of the reveal at the end of 2, I really disliked the first sequel, but I absolutely loved the structure of 3 and the duality of Jigsaw and Amanda. 4 wasnt bad, I enjoyed it more than most but Saw 3 set the bar pretty high for me.

Yeah I cant help it KM, so many movies, so little time.. If I dont find some other place for all of this otherwise useless horror knowledge its just going to sit around drinking Nattie Ice in my brain with the useless Simpsons trivia :yes:

[Dragonmanes]

R-Point (2004): Good Warror entry pitting a Korean army search and rescue team against an unseen enemy and themselves. Brace yourself for a slow ride, but the film takes its time in establishing the integrity of the characters and slowly increasing the psychological terror as the troop is visited by the ghosts of fallen soldiers. Very similar in structure to Session 9 or The Bunker, built on subtle scares and not blood and guts. Not for everyone, but a good watch. 7/10.

Cyclone (1978): This disaster flick starts off with an amazing effects sequence, then drops off dramatically into a mundane 'stranded at sea' survival theme that really stretches 2hrs. Suvivors of a separate plane and boat wreck struggle to survive with no water or food.. Until people start dying! We get some subtle cannibalism and a killer shark feeding frenzy, but outside of that expect a slow draw. For a disaster film, it functions pretty well, but horror wise it is probably passable unless you find dehydration and starvation terrifying. 6/10*.

*Be sure to check out the awesome cover art on the VCI release, ranks high on my list of coolest DVD covers!

[steelba]

Quarantine (2008):. 8/10.

:shakehead

[IKickAssForTheLord]

Quarantine :dsp: Didn't like that movie at all.

[Dragonmanes]

That and Cloverfield I find the biggest discrepancies on when reading other reviews. I loved the flicks and think they both nailed the trend in hyper-realism horror, so I fully support them, but I know that I am in the minority and that most genre fans were disappointed with each of them. Consider me their target audience!

[steelba]

They are not hyper reality, they're shitty POV fiction, and you also gave Wishmaster 2 a 7/10 :dsp:

Liked the reviews but now your credibility is taking a hit, gonna have to avoid all the 7's and 8's you review if I haven't seen em :starefreak:

Saw 4 was horrid aswell.

[strtfghtr]

don't listen to steelba, I think you are on with the wishmaster reviews. Divof rocks in them and 2 def had some great kills.

I like the short review format, keep em coming. :thumbup:

[steelba]

don't listen to steelba, I think you are on with the wishmaster reviews. Divof rocks in them and 2 def had some great kills.

I like the short review format, keep em coming. :thumbup:
I understand it's just an opinion which is all good & fine, but he's giving some seriously weak movies strong ratings, I could pull more out of there...

[IKickAssForTheLord]

I did like cloverfield I'll give you that... its probably cuz I heard a lot of ppl sayin' it sucked and all that, so I went into it wit low hope... But I ended up enjoyin' it well!

[Dragonmanes]

I dont know if this rationale is going to make sense outside of my brain, but I will try my best..

I rate the films on the same scale as I would grade students on a graduated scale and a curve, and not based on the same ratings system you would find on IMDB and such. If a film makes a valid effort and isnt an abysmal wreck, I find it hard to rate it below a 6, which I consider a D movie. A 7 would then reflect an average, middle of the road flick that can slide by due to decent effects, better than D acting, or with indie flicks a great concept and competent execution based on their budget. A 10 then would be an extremely rare film that exceeds in every possible field, and would be reserved for films that define the genre.

I believe a 5 would constitute average on IMDB, so my rating scale is not going to reflect the same ratings as other reviewers, but given the Wishmaster 2 example:

Films rated 6:
-Halloween 5
-Darkness Falls
-Girl's Nite Out

Wishmaster 2

Films rated 8:
-Demons
-Hills Have Eyes (2006)
-Let's Scare Jessica to Death

Wishmaster 2 definitely harbors closer to a 6 than a 7, but if you factor in entertainment value consider it a generous rating. I would never consider myself the definitive answer in critiquing film, but I do my best to provide an accurate rating based on my subjective opinion. Its all in good fun anyways :thumbup3:

[steelba]

that does help as I slate mediocre as a 5 and 6 is average, but watchable.

[Dragonmanes]

I browsed through my collection again to refresh on what I originally rated each of the DVDs when I generated the list on DVDAF, and it absolutely needs revisions for certain titles, but consider my ratings scale the 'college curve' of ratings; you really have to work hard to earn an F, and when you get it, you truly deserve it. I slip up occasionally and exaggerate ratings like for The Wicker Man remake and House of the Dead, but then, who could resist?

[Dragonmanes]

Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers (1988): Intentionally terrible Pulp magazine spoof involving a detective tracking down a cult of Egyptian blood-cultist hookers that have been making sacrifices via chainsaw. Dreadful acting, ridiculous over the top gore, Gunnar Hansen and Linnea Quigley, whats not to love? The film is actually has very smart and witty writing despite the cheeseball plot and micro-budget. Good for a laugh and very much in the vein of Street Trash, recommended for you B-Movie lovers out there! Rating: 6/10. Entertainment: 8/10.

Gore Gore Girls (1972): Outside of a few scenes of typical over the top HG Lewis gore, this flick has little to offer anyone. The pacing is hampered by 5m stripteases which might suit a bad porno perfectly, but serve little purpose when they could have just been implied or shortened. Lewis doesnt disappoint, giving us the usual corny acting and garbage dialogue, but if you stick it out, youll be rewarded with those golden nuggets of gore that make it all seem worth it. Strippers begin dropping off at the hands of a gloved killer, and its up to a private eye to stop them! If youre new to HG Lewis, drop this lower on the priorities list and check out the Blood Trilogy and the Wizard of Gore first. Rating: 4/10. Gore: 8/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Koma (2004): Decently executed slasher out of China, with a visual style that reflects Argento's Tenebrae. A woman with disfunctional kidneys is stalked by a maniac that has been stealing kidneys for the black market, while she battles emotionally with her boyfriend's mistress. There are a few scenes that offer reasonable tension, and a little blood, but the biggest strength of the film lies in the character development of the two female leads. Nothing really new or unique, but it makes for an ok watch. 7/10.

Little Shop of Horrors (1986): The musical format perfectly suits this film, and allows the audience to suspend disbelief despite the outrageously over the top acting and plot. A poor plant keeper finds love and success after nursing a rare carnivorous plant back to health, but the plant soon begins demanding more than just blood to survive.. Catchy music numbers, simple but engaging plot, and awesome puppetry used for the Audrey II plant. Fun horror comedy for anyone that can accept the musical format! 8/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Sisters (1972): Excellent early De Palma entry that unmistakingly draws from several Hitchcock inspirations, ranging from score to stylistic devices. Margot Kidder offers a commanding performance as the mentally distraut Danielle, and De Palma introduces unique visual tools like split screen and binocular vision to prove his skills dont stop at cheap immitation. A journalist tracks one of two twin sisters after witnessing a murder from her apartment, only to become wrapped in their twisted psychosis. Highly recommended, especially for Hitchcock fans. 9/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Alone in the Dark (2005): Its clear not 2m into the film that youre in for a SciFi Channel Original level snore fest, with the combined acting talents of Christian Slater and Tara Reid cementing the fact that the film is going to be terrible. I went in assuming people had unjustly underrated the film after Boll's amazing HotD, but there really is little going for it. In it, an ex-FBI special ops agent and an archeologist must stop an encrouching race of alien (?) beings that can displace light and electricity. Boredom ensues. The plot and acting are both by the books, and though Boll does make valid attempts at adding unique shots (zooming into a gun barrel as the shot is fired, watching the next round reload, then trailing it through the target), much of the film could have been directed by any movie buff that has taken enough notes from successful films (Alien, Aliens, Terminator), which have had a not-so-subtle impact on Boll's work. For a SciFi Channel Original, this would have been better than average, however as a theatrical feature, it slides by with a low D on almost every level. 5/10.

Luther the Geek (1990): Utterly strange tale of a kid that witnesses a geek biting off the head of a chicken, which scars him for life and causes him to bawk like a chicken and bite peoples throats out with his custom razor dentures. Outside of the excessive gore and throat tearing (which is awesome), the film builds genuine suspense with some of the edits and camera positions, similar to the camera work in Mute Witness. Relatively simple plot but unique and effective. The biggest area for improvement in this one would have to be the pacing, which takes a dive after the first half hour. Overall, worth at least a single view for something completely off the wall! 7/10.

[Darkgod]

You gave Halloween 5, and Darkness Falls a 6? Im with Steelba. Your rating system is taking a hit.

[Dragonmanes]

I can respect that, most would rate them much lower, and in Halloween 5's case I would agree thats more than a little generous, but Darkness Falls, with all of its inherent flaws, still made an effort to try something new with the light and shadow play. Several of the ideas they pulled off pretty well, like the bathroom scene in the opening, and the hallway scene towards the end. I dont particularly like the film, and I wont be the one to defend it for being an amazing film, but that is one of the few films that I feel gets a worse rap than it deserves. Alone in the Dark was certainly worse than Darkness Falls.

Memento Mori (1999): This sequel to Whispering corridors blends the subtlety of Let the Right One In, the grace of A Tale of Two Sisters, and the lesbianic obsession of High Tension in an artistically lensed girls school chiller. A student finds the diary of two secret lovers, and becomes obsessed with their relationship when one takes a long dive off a short building. Soon after, the dead girl's tormentors begin falling prey to her ghost. Its refreshing to get an asian ghost movie without a pale-faced, long black-haired ghost for a change, and this film will not fail to please any asian horror or haunting fan. Probably the best in asian horror I have seen since A Tale of Two Sisters. 8/10.

[Dragonmanes]

The Phatom of the Opera (1925): A mysterious figure kidnaps an opera singer and proposes to coach her into taking the lead role in the opera as a means of winning her love, but when she learns of his disfigurement, she attempts to escape his grasp. The production designs and makeup work are both amazing for the time, with the opera set still being one of the largest studio sets ever built. Erik is both empathetic and terrifying at the same time as the elusive phantom, and Chaney remains the definitive face of the character nearly a century later. Most of the violence is implied off camera, so dont expect a lot of action, but the film is still very good, though it may not suit the tastes of modern horror fans. 9/10.

[Dragonmanes]

One Dark Night (1983): Weird little film where a girl enters a mausoleum for an initiation, when a telepathetic corpse starts trouble, causing stiff mannequins that sort of resemble corpses to akwardly float around, but not really do anything. The FX are pretty cheesy but they made a valid effort. The movie doesnt get going for about 1hr, but after that it maintains a decent pace. As the movie approaches its climax, the music, lighting, and atmosphere actually contribute to an erie mood. If you can get through the first hour, the ridiculous cheesefest makes for a little fun, but as a whole the film is entirely passable.

Rating: 5/10.

**Note: This is one of two films released in 1983 under the title Mausoleum, although this one ended up dropping the title in place of One Dark Night. The other Mausoleum is quite possibly terribler, with even WORSE effects and acting, and no Meg Tilly.

[Dragonmanes]

Mountaintop Motel Massacre (1983): More like "Some Crazy Old Bitch Kills Everyone At Her Shitty Motel, Only Its About As Bloody As Punky Brewster. It Also Takes Place On A Mountain." Stupid, boring slasher that couldnt be more conventional unless it had a holiday in the title. I wish I could give the director enough credit to say the MPAA edited the gore out, but even with some more of the red stuff this flick is still garbage. Avoid. 4/10.

I Drink Your Blood (1970): Classic grindhouse fun for the whole family! A boy gives meat pies tainted with rabies to a group of satanic hippies out of revenge for his grafather. A rapid hippie murder spree ensues. Plenty of bloody gags, and an off the wall plot you could have only gotten away with in the 70s. The flick is entirely cheesy, but its the "Damn, that was fun" cheesy and not the "Holy crap, I cant believe I wasted my time with this" cheesy. Liked it much more on each consecutive watch through, definitely worth checking out! 7/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Been reading through the ratings people are posting in the recently viewed horror thread, and just for the sake of argument I wanted to see if you could elaborate on your 5/10 for Creep so I have a better idea of how you guys are rating the films, Darkgod.

For me, a 5/10 would extend out to a 50/100, which by my standards would mean the film was abysmal, took no direction or lead, had terrible acting, and was a conventional retread of standard horror. I did not feel Creep was bad by any means, and alongside Neil Marshall I feel that Christopher Smith is one of the up and coming directors out of the new wave of English horror. With Creep at a 5/10, I cant see any film rating higher than an 8 by comparison.

I may not share the same ratings system as many of the people in that thread, both with people underrating and grossly overrating many films, but I still feel I am offering a fair assessment on each of the films I review according to the scale I presented earlier.

Not trying to call you out at all, just very curious as to how everyone else bases their ratings!

[Dragonmanes]

Zombie Honeymoon (2004): An interesting metaphor for the pain of losing someone to cancer or any other disease. A wife is caught between killing her zombified husband or condoning his cannibalistic tendencies as he continues to transgress into a mindless killer. A smart and original zombie entry, with decent effects, acting, and dialouge for an indie flick. Recommended as a refreshing change of pace that is story based and not an excuse for gore. 7/10.

Innocent Blood (1992): Unsuccessfully tries to marry the vampire film with an organized crime film. A vampiress mistakingly turns an Italian crimelord, and he uses his new powers to try to take over the city with a mob family of draculas. Landis fails to recreate the smart, dark comedy of 'Werewolf,' and we're left with an average vampire tale with one or two decent effects in an otherwise uneventful film. It isnt bad, it just isnt that good. 6/10.

Mother's Day (1980): Another cheesy 80s slasher in the vein of Motel Hell. Three girls are kidnapped and tortured by the dullard sons of a deranged mother on their isolated house in the woods. Whats interesting is the familys motivation to train to hunt and kill incase the mom's (assumingly) more insane sister comes to attack them, leading to bizarre scenes and performances. Theres scattered gore, but go in expecting a dumb trashy slasher with dark comic roots and you wont be disappointed! Rating: 6/10. Entertainment: 7/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Raw Meat (1972): Surprisingly small in scope, but effective suspence/mystery from England. Donald Pleasence plays an eccentric police detective trying to track down a killer in the Underground. Bodies are disappearing, but what he doesnt know is that theyre being eaten! The Descent and Creep have definitely benefited from different aspects of the plot, but with dark, brooding atmosphere and lighting, awesome gory effects, and superior set design, this movie sets itself apart as something new and different for the time. 8/10.

The Night Stalker (1972): Before there were the X-Files, Carl Kolchak was on the case as a smartallicky reporter tracking the deaths of 5 girls that had been drained of blood in Las Vegas. This made for tv vampire romp offers excellent acting and smart but subtle effects, with Darren McGavin stealing the spotlight in every scene. The audience is left guessing whether the killings are supernatural up until the end, which comes all too quickly in this fast paced but short flick. Followed up by The Night Strangler and Kolchak: The Series, each of which come highly recommended! 8/10.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923): This tale introduces a love triangle between the gypsie Esmerelda, an evil aristocrat, and a guardsman caught between a class struggle thats ended with the help of a disfigured hermit. The scale of this film is unbelieveable, with literally hundreds if not thousands of participants flooding the scenes in accurate period ensamble. Chaney commands yet another role as Quasimodo the Hunchback, with more impressive early makeup work. The film has been touched by time, but put into the perspective in which it was made, it is a masterwork of early film from the silent era and a solid classic! 9/10.

[Dragonmanes]

World Gone Mad (1933): When the DA is killed under mysterious circumstances related to massive stock fraud, it is up to a sluethful reporter to crack the case. Another misplaced entry in the Horror Classics 50-pack, which is much more a murder mystery than anything. The usual bland pulp acting, fast talkers, 30s humor.. Offers little to the average horror fan. Pass. 4/10.

[steelba]

Innocent Blood is an underrated gem.

[Dragonmanes]

There are some aspects of the film that I like, particularly the effects sequences and the sound effects laced with the attacks, but overall I just get uninterested while watching it. I'll revisit it again in the next year or so, but it may be my bias against boring ass vampires, theres very few vamp movies that interest me so I hope that didnt weigh too much into the final verdict.

The Lawnmower Man (1992): It is a pity that this well-crafted Cyber Punk film will likely continue to lose appeal with new audiences as it ages, because it is very enjoyable and was groundbreaking at the time of its release. Even today, some of the effects like the scenes of Jobe's mental collapse visualized on screen hold up very well, but other visual effects like the polygonal hornets are extremely outdated. The underlying fears of a world controlled and dominated by a virtual takeover are even more prevalent today in a society reliant on computers and the internet, so the film does continue to work on some level. Overall, it is a very good film that may be past its prime, but is completely worth revisiting. A virtual reality developer enhances a dullards brain powers, accidentally giving him extra-sensory powers that he becomes unable to control. 8/10.

The House that Screamed (1969): Although the film is good in nearly every aspect of actual filmmaking, the pacing kills and the plot is extremely drawn out considering the simplicity of the final reveal. Girls at a reform school continue to run away from the overbearing and spiteful head mistress, but what no one knows is they aren't leaving the campus alive! A few suspenseful murders, but they are few and far between. The acting and dialogue are enough to generate interest though, and the reveal at the end wont fail to please. Its good, but not very action oriented. 7/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Night Warning (1983): Billy gets caught up in a murder investigation when he is caught holding the knife his aunt killed a potential suitor with. The plot thickens when the police investigator finds out that both the victim and Billy may have been gay lovers caught in a lovers quarrel. This unique slasher breaks many taboos, involving homosexuality, incest, and homophobia. After a long but competent build, the tension breaks into a bloody finale. Good overall story and acting, with unconventional turns and a powerful finish. Recommended as an obscure slasher gem! 7/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Night School (1981): Surprising little slasher gem that has a higher cinematic style than most cheap slasher cashins of the time, along with a few creative deaths (the most memorable being the not-so-merry-go-round). Students of a night school are being stalked and decapitated by a mysterious figure clad in motocycle leathers complete with helmet. Decent pace, standard characters, but a fun watch with plenty of kills. Ranks below House on Sorority Row or Happy Birthday to Me, but it's far better than The Forest or Graduation Day. 6/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Evilspeak (1981): Clint Howard plays a dork in a military academy that suffers at his peers feet. He unlocks an ancient and evil book through his computer, then uses Satanic powers to exact his revenge. Howards terrible acting is only outweighed by his sheer ugliness, but outside of a few sweet sets and a bloody ending, the film is a boring drag. We get several hints of suspence that drop off immediately, leaving only the last 10m with any action and brutal gore. Excellent concept, poor execution. 5/10, Gore: 7/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Uncle Sam (1997): Fucking terrible. Bill Lustig, of Maniac and Maniac Cop fame, brings us a boring, stupid slasher about a fallen soldier returning home a zombie, only to wreak havok on unamericans at home in an Uncle Sam costume (ironically, his name was Sam, and he's an uncle). Barfy acting, contrived plot and dialogue, and terrible puns all run amok. The film makes attempts at a socio-politico agenda, but it feels entirely forced and this was definitely the wrong film to prove it. A few ok kills, but not worth the watch. Rating: 3/10. Gore: 6/10.

Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989): This Experimental Japanese horror flick combines elements of Eraserhead and Akira in a futuristic nightmare. A man becomes a living machine after a fateful accident and some interesting repair work. Shot in a completely non-linear style in black and white, with insane imagery and rough but effective editing style, this flick offers amazing visuals but may be too out there for the average horror fan. Does one rate it on originality? Concept? Design? Recommended for an abstract visual experience much in the vein of David Lynch. Tetsuo fans should also be sure to check out Meatball Machine for a comic exaggeration of the same body horror theme. Rating: No Rating.

Red Room (1999): Purely exploitative shock that fails to impress or disgust, leaving the audience with nothing to walk away with. If youre in to people being tortured, drinking piss, and being raped with broken light bulbs, take it, its all yours, but dont expect a cohesive and interesting storyline to tie it all together. Four game show participants must command each other to do whatever it takes to have the others quit in order to win $10M yen. There is some gore, but even that is tame. Leave this to the Exploitation fans. Rating: 5/10. Gore: 7/10.

[Dragonmanes]

The Night Strangler (1973): This made for tv sequel picks up right where The Night Stalker left us, with Kolchak in Seattle hot on a new story about a killer strangling women every 21 years to rejuvinate himself with an elixir of life. The story feels formulaic, closely following the successful structure of the original, but that doesnt necessarily hurt it. McGavin is as strong as ever, pushing the buttons of the local police and annoying Vincenzo with his sharp tongue and quick wit. The film's finale takes us into a huge underground lair beneath the city, giving the film a much larger feel and scope. Though the first film is slightly better, this is another excellent made for tv entry and highly recommended!

Rating: 7/10.

[IKickAssForTheLord]

Uncle Sam, I remember seein' that Cover all the time. Just never picked it up.

[steelba]

where is the rating for Tetsuo :mad:

[Dragonmanes]

Yeah that lenticular VHS cover for Uncle Sam always called to me too back in the good old rental days, I remember seeing it on the shelf near the lenticular for Shadowbuilder and thought it was just a gimmicky ploy to waste my money. Ten years later, I was right.

Its nearly impossible to rate Tetsuo or Eraserhead, do they automatically get 10s for being entirely organic and original? The problem is that rating the films highly would prompt the general DVD viewing audience to go pick the flicks up, when any seasoned horror fan knows that the typical, surface level horror fan will toss a film like Eraserhead or Tetsuo in the garbage since no body knew what they did last summer, and they have no linear structure. The films cant be rated low based on faults that do not apply to them, since they are entirely experimental and destroy typical conventions. All that being said, I wouldnt even know how to rate it if I tried. It would easily rate above a 7, but with experimental film, where can you find fault and what points do you focus the review on? I couldnt decide on the first watch through, so hopefully the second will solidify my opinion on the film :nod:

[steelba]

I wasnt real thrilled with the undertones of the film and wont be rewatchng it, but a 7 is a good spot to put it.

[Dragonmanes]

Im going to put it off until I watch it a second time, I dont have a solid opinion on it yet so hopefully a second viewing will give me a little more bearing on it.

Visiting Hours (1982): Above average 80s slasher with Michael Ironside in one of his best performances as a deranged killer. A journalist with an anti-violence agenda is attacked by a psychopath and sent to the hospital, where he continues to stalk her down its dark halls. Ironside is revealed very early in the picture, and much of the run time is spent exploring his character. This look into the villains psyche is something new and original for the time, and works well with the film. The biggest problem is that there are three leads competing for screen time, so the audience has no one identifiable character, leaving them identifying with the killer for much of the film and forgetting about the protagonist. Very suspenseful, with several nerve-wracking chase scenes and subtle nuances by Ironside that set this film apart, recommended! 7/10.

The Children (1980): Basically the best movie ever made, if you have a liberal interpretation of the word best that also encompasses worst. A busload of children are turned into radioactive mutants by a chemical cloud, after which they return home and burn anyone that comes in contact with them to death. Formulaic and unnecessary, with the little action peaking whenever someone hugs the jacked up kids. Somehow, Harry Manfredini got signed for the music, but every cue is stolen directly from F13th. A big pass on this one, lame killer kids flick that doesnt deliver. Rating: 4/10.

Death Weekend (1978): An ok rape-revenge flick that just feels like too little too late in the wake of LHotL and Night Train Murders. The structure is most similar to I Spit on Your Grave, with a couple pissing off a group of hicks, only to have them kill the man and rape the woman, then have her escape and seek revenge. It will interest fans of the similarly themed films, but the violence, action, and gore are all much milder this time around. The characters are much less comical, but there is nothing to really set the film apart in a time when a films worth was rated on the level of sleaze. Worth checking out, but low priority. Rating: 6/10.

[Dragonmanes]

The Last Man on Earth (1968): Excellent Matheson adaptation starring Vincent Price as the last survivor of a devastating plague that must destroy the plague-ridden vampires by day. The barren city streets and locations make for excellent settings, and the nocturnal ghouls are extremely creepy, yet subtle. The reversal of the vampire mythos is also a welcome deviation. Compared to other horror entries of the time, this is a great late 60s horror entry, and though Price can be campy at times, he and each of the other actors do the story justice. This version of Matheson's timeless plot comes highly recommended for classics fans! 8/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Flight of the Living Dead (2007): Retitled "The Flight Where Nothing Happens For An Hour, Then Zombies Break Out Only Its A Terrible CG Fest With Trash Acting And Dialogue, Adding Nothing To The Genre." Not much more can be said, the film is chocked full of washed up actors, contains tons of logical errors, and the CG effects rival those of any made for SciFi movie. God damn the director for making it sound interesting at the convention, I want my $.33 back from Amazon!! 3/10.

I Eat Your Skin (1964): A writer and his crew are stranded on an island inhabited by a crazed doctor and a tribe of locals that are immersed in voodoo, and it isnt long before zombies begin attacking the newcomers. Standard 60s horror with awful makeup and effects, however there is some unexpected gore (primarily a beheading via machete) and overt sexuality interspersed with drab dialogue and cheesy zombies. For B-movie fun, this will kill some time, but it is easily passable. 4/10.

Medusa (1973): An endurance trial involving a brother and sister that are set to inherit a forture along with other benefitiaries, when the others begin dropping off at the hands of a mysterious killer. Throw in a mafia debt, slow pacing, and bland acting, stir, taste, then throw away. The only thing going through my mind the entire film was "At least I only paid $.16 to watch this, the electricity it cost me to run the TV and DVD player was probably more expensive." Lets go with.. Pass. 3/10.

Nightmare Detective (2006): Visually I really enjoyed the film, with some very interesting effects and concepts playing off of the nightmare theme. The stylism implored by Tsukamoto gives it a very cinematic and finished look, and thematically he takes a bold move and uses dream logic, where anything can happen and sets / characters will randomly change like in a real nightmare. The only hindrance is that the nightmares were interspersed with drawn out detective work that killed much of the pacing of the film, much like in H. It is a step in the right direction for J-Horror, moving away from a strict diet of ghosts, ghosts, and ghosts. I did enjoy it more on the second watch through. A detective enlists the help of a psychic that can enter people's dreams to catch a serial killer. Worth checking out! 8/10.

[Dragonmanes]

The Howling (1981): Set in the isolated Colony in the mountains, a young newscaster leaves the city after a brush with a serial killer that has been obsessed with having a heart to heart with her. Not long after being there, she comes to find that there is more to her new neighbors than meets the eye, and finds herself trapped by a secluded community of werewolves. To add to the suspense, the killer has gone missing, and files from the retreat prove that he once lived in the same village she now finds herself in. The Howling offers a unique plot line, interesting characters, an extremely creepy atmosphere set by a foreboding forest and fog effects, ground-breaking special effects, and pissed off werewolves. This isn't your daddy's Wolfman; the creatures in this film shred their victims with razor claws and teeth on screen, rather than choking them or alluding to the action off camera. The use of bladders and an array of other brand new effects are implored to create one of the first physical on screen transformations with few cuts, lending credibility to both the makeup and the effectiveness of the creatures. From start to finish, the film is dark and pessimistic, never offering a moment of relief to any of the characters. This succeeds in maintaining the sinister mood, but also makes it more difficult to relate to the protagonists, who are constantly in a state of fear, dread, or panic. It sets itself apart from any other werewolf film before or since, and though I prefer Landis' American Werewolf in London, this is a staple genre film and a must-see for any horror fan! 9/10.

Howling 2 (1985): Defines 'Terrible Sequel,' but even that doesn't do it justice. Howling 2 is a gem in the fact that it defies logic, mystifies the senses, and completely destroys any chance of establishing The Howling as a serious and artful horror anthology. Rather, we get a porno mocked-up as a horror film with a non-linear (if existent) plot and Christopher Lee in his worst role ever. If you can make Christopher Lee look bad, geez. Karen's brother Ben returns to the old country in an attempt to exact revenge for his sister by destroying Stirba, Queen of the Werewolves, who hosts werewolf orgies set to terrible New Wave in her castle. Despite all of this, it is a must see for all genre fans, since it is literally unbelievable after watching the original. Philippe Mora would go on to direct such classics as Howling 3. 4/10.

Metamorphosis (1990): The film makes a valid effort to be a decent zero budget take on The Fly, but it just doesnt make the mark. It enlists a professor who is working to discover the human genome and becomes the hero villain after running tests on himself as the first human subject, thereby transforming him into a scaly beast. The acting is bearable, but the lengthy exposition is inversely porportionate to the amount of action, and the plot is too derivative of Cronenberg's infinitely superior film. The final rubber monster reveal also destroys what little suspended disbelief the film developed and cheapens the effect. Almost worth watching, but not. 4/10.

A Bell From Hell (1973): A man with a weighty inheritance is released from a mental institute, only to have his aunt and family attempt to drive him mad to usurp his fortune. But they dont know that he wants revenge for them institutionalizing him.. The film crawls to the hour mark, establishing nothing but unlikeable characters and no identifiable hero, then picks up with the revenge theme in the final third. No blood, flacid revenge, and very little bell or hell action (none to be exact). This film is better left forgotten in public domain purgatory. 4/10.

[steelba]

I liked the Howling more than AWIL and the Howling 2 is my ultimate guilty pleasure movie :mhehe:

Metamorphasis: The Alien Factor was a solid B movie, but like you said it's meh.

[Dragonmanes]

See im wondering if the Metamorphosis I saw was Alien Factor, I dont think it was because Alien Factor was supposed to be an 'in name only' sequel to Deadly Spawn, and this seemed entirely different. The one I saw was part of the Chilling Classics 50 pack, so I am going to try to throw in the copy I have of Alien Factor and see if its the same film. Been meaning to watch it for a while, I friggin love Deadly Spawn so Im hoping it is at least similarly themed. This Metamorphosis must have been made for VHS, and I believe it was released 3 years prior to the other.

Howling 4 tops my guilty pleasures list, I dont have any rational explanation for why I like that film but Ive always had a soft spot for it. Will be rewatching each of the sequels minus 7 again this week. I actually really enjoy 6, but Ill wait to get into that until I review it :nod:

[Dragonmanes]

Dementia 13 (1963): A sleek slasher owing much to the success of Psycho, but establishing itself through above average acting, atmospheric settings, and brutal violence. A woman attempts to seize her husbands inheritance by pretending he is away on business and visiting his family back in Ireland after his death. Shortly thereafter, inhabitants of the family castle begin dropping off at the hands of a deranged killer. With several vicious axe attacks both on screen and implied, this is definitely one of the harsher black and white classics, but the story does not fall secondary to the bloodshed, and Coppola delivers a stylish film with a solid foundation and a good (if not expected) ending. Rating: 7/10.

Four Flies on Grey Velvet (1971): A misstep for Argento prior to his horror opus Deep Red that offers some of his suspenseful creativity through music, camera placements, and signature plot reveals, but fails to live up to his gialli made both before and after. A drummer is caught up in a series of murders after being framed by a masked assailant with a grudge. On top of the awkward humor and characters, the film just isnt overly interesting and doesnt introduce anything unique enough to set it apart in the peak gialli era. It is worth checking out for Argento and gialli completists, but it is not an exemplar of his work. Rating: 7/10.

[steelba]

it's not similiar to the Daedly Spawn whci I also dig immensley :rockin:

i like the Howling 5 alot.

[Dragonmanes]

I know Howling 5 is given a bad wrap for barely showing the werewolf, but I agree its a fun murder mystery with some sweet sets in the castle. The VHS cover always scared the crap out of me when I was a kid. Have you seen Howling 7 yet? I honestly cant bear to watch it again, f'ing terrible..

Ill get a review going for Alien Factor soon, and Ill try to find out why I think its related to DS

[steelba]

u were correct about the 'un-official sequel', it just isn't one imo.
No i've never seen H7, got 20 mins into it b4 I had to split, heard it was awful though :dsp:

[Dragonmanes]

I'll break my normal canon and repost my old review without rewatching after I post the others, but jesus christ, its like watching senior citizens in some hick town drink beer in a bar for over an hour, then literally 2 seconds of werewolf in the final 5m. They are marketing geniuses though, because that cover art was probably the most memorable werewolf VHS cover I can remember. Assholes.

I figured Metamorhposis was a sequel as much as Troll 2 was lol..

Howling 3 (1987): Genuinely awful sequel, but there is some strange charm about the terribleness that makes the film watchable. It is ripe with self-parody, but unfortunately the humor falls pretty flat and is extremely cheesy. In it, the werewolves take to the outback, and a shewolf becomes romantically entwined with a local boy, resulting in some of the strangest and most disturbing fetal werewolf scenes in history. Bad acting, bad costumes, bad dialouge, bad everything, yet infinitely superior to Howling 2. Werewolf fans, you really have no choice but to see it no matter how bad it is, what the hell else are you going to watch, American Werewolf for the 100th time? Rating: 5/10.

The Awful Doctor Orlof (1964): Jess Franco's debut horror film offers a dark gothic shocker constructed as an amalgamation of many pop culture influences (from Eyes Without A Face to The Blind Dead), but adds its own unique charm. A doctor and his malformed apprentice kidnap women to steal there skin in order to graph it on to his burnt sister. Excellent lighting and mood, depicting the dark side of Paris nightlife. Vernon plays a charming but sinister villain, and the blind Morpho eerily stalks his prey by sound. Recommended classic Spanish horror! Rating: 8/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Howling 4 (1988): Though this entry comes off as a poor retread of the original with very little merit, I consider it to be the scariest of the sequels. The costume of the lead shewolf is far superior to those of the other films, and it is the most vicious in the series outside the original. The characters and acting are expectedly bland, but if you can make it through to the horror scenes, it offers some decent atmosphere and suspense. A writer leaves for a small town after a stress-induced episode in the city, only to learn that she has taken up residence in a community of werewolves! It is an admited guilty pleasure, but worth a watch. 6/10.

Elvira's Haunted Hills (2001): Elvira is back to her kooky hijinks in her long overdue reprisal of the character, but although the film offers some excellent set design and matte paintings reminiscent of the classic Gothic films, it ultimately isnt as smart or punny as the original. Elvira is taken in by a strange family in a Carpathian castle since she resembles the fathers dead wife, when she becomes entangled in murder, lust, betrayal, and bad jokes. The murder mystery is pretty generic, and her usual wit is replaced with cartoony physical gags and cheap laughs. Fans can forgive the inherent flaws, but overall it is a lackluster followup worth a few giggles. 5/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Wendigo (2001): One of the rare occasions where the characters were overdeveloped for what little the plot finally accomplishes. A family has a run in with a hunter after hitting a deer, causing a continued strife that comes to a head with the father is mysteriously shot while sledding. The son calls upon an ancient spirit to exact revenge for his father. The characters are slowly and methodically established, presumably to create a bond between the father and audience when he is shot, but the lack of action leads to a slow build with little payoff. The reveal of the spirit in the end is pretty cool, but it is too little too late. Fessenden does show some directorial skill by adapting many interesting camera techniques (mostly stolen), but in the end this is just an ok flick. 6/10.

Howling 5 (1989): A tame murder mystery set in an abandoned castle turned tourist attraction that is being visited by a group of elitists from around the world that must figure out who amongst them is a werewolf before its too late. Maybe 30s of screen time for the rug/werewolf that you see in glimpses during choppily edited death scenes and generic acting. Very little gore to make up for the standard plot and slow pacing, but the superior set design does make for decent atmosphere, and it does keep you guessing. It isnt great, but it gets a worse wrap than it deserves and probably has the biggest body count in the series. 5/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Howling 6 (1991): This is actually a decently executed carnival / werewolf tale of a man trapped into being an attraction in a traveling carnival headed by a sinister vampire. The makeup is very ambitious and original, with full haunches on the wolf and a bald, black skinned vampire unlike any other. The freaks are empathetic and equally well constructed both visually and emotionally. Though the acting may not be great, this sequel stands out in the series and is a worthwhile watch, recommended! 7/10.

Nomads (1986): Im assuming there is something going on in this movie that I have been unaware of after two views, because I just dont get it. A doctor relives a another man's memories after he dies in her arms. In the visions, the professor follows a roving band of punks that he believes live outside of human comprehension, and live without rules. I cant get past the fact that the visions switch from 1st to 3rd perspective when they are supposedly memories, it destroys the illusion and doesnt make sense. The story itself is ok, but follows the mythology of the Innuat legend without giving much insight of the legend to the viewer. It is presumptuous and poorly constructed in my opinion, but the plot is new and original and does offer decent acting and several suspenseful moments. Check it out if not for a single view. Rating: 6/10.

Plaga Zombie - Mutant Zone (2001): Sweet little indie zombie flick that is an absolute must-see for any Evil Dead fan. The film is much bigger in scope and production value than Automaton Transfusion, which shares similar production qualities and budget. A team of misfit heroes battle a plague of zombies after being sentenced to an infected town. Tons of splatter, gore, and humor that transcends the language barrier. Each of the heroes are unique and very funny, and director Pares shows huge potential in his framing and editing techniques. Highly recommended for any B-Movie or zombie fan! 8/10.

[Dragonmanes]

House on Haunted Hill (1999): Over stylized garbage horror remake made for the MTV generation. Five strangers are invited to stay the night in an abandoned asylum with the prospect of winning $1M each, if they live through the night! Malone manages to offer style over substance once again, with a few interesting visuals, but no scares and dreadfully forced dialogue. The only thing going for the film are the amazing sets, which is sad considering the above average cast. To top everything off, the film closes with a confusing CG shlockfest to leave the audience dumbfounded. Big pass on this one. 5/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Non-Canon Review - Howling 7 (1995): This is such an unbelievably terrible excuse for anything, its seriously like they went to the smallest middle American town in the US and just filmed their daily lives at the bar. You see the werewolf (thankfully) once in the closing scene, for one second, and that one second is better than the thousands preceeding it. A mysterious biker holes up in a small western town, when its inhabitants begin dying under mysterious circumstances slash animal attacks. This is bad for a Howling sequel, which in itself should tell you how bad it must be compared to the average horror film. Honestly, the coolest thing about this film was the awesome VHS cover, damn that was sweet, what a deceitful cover. 2/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Return to House on Haunted Hill (2007): Defying all logic, this D2DVD sequel is much better than the remake, and is actually a decent watch. Loaded with gore slash hot naked zombies making out, awesome gags, and a brain amputation. Two rival groups return to the haunted hospital to recover a sacred statue that makes ghosts get naked and make out. Most of them die. The dialogue is pretty throwaway and the plot is generic, but it is visually interesting and plenty bloody. It also creates a solid bridge between the previous film and the backstory. I would actually recommend this to anyone for at least a single "turn your brain off" view! 6/10.

Roman (2006): Angela Bettis and Lucky McKee swap roles in this dark character study that serves as a companion piece to the phenomenal May. Roman is a disturbed, quirky welder that envisions himself with the girl next door. When they finally hit it off, something goes terribly wrong, and Roman is sent spinning in a downward spiral within his psyche. McKee seems uncomfortable infront of the camera, but it sells the awkwardness of the character. The films strength lies in its slow and careful character development, and though there arent many scares, the film is definitely disturbing. For a small scale, artsy indie horror entry, this is a a unique and interesting viewing experience, but will not serve the tastes of anyone looking for blood and guts. 7/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Werewolves on Wheels (1971): I waited 5 years to see this DVD, and it didnt disappoint. All things considered, this film is better than it should be. Despite the grindhouse plot and zero budget, the production qualities are extremely high and professional. Though there are far more wheels than werewolves, the effects and makeup are reminiscent of Naschy's Hombre Lobo and done very well. This southern gothic tale follows a biker gang that is cursed by a satanic cult after dessicrating their temple, turning them into bloodthirsty biker werewolves! Only recommended if that plot sounds amazing to you. 6/10.

[IM_UndeaD]

Return to House on Haunted Hill (2007): Defying all logic, this D2DVD sequel is much better than the remake, and is actually a decent watch. Loaded with gore slash hot naked zombies making out, awesome gags, and a brain amputation. Two rival groups return to the haunted hospital to recover a sacred statue that makes ghosts get naked and make out. Most of them die. The dialogue is pretty throwaway and the plot is generic, but it is visually interesting and plenty bloody. It also creates a solid bridge between the previous film and the backstory. I would actually recommend this to anyone for at least a single "turn your brain off" view! 6/10.

:bigthumbup:

[Dragonmanes]

Neon Maniacs (1986): If the film moved as quickly as it did in the first 10m, it would have been fantastic. As it is, there are some excellent costumes and makeup for the group of freaks, but it struggles with pacing at several points. A group of teens are attacked by a motley band of freaks, leaving only two survivors that are stalked by the mutants. I like that the origin of the mutants is never explained, and the film definitely has a campy 80s appeal. This was a pleasant surprise with good gags, interesting and unique monsters, and standard 80s teen acting. It isnt great, but it is a fun watch. 7/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Black Roses (1988): Parents finally have something to fear when a Satanic rock band comes to town and makes all of the kids cracka ass crazy with their evil music. The premise for this dark satire is a great idea, but the execution just comes off as corny and amateurish. Some of the leads are downright silly, and the Black Roses are definitely locked in the big hair, S+M 80s. The effects range from good to ridiculous, but for what it is, this is another cheesy but watchable late-80s entry that is worth at least a single viewing. 6/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Bad Biology (2008): Pure Henenlotter, with a twisted and perverse sexuality and darkly humorous undertones. A man and woman with morbidly evolved junk are drawn together after living isolated and lonely lives apart. The body horror theme is reminiscent of Rabid and Henenlotter's own Brain Damage, taking the theme to the extreme with a man-eating vagina and self-aware 4ft penis that are just looking for love. One cant help but laugh at the absurdity as a detached penis goes on a raping rampage, but despite the asinine plot, the film is handled professionally and is very smart and funny. Recommended as something entirely unique and original, but you might want to watch it without the girlfriend or wife. 8/10.

Autopsy (2007): Gierasch's directorial debut isnt as strong as his writing in his previous films. Though there are several gratuitous gore scenes, the plot wears desperately thin, and none of the characters are particularly interesting. For the budget though, the film takes full advantage of the creepy hospital setting, makeup, and gags. For what its worth, the gore can carry the audience through most of the plot, but this is a passable release. A group of kids end up in a fucked up hospital after a car accident and die at the hands of its crazed medical staff. 6/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Tormented (1960): Standard ghost revenge plot where a man's obsessed mistress falls to her death, and returns from the grave to drive him to insanity and prevent him from marrying the one he loves. There are some decent visual effects and gags, and the acting is good enough to carry the picture. The slow fall into dementia is also reminiscent of I Bury the Living, using smart visuals and props to propel the protagonists psychosis. All in all, an ok ghost tale worth a watch for classics buffs. 6/10.

[Dragonmanes]

The Children (2008): England brings us this killer kids chiller echoing Who Can Kill A Child, where a family struggles to survive when their children become infected with a virus that causes them to lash out, with deadly results. Much of the more brutal violence occurs off screen and is implied, giving the film a sense of taste, but cutting back to show the bloody results. The children each look innocent and completely normal, which adds to the integrity of the plot instead of filling it with evil ass kids you would want to kill without provocation. The suspense surmounts with low, dreadful music cues and clever camera work rather than just cheap jump scares and gore, putting this a step ahead of many other genre films. It is very enjoyable and creepy, definitely recommended! 8/10.

Dead Snow (2009): The genre has been long overdue for another zombie SS squadron film, and this one does not disappoint! A group of friends head to a remote cabin in the snow for drunken debauchery when they are accosted by zombie Nazis that want their gold. With a plot like that, expect awesome, over the top gore, gooey humor, and plenty of genre references. The characters and dialogue are above average, and though the plot follows the NotLD structure closely, it manages to bring a life of its own with plenty of originality. Tons of blood, tons of gore, and tons of laughs. Highly recommended, in the vein of Dead Alive and The Evil Dead! 8/10.

Willard (1971): Willard is a mild mannered, eccentric invoice processor that seeks revenge against his aggressors using the rats he has trained to do his bidding. Considering the scale, the rats were trained considerably well, which sells the believability of the plot. Davison is also an excellent Willard, without going too over the top as Glover did in the remake. There are moments that drag, but overall this is an enjoyable revenge flick that surpasses the remake. 7/10.

[steelba]

might have to check this dead snow :hmmm:

[Dragonmanes]

I havent read any negative reviews on it, its a real blast, I still prefer Plaga Zombie over it but this set the bar high for 2009 indie flicks!

PIN (1988): A domineering father teaches his kids the facts of life through an anatomically correct dummy he speaks through, but when the father dies, the son continues to speak through the doll, convinced it is alive and commanding him to kill. Completely unique in almost every way, with competent acting and an alarmingly realistic dummy. The suspense builds as the son becomes increasingly obsessed with the doll, speaking to it daily, dressing it, and moving it into their home. The film is a strange and captivating character study recommended as a subtle psychological horror entry. 7/10.

[steelba]

that is probably your best write up yet, pretty much nailed the entire film down :cooldude:

[Dragonmanes]

Thanks for the feedback man, with enough practice the hope is that I can nail the plot as concisely as possible and get the meat of the review down to as few but meaningful words as possible. I love reading reviews but I seriously have the shortest attention span ever lol..

[Dragonmanes]

Tomie (1999): In a strange twist of fate for Japanese horror, a vengeful female spirit kills her trespassers after being brutally murdered. At the same time, another girl with some strange tie to the ghost must unravel her forgotten past in a series of Argento-esque reveals in order to put the spirit to rest. One cant help but feel like they are missing something when watching this film, as many of the scenes are non-sequitor or unexplained, but it adds to the mystery and suspense. Unlike Ju-On or Ringu, Tomie is a reserved ghost that exacts methodical revenge rather than just scaring the piss out of people. The victims are all closely correlated to the crime as well, rather than selected arbitrarily via video-cassette or renting the wrong, wrong house. For a slow build and solid revenge flick, it will carry an hour and a half. 7/10.

[steelba]

Japanese Ghost Flix :mad: :mad:

[Dragonmanes]

My smiley exactly, this was a blind buy with a Blockbuster giftcard three Christmases ago and I finally brought myself to watch it a second time. At least with Nightmare Detective and a few select others we are finally seeing a movement away from just long black haired ghosts.

[steelba]

lmao, well those may be worth checking, the ghosts just arent my kinda horror :shrugs:

[Dragonmanes]

No I completely agree, the J-Horror ghost theme is well played out, which is why Dream Cruise was probably my least favorite MoH episode, not only was it a J-ghost, but that friggin episode never ended, it was over 2hr!!

Death Tunnel (2005): A college initiation goes horribly wrong when ghosts from the past stalk the five girls selected to spend the night in a quarantined hospital. More music video horror that offers style over substance. The film offers excellent sets along with ambitious editing and directing, but suffers from expectantly bad acting and confusing jump cuts in time and location that become disorienting. There are some genuinely creepy moments atmosphere and cool costuming. Ultimately, it feels like a strong first attempt by a film school student owing much to the look and feel of the House on Haunted Hill remake. 6/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Diary of the Dead (2007): Go back 3 years and this might have worked, but I definitely feel Cloverfield and REC did the hyper-realistic 'first hand account' horror film better. Romero's film is way too clean to ever be considered real, with unnatural acting, dialogue, and editing. I dont feel like I am watching anyones real life account at any point in the picture. It presents perceived and idealized reality, not reality. The only thing going for the film is the gore; the zombie deaths are pretty sweet, but everything else is pretty standard. Even then, most of the effects are computerized, which is a 180 from the amazing effects work that set Romero apart originally. Its good, not the disaster its made out to be, but not up to Romero's best. A student film crew documents the zombie holocaust unfolding around them. 7/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Trauma (1993): I hate to sound cliche, but this really does rank among Argentos worst (still making it better than average). Asia Argento stars as a deranged daughter fleeing from a black gloved killer that stalks her after killing her parents. The killer has a penchant for decapitation, leading to some bloody effects by master Tom Savini, but the plot feels extremely watered down in comparison to Argentos earlier works. What the film offers in style it more than makes up for in bad acting and bland scripting, so the film is really a mixed bag. With nothing truly unique or interesting about it, it ranks low for Argento, but it is not a complete disaster. 6/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Die Screaming, Marianne (1971): Decent "theres one surviving member of the family that is getting all the inheritence so everyone else is trying to off her" flick by Pete Walker, tangled with competing lovers, betrayal, and murder. The plot isnt entirely original, but it is handled well. With good pacing, competent acting, beautiful settings, and ambitious editing that almost seems out of place, it reminds me of a slightly less interesting 5 Dolls for an August Moon. There is nothing inherently bad about the film, but it is not a film that I plan to reproach much in the future. 7/10.

[steelba]

Trauma (1993): I hate to sound cliche, but this really does rank among Argentos worst (still making it better than average). Asia Argento stars as a deranged daughter fleeing from a black gloved killer that stalks her after killing her parents. The killer has a penchant for decapitation, leading to some bloody effects by master Tom Savini, but the plot feels extremely watered down in comparison to Argentos earlier works. What the film offers in style it more than makes up for in bad acting and bland scripting, so the film is really a mixed bag. With nothing truly unique or interesting about it, it ranks low for Argento, but it is not a complete disaster. 6/10.
Agreed..

thoughts on Stendhal Syndrome?

[Dragonmanes]

I like Stendahl, not Argentos best but I felt he made some valid attempts at moving into the new computerized media without completely doing away with physical effects. Asia plays a more convincing role in it, and it is definitely more brutally violent. I would rank it close to Phenomena on the Argento scale.

Private Parts (1972): I dont really know how to classify this flick. A young runaway moves into her aunts seedy hotel full of perverts and crazies, only to have her friends mysteriously disappear and watchful eyes watch her through holes in the walls. The motley assortment of characters are each unique and fascinating in their own ways, and left to mystery since many of them are never fully realized. George, a photographer with a pension for naked ladies, keeps a particularly close eye on Cheryl, and fetishes her with a blowup doll adorned with a picture of her face. The film comes off as a sexually perverse Psycho, with very good performances, strange but effective sets, excellent timing, and a plot that instantly captivates the audience. Recommended as one of the weirdest flicks I have seen in a while! 8/10.

Eight Legged Freaks (2002): As campy as this flick is, I grow more fond of it with each viewing. A small mining town is overrun by giant mutant spiders. Simple, classic B-movie plot, executed with impressive CG effects that hold up over half a decade later. The characters and acting are surprisingly believable, and though they play into conventional stereotypes, they do so with a realistic small town approach. The spider attack on the city may be one of the better giant mutant animal attack scenes in recent films. Even the physcial effects and sets hold up to be above average. The movie may not be great, but it is enjoyable! 7/10.

Curse of Frankenstein (1957): As Hammer's first venture into horror, this serves as a decent adaptation, though it is a pretty liberal use of the original story based on what I remember. Cushing plays a convincing and believably mad Dr. Frankenstein, and Lee plays a good monster in his limited screentime. Hammer also implores the same beautiful sets and matte paintings it has become known for. The monsters makeup design is ok, more zombie-esque but not nearly as memorable as the Pierce design. With more sex and gore, this is a solid early entry for the studio, but not my favorite adaptation of the story. 8/10.

[Get Some]

interesting reviews.......but i think i agree with people when they say your ratings are strange

[Tawd The Meatcutter]

Yah, someone who is not afraid to call Diary of the Dead what it is. As a worshipper of Romero's films, I regrettably agree with your review Dragonmanes. Your reviews hit it right on the head, brah! (My 9-yr old boy is ape-shit over 8-Legged Freaks, as am I.) Although I must have had some real good pot before I saw Trauma for the 1st time- I fuckin love that flick. But hated The Card Player. Or the latest in his 3 Mothers trilogy.

Think I'll watch 30 Days of Night for the 4th time.

[strtfghtr]

ha I love 8-legged freaks, the epitome of 2000s cheese...it's like a sci-fi movie that some how made it to the big screen

[Dragonmanes]

Its cool Get, I have just as much problem with everyone elses ratings systems. I see too many people giving decent films 5s when a 5 translates to a failure to me. I dont see how any film could get a 10 if an ok film gets a 5, it doesnt make sense.

I also try not to always rate based on my opinion alone, but also on the film quality. If a film is good but I dont necessarily like it, I wont lower the score for the rating, and vice versa.

Im just glad to see that people take the time to state that they dont necessarily agree with the ratings system, because at least it shows thought and comparison. If this were IMDB, all I would hear is "Your a stoopid moron and you suck and your gay!!1"

I totally agree with you guys about Eight Legged Freaks, for some reason I always remember the film as being much worse, but for cheesy giant spider fun it makes for great entertainment!

[steelba]

Its cool Get, I have just as much problem with everyone elses ratings systems.
:mad:

[Dragonmanes]

muwahaha, ratings drama! I was considering reconfiguring the number scheme of 1-10, so that a 3 is now a 10, a 5 is now a 2, etc. It will make the ratings system so much more interesting!

Deathdream (1974): A mother's wish brings a Vietnam vet back from the war, but he doesnt come back alive..This dark retelling of the classic "Monkey's Paw" tale proves to be a biting social commentary on the devastating effect the war had on the soldiers returning home and being marginalized by the society they fought to protect. It touches on the psychological damage, drug addiction, and dissociative disorders that many of the soldiers were left with after experiencing the horrors of war, all cleverly told through the zombie metaphor. Though the film is very slow paced, it sets up for several genuinely terrifying sequences through its chilling score and an excellent performance by Richard Backus. I liked the film much, much more on the second viewing, having missed the clear intention of it originally. It is a smart, original zombie effort that transcends the genre, highly recommended! 8/10.

Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1970): Another decent Frankenstein followup from Hammer films, this time hiding Frankenstein in the shadows after he has been run out of his native land. Frankenstein blackmails a young doctor to help him kidnap an old colleague that has gone mad so he can extract his secrets from him. Cushing is devious as ever, and Dr. Brandt humanizes the monster even further, reversing the roles and showing Frankenstein for the monster he truly is. More beautiful Gothic sets, competent acting, and plenty of the red stuff, although it does suffer from slow pacing at times. I prefer Curse to this one, but it is a good entry in the series. 7/10.

[steelba]

muwahaha, ratings drama! I was considering reconfiguring the number scheme of 1-10, so that a 3 is now a 10, a 5 is now a 2, etc. It will make the ratings system so much more interesting!

:sure:

[Dragonmanes]

The Manson Family (2003): VanBebber delivers an LSD-induced nightmare vision of the Manson murders as told by the Family members themselves. He has obviously done his homework, as many of the recreations and dialogue are taken directly from Manson, the documentary that spoke with the real Family members, and he includes audio clips and songs from Manson, himself. The visual stylization and grain added to the film gives it a sense of integrity and realism. The narrative often seems disjointed and non-linear, which I guess accurately reflects the mindset of the group. It is a valid indie effort, but it suffers most from the forced social commentary that is sloppily added with the inclusion of the modern teen followers. 7/10.

May (2002): May works on every level. Every element of filmmaking contributes to the overall theme, from the quirky performances, to the offbeat humor, to the perfect soundtrack. The film owes much to Bettis and Sisto, who capture the characters and truly become them. May is completely sympathetic despite her obsessive nature, and forms a lasting bond with the audience in her loneliness. My only discrepancy is in the drastic shift in her persona in the harvesting scene. McKee includes subtle homages and implores basic literary elements like foreshadowing and visual metaphors to unveil his plot. May is a lasting film that shows incredible strength and originality, and proves to be an instant classic. A lonely and misunderstood girl decides to build her own friend after old friends betray her. 10/10.

Kingdom of the Spiders (1977): Viewers that can get past the slow exposition and occasionally corny acting will find a lot of fun in this film, even if it does feel made for TV. The last half hour is filled with creepy crawly spider action as the spider hordes overrun the town. The film sells its believability by using what looks like 100% real spiders, or convincing fakes. The plot is basically eight-legged Jaws, where a town must kill off a migration of killer spiders before they ruin the county fair. With William Shatner in the lead, you would expect it to be extremely corny, but outside of a few scenes with girlish skipping and shrieking around the spiders, the acting is pretty good. Overall, this is an above average animal flick worth a view! 7/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Body Melt (1993): This Aussie horror entry serves as a decent gross-out flick, but ultimately fails to provide a cohesive story. This, in part, is the result of the film being adapted from four short stories, but that fact isnt explained or delineated in the film. A vitamin company mails out experimental drugs to a small group of test subjects, resulting four bloody and gooey messes. The scenes of each of the four families seem completely unrelated outside of the characters taking the vitamins, until the climax wraps everything together. In terms of gore, there is placental carnage, projectile vomit, bursting chest cavities, and plenty of other great gags. Unfortunately, none of the characters are particularly likable or fleshed out, so the film seems to move along on a gag to gag basis, with the audience losing interest in the victims in place of the gore. One cant deny the impressive photography and directing of the film, it just would have benefited from a more linear script. 6/10.

Deranged (1974): This first effort to bring the story of Ed Gein to the screen is pretty well made, though it feels aged and cheesy at times. Ezra Cobb is a lonely farmer that takes to grave robbing, corpse mutilation, and murder after the passing of his domineering mother. Ormsby takes many liberties with the actual events, along with adding some strange and out of place humor, but for the most part the events in the film are accurate to the case. The scenes depicting the mummified corpses and Cobb dressed in his suit of human skin are still creepy and disarming. Blossom plays a convincing lead, lending credibility and strength to the character. One thing the definitely film could have done away with is the narrator that randomly interjects his commentary on screen. Its definitely worth checking out though! 7/10.

Massacre in Dinosaur Valley (1985): A more appropriate title would have been "Grossly Misleading Jungle Adventure Movie." A group of explorers set off to find long lost relics in a forbidden territory, only to have their plane go down with no chance of rescue. They are left to battle nature, cannibals, thieving miners, and rattlesnakes (?). It serves as an average Italian adventure effort with cheesy acting, bad dubbing, ridiculous effects, and a pointless plot. The over the top action is corny, but enjoyable, with Sopkiw hamming it up as a larger than life hero not unlike Ash of The Evil Dead. Fans of The Last Cannibal World or Mountain of the Cannibal God might enjoy it, but otherwise it is entirely passable. 4/10.

Evil Ed (1997): Starts off good, but drops off fast. A film editor becomes delusional and goes on a murderous rampage after performing too many censor edits on a ton of horror movies. There are some sweet gore and make-up effects, but they are few and far between. Designs similar to the Lord of Darkness from Legend and a Gremlin creature make it into the flick, which are recreated with amazing craftsmanship. The film also makes some clever stabs at horror censorship, which is ironic since the film was edited in the States. The acting and humor just never sell the film though, feeling very forced and out of place the entire time. It isnt clear how much of that is attributed to the dubbing, but regardless the characters in Ed have a distinct B-movie quality about them. Great concept worthy of remaking, but in the end the film is just ok. 6/10.

[Darkgod]

Been reading through the ratings people are posting in the recently viewed horror thread, and just for the sake of argument I wanted to see if you could elaborate on your 5/10 for Creep so I have a better idea of how you guys are rating the films, Darkgod.

For me, a 5/10 would extend out to a 50/100, which by my standards would mean the film was abysmal, took no direction or lead, had terrible acting, and was a conventional retread of standard horror. I did not feel Creep was bad by any means, and alongside Neil Marshall I feel that Christopher Smith is one of the up and coming directors out of the new wave of English horror. With Creep at a 5/10, I cant see any film rating higher than an 8 by comparison.

I may not share the same ratings system as many of the people in that thread, both with people underrating and grossly overrating many films, but I still feel I am offering a fair assessment on each of the films I review according to the scale I presented earlier.

Not trying to call you out at all, just very curious as to how everyone else bases their ratings!


Ok I see what your doing a bit. I rate based on a flat scale 1-10. 1 being abysmal (Tinotera) and 10 being amazing ( The Proffesional). A 5 for me... is an average flick. Nothing horrible, nothing fantastic. I see you give a 6, maybe a 7 for what I would give a 5. At 6, i start to consider the movie good. An 8 and up is great, a 10 amazing. I rate every movie i watch here, on imdb and on facebook. Here and imdb, i do the 1 to 10. On facebook the stars... but each point is a half star

[Darkgod]

Oddly enough, going back and comparing some of your scores to ones i posted on imdb.

Invaders from mars Both 6
Piranha You 8, me 6
Mirrors both 6
Quarentine both 8
Amusement both 6
Otis, you 8 me 6
r-point both 7

[steelba]

I agree with DG's rating system, a 5 is average 'right in the middle'. A 6 means it was slightly above average and so forth.

[Dragonmanes]

Im trying to calculate what the scores would translate to if equated out.. Using your scale, this would be a close approximation:

Invaders from Mars
DG: 6
Carl: 4.5

Piranha
DG: 6
Carl: 7.5

Mirrors
DG: 6
Carl: 4.5

Quarantine
DG: 8
Carl: 8.5

Amusement
DG: 6
Carl: 4.5

Otis
DG: 6
Carl: 8.5

R-Point
DG: 7
Carl: 8

Once we both get to a score of 9 or above, diminishing margin returns set in and our scores hold about the same weight.

[steelba]

quarantine is a 6 :straightface:

[Dragonmanes]

I think you saw a different Quarantine Steel, one with Leonardo DiCaprio directed by Michael Bay? The one I saw was awesome lol..

[Dragonmanes]

Steel I saw you gave a flick a 5 and called it a steaming pile, so you have officially signed on to the Carl ratings scale buwahaha

Pumpkinhead (1988): Perfectly crafted creature feature with a Southern Gothic flair. A man calls upon the demon of Vengeance to avenge his son, who was killed by irresponsible teens on dirt bikes. Not since Alien and Predator had there been such an awesome creature design, and nothing has topped it since. The film is full of beautiful fog and lighting effects along with deep blues and oranges that all contribute to an eerie and terrifying environment. It also achieves a timeless quality through the rural back country settings. Each of the actors do a superb job with the material, but this may be Lance Henriksen's single most emotive and powerful role, if not most memorable. Stan Winston's incredible work on the creature FX allow the audience to completely suspend disbelief as the 9' beast stalks its prey on its haunches (seemingly) free of wires or braces. Pumpkinhead is a dark, sinister horror film that is a defining entry in the genre. 10/10.

Pumpkinhead 2 (1993): Considering the lack of Winston's involvement and the drastically reduced budget, this retread / followup does the most it can with what it was given. KNB's redesign isnt nearly as convincing or spectacular, but it gets the job done through creative framing and forced perspective. A group of teens unwittingly unleash the demon of Vengeance, and must pay for the sins of their fathers. The acting and plot sure arent going to win any awards, but they are both sufficient enough to carry the movie. The biggest hit the film takes is the change in mood, from the dark, brooding, and stylish original to a conventional and bland color pallet and tone. With some added blood and gore, the sequel makes for some guilty fun, but doesnt hold a flame to the original. 6/10.

Pumpkinhead 3 (2006): You have to give director Jake West credit for making every attempt to draw from the original source material and integrate as many sets, characters, and props from the original as possible. With his relative inexperience and limited SciFi Channel budget, he makes a valid effort. Unfortunately, that doesnt make it a good film. The creature FX arent nearly as convincing, and though the CG is forgivable since it is used where physical FX would be impractical, it looks cartoony and cheapens the look of our favorite demon. The acting is better than expected for SciFi, so overall it isnt the complete disaster it should have been. A group of mourning friends conjure the demon of Vengeance to avenge their family members that were killed by organ harvesters. 6/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970): Picking up immediately where the last left off, a traveling salesman collect the dried blood of Dracula after witnessing his death. The blood is sold to three jaded statesmen under the guidance of an eccentric stranger who plans to hold the ultimate thrill: a black mass. Dracula is revived and seeks out to destroy the men. This is not only my favorite Hammer film, but perhaps even my favorite vampire film. It offers more gorgeous set designs and vivid coloring in true Hammer form, and is incredibly bloody and sexual. The plot is a unique twist on the Dracula theme, and each of the supporting cast members excel in their roles. Lee also returns in full force as the tight-lipped and bestial count, appearing stronger and more menacing than ever. Do not write this sequel off, it is very enjoyable and incredibly well made! 8/10.

The Other (1972): Effectively subtle horror film, but while it is competently directed, acted, and written, the slow pace / low action Victorian Connecticut setting may not work for all horror fans. Most of the deaths that result from the mischievous twins are either implied or bloodless, leaving most of the scares up to suspense and anticipation. The foreshadowing is so blatantly obvious there is no suspenseful climax, but it still offers an Omen-esque build and a decent finale. A psychic boy and his mischievous twin become suspect when a series of 'accidents' plague a small rural community. Fans of classic horror will probably take more away from this than gorehounds. 7/10.

[steelba]

I think you saw a different Quarantine Steel, one with Leonardo DiCaprio directed by Michael Bay? The one I saw was awesome lol..
I saw the one with Jenifer Carpenter and gave the more accurate review :starefreak:

[IKickAssForTheLord]

Quarantine is garbage.

[Dragonmanes]

Im surprised there is such a huge varience in the ratings, I thought if nothing else some would like it slightly less than others, but from what ive seen horror fans are pretty black and white on the film

[Dragonmanes]

Donnie Darko (2001): Donnie Darko is one of those films that people either love or hate. I find the film to be brilliant, and to be one of the greatest independent accomplishments in the last decade. The film is entirely original from start to finish, drawing more inspiration from philosophy and scientific theory than modern film. Each of the performers bring something sharp, quirky, and uniquely funny to their characters. Gyllenhaal in particular plays what I will always consider his defining role, mixing dark humor and wit with a boyish sense of wonderment and confusion. The plot is deeply immersed in its own bizarre mythology without ever fully explaining any of the symbolism or imagery to the audience, which acts as an amazing strength to the film that begs revisiting. That is, unless you watch the Director's Cut, which assumes the audience is full of surface level dullards and dumbs down the film beyond recognition. 10/10.

Wizard of Gore (2008): Ambitious but passable attempt on the HG Lewis original. The camera angles, colors, and editing have a distinct and distracting music-video feel to them and dont aid the plot. Would have been better suited as a shortened anthology entry. The gore is pretty good, and there is plenty of gratuitous nudity, but neither are enough to save the patchy plot work. Even Glover's over the top performance, which is entertaining at times, doesnt feel fully committed. A crazed magician dismembers volunteers then reforms them on stage, but a news writer finds the volunteers are dying in suspiciously similar accidents after the show. Points for the excessive attempt to modernize the plot, I just cant get into the flick. 6/10.

Helter Skleter (2004): This second made for TV adaptation attempt approaches the film with a much more cinematic style over the documentary approach of the earlier film. It rearranges the events in the novel chronologically as they occurred rather than by the order in which the evidence was discovered by police, as in the original film. Some of the dialogue has been specifically fabricated to promote the Helter Skelter theory prevalent in the novel as well. The film feels much more violent than it really is thanks to creative editing during the scenes of extreme violence and deploying techniques like color negativity to maximize impact but reduce visible gore. Davies plays the most convincing Manson to date, having extensively studied and recreated Manson's speech patterns and mannerisms. Overall, the film is an excellent interpretation of the devastating events of the murders, with solid acting lending credibility to the realism of the Family. 8/10.

Critters (1986): Spiny creatures from space crash land on Earth and make snack foods out of the locals in a rural town. The Chiodo Bros come through with more awesome creature designs on top of impressive low budget / high production value FX. The flick is pure 80s, with an even combination of campy fun and nostalgic SciFi Horror. The off-beat acting never takes itself too seriously, allowing the cast to have fun with the roles. The puppets have obvious limitations in movement, which the FX artists cleverly overcome by making the creatures ball up and roll. With several memorable laugh out loud moments, the film comes recommended, especially to fans of films like Invaders From Mars. 8/10.

[steelba]

Donnie Darko (2001): Donnie Darko 10/10.
[B]
:die:

[IKickAssForTheLord]

Donnie Darko isn't horror. But Still a good movie.

[strtfghtr]

yeah i don't know about a 10.. I'd give it an 8 maybe a 9. Probably because I saw it AFTER all the hype not before.

[Dragonmanes]

I originally saw it during the prescreening phase when they were showing it on the college campuses, and it blew me away. I truly believe that more people have come to dislike the film because of the hype than because of the filmmaking, but I really love the film. I threw it in here because it has horror elements, but definitely falls more under Suspense / Mystery than anything else

[koolmike]

DD - piece o' crap

[Dragonmanes]

Now are we talking style, directing, plot, acting? Im interested to know where the film draws the most criticism from, do people find it too pretencious?

[Dragonmanes]

Ed Gein (2000): Good docudrama focusing on the true life events of Eddie Gein, the Butcher of Plainfield. The low budget minimalist approach to the sound and gore adds a degree of realism, which is only accentuated by Railsback's excellent performance as the disturbed farmer. Railsback brings something sorrowful and empathetic to the role, in what is easily his best performance since Helter Skelter. It is also the most accurate portrayal of the true events, playing them straight compared to the sometimes campy performances in Deranged. Though there is little on screen violence, the grisly remains scattered throughout the movie are extremely gory and believable. I recommend it, its disturbing and you wont soon forget the dance in the moonlight! 8/10.

House on the Edge of the Park (1980): Sleazy Exploitation flick filmed with a surprising amount of style. David Hess reprises his role as a villainous hoodlum who terrorizes a group of social elitists after he and his buddy are invited to their party for fixing their car. Hess cannot be better suited for the role, and has a natural air of sadism and menace inherent in his acting. The build up to the attacks is perfectly executed in establishing the characters and generating interest in the audience, but once the violence and rape begin, the film becomes tedious and repetitive. It proves to be far better than many of the other Eurotrash entries of the time, but it fails to dethrone Last House on the Left or I Spit On Your Grave in terms of sensationalism or quality. I enjoy it for what it is, so it comes recommended. 7/10.

Splinter (2008): A couple are taken hostage by a fugitive, but a fateful stop at a gas station pits all of them against a symbiotic organism that infects living tissue, turning man and animal into twisted and deadly killers. The most noticeable thing about the flick is definitely the awesome gore and make-up FX, with some of the coolest and most effective creatures so far this year. The plot quickly boils down to the standard Night of the Living Dead scenario, but the acting, characters, and dialogue are enough to differentiate it and maintain interest between the killing. With several wincing gore scenes, this will definitely satiate any horror fans hunger for blood. 8/10.

[steelba]

Now are we talking style, directing, plot, acting? Im interested to know where the film draws the most criticism from, do people find it too pretencious?
Pretentious, redundant, poorly acted, over hyped, and ultimately pointless.

[Dragonmanes]

Thats honestly the first time I have ever had anyone reasonably explain their distaste for the film, most of the time I just get "It sucks.. and I didnt get it.."

[strtfghtr]

I can understand the pretentious and over-hyped comments but I found the rest of the film to be put together very well and acted out impresively for such a young cast.

I need to watch the rest of splinter, I cought the last 25 mins on Sci-Fi and loved it...I need to see it uncut.

[steelba]

Yeah the acting didn't do it for me, i found it bland and not engaging, Splinter was ok but I'd hit it with a 6. Not enough of a body count to over come the dialogue and ridiculous scenarios for me.

[Dragonmanes]

and the scraps they stole from Tremors 2's table. I still love all of the acting in DD, I find each of the characters to be incredibly unique and thought out. I cant fight the hype deal, thats the films own fault for being awesome, it dug its own grave.

[steelba]

They were generic late 90's stereo types, chiseled from a mold, guess that's your thing.

[Dragonmanes]

Truthfully.. I just have the hots for Beth Grant

[steelba]

hahaha, coolz :cooldude:

[Dragonmanes]

Critters 2 (1988): What this sequel lacks in originality and acting, it more than makes up for entertainment! The Crites are back, hatching from the eggs left over from last time, but luckily Brad Brown and the alien bounty hunters have returned to town in time to stop them. With a bigger budget, the creature FX have been vastly improved, allowing expanded physical capabilities that lend much more believability and personality to the creatures. The film also successfully recaptures the feel and humor of the original, with many returning characters and physical comedy instilled in it. Though the original is the better film, the sequel is slightly more enjoyable. 7/10.

Well, it sadens me to say this but this will be the last ILHM review.. This week. Taking off tonight to head up to LA for the Fangoria convention woo woo! Whats that? Who is meeting Bava and Deodato tomorrow? M.. Me? I wont gloat or anything but I rules. Thats right, so much rule that its plural. :bye:

[Dragonmanes]

Back and worse than ever!

Zombie 3 (1988): Fulci rightfully signed off halfway through this mess of a zombie film. It just doesnt recapture the tone or graphic violence of the original, and has terrible acting and dialouge even for an Italian schlockfest. The gut munching and zombie effects are adequate and warrant at least a single view for zombie fans, but while it is superior to the many of the other cheap Italian zombie cashins churned out in the late 70s and early 80s, that still only makes it slightly above terrible. An undeadly serum unleashes zombies on deserving victims who go out of their way to investigate deserted towns on an island. 4/10.

Zoltan - Hound of Dracula (1978): The movie is about Dracula's dog, who coincidentally is also a vampire. Zoltan is freed from his tomb, and sets out to wreak havoc on the Drake family, the last known descendants of Dracula. Knowing this, honestly, what would you expect? Despite the absurdity, this is a cheesy, stupid, but fun and entertaining 70s 'animal attacks' film. It really is hilarious watching a dog seduce other dogs into his legion of vampire dogs. C'mon, who wouldnt like to see that? Sure, it manages to make an hour and a half seem like three, and they must have picked the actors up off the street, but with glowing eyes and greyed hair, the dogs are sufficiently creepy. Echoes Devil Dog a bit, but makes for a great Killer Animal marathon. 5/10.

[Dragonmanes]

PS - had to move into my moms place while they finish the mold remediation on my condo, only brought one box of DVDs and it looks like it was S through Z..

[strtfghtr]

you're dead on with zombie 3...lame

[Dragonmanes]

City of the Dead (1960): A student takes up residence in a small New England town to research witchcraft, but is caught up in the town's dark secrets. Excellent undermentioned Gothic horror that builds a chilling atmosphere through superior set design, creepy fog effects, arbitrary figures appearing and disappearing into the fog-laden town, and sinister characterizations. My one qualm with the film is that the film has perfect structure until it restarts half way through after the disappearance of a major player. Other than this drastic shift in plot, everything else from the acting to the scripting plays out perfectly, and would be a call back to The Mask of Satan if the two films hadnt been made in the same year. Highly recommended for Gothic horror fans!! 9/10.

When A Stranger Calls (1979): The first half hour is ever babysitters nightmare, and a classic, terrifying scene in film history. After that, the film loses focus, as well as the female lead, and becomes a mediocre character study and a worse killer on the loose story. Still, the intro and climax offer excellent scares and original camera work. It is interesting to see the typically hilarious Carol Kane take up a serious role, making it one of her more memorable appearances, and Beckley is chilling at times and empathetic at others. Not the best example to come out of the peak Slasher era, but a must see for most horror fans. A babysitter is receiving frightful phone calls, only to find out they are coming from inside the house! 7/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Sleepwalkers (1992): This King adaptation combines elements of lycanthropy and vampirism in a fast paced and fun story of an incestuous pair of soul-sucking werecats that attempt to lure a high school girl into their clutches. Despite its made-for-TV look and feel, the acting is pretty solid (outside of a few cheesy scenes), and it offers good practical and special FX with plenty of cameos in true Mick Garris style. There is a little scattered gore that catches you off guard, but overall it isnt too bloody. I get more enjoyment out of the film than it probably deserves, but it is something worth checking out that most genre fans should like. 7/10.

Naked Massacre (1976): The title sums it up well, but a more suitable title would have been "A Bunch of Supposed Nudity and Violence Off Camera Massacre." A Vietnam vet goes balls out crazy and enters a communal home for nurses, ties them up, then randomly selects which ones to molest and kill in an orderly fashion. The plot obviously reflects the Speck killings, which are even referenced by one of the characters. The film never transcends typical, bland Exploitation with scattered blood and nudity. It attempts a character study with the villainous lead, but he never manages to gain the audience's support. The only shining moments are the realistic setting in the opening depicting the civil disorder in Ireland over religious warfare, and the denouement on which I cannot comment. This film can easily be missed. 4/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Tamara (2005): This is a decent little 'Im the weird girl at school so everyone sets me up for embarrassment and kill me by mistake then i come back and kill them ironically using their personal flaws' flick that offers above average acting, good gore, and excellent camera work for an Indie horror release. It isnt entirely original, identifying itself closely with the standard Carrie model, but it sets a strong pace and is very entertaining. The acting becomes a bit corny at times, particularly the nerd character, but overall Dewan handles Tamara's dual personalities well and establishes two strikingly different characters. I am a fan of the film, it stands out from most other small Indie attempts and recalls previous genre efforts while offering its own unique voice. Worth checking out! 7/10.

When A Stranger Calls (2006): I want to preface this by saying the producers made the right move in remaking this film. Outside of genre purists, next generation teens were unlikely to ever reproach the original, and the 'scared babysitter receiving menacing phone calls' theme is universally scary to all teens, making it an instant money maker in theaters with a PG-13 rating. The problem is that the new film extends the fast-paced and thrilling opening of the original into a slow, uneventful hour and a half. There are some clever scares generated by every day household noises put into the right context, but there are way too many red herrings, and the plot never really goes anywhere. The PG-13 crowd may have jumped a few pre-determined moments, but there is nothing worth reproaching on DVD for the seasoned Horror vet. Good settings, good camera work, but they arent enough to salvage the generic, bland plot and minimal dialogue. A babysitter is stalked by an unseen intruder in a secluded mansion. 6/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Trilogy of Terror (1975): I like Trilogy of Terror, dont get me wrong. It is entertaining, and no one can forget the Zuni fetish doll. It certainly has its place in genre history, and stands above most other made for TV genre efforts. What it isnt, however, is a great movie. The first and second entries are rather generic, and are themes that have been revisited (and done better) many times in the genre. The only thing that sets this anthology effort apart is the third entry, which most fans identify the film with. The Zuni fetish is one of the earlier and most effective killer doll attempts, and it is done considerably well especially taking into account the limitations handed down by a constrained budget and TV censorship. All things considered, the technical aspects of the film are better than most other TV movies, and Karen Black proves herself as a leading genre actress, but the pacing and structure only make for an average film. 7/10.

Tales from the Darkside (1990): Fun little anthology flick with tales of gargoyles, a killer cat, and a vengeful mummy. Adapts stories by King, Doyle, and others with a fresh cinematic style and plenty of familiar cameos. KNB offers up some more amazing FX, particularly in the creature creation in the final entry. Harrison keeps the film visually engaging, with the second story offering a cats POV, explicit use of color, plus unique framing. The film also delivers a clever wrap-around that ties everything together nicely. Unlike the EC Comics films like Tales from the Crypt or Vault of Horror, the entries are not morality tales, but do have ironic endings. I enjoy it more with each viewing, great early 90s anthology effort. 8/10.

Witchboard (1985): Somewhere between Boogeyman and Poltergeist Part II lies Witchboard, a possession film that somehow manages to be so boring that the high point of the entire movie is when the lead male punches his possessed girlfriend in the face. Not quite as bad (or gory) as Boogeyman, but pretty close. A woman is obsessed with contacting 'David' in her Ouija board. David lures her into an uneventful possession, then its over. The combination of typical 80s overacting and slow pacing make this a chore to watch, and several scenes feel like forced filler used to meet the feature length. There is some scattered bloodshed, but its extremely sparse and hardly worth the wait. There are many fans of the film, but I give it a big pass. 5/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Trilogy of Terror (1975): I like Trilogy of Terror, dont get me wrong. It is entertaining, and no one can forget the Zuni fetish doll. It certainly has its place in genre history, and stands above most other made for TV genre efforts. What it isnt, however, is a great movie. The first and second entries are rather generic, and are themes that have been revisited (and done better) many times in the genre. The only thing that sets this anthology effort apart is the third entry, which most fans identify the film with. The Zuni fetish is one of the earlier and most effective killer doll attempts, and it is done considerably well especially taking into account the limitations handed down by a constrained budget and TV censorship. All things considered, the technical aspects of the film are better than most other TV movies, and Karen Black proves herself as a leading genre actress, but the pacing and structure only make for an average film. 5/10.

Haunts (1977): A devote small town farm woman becomes suspicious and recluse after her family is brutally murdered, only to be confronted with the killer in several more narrow escapes. This one takes extra effort in staying awake and interested, with an extremely slow pace, bits of implied violence, and uninteresting filming. The acting holds up ok, with Britt playing a convincing lead and Cameron Mitchell appearing in an average cameo, but it isnt enough to make the film stand out in any way. The one thing that really keeps the audience watching is the dubious identity of the killer, which keeps you guessing up until the end and successfully plays out several red herrings like in Tenebrae. One would have to go through a long list of films before this would be recommended, but it isnt a total loss. 5/10.

Black Sunday (1960): Bava's finest cinematic achievement combines beautiful and dark Gothic settings, impressive camera techniques, and unforgettable imagery and visual storytelling. A vampiress vows revenge after being killed by the Inquisition, only to be revived two centuries later to seek revenge! Though Bava would go on to develop even more impressive filming techniques in his later films, none recapture the perfect blend of atmosphere, acting, and set design quite like Black Sunday. Barbara Steele is haunting as the vampire Asia, and equally stunning as the princess Katia, drawing the audience in with her seducing gaze. Easily my favorite Bava film, setting the bar for all genre films to follow and rivaling even Hitchcock in style and design. 10/10.

[steelba]

Trilogy of Terror (1975): I like Trilogy of Terror, dont get me wrong. It is entertaining, and no one can forget the Zuni fetish doll. It certainly has its place in genre history, and stands above most other made for TV genre efforts. What it isnt, however, is a great movie. The first and second entries are rather generic, and are themes that have been revisited (and done better) many times in the genre. The only thing that sets this anthology effort apart is the third entry, which most fans identify the film with. The Zuni fetish is one of the earlier and most effective killer doll attempts, and it is done considerably well especially taking into account the limitations handed down by a constrained budget and TV censorship. All things considered, the technical aspects of the film are better than most other TV movies, and Karen Black proves herself as a leading genre actress, but the pacing and structure only make for an average film. 7/10.



Trilogy of Terror (1975): I like Trilogy of Terror, dont get me wrong. It is entertaining, and no one can forget the Zuni fetish doll. It certainly has its place in genre history, and stands above most other made for TV genre efforts. What it isnt, however, is a great movie. The first and second entries are rather generic, and are themes that have been revisited (and done better) many times in the genre. The only thing that sets this anthology effort apart is the third entry, which most fans identify the film with. The Zuni fetish is one of the earlier and most effective killer doll attempts, and it is done considerably well especially taking into account the limitations handed down by a constrained budget and TV censorship. All things considered, the technical aspects of the film are better than most other TV movies, and Karen Black proves herself as a leading genre actress, but the pacing and structure only make for an average film. 5/10.

:starefreak:

[FrighT MasteR]

:yfreaked:

[IKickAssForTheLord]

:hmmm:

[Dragonmanes]

Most interesting.. What the hell did I manage to do? The 7/10 rating stands, the other one must have been an accidental repost thats all sorts of wrong? I blame society..

Black Sabbath (1963): A trio of terrors featuring a murderous Giallo, a family falling prey to their vampirous father, and a vengeful ghost haunting a clever thief. If the second tale, The Wurdalak, had been a complete feature, the film would rival Black Sunday as Bava's crowning achievement, but as it stands it is one of the creepiest, most beautiful, and perfectly executed short stories. Bava goes from stark black and white to a surreal and unnaturalstic color palette coupled with more gorgeous sets and amazing camera work. The third entry is what Bava considers to be his most technically proficient film, with the color, sound, and lighting all playing integrally into the overall mood and terror. As Giallo's go, the first entry is a strong effort, complete with the Italian trademarks of overt sexuality, societal taboos like lesbianism, a black-gloved killer, and a plot for revenge. While the first and third entries are still very good, The Wurdalak tends to be the most memorable and best crafted of the three, but the film is a masterpiece and a must see for any horror fan. 10/10.

Bay of Blood (1971): This is one of the more stylishly shot Slasher flicks, and although it isnt as good as many of Bava's other films, it is undeniably one of the most influential Italian horror movies on American cinema. The death scenes are extremely brutal and bloody, with decapitations, machetes to the face, stabbings, stranglings, everything. The inhabitants of a small bay get caught up in murder and greed with the prospect of a major development and a lot of money. Bava explores many new camera techniques and makes full use of the natural color palette of the lake, but the film doesnt have the same visual impact as his earlier films. The characters and acting are also a bit more generic, but compared to the average slasher Bay of Blood is definitely a stronger entry. Look for scenes that would later be re-created in American Slashers like Friday the 13th Part II. A fun, gory watch, but I prefer Bava's far superior Slasher entry Blood and Black Lace. 8/10.

[Necromancer]

[QUOTE=Dragonmanes;817597]]Black Sabbath (1963):[/B] A trio of terrors featuring a murderous Giallo, a family falling prey to their vampirous father, and a vengeful ghost haunting a clever thief. If the second tale, The Wurdalak, had been a complete feature, the film would rival Black Sunday as Bava's crowning achievement, but as it stands it is one of the creepiest, most beautiful, and perfectly executed short stories. Bava goes from stark black and white to a surreal and unnaturalstic color palette coupled with more gorgeous sets and amazing camera work. The third entry is what Bava considers to be his most technically proficient film, with the color, sound, and lighting all playing integrally into the overall mood and terror. As Giallo's go, the first entry is a strong effort, complete with the Italian trademarks of overt sexuality, societal taboos like lesbianism, a black-gloved killer, and a plot for revenge. While the first and third entries are still very good, The Wurdalak tends to be the most memorable and best crafted of the three, but the film is a masterpiece and a must see for any horror fan. 10/10.



I will agree that the film is very good , but I certainly wouldn't give it a 10. Maybe to you " The Wurdalak" is most memorable out of the three, but the conversations I've had and listened in on the story that is mentioned the most is " The Drop of Water", so I'd say that generally the favorite, and most Memorable would be The Drop of Water

[Dragonmanes]

My wife prefers Drop of Water out of the three as well, but in the circles I run with and research I have done it seems Drop of Water and The Wurdalak run pretty close. For overall technical work and filmmaking as a craft on top of the excellent storytelling, there are few films that have been made better so for me Hitchcock, Argento, and Bava run the top of the gammut for the genre. Love it!

[Dragonmanes]

Revenge of Frankenstein (1958): As sequels go, this is a decent followup to Hammer's first Frankenstein entry, and is made with the same high level of quality and technical proficiency as most other Hammer films. For my taste, there just isnt much interest in retreading the Frankenstein story and beating it to death. Frankenstein escapes the guillotine with the help of a malformed apprentice that aids him in exchange for the promise of a new body. After a successful brain transplant, Karl begins slipping into the savage beast Frankenstein thought he had suppressed since his first attempt. Top rate acting from Cushing along with Gwynn's decent into madness, but the pacing dwindles off at times and there just isnt enough originality to distinguish it from the first film. 7/10.

Witchery (1988): Disasterous haunted house vehicle starring Linda Blair and The Hoff. The plot is so boring and pointless that you sit in anticipation, thinking at any minute something awesome MUST be coming up soon. By 1hr, it becomes apparent that nothing is coming.. nothing. A witch haunts a deserted isle hotel, while visitors succumb to her crappy overacting slash witchery. A (very) few ok make-up FX for the gore, but nothing worth watching for. The witch is some old, beat former actress that just randomly appears in reflections or in person with no consistency or suspense. The acting isnt unbearable, and there are a few moments of surreal visuals, but this is Eurotrash you can definitely afford to miss. 4/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Stir of Echoes (1999): Overshadowed by the similarly themed Sixth Sense, Stir of Echoes seemed to be a flop initially, but upon revisiting the film, audiences will find it equally if not more frightening. The gripping plot does not lose effectiveness after the first viewing, and uses subtle scares created through the characters interactions with the unseen ghosts and clever editing. This is easily Kevin Bacon's best performance as the ESP-plagued protagonist, haunted by visions of a missing girl stalking his family. The cadences of each of the characters are unique and interesting, with a blue collar appeal that is both believable and relateable. One of the best genre films to come out of the 90s, highly recommended! 9/10.

The Toxic Avenger (1985): THE B-movie, setting the bar for both low budget horror and intentionally terrible horror comedies. Every single performance is acted to perfection, contributing to the ridiculous tone. Whats surprising is how awesome the gore and make-up FX are given the budget and production. Theres no line Troma wont cross, and never a dull moment or expected scene. When youre in for a cheesy, gory, over the top Tromatic experience, nothing beats The Toxic Avenger! A nerdy mop boy is transformed into a mutant crime fighting freak after a run in with some teenage hooligans and a vat of toxic waste. 9/10.

[666slipknotmaggot666]

this is cool

[Dragonmanes]

Thanks 666, if you like the reviews I post a bunch of other random shit into my blog at the link below, just posted an interview I conducted with Robert Kurtzman and I will be doing more giveaways on the site shortly!

[strtfghtr]

ok i can see toxie being a 9/10 on your scale...but stir of echoes? I mean it was damn good but not 9/10 good.

[Dragonmanes]

Im a huge fan of the film, and I definitely think it is one of the most technically proficient and best constructed genre films to come out of the 90s. Given the films Ive rated at an 8 and the ones at a 9, the film comes closer to a 9 for sure on my scale :nod:

Puppet Master (1989): Theres obviously no disputing that this is one of the best killer doll movies, but as much as I love the series as a whole, I have never been a fan of the original. The characters are all too eccentric, and take their roles too seriously considering the off-beat writing and tone. The plot is so far from realistic it borders on absurd, with a group of psychic friends returning to a hotel after being summoned by a colleague who they find is deceased. It turns out he was trying to find the secret of resurrection mastered by a puppet maker, and he and the puppets attack the new visitors out of revenge. It is odd from start to finish, with a few creepy moments created by the mannequin-like acting of the dead friend. The one thing that sets the film apart is the amazing puppetry and stop-motion animation used for the puppets, along with their original designs. For a small scale film, the FX are absolutely amazing, and beat out CGI any day of the week. Excellent FX, mediocre. 7/10.

Puppet Master 2 (1991): A bland and boring follow-up to the original. The puppets revive Toulon, who collects the brain matter of the paranormal investigators staking out the hotel to use in his rejuvination potion with which he plans to revive his deceased wife. The entire film feels like an excuse to use the amazing puppet FX once again, which it does effectively, but every second of the plot feels contrived. There are no likeable human characters, and the films to follow show very little continuity to the evil and sinister Toulon established in this entry. Watch it for the FX, and the addition of the new puppet Torch, then shelve it. 5/10.

Puppet Master 3 (1991): Toulon is chased through Berlin as the Nazis try to steal the potion that gives his puppets life to use for their own sinister means. This is the best entry in the entire series, offering superior acting with the addition of many new and interesting characters along with Guy Roulfe stepping in as Andre Toulon. For the budget, the film serves as a convincing period piece, and the animation and puppetry hit their peak. Roulfe plays a sympathetic lead, which finally gives the audience someone to relate to in the series. The film also provides some history and background into the origins of several of the puppets, and introduces Six Shooter, who quickly becomes a fan favorite. Highly recommended as one of Full Moon's better achievements during the height of their success. 8/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Puppet Master 4 (1993): Enter The Totems. A science wiz trying to conquer Artificial Intelligence comes across the puppets in the Bodega Bay Inn, but the evil skeleton puppet demon of resurrection (?) sends his minions The Totems to keep the secrets of resurrection safe. Couldnt shorten that. WTF. This is the most indulgent entry in the series, and it does offer more puppet fun, but the plot is extremely lacking and only serves as an excuse to show off more of the FX work. Why they decided to go with the demon subplot, we will never know, but what the plot does offer is miniature villains for the puppets to face off with for the first time. For a brainless Slasher, the film is a guilty pleasure and wont disappoint fans of the series. 6/10.

Tokyo Gore Police (2008): Ridiculous comic gore at its best! The film is like watching a live action anime, with literal fountains of blood and insane effects. The Tokyo Police Force is privatized after The Engineers, living bio-weapon killers, begin invading the city. A female cop must destroy them while searching for her father's killer. The plot is non-sequitor at times and definitely secondary to the effects, but the visuals keep the film interesting the entire time. On top of a bright color palette, the costumes, editing, and design all feel like a living comic book. The comedic tone and timing contribute just as much to the fun of the movie as the absurd amount of blood. For straight Horror fans, this may be a little too off the wall, but if gore is your game, this is an absolute must see, must own! 8/10.

Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008): This film is what I imagine going to an Evanescence concert is like: whiny girl rock, emo kids, and guys in makeup. Of course, I jest, but the truth is this film is entirely original from start to finish and unlike anything else in the genre. The production values are unmatched, with amazing design, great acting and directing, and a nightmarish post-apocalyptic setting. I did not take to the operatic format readily, but it perfectly suits the film and gives it a larger than life feel. Each of the characters have their own distinct personalities, none of which feel bland or generic. As much as I hate to admit it, the songs are catchy as well, so beware. On the subjective side, I've seen the film twice now, and in spite of its many strengths, I just dont particularly like it much. The film has excellent pacing, but every minute felt like three. I enjoyed it more the second watch through, and it is starting to stick in my mind much like Napoleon Dynamite, so I have the feeling I will be revisiting it more and more often, and it was grow on me. An evil corporation sends out collectors to repossess synthetic organs if the recipients dont pay the bills, but as the owners own health begins to fail, he looks for a worthy successor in his arch-nemesis' daughter to take over his empire. 9/10.

AVP (2004): An expedition explores an ancient Aztec ruin found miles under ice in Antarctica that turns out to be a hunting ground for an alien species. This may be the most self-indulgent, over stylized, and disappointing films in the genre. Anderson has complete disregard for the fans and each of the series leading up to this film. Even if fans were to disregard the incontinuities, ranging from the gestation rates of the Aliens to the size of each of the species, it is hard to ignore the frequent logical errors that the film presents. The bulk of the film is spent developing throw-away human characters, and doesnt get into the action until nearly the hour mark. Once the film gets moving, there is still only about 10-15m of actual battle between the species. To the films credit, the costume designs are pretty awesome (even if the Predators are incredibly over-sized), the production qualities are top-rate, and the concept of the film could have worked well in better hands. AVP is just far too 'big-budget blockbuster' for its own good, and loses the dark grittiness of the previous films. I wont even get in to the fact that one Alien kills two Predators. OK, I will.. Fuck that. This movie proves to be nothing more than a guilty pleasure with little contribution to either series, and is a PG-13 borefest at best. I just hit rewind and watch the Alien / Predator battle for an hour to get my fill. It was a waste of a perfectly profitable opportunity, and though watchable, doesnt even come close to reaching the level of awesome it should have. Yet.. I will still pay to see any other sequels no matter how bad. Weird. Did I mention I hate Paul WS Anderson and his touch corrupts anything it comes in contact with besides Mortal Kombat? 6/10.

[Dragonmanes]

100 Years of Horror (1996): AKA "The Most Deceiving Horror Retrospective Ever Created." AKA "40 Years of Public Domain Titles." This retrospective documentary boasts 10,000 terrifying horror movie moments and a thorough review of the horror genre spanning the last century. Wrong. Most of the films covered pre-date 1950, and nearly all of them have fallen into public domain. The titles that havent (particularly the Universal films) only show behind the scenes footage that was secured without copyright. To the series' credit, Christopher Lee hosts with a touch of dry British wit, and it does offer many unseen video interviews with Karloff, Lugosi, Corman, and others. It is just baffling how they can call it 100 Years of Horror and show 25m of black and white films followed by a brief photo montage of the remaining 50yrs in a 5m span. The versed horror fan looking to discover those rare horror finds need look elsewhere, but it offers an invaluable encyclopedic entry for fans of classic horror looking for deeper insight into films like The Invisible Ray, The Terror, Dracula, and others in this 667m series. 7/10.

An American Werewolf in London (1981): A young American and his friend are attacked in the English moors, leaving one of them dead and the other delusional. Convinced they were attacked by a wolf, David fears he will become a werewolf under the next full moon. John Landis creates a darkly funny but deeply terrifying horror comedy that offers excellent character development and naturalistic dialogue that instantly engages the audience. The comedic timing borders on perfection, attributed just as much to the acting as to the clever writing. It is only rivaled by the subtle but effective scares, built on suspense and anticipation over surprise. With a mind-blowing special effects sequence created by Rick Baker that went on to win an Oscar, this may also be the definitive make-up FX film of all time. The technical aspects of the film contribute just as much to its success, with beautiful cinematography and unique framing. The film is an outstanding accomplishment in film that defines and transcends the genre. 10/10.

Aliens Vs. Predator: Requiem (2007): Another failed attempt at bringing these iconic monsters together on screen, but the film isnt without its merits. The human element is completely unnecessary and underdeveloped this round, with walking stereotypes only being built up to be knocked down. The throwaway characters and dialogue only exist as more excuses for the excessive bloodshed. The film offers call backs to both series through the costume designs, body language, sound effects, and music, then kicks up the gore for a hard R-rating. The action is interwoven more evenly with the character development than in the first film, and there are far more battles between the beasts to the satisfaction of most fans. The new Predator, Wolf, shares much more with the first two films than AVP, and has a sleeker design and far superior combat skills. He is met with the Predalien Alien-Predator hybrid spawned at the end of the first film, which is a fierce, unique, and powerful new villain. The biggest problem in all of this is that the film really serves no purpose and does not propagate any significant plot. Aliens break free in a small mountain town, and the Predator must destroy them. Period. I enjoy the film for the mindless action / horror sequences, but it is far from great filmmaking. 6/10.

I know it looks like Im slacking but anyone following the blog will know Im living at moms house until the mold in the condo is fixed, so yeah.. Damnit.. dont get to watch as much..

[Dragonmanes]

Poultrygeist (2006): Words used to accurately describe Poultrygeist: absurd, ridiculous, pure Troma, awesome, awful, bloody, hilarious, original, gross, gory, amazing, terrible. The film absolutely hilarious at times, and dreadfully boring and stupid at others. Fans of the past decades of Troma films will find plenty to love here, but the average horror fan might not be able to take some of the stranger elements, like the frequent musical numbers and asinine plot and dialogue. The acting and humor are in true Troma form, along with geysers of blood and tons of gore. There is no point at which the film isnt alienating some stereotype, trampling societal taboos, or giving the MPAA a run for their money, so Lloyd Kaufman has certainly outdone himself. Now then, once you get past all of the Troma craziness, the film just isnt all that great. It runs long at times, the plot is extremely thin and built around the gore, and the musical aspects are distracting and annoying. Despite its flaws, it is very entertaining and insanely gory, and certainly worth checking out! A fast food restaurant built on an Indian burial ground is taken over by vengeful spirits that return as mutant chicken zombies! 6/10, Gore: 10/10, Entertainment: 8/10.

Puppet Master 5 (1993): This one should have been called Puppet Master 4 Part II, since the plot and characters are nearly identical (not surprising as the films were produced simultaneously on the same set). The characters are all extremely simple and boring, the puppetry is a step down from the previous entries, and theres only one Totem battling the puppets, making for little action. Theres very little to say about this one, it is a boring retread that contributes nothing to the series. The last 15 offer an OK extended FX sequence, but the average horror fan will have already checked out by then. The new techno-wiz puppet master battles thieves and the master demon Totem for control of Toulon's secrets of resurrection. 5/10.

[SkullBat308]

I like your reviews and your scale makes sense..... I dont see the big deal as reviews are just opinions any way. keep up the good work

[steelba]

he's real generous wit da ratings :starefreak:

[Necromancer]

[QUOTE=Dragonmanes;820811]Poultrygeist (2006): Words used to accurately describe Poultrygeist: absurd, ridiculous, pure Troma, awesome, awful, bloody, hilarious, original, gross, gory, amazing, terrible. The film absolutely hilarious at times, and dreadfully boring and stupid at others. Fans of the past decades of Troma films will find plenty to love here, but the average horror fan might not be able to take some of the stranger elements, like the frequent musical numbers and asinine plot and dialogue. The acting and humor are in true Troma form, along with geysers of blood and tons of gore. There is no point at which the film isnt alienating some stereotype, trampling societal taboos, or giving the MPAA a run for their money, so Lloyd Kaufman has certainly outdone himself. Now then, once you get past all of the Troma craziness, the film just isnt all that great. It runs long at times, the plot is extremely thin and built around the gore, and the musical aspects are distracting and annoying. Despite its flaws, it is very entertaining and insanely gory, and certainly worth checking out! A fast food restaurant built on an Indian burial ground is taken over by vengeful spirits that return as mutant chicken zombies! 6/10, Gore: 10/10, Entertainment: 8/10.QUOTE]


Sorry the entire film from start to finnish is crap. Maybe the hardcore Troma fan would appreciate it more

[Dragonmanes]

I consider myself a Troma fan even though I cant claim to have seen a majority of the films, and I still gave it a D, but there are parts that I really like about it. Too bad they are outweighed by the things that suck!

Thanks for the positive feedback Skull, Steel keeps me in check which is equally appreciated lol..

American Psycho (2000): The gross mismarketing of this brilliant film led many genre fanatics astray, portraying it as just another cheap slasher. Really, American Psycho accentuates Ellis' smart and biting social commentary with the added effect of Christian Bale in his single greatest and most defining role. Humor has never been darker; Horror has never been smarter. The plot follows an 80s yuppie suffocated by the burden of status and surface level humanity, whose calm demeanor begins to snap as his psychotic inner being struggles to differentiate itself in a society where one is only defined by the material. The film is left intentionally ambiguous as to whether or not Bateman is slowly losing his sanity or actually murdering those around him, which leaves much to be interpreted and begs revisiting. Many of the strengths of the film lie in the details, like Bale's subtle nuances, and small but clever set pieces and props that accentuate the theme. American Psycho will have a lasting effect on the genre and film in general, and is a work that is sure to inspire many thesis papers and film studies. 10/10.

American Psycho (2002): This followup is much better than anyone will lead you to believe (though that still isnt saying much). An escapee from Bateman's reign of terror begins knocking off her college rivals to secure her place at the top of the class. The film retains much of the same tone and humor taken a bit lighter, the deaths are interesting and frequent, and Mila plays the role with the right amount of humor and terror when needed. Consider it the Dawsons Creek of American Psycho. Granted, even with a similar tone, it doesnt even come close to retaining the same level of wit or social commentary, but it serves as a fun if not cheap college slasher. The filming also lacks the style and sophistication of the original, with a made-for-TV look and feel. Dont go in expecting the same results as the first film and you will be much better off. I recommend it, so if you dont like it take it as a knock against my credibility! 6/10.

An American Werewolf in Paris (1997): Stupid, cheesy followup to one of the greatest horror films of our generation. The amazing effects of the original are ditched for lackluster computerized effects, which allow the quadrupeds a little more freedom of movement limited by the makeup of the first, but ultimately weakens the believability and visual impact. This was probably the right move during the cutting edge of CGI in film, but the FX range from decent to extremely cartoony and just dont hold up. The characters and humor have been dumbed down for the MTV generation, replacing sharp wit with cheap laughs and slapstick comedy. Everett is a goofy fuck, and is in no way a suitable stand in for David Naughton. Regardless of the many flaws, the pace moves along quickly and it serves as a (very) guilty pleasure. A group of American teens must stop a cult of lycanthropic zealots bent on world domination in Paris. 6/10.

Werewolf in a Girl's Dormitory (1961): A girls school is plagued by a series of murders after a charming new professor starts teaching, but the wounds appear to be caused by a large animal.. Who or what is the killer? For a no-budget sleeper, the film is better than expected, with decent filming, a few excellent exteriors capturing beautiful contrasts in B+W, and simple but effective make-up. There are some pacing issues that cause the film to crawl at times, but it keeps the audience guessing until the end. After watching many terrible public domain bores, I always expect the worst, but this is actually a decent little film even with its standard B-movie plot and average acting. 6/10.

[TheRedBengal11]

american psycho was amazing. very very dark comedy. in my opinion a 10 is just a little too high, i think a 9 is more fitting. Anyways i really enjoy your reviews. Keep postin. :tiphat:

[Dragonmanes]

Just got moved back into the condo, havent been able to get online at work and the wife is getting pissed at me for spending too much time online at home so times been stretched, may be combining posts after a few days at a time.. more reviews to come once i catch up on the board!

[Dragonmanes]

Dagon (2000): This is Stuart Gordon at his absolute best, taking a minuscule budget and producing an outstanding and surreal world out of it. Dagon is a Lovecraft adaptation involving a couple whos boat is marooned on a mysterious island inhabited by strange malformed hedonists that worship Dagon, a god of the sea. The denizens of the town dont take kindly to intruders, and the couple battle to survive against the half-men / half-fish. The setting of Imboca is amazing, setting a brooding mood and atmosphere in a ramshackle town that lives under a never-ending rain cloud. Gordon incorporates deep blue tones and filters along with the constant use of water, which emphasize the importance of the ocean in the film. To reduce costs, the movie was filmed in Spain, with a predominantly Spanish cast, which gives it an authentic and unsettling feeling as compared to a town of Americans with terrible Spanish accents. On top of everything else, the FX work in the film is stunning, offering an amalgamation of different fishmen ranging from subtle webbed fingers to a woman with octopus tentacles for legs to various incarnations in between. The mobs that chase the couple make chilling calls similar to those of the velociraptors in Jurassic Park as they hunt their prey, which combined with the dark setting and claustrophic alley ways of the town makes for suspenseful and frightening chase sequences. Ezra Godden also plays a loveable geek, and though he isnt the best actor, he is excellent in the role and lends credibility to the situation. I hate to compare it to a video game, but Dagon offers the look and feel of Resident Evil 4 in a tight script and beautiful setting. I cant recommend this film enough, it ranks in my Top Ten Underrated Films. 9/10.

Amusement (2008): Conventional slasher that suffers from style over substance. The sets and directing are far superior to the plot, which lacks a voice and identity as it jumps between three story and timelines without deciding if it is a slasher, a revenge flick, or torture porn. The acting carries the flick well enough, but the killer can be completely over the top at times. There are a few attempts at suspense and gore, but it ultimately fails to gross out or scare. It also fails to give any insight as to how or why the killer can create such intricate traps a la Saw, or why he is killing to begin with (minus a brief flashback). The film just doesnt succeed on any more than a visual staindpoint. A trio of friends are stalked by a mysterious figure from their past in a clown outfit. 6/10.

30 Days of Night (2008): Things I learned about Alaska: Draculas live there, 30 days seem to take place in 1 day, vampires give speeches every time they kill people, its better to kill yourself and your family than try to survive, and characters are all one-sided. It is stylishly shot, the vampires are unique and more menacing than ever, and the acting is good (particularly the vamps), but there is just no point in which the film generates any remote level of suspense or believability. The imagery with the pale-faced vampires contrasted against the jet-black skies make for memorable scenes, and their screeching, Eastern inflections, and designs differentiate them in the genre. The problem is, we know vampires are going to bite you in the neck, and we know thats all they are going to do. Outside of giving monologues, the creatures in this flick are no different. It is extremely bloody, and even though I dont particularly like the film, I can see why many do. I find it to be boring, pretentious, and completely overrated, but this is coming from a guy that desperately hates vampire films. Vamp fans will probably find a lot to like, and I did enjoy it more on the second watch through, so its worth checking out. 8/10.

Them (2006): Home invasion has never been scarier. Them offers a gritty, suspenseful, and terrifying tale of a husband and wife being stalked in their isolated home by unseen assailants. The film relies on sound, close settings, and anxiety to drive the audience to the edge of their seats. Much like the similarly themed The Strangers, there is very little violence or gore for most of the movie, so the filmmakers must rely on the universal fears of the dark, the unseen, and invasion of privacy to scare the audience. It manages to tap into the idea that the events could happen to anyone, and does not compromise its integrity by having the characters do anything out of the ordinary. At just over 70m, it is a short runtime, but it is extremely fast-paced, and does not attempt to add filler just to meet a feature length. Highly recommended, crank the volume up and the lights down! 8/10.

Brotherhood of Satan (1970): Surprising little Satanic flick about a family that is trapped in a town where the locals are being killed and the kids are disappearing. There is some sinister plot beneath the calm rural setting, but who is behind it and what do they want with the kids? Expect a very slow build, but the film is kept interesting with the inclusion of several interesting deaths and a slow reveal of the details behind the disappearances. The acting is pretty standard, and the film isnt elaborate in any way, but the simplicity of it sells the believability since it never becomes too over the top. The climax of the film offers memorable visuals and an ending that is left completely open to interpretation. I wouldnt say this is a great film, but it held my attention and was entertaining, so I say check it out! 7/10.

Alien Raiders (2008): Indie hybrid of Intruder and The Thing that takes on the same level of fear and paranoia on a much smaller scale. A terrorist group seizes hostages in a small grocery store, claiming to be hunting humans hosting alien lifeforms. This is an excellent example of a low-budget, high production value release that is able to effectively build suspense with minimal on screen violence and gore. The familiar grocery setting becomes a dark and foreboding prison using clever lighting and framing techniques. The film feels claustrophobic and confined, but at the same time it takes full advantage of every inch of the store to provide new and interesting shots within the single location. Each of the actors provide solid performances, and despite its title, the film never trips into the pitfalls of most SciFi Channel originals of the same theme and budget. The FX also stand up to any major studio release, and the scares never feel forced. The film draws heavily from The Thing and other inspirations within the genre, but still has many original offerings and comes recommended! 8/10.

Ants! (1977): When it comes to animal attack horror flicks in the post-Jaws 70s and 80s, I always set the bar low and hope for a good time. While Ants! wasnt a complete waste, it just never picked up momentum or built any suspense. A lakeside hotel is overrun by poisonous ants. People die, then get revenge in a global anticide. The awesome: watching people pretend to be terrified of ants while playing it completely straight. The terrible: watching a movie where the villains are ants while always expecting something more to happen than ants walking around, only to be let down. There are top-billed names in the cast, the acting is above average for a made-for-TV film, and the filming and editing made the film visually interesting, but not enough so to make up for the stretch of a plot. If the film would have ended at the hour mark, I would have given it a 6, but the extended hotel escape sequence that fills the final half hour KILLS the pacing. I say pass unless you are a huge killer bug fan. 5/10.

Curse of the Puppet Master (1997): A strange thing happened in the late 90s. Full Moon saw the height of their success with films liek Trancers, Castle Freak, Demonic Toys, and particularly the Puppet Master series. Yet, the more profitable the company became, the shittier the films got. Enter: Curse of the Puppet Master. The film is utterly boring and redundant after seeing the other films. If the name hadnt been attached, it would be long forgotten by now. The acting, puppetry,and technical aspects of the film all fall well below the other entries in the series. The plot attempts something new, having a hack sideshow operator enlist the help of a gifted carver to attempt to make a human puppet using Toulons secrets to give it life, but the idea is never realized and the attempted effects at the gears in the 'puppet' are laughable. The film is the bloodiest of them all, but it goes to show that blood and gore dont make a film. Only for Puppet Master completists. 4/10.

Ted Bundy (2002): Extremely brutal and disturbing Docudrama horror entry that hits really home. The film accurately follows Bundy's progression through his early days as a petty thief through his murderous rampage. The low-budget, gritty filmmaking gives it an unsettling realism, and some of the most frightening moments are either implied with devastating effect or portrayed in the intimate moments between him and his long time girlfriend, where he assaults her mentally and physically. This is not a trashy Lommel cash-in on the name recognition, it is a terrifying character study that will cause any viewer to suspect even the most unassuming neighbor. Burke is absolutely convincing in the role, taking it from charming and classy to deathly terrifying. Another highly recommended film that is often overlooked, try to check it out if you get the chance! 8/10.

Alone in the Dark (1982): A group of psychotics descend on the house of their new doctor and his family after convincing themselves he killed their old doctor and escaping the mental institute. AITD is a highly underrated and undermentioned slasher that offers excellent performances (including Donald Pleasance, Jack Palance, and Martin Landau!), an original plot, and many chilling scenes. The audience can readily empathize with the killers while fearing them, owing as much to the heavies as to the writing behind them. The scale is very small, with only a few select settings, but they are well crafted and create a sense of isolation and hopelessness. On top of that, the score is very subtle but extremely unsettling. There are some pacing issues, but they dont impede the film much. Favorite scene: Dr. Potter calls out to the psychotics, and the camera pans around the dimly lit swing set creaking in the dark, then to the empty trees, with the villains hidden off-screen. Highly recommended as one of New Line's earliest and strongest entries in the genre! 8/10.

[Dragonmanes]

Night of the Demons (1988): Night of the Demons is one of the films that completely embodies 80s horror. From the cheesy jokes and dialogue to the frantic, fast-paced electronic score, the film screams big hair bands and legwarmers. Kevin Tenney implores terrifying make-up, excellent lighting and set design, and a combination of high and low angles along with both fast and slow motion to create a heightened level of fear and tension throughout the entire second half of the film. The plot is derivative of many haunted house films from the past, but the film differentiates itself by giving the characters a young, modern appeal and making the monsters more menacing than ever before. What the film lacks in acting and originality, it more than makes up for in fun and entertainment, making this a must-see 80s flick for all horror fans! 8/10.

The Descent (2005): Neil Marshall comes through for English horror again with the best genre film of 2005! A group of friends enter an uncharted cave, but after a collapse, they are forced to struggle through the serpentine passageways to find daylight. Too bad they arent alone.. The craftsmanship implored in the careful writing and making of this film is unmatched in recent horror, and Marshall is able to make the first half of the film (completely devoid of monsters) even more terrifying than the climax. Gut-wrenching scenes of claustrophobic cave crawling, the unseen in the dark, and protruding bones are just a few of the universal fears that are tapped into, creating an immediate emotional bond between the characters and the audience. The women may not be given complete backstories, but what works is that they are portrayed as real people. In what situation in real life are we given flashbacks or do we commonly reveal our personal histories in our daily dialogue? Rather, Marshall has written distinct cadences and personalities that distinguish a group of individuals rather than a group of talking heads.

Then, there are the monsters. By the time the cave dwellers enter the film, it is already established as a terrifying and successful feature, but the viscious Gollum-like monsters in the film heighten the tension and fear to a whole nother level. Though I typically despise surprise scares, Marshall has perfectly timed reveals for the creatures to scare the piss out of the audience. Though humanoid, they have regressed into bat like creatures hunting by sound, which makes for creepy visuals and allows the characters a plausible advantage in attempting to fight them off and escape. As the title implies, the film is not just a descent into the cave, as a surface level reading might suggest, but also a descent into madness for several of the characters, pushed to the brink of sanity at the thought of being trapped and having to fight for their lives against the impending foes. Our lead heroine, Sarah, takes control and makes a fighting effort, leading to tons of monster bloodshed which are handled with fantastic FX and gore.

I can sing the praises of The Descent all day, Marshall has succeeded on so many levels and proven himself as a modern master of horror. Must-see, must-own for any rightful horror fan! 10/10.

Night of the Demons 2 (1994): Despite what I remember, this was actually an entertaining and decent sequel, although the plot is a complete retread of the original. Angela's sister is tricked into going to Hull House with a new batch of teens for a Halloween party, only to have the demons reawakened for more ghoulish fun! The make-up FX are easily on par with the original, making for more terrifying scenes with just the ugliest demons you have ever seen. Of particular note is the snake demon Angela transforms into in the closing scene, which is absolutely amazing and rivals the Freddy snake in Nightmare 3. The plot is thin, acting and dialogue are bland, but the film is very fun and moves along at a quick pace. Fans of the original will not be disappointed, check it out! 7/10.

Fright Night (1985): There is no denying that Fright Night is an all-time classic. The combined acting efforts of Roddy McDowell, William Ragsdale, Chris Sarandon, and the always fun Stephen Geoffreys make for a clever, fun, hilarious, but equally chilling film. A teen discovers his neighbor is a vampire, and must convince his friends and the local horror host to help him destroy the fiend. Each of the players find their own voice and are convincing in the respective roles, creating memorable characters like Geoffreys Evil Ed and Sarandon's vampire Jerry. The film also implores fantastic make-up FX, with a little werewolf action and some of the creepiest vampire designs on film. It also effectively brings the horror home and leads the audience to believe that the events could occur in any small town. For a smart Horror / Comedy, Fright Night is a step above the rest and comes highly recommended! 9/10.

The Signal (2007): This indie horror effort may have fallen through the cracks, but anyone reading this must pick up the film immediately. The Signal is extremely smart and clever, playing off of paranoia, dillusion, and madness but done so with a biting dark humor that is as funny as it is chilling. The combination of writing and perfectly adapted acting lends credibility to the absolute insanity being displayed on screen. The film is told in a series of three vignettes, but follows the story of a town gone crazy as the result of a broadcast signal that distorts perception and reality. A woman's husband and lover battle through a city of madmen to get to her, one out of love and one out for revenge. Packed with plenty of violence and gore, the film functions both as a psychological thriller and a straight horror film. The digital video filming also gives it a gritty reality, and despite the reduced budget, the desolate streets and filming locations give the film a HUGE scope and earned believability. This is one of the best films to come out of 2007, I highly recommend finding a copy today! 9/10.

[IKickAssForTheLord]

The Descent a 10/10 :yfreaked: I remember when I first saw this movie, I liked it. Then I bought it and after viewin' it a few more times, I'm slowly not likin' it.

[SkullBat308]

Right on, The Signal is really good

[IM_UndeaD]

Night of the Demons (1988): Night of the Demons is one of the films that completely embodies 80s horror. From the cheesy jokes and dialogue to the frantic, fast-paced electronic score, the film screams big hair bands and legwarmers. Kevin Tenney implores terrifying make-up, excellent lighting and set design, and a combination of high and low angles along with both fast and slow motion to create a heightened level of fear and tension throughout the entire second half of the film. The plot is derivative of many haunted house films from the past, but the film differentiates itself by giving the characters a young, modern appeal and making the monsters more menacing than ever before. What the film lacks in acting and originality, it more than makes up for in fun and entertainment, making this a must-see 80s flick for all horror fans! 8/10.

The Descent (2005): Neil Marshall comes through for English horror again with the best genre film of 2005! A group of friends enter an uncharted cave, but after a collapse, they are forced to struggle through the serpentine passageways to find daylight. Too bad they arent alone.. The craftsmanship implored in the careful writing and making of this film is unmatched in recent horror, and Marshall is able to make the first half of the film (completely devoid of monsters) even more terrifying than the climax. Gut-wrenching scenes of claustrophobic cave crawling, the unseen in the dark, and protruding bones are just a few of the universal fears that are tapped into, creating an immediate emotional bond between the characters and the audience. The women may not be given complete backstories, but what works is that they are portrayed as real people. In what situation in real life are we given flashbacks or do we commonly reveal our personal histories in our daily dialogue? Rather, Marshall has written distinct cadences and personalities that distinguish a group of individuals rather than a group of talking heads.

Then, there are the monsters. By the time the cave dwellers enter the film, it is already established as a terrifying and successful feature, but the viscious Gollum-like monsters in the film heighten the tension and fear to a whole nother level. Though I typically despise surprise scares, Marshall has perfectly timed reveals for the creatures to scare the piss out of the audience. Though humanoid, they have regressed into bat like creatures hunting by sound, which makes for creepy visuals and allows the characters a plausible advantage in attempting to fight them off and escape. As the title implies, the film is not just a descent into the cave, as a surface level reading might suggest, but also a descent into madness for several of the characters, pushed to the brink of sanity at the thought of being trapped and having to fight for their lives against the impending foes. Our lead heroine, Sarah, takes control and makes a fighting effort, leading to tons of monster bloodshed which are handled with fantastic FX and gore.

I can sing the praises of The Descent all day, Marshall has succeeded on so many levels and proven himself as a modern master of horror. Must-see, must-own for any rightful horror fan! 10/10.

Night of the Demons 2 (1994): Despite what I remember, this was actually an entertaining and decent sequel, although the plot is a complete retread of the original. Angela's sister is tricked into going to Hull House with a new batch of teens for a Halloween party, only to have the demons reawakened for more ghoulish fun! The make-up FX are easily on par with the original, making for more terrifying scenes with just the ugliest demons you have ever seen. Of particular note is the snake demon Angela transforms into in the closing scene, which is absolutely amazing and rivals the Freddy snake in Nightmare 3. The plot is thin, acting and dialogue are bland, but the film is very fun and moves along at a quick pace. Fans of the original will not be disappointed, check it out! 7/10.

Fright Night (1985): There is no denying that Fright Night is an all-time classic. The combined acting efforts of Roddy McDowell, William Ragsdale, Chris Sarandon, and the always fun Stephen Geoffreys make for a clever, fun, hilarious, but equally chilling film. A teen discovers his neighbor is a vampire, and must convince his friends and the local horror host to help him destroy the fiend. Each of the players find their own voice and are convincing in the respective roles, creating memorable characters like Geoffreys Evil Ed and Sarandon's vampire Jerry. The film also implores fantastic make-up FX, with a little werewolf action and some of the creepiest vampire designs on film. It also effectively brings the horror home and leads the audience to believe that the events could occur in any small town. For a smart Horror / Comedy, Fright Night is a step above the rest and comes highly recommended! 9/10.

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