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Reviews
Vampires (1998)
Brutal, Stylish and Cool and the last truly great John Carpenter flick
'Vampires' is a high-octane action horror flick with a great cast and filled with enjoyable action, stylish set pieces, and plenty of blood and carnage which makes this a brilliant directional effort by the legendary John Carpenter. Full of attitude and filled with a wild array of creative and interesting concepts the production thrives in its violent nature and over-the-top premise and makes for a wild entertaining ride from beginning to end.
The Plot = Jack Crow (James Woods) a seasoned vampire hunter and leader of a team of vampire slayers hunts down nests of blood sucking ghouls for the Vatican. However, after a botched job where Jack's entire team is wiped out by the master vampire Valek (Thomas Ian Griffith), Jack vows to regroup with a new team and destroy the ancient evil down once and for all.
Violent and character driven the movie is one hell of a great time and a sadly underrated John Carpenter directed horror films. Sure the movie isn't perfect there are a few flaws such as despite plenty of violent bloody gore, the movie lacks any sort of scares as it tends to focus more on the action set pieces and some of the scenes do tend to get quite repetitive and overstay their welcome, but other than that there's plenty of brutal fun to enjoy here as it makes the most out of its wild premise, incredible special effects and effective world building.
James Woods takes on the badass leading role with cool style and brooding wit, he does a fantastic job of bringing this character to life and really steals the entire show. Daniel Baldwin provides a strong performance as Jack's right hand man. Sheryl Lee gives a solid performance as the sexy Katrina. Thomas Ian Griffith provides an entertaining and engaging performance as the central villain. In-fact everyone here gives remarkable performances in their interesting and fleshed out roles.
Overall 'Vampires' is a wonderfully entertaining action horror that engages you with its intriguing plot and memorable characters. This was probably the last great John Carpenter directed feature.
Misery (1990)
Superbly Crafted and Intense Stephen King Adaptation
'Misery' is a superbly crafted and exceptionally intense psychological horror thriller with its bleak foreboding nature and compelling narrative that slowly builds unnerving tension and suspense throughout along with a twisted sense of dark humour thrown in for good measure. Based upon the Stephen King 1987 novel of the same name, this movie holds up incredibly well as one the very best cinematic adaptations of his work.
The Plot = Paul Sheldon (James Caan), a famous author who heads back home from Colorado after completing his latest book but ends up in a car crash after getting caught in a freak blizzard. A former nurse Anne Wilkes (Kathy Bates) rescues him from the wreckage and brings him back to her home, only to find that she's a crazy obsessed fan with sinister intentions.
The movie not only benefits from its great writing and stellar directing, but what really makes everything work perfectly is the powerhouse performances from the 2 main leads, especially the iconic turn by Kathy Bates who completely throws herself into the role of the unhinged super fan and she's simply magnetic and literally steals the show rightfully winning an Oscar for her portrayal. James Caan more than holds his own with his believable and sympathetic performance, he is someone you really root for and he plays his character brilliantly.
The main part of what makes this film so frightening is that the situation is completely plausible and grounded in reality with its more human psychological horror approach which gives it a stronger sense of scares and tension. The feelings of isolation and terror are expertly crafted within its intimate setting. The direction by Rob Reiner captures all these elements perfectly with some excellent suspenseful set pieces and some well and truly shocking moments (one in particular, I think you know which one). The movie is a masterpiece of relentless tension that will keep you engrossed throughout its runtime.
Overall 'Misery' is simply an outstanding psychological horror masterpiece from start to finish and one the best and most faithful Stephen King big screen adaptations.
It (1990)
Despite its TV movie limitations, it still remains true to the heart of the book
'It' is a creepy and rather effective two-part TV miniseries based upon the 1986 horror novel of the same name by the legendary Stephen King. Drenched in a chilling atmosphere and thrives in its unnerving presentation and thanks to the compelling narrative and iconic performance by Tim Curry as the titular entity, both the movies take you on an intense and emotional journey from start to finish. This is simply one of my all-time favourite Stephen King adaptations and despite the limitations of it being a TV movie, it still manages to be a decent adaptation.
The Plot = Set in the small town of Derry Maine in 1960, a group of kids named Bill (Jonathan Brandis), Ben (Brandon Crane), Eddie (Adam Faraizl), Richie (Seth Green), Beverly (Emily Perkins), Stan (Ben Heller), & Mike (Marlon Taylor), known as the losers club due to them being outcasts bands together to stop an evil entity known only as Pennywise (Tim Curry) who poses as an evil clown and kills children. 30 Years later, they reunite as adults to stop the demon once and for all when it returns to wreak havoc once again.
With this being a made for TV movie, the film, unlike many other horror films doesn't rely on the usual cliché tropes of the genre and instead delivers an interesting and easy to follow storyline that you get more out of it upon repeated viewings and manages to sustain momentum despite being 3 hours long, but thankfully everything's well-paced enough to keep you invested throughout. The movie's scary and suspenseful when it needs to be, thanks to the solid direction by Tommy Lee Wallace who does a great job of adapting such a huge book into a more manageable 3-hour mini-series. There are a few problems with the movie such as the 2nd part isn't quite as strong or compelling as the first part and doesn't quite hold up due to its slower pacing and limp climax, but you still need to watch the 2nd half to complete the story and when combined together, it still makes for a great viewing experience.
The acting in this is excellent especially from the child actors in the first half with all seven of the main cast members giving natural and strong performances. Jonathan Brandis, Brandon Crane, Adam Faraizl, Seth Green, Emily Perkins, Ben Heller, & Marlon Taylor, a shout out to each of these performers. Jarred Blanchard gives a memorable turn as the greaser bully Henry Bowers. The adult versions while not quite as memorable, still give decent performances with the standouts being Harry Anderson, Annette O'Toole, Richard Thomas, & John Ritter. Then finally let's not forget the legendary performance by Tim Curry himself who combines a comedic performance when needed before switching to terrifying at the drop of the hat and due to his iconic role, this is why the movie has held up so well other the years.
Overall 'It' is a true horror gem and remains very true to the heart of the book, and while it may have left a lot out, the end result is still a classic Stephen King adaptation nonetheless.
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990)
A fun and macabre spin-off from the TV show
'Tales from the Darkside: The Movie' is a fun and stylish horror anthology flick that's a spin-off from the TV series of the same name. The movie features 3 incredibly effective and gruesome tales which blends the TV show's crisp storytelling and distinct macabre flavour with a twisted sense of humour and add in an all-star cast and high production value and you get one hell of a good time.
The Plot = Like with most anthologies this opens with the framing story which depicts a young boy named Timmy (Matthew Lawrence) whose been kidnapped by a suburban witch named Betty (Debbie Harry). Timmy tells her three stories of horror from the book 'Tales from the Darkside' while she prepares to eat him.
This movie is often considered as the unofficial 'Creepshow 3' and while it may not be quite on the level of those 2 films, it's still far better than the actual third Creepshow film that we eventually got (which was terrible). But this is a solid flick and while it may not be one of the best horror anthologies out there, it's a great entry in the sub-genre, nonetheless.
The first story 'Lot 249' is perhaps the most entertaining story out of the 3 with its fun concept that feels tailor made for the anthology format with its classic tale of revenge and a murderous mummy. Short yet effective it delivers the shocks and gore brilliantly with excellent gore effects and solid direction. The performances by Christian Slater, Julianne Moore, & Steve Buscemi are outstanding, and each are used well in this fun tale.
'Cat From Hell' based upon a short story by Stephen King and thrives in its cool gothic ambiance that gives it an otherworldly quality. The premise revolves around an elderly rich man who hires an assassin to kill his cat. Thanks to the two stellar performances by William Hickey and David Johansen they manage to make a simple premise a fun and engaging killer cat story with top-notch special effects work.
The third and final story 'Lovers Vow' has an interesting take on the love and promises and turns it into a sort of gothic romance. While this one does feel very generic it does fit in perfectly with the other 2 stories and its decent in its own right with its interesting story, great characters and amazing gore scenes, but the only let down that it's way too predictable. The chemistry between the two leads James Remar and Raw Dawn Chong are great and you really believe their romance thanks to their excellent chemistry together.
The wraparound story is fun and harmless enough and feels like something right out of the TV show itself with the strange pairing of Debbie Harry and Matthew Lawrence who each delivers solid performances.
Overall 'Tales from the Darkside: The Movie' is a solid entry in the horror anthology genre that features a stellar cast, great stories and an overall fun time.
Resurrection (1999)
Stylish and Strong Crime Horror/Thriller
'Resurrection' is a gruesome and riveting psychological horror thriller that doesn't hold back with its grisly, yet compelling narrative and disturbing set pieces drenched in a rain-soaked foreboding atmosphere. The movie thrives in its morbid and twisted neo-noir crime thriller genre presentation and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout.
The Plot = Homicide detective John Prudhomme (Christopher Lambert) and his partner FBI agent Andrew Hollinsworth (Leland Orser) are assigned to investigate a murder in which the victim wasn't only killed but was mutilated. After more mutilated victims turn up, it becomes apparent that a serial killer is on the loose and is always one step ahead of the police. Can the detectives stop them before it's too late?
This movie may does share a lot of similarities with David Fincher's 'Se7en', which may make this a little derivative at times, but who cares as there's always been imitators and rip-offs of popular movies and why not imitate one of the greatest horror crime thrillers of all-time and with that said thankfully this flick is a strong effort and manages to be a solid thriller in its own right. What it may lack in originality it more than makes up for that with its well-executed premise that does a great job of maintaining the sense of dread and mounting tension. The gruesome crime scenes are highly effective and thanks to the brilliant special effects it further enhances the disturbing nature of the production. The direction by Russell Mulcahy is stylish and keeps the movie going at a decent pace and presents many impressive set pieces, graphic visuals and shocking violence, making this a firm underrated gem.
The movie features a reliable cast who can sell the dread and fear needed in this twisted and macabre world. Christopher Lambert provides an engaging screen presence in the lead role like always and gives a solid yet vulnerable performance. Leland Orser gives a strong and charismatic performance as the partner and steals every scene he's in. Leland and Christopher make for a likeable duo and shares great chemistry together. David Cronenberg gives a solid supporting turn as the Priest and is always a welcome presence in any film he appears. Then finally Robert Joy gives a memorable performance as the likeable yet creepy FBI agent.
Overall 'Resurrection' is a fantastic and entertaining horror thriller with a great cast and strong visual style and doesn't deserve its forgotten status.
Soul Survivors (2001)
One of the worst teen horror flicks to emerge from the late 90's-early 00's period
'Soul Survivors' is a baffling and incoherent mess of a so-called horror flick that attempts to combine elements of psychological thriller, supernatural, and slasher, and fails at succeeding at any of those genres, thanks to its convoluted plot, bland characters, lack of suspense, and horrible direction which gives the movie a bad overlong music video. This is one of the worst horror movies I've ever seen.
The Plot = 4 friends Cassie (Melissa Sagemiller), Sean (Casey Affleck), Matt (Wes Bentley), & Annabel (Eliza Dushku), who after a night of partying end up getting into a car accident which kills Sean. A short while later Cassie believes that she's being haunted by her boyfriend's spirit and that something other worldly is stalking her.
One of the only positives that I could give this is at least it tried to be somewhat creepy atmosphere, but that's let down by the horrible flashy editing choices and the lack of any sort of tension or scares. The premise as tired as it was, did have some potential at the very least and with its decent cast it could have worked in a better director's hands and instead the movie just leaves you feeling cold and confused as you're not sure what the hell is going on and even by the end, you're left with more questions than answers.
The cast for the most part has turned in better performances in other things such as Casey Affleck, Eliza Dushku, and Wes Bentley, they're all capable actors, but here they're given nothing to work with. Melissa Sagemiller gives one of the most forgettable and blandest final girl performances I've ever seen and for some reason Luke Wilson's in this as well and the less said about him the better.
Overall 'Soul Survivors' is one of the worst teen horror flicks that emerged during the late 90's to early 00's.
Jeepers Creepers 2 (2003)
An entertaining and dumb monster slasher flick
'Jeepers Creepers 2' is a flawed and yet fairly decent sequel which despite never reaching the heights of the first movie it still manages to a be an entertaining monster slasher flick with some exciting scenes, a high body count, a few suspenseful moments, and plenty of Creeper action making a fun dumb monster flick nothing more nothing less.
The Plot = Set just a few days after the original, The Creeper continues his reign of terror by abducting the youngest son of a farmer named Taggart (Ray Wise), so he and his oldest son Jack Junior (Luke Edwards) sets out to hunt down the monster. Meanwhile, a busload of high school students breaks down in the middle of nowhere and finds themselves under attack by the Creeper, on the last day of its 23-day feeding cycle.
This sequel may be unable to capture the spark of the original film, but it does manage to be a fun ride in its own right with the premise involving the two separate story lines does make for an interesting dynamic in the narrative. However, what's lacking here is originality and any memorable characters especially the high school teens none of which stands out and are just interchangeable cannon fodder and it doesn't help that the dialogue they're given is awful. The structure of the movie does work well up until a point where it becomes quite repetitive and lacks the scares and tension of the first movie as the presence of The Creeper is no longer terrifying as we see way too much of him.
Overall 'Jeepers Creepers 2' doesn't offer anything new or inventive to the mythology of the character, but it's an above average viewing experience.
The Frighteners (1996)
A Must see for Horror fans with a sense of humour
'The Frighteners' is a stylish supernatural horror comedy packed with a tight narrative with tons of energy, cutting-edge special effects, and plenty of imagination. Compelling and brilliantly unusual this movie is top notch entertainment through and through thanks to its excellent writing and colourful cast of characters, this cult classic is a definite must see for all horror fans with a sense of humour.
The Plot = After a tragic car accident many years ago, Frank Bannister (Michael J. Fox) uses his psychic abilities to con people into ridding their homes of ghosts. However, an evil spirit known as 'The Reaper' appears in the small town of Fairwater and killing off the residents. Can Frank stop this evil spirit before it's too late?
I have always had so much nostalgic love for this flick ever since it came out and remember being sorely disappointed that this fantastic little gem flopped at the box office. But thankfully it has managed to find more love over the years, but it's still sorely underrated and still sad that we didn't get any follow-ups as there were lots of potential to continue the story further. The direction by Peter Jackson is outstanding as he balances the horror and comedy elements quite seamlessly with plenty of atmosphere and moves the story along at a brisk pace and ties all of the complex plot threads very effectively with plenty of twists and turns and injects plenty of enthusiasm and heart into this wild ride of a film.
The stacked cast in this production is what really holds everything together with Michael J. Fox anchoring the entire flick with his compelling lead performance. He brings tons of charisma and personality to his role and it's a shame that this was his final leading role in a movie. Trini Alvarado gives a solid turn as the female lead, feisty, sweet, and proactive in her role and shared amazing chemistry with the male lead. Jeffery Combs simply steals the show here with his manic creepy odd ball character and nails it to perfection and gives yet another iconic performance. John Astin, Chi McBride, and Jim Fyfe each delivers excellent performances as the trio of ghosts and provides plenty of comedy relief. Dee Wallace gives yet another stellar genre performance. Jake Busey gives a gleeful and over the top performance and R. Lee Ermey gives a solid standout performance and rounds out the cast nicely.
Overall 'The Frighteners' is an enjoyable fun ride with plenty of funny moments and macabre entertainment. One of the very best horror flicks of the 90's.
Omen IV: The Awakening (1991)
Too Little Too Late
'The Omen IV: The Awakening' is a made for TV sequel to the original 'Omen' series which began back in 1976 and ended in 1981 in a decent and definitive way. This 4th entry proves to be a very dismal attempt at resurrecting a long dead saga with its lacklustre premise, lifeless acting, cheap production, and clumsy direction that lacked any sort of style or flair and to put it simply there wasn't any need for anymore sequels, especially ones as bad as this.
The Plot = A married couple Gene & Karen York (played respectively by Michael Woods and Faye Grant) adopts a mysterious orphan girl named Delia (Asia Vieira) unaware she's the daughter of the Damien Thorn the Antichrist and soon enough a series of bizarre deaths and accidents occurs.
There's a lot of things wrong with this movie as it fails to make any sort of impression at all. The plot felt like a bad rehash of the first one and lacks any of that movie's style or even tension as this kinda just floats along at a boring pace. Some of the death scenes were quite fun and did inject a little bit of fun in this flick, but they were very toned down and lacked any sort of creativity. The production value is very flat with poor cinematography and a bland colour palette which gives the movie a drab look. I know its better to lower your expectations considering that this was a TV movie but come on they could have done something a lot more exciting than this.
The performances here were mostly forgettable but there were a few exceptions such as Faye Grant who gives a strong yet vulnerable performance as the mother and Michael Lerner gives a decent performance as the private detective. However, its not enough to save this awful mess of a movie.
Overall 'The Omen IV: The Awakening' fails to inject any sort of life in 'The Omen' series, and you're better off skipping this one and sticking to the first 3 movies.
Dolly Dearest (1991)
Despite its flaws it stills manages to be entertaining
'Dolly Dearest' a somewhat decent yet very uneven killer doll horror flick from the early 90's that despite its flawed execution and sluggish pacing it still has just enough going for it to be entertaining and a pure guilty pleasure cheesefest thanks to its interesting plot, solid special effects work, decent performances, and some creepy moments. Sure, this will never be considered as a classic in the horror genre or even the killer doll sub-genre, but it's an okay time waster.
The Plot = Elliot Wade (Sam Bottoms) moves to Mexico along with his wife Marilyn (Denise Crosby), and 2 kids Jessica (Candace Hutson) & Jimmy (Chris Demetral) so that he could take over the Dolly Dearest factory. But the factory happens to be next to an ancient Indian burial ground where an evil spirit takes refuge in one of the dolls and trouble soon follows.
The comparisons to a certain Chucky franchise are there, but I wouldn't really call this a total knock off as this tends to focus more on the supernatural elements which works quite well with the killer doll aspect of the story, and it does separate it from the Chucky films even if there's no real logic behind it. The movie does have its fair share of problems though as it's painfully slow at times and doesn't feature enough killer doll action with a very minimal amount of kills and carnage. There are a few effective jump scares and quite a bit of suspense and tension to keep you intrigued throughout its runtime and the production value of the film is quite decent and the direction by Maria Lease is quite solid and if you're into killer doll flicks then I'd recommend you check this out.
The performances here are really good with Candace Hutson giving a solid performance as the daughter going from sweet and innocent to menacing quite effectively. Denise Crosby's quite good as the mother but could have done with a bit more emotion from her as she comes across as quite cold at times. Sam Bottoms does an okay job as the father but wasn't all that memorable. Chris Demetral gives the strongest performance out of the family here and brings a lot of energy to his role.
Overall 'Dolly Dearest' is not the most original horror flick out there, it still manages to be quite entertaining.
Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth (2000)
Horror Spoof that lacks any Comedy, deserves to be forgotten
'Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the 13th' is a straight to video horror slasher spoof comedy that parodies popular horror flicks from the time such as 'Scream' & 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' just like 'Scary Movie' did from the same year, but unlike that flick, this lacked any laughs whatsoever and just comes across as a cringey cheap cash grab from a much better parody.
The Plot = A group of popular high school students are stalked by bumbling masked killer which leads a reporter Hagitha Utslay (Tiffani Amber Thiessen) to investigate the stranger murders going on at the high school.
Hell, even the title of the movie seems bloated and unnecessary much like the movie itself and lacks any sort of wit or charm. The jokes come across as stupid, lame, and were even dated back then. I did watch this back when it came out and wow it was a painful slog to get through despite featuring a decent cast of recognisable faces such as Coolio, Tom Arnold, Tiffani Amber Thiessen, Danny Strong, and Julie Benz, but none of them stood out as even the characters were totally forgettable. The only positive aspect I could give is that the production does at the very least look good and the movie is shot well, that's about it. Other than that, it simply tries too hard and doesn't even offer any fun as everything's bogged down by its bad plot and terrible writing, nothing works on any level whatsoever. No wonder this has become lost in time and with good reason it stinks.
Overall 'Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the 13th' is a trainwreck and one of the worst horror parodies I've ever seen.
Troll 2 (1990)
Outrageously Odd and Fantastically Bad
'Troll 2' also known as the best worst movie ever is an outrageously odd and fantastically bad fantasy horror film by Italian filmmaker Claudio Fragasso. Ridiculously inept and insanely entertaining in a nonsensical manner. The movie lacks any sort of actual horror or tension and instead transcends into a genre of its own a sort of dark comedy fantasy hybrid filled with awful effects, bad sets, laughably bad acting and terrible dialogue. This has got to be seen to be believed.
The Plot = A family's vacation to the small town of nilbog turns into a nightmare when they realize the town's inhabited by plant eating goblins.
The movie is a mind bogglingly strange experience to say the least with its goofy premise and confusing tone which gives you something unique and unlike anything you've ever experienced and even amongst all that chaos and confusion it manages to be a somewhat enjoyable b-movie experience. The weird nature of the production is what makes it so engrossing and watchable.
The cast performances are not just bad, their surreal ranging from overacting to wooden, everything feels off across the board and yet at the same time oddly fascinating. The standouts include Michael Stephenson as the whiny and insufferable child hero of the flick. George Hardy gives a somewhat serious and stiff performance as the father. Margo Prey gives delightfully strange and delirious performance as the mother. Connie Young gives a very staged and off-kilter performance as the teenage daughter. Robert Ormsby seems to be the only sensible character as the ghostly grandfather (yes, this movie has a ghost in it for some reason). Then finally Deborah Reed goes in the totally opposite direction as the witch with her strange, outlandish, and memorable performance.
Overall 'Troll 2' is a rather oddball flick that goes above and beyond in presenting a mind-blowing experience. But honestly, I can't give this a high rating despite the enjoyment factor.
Humanoids from the Deep (1980)
Sleaze-Tastic Monster Movie Fun
'Humanoids from the Deep' is a crazy wild and sleazy sci-fi horror film that showcases a pack of horrific mutated creatures who go a mass killing spree, raping women, and butchering anyone who gets in their way. This rather obscure little b-movie gem is without a doubt an interesting production that looks great in its presentation and outstandingly atmospheric despite being a low-budget flick and little rough around the edges, it's one hell of a good time from start to finish.
The Plot = Set in a small coastal town called Noyo where humanoid sea creatures start killing the town's residents. A local man Jim Hill (Doug McClure) starts his own investigation into the odd events with the help of a scientist Dr Susan Drake (Ann Turkel) and it's up to them to fight back and stop these monsters once and for all.
At times there is quite a contrast between tones in this movie which was probably down to the change in directors as original director Barbara Peters was fired and Jimmy T. Murakami was brought into spice things up and that's where the grindhouse nature of the production really kicks in with more sleaze, blood, gore, and nudity which makes for a more entertaining yet scrupulous movie. This could have been messy as hell, but it somehow works thanks to its fast pace, compelling narrative and its unbound and off the rails tone, resulting in something insanely entertaining.
The cast does a fine job with the material here with Doug McClure giving his usual trademark charisma to his leading man role and absolutely shines here. Ann Turkel gives a solid performance as the scientist showing a great amount of strength and capability to her role. Vic Morrow gives a fun and over the top performance as the bad guy and nails every aspect of his role.
Overall 'Humanoids from the Deep' is an entertaining old school trashy b-movie horror film and just all around sleazetastic fun.
Warlock (1989)
Enjoyable 80's Campy Horror
'Warlock' is a fun dark fantasy horror comedy flick that features an engaging premise, colourful production, solid worldbuilding, and a fantastic cast combined with a solid amount of gore, frights, and ancient folklore and witchcraft and you get an entertaining slice of 80's horror. The movie's well written and directed and fully commits to establishing the story and manages to move between the horror and comedy elements with relative ease.
The Plot = Beginning in Boston of 1691, a warlock (Julian Sands) is sentenced to death, but manages to magically escape in the future of 1989, where he's followed in hot pursuit by Redferne (Richard E. Grant) a witch hunter to stop him from finding the three parts of the devil's bible. A young woman also named Kassandra (Lori Singer) also gets caught up in this and must team up with Redferne to stop the warlock once and for all.
The movie manages one of those rare feats of being unsettling and cheesy at the same time, with the cheesiness coming mainly from the dated special effects, although it only adds to the charm of the film. The story does take some rather dark and creepy turns with some disturbing violence as well as taking some unexpected twists and turns which does keep you invested throughout its runtime. The direction by Steve Miner is fantastic as he really brings this story to life with a fine attention to detail and solid cinematography.
The acting performances are superb especially from the two main leads. Julian Sands his presence and charisma make him a great and captivating villain. Richard E. Grant is equally as excellent as the witch hunter, and he fully commits to his role and makes for the perfect foil to the warlock. Lori Singer gives a solid turn as the female lead with her much lighter and breezier character and has fantastic chemistry with Redferne.
Overall 'Warlock' will always be nostalgic ridiculous fun and genuinely great as well and a firm cheesy 80's cult classic.
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
Suspenseful Modern Horror Classic
'10 Cloverfield Lane' is an intelligent, taut, and suspenseful horror thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout thanks to its brilliant, yet chilling set up, intriguing mystery, and well-constructed nerve-racking tension. The movie acts as a sort of spiritual sequel to the 2008 found footage monster flick 'Cloverfield', where this sequel trades in the massive scope of the first and condenses into a more intimate tale of survival, paranoia and dread, and it's all the better for it.
The Plot = After getting into a car crash a young woman named Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) awakens to find herself in a mysterious bunker with two men Howard (John Goodman) and Emmett (John Gallagher Jr). Howard tells her that the outside world is under attack by aliens and that she can't leave due to the chemical poisons in the air, but are the men telling her the truth?
First and foremost, you don't need to see the first 'Cloverfield' movie to fully understand what's going on here as this a more standalone feature with only a few minor hints connecting it to the first one. Even though the film studios basically just tacked the Cloverfield name to it, it's still a brilliant psychological horror flick and you could call it a spin-off more than an actual follow-up. The movie features a great ensemble cast of interesting characters and sharp filmmaking and a clever script that makes the most of its claustrophobic setting that makes this one of the best horror movies of the 2010's decade. The constant twists and turns that this flick takes keeps you invested throughout as you're constantly guessing what's really going on in the outside world aims to unsettle you through its creeping realization that something's not quite right here.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead gives a fantastic turn as the lead heroine, resourceful, smart, and likeable, she more than holds her own here with her compelling character. John Goodman gives a phenomenal performance as Howard he's a sinister and unpredictable force of nature, and he nails every aspect of his role and delivers one of the finest performances of his career. John Gallagher Jr gives a strong and likeable performance as Emmett and shares fantastic chemistry with the other 2 characters.
Overall '10 Cloverfield Lane' is an excellent horror thriller and if it wasn't for the finale I would have given it a 10/10, but it's still a slick horror flick with an interesting narrative and solid direction that makes this a firm classic of modern horror.
Dog Soldiers (2002)
Grisly, Intense, Funny, and entertaining as hell
'Dog Soldiers' is an effective and highly enjoyable British werewolf action horror film packed with plenty of style, wild action scenes, over the top gore, and a dash of dark British humour thrown in for good measure resulting in one hell of a thrilling monster ride from start to finish, and a fantastic directional debut from Neil Marshall.
The Plot = Six members of a British army squad are sent to the Scottish Highlands to take part in what they believe to be a military exercise. Things takes a turn for the worse when they realize that they're being hunted by werewolves.
This awesome cult classic movie does more than enough to satisfy fans of both action and horror genres with the first act acting as a thrilling action adventure with some fun set pieces and then the second act which is where the true horror elements kick in with plenty of intense sequences, creepy atmosphere, a lot of monster attacks with and an ample amount of suspense creeping in to create a satisfying viewing experience. The werewolves themselves looks impressive with good old fashioned solid practical effects gives them a cool yet intimidating presence to them and every moment on screen with them works in every way possible. The direction by Neil Marshall is solid as he creates an engaging and well written narrative and an excellent cast of characters.
The cast performances are another main selling point of the film with each of actors perfectly cast in their roles. Sean Pertwee is a firm standout as Sergeant Wells, while Kevin McKidd delivers a strong leading man performance as Cooper. Darren Morfitt provides plenty of comic relief as the scene stealing Spoon and Emma Cleasby does fine in her role as Megan, then finally Liam Cunningham does great in his villainous role.
Overall 'Dog Soldiers' is one of the very best werewolf horror movies out there, grisly, intense, and entertaining as hell.
Ravenous (1999)
Fascinating, Weird, Intelligent and Utterly Captivating
'Ravenous' is a disturbing horror thriller western period piece hybrid with elements of black comedy thrown into the mix to create a brilliantly unique, bizarre, and engaging viewing experience that demands your attention from the very start. One of the coolest aspects of this movie is that it defies easy description as it doesn't necessarily fit into any subgenre and that's what makes this gory cannibalistic dark comedy so special and ahead if its time. Which is why it got so criminally ignored during its original release.
The Plot = Set during the Mexican American civil war of the 1800's, Captain John Boyd (Guy Pearce) is sent to serve at a remote outpost called Fort Spencer for cowardice, a place full of miliary outcasts and misfits. Soon enough a mysterious stranger named Colquhoun (Robert Carlyle) and tells the other solders a story about his group succumbing to cannibalism after getting stranded in the middle of nowhere. The regiment at Fort Spencer embark upon a rescue mission which takes a dark turn.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I finally got around to viewing this as like many at the time it completely passed me by, but when I did it certainly didn't disappoint as the movie turned out to be a fantastic and compelling product with a well structed narrative that takes some interesting twists and turns throughout its runtime, thrilling and suspenseful set pieces, gruesome death scenes, and intense character drama. The direction by Antonia Bird is beautifully crafted and gives the movie some powerful cinematography. The screenplay by Ted Griffin is equally great as he creates an engaging and intelligent story that's served incredibly well by the filmmakers.
The cast here are outstanding with Guy Pearce delivering a strong performance as the straight man Boyd and infuses his character with genuine believability and acts as a great counterbalance to the madness around him. Robert Carlyle steals the show here as the charismatic villain delightfully cunning and evil, he's a joy to watch here. The supporting cast
brings a welcome counterbalance to the main roles with an array of colourful performances. Jeffery Jones gives a likeable and sometimes creepy performance. David Arquette gives a standout performance as the drag addict Cleaves as he really gets into his role. Neal McDonough is great as the unhinged Reich, and Jeremy Davies gives a memorable turn in his quirky role of Toffler.
Overall 'Ravenous' is a fascinating, unnerving and utterly captivating gem of a horror movie. Definitely a firm highlight of the very uneven 90's decade of horror.
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Funny, Clever, Gory a rare horror comedy that's actually funny
'Shaun of the Dead' is an outstanding, fun, and hilarious British horror comedy that became one of the defining zombie sub-genre flicks of the 2000's. Filled with madcap entertainment, energetic production, and cool gory sequences, this parody not only bursting with creativity, but manages to work on every level possible and what also helps it's one of those very rare horror comedies that strikes the perfect balance between the two genres, bringing them together in a satisfying way.
The Plot = A slacker named Shaun (Simon Pegg) is going nowhere in life, he lives with his best friend Ed (Nick Frost) and spends his life in his local pub The Winchester. When he gets dumped by his girlfriend Liz (Kate Ashfield) he decides to get his life back in order, unaware that the dead have risen back to life and are taking over London at a rapid pace.
This instantly became one of my fave zombie flicks from the 00's (the other being '28 Days Later') while both are vastly different in tone and execution, this manages to be a loving tribute to the genre without getting tired and that's a rare feat. This movie manages to perfectly capture the mindset and tone of British mentality and the cast of well written and interesting characters does that and then some, thanks to the sharp script by Edgar Wright & Simon Pegg who gives the film plenty of witty dialogue and believable humour. The direction by Edgar Wright is incredibly tight and well-paced and shows plenty of attention to detail without any filler or boring moments. Even the horror elements are quite intense and builds the right amount of suspense throughout and doesn't skimp on the blood and gory moments.
The cast here are fantastic and gives us characters we can relate to. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost deliver solid leading performances as the loveable losers, and both provides the right amount of heart and humour to their respective roles. Kate Ashfield gives an equally strong performance as Liz. Dylan Moran and Lucy Davis provides great supporting roles and the perfect contrast to the main characters. Both Bill Nighy and Penelope Wilton rounds off the cast nicely with their memorable performances.
Overall 'Shaun of the Dead' is a funny, clever tongue in cheek horror comedy that hits all the right notes, and a firm must see for any die hard fans of the zombie sub genre.
28 Days Later... (2002)
A Masterpiece of the Zombie Sub-Genre
'28 Days Later' is a refreshing and original British zombie horror flick that not only revitalized the genre but gave it a major resurgence and bringing it back to the mainstream thanks to its compelling narrative, shocking violence, unnerving tension, and a bleak atmosphere that gives an eerily realistic portrayal of a post-apocalyptic world. Even now after more than 20 years this movie still manages to be influential.
The Plot = A group of animal rights activists break into a medical research laboratory to free the captured monkeys, despite warnings from a scientist that they have a highly contagious virus and soon enough the virus spreads throughout the country and infecting the population. Then 28 days later a lone survivor named Jim (Cillian Murphy) wakes up from a coma and finds everything completely deserted.
This movie manages to be something new, original, and incredibly scary that's filled with standout moments, memorable sequences and a fantastic cast that really sells the fear of the dire situation they are in. The direction by Danny Boyle is outstanding whose unique approach gives the movie a grimy and nihilistic aesthetic to the production and it totally works as even at its most peaceful moments you're kept on the edge of your seat by not knowing what's lurking around the next corner and creating a psychological dissonance filled with graphic imagery and raw savagery. The movie's slow burn works wonders as it manages to keep the tension and suspense throughout its runtime as everything builds to a satisfying climax.
The performances here are fantastic with the standouts being Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, and Christopher Eccleston who each deliver fine performances that helps fill out this strange and bleak world.
Overall '28 Days Later' is a horror masterpiece and one of the greatest zombie flicks of all-time and really give the sub-genre a much needed shot in the arm.
Creepshow 2 (1987)
Weird, Wild, and Absurd - A fantastic follow-up
'Creepshow 2' is a fun sequel to George A Romero's original horror anthology classic from 1982. This time we get 3 solid tales that are blended with madcap storytelling, a wicked sense of humour and over the top death sequences. This genuinely entertaining collection of well-crafted short stories is a blast to watch from start to finish; from absurd situations to mind bending insanity. This may not be as strong as the original, but it's a strong and entertaining follow-up, nonetheless.
The Plot = The wrap around segment begins with a young boy named Billy (Domenick John) who eagerly awaits the arrival of his favourite comic book 'Creepshow' which presents three macabre tales presented by The Creep (Tom Savini) consisting of 'Old Chief Woodenhead' 'The Raft', & 'The Hitchhiker'.
Each of the 3 stories contains an overwhelming sense of demented atmosphere which blends dark humour and horrific moments into the anthology that will boggle the mind and disturb the soul and all the while entertaining the viewer in the most fun and hellish ways. The movie's crafted in a cinematic world where anything can happen, and most certainly does as it manage to be both frightening and hilarious in the most gruesome of ways as it pushes the limits of each narrative. 'Old Chief Woodenhead', 'The Raft', & 'The Hitchhiker' are each well-paced and wonderfully presented with each perfectly balancing side-splitting antics with the perfect amount of cringe worthy horror effectively and its these creepy and intense sequences is what truly catapults this film into cult classic status.
The movie presents an assorted collection of characters who are really pushed to their breaking points, and each brings their own unique perspective to their roles. George Kennedy and Dorothy Lamour each gives strong and likable performances in the first story as the kind elderly couple. Holt McCallary makes for a decent villain and plays the role with such evil glee. The 4 teens in the 2nd story played by Paul Satterfield, Jeremy Green, Daniel Beer, and Page Hannah each gives solid performances and really sells the fear of the dire situation they are in. Lois Chiles gives an outstanding performance as the adulterous wife in the 3rd story, and finally Tom Savini gives a fun performance as The Creep.
Overall 'Creepshow 2' isn't quite as good as the classic original, but it's a brilliant and entertaining follow-up that deserves far more love than it gets. It's wild, weird, and completely absurd and that's why you should love it.
The Lost Boys (1987)
Iconic Pop Culture Masterpiece
'The Lost Boys' is one of the greatest and most popular horror classics of the 1980's thanks to its enjoyable blend of vampires, scares, style, humour, and pure entertainment. This was one of my all-time favourites growing up thanks and still holds up by today's standards. The movie is an energetic and well-crafted vampire film that's packed with outstanding moments, a cool cast of interesting characters, and saturated with stylish visuals and a supercharged soundtrack. This classic gem is one hell of a thrill ride from start to finish and its more than worthy of its cult classic status.
The Plot = Two brothers Michael (Jason Patric) and Sam (Corey Haim) moves to Santa Clara with their mother Lucy (Dianne Wiest) after she divorces their father. The brothers soon discovers that the seemingly normal small town is known is a haven for vampires.
The movie may not be particularly scary or suspenseful, but you gotta admit that its certainly packed with plenty of excitement, adventure and the wonderful direction by Joel Schumacher whose flashy style keeps things moving at a solid pace and with an impressive cast such as this, you cannot fail, he has created a pop culture phenomenon. The effects, colour palette, and set designs all looks great and everything comes together perfectly in the whimsical, yet cruel world Schumacher has created here.
The cast does a remarkable job in ensuring this flick into classic status. Corey Haim delivers the very best performance of his career here, he's very grounded and genuinely likeable and contrasts nicely with Jason Patric who gives a strong performance as the thrill-seeking rebel, and the chemistry between the two brothers is superb. Kiefer Sutherland proves to be a firm standout here as David who just oozes cool sleaziness. Dianne Wiest is great as the mother and proves to be the very heart of this movie. Jami Gertz brings a sensual innocence to her role as Star. Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander provides pure entertainment as the Frog Brothers and keeps the fun going throughout. Edward Herrmann is great as the nerdy video store owner Max and has great chemistry with Lucy. Finally, Barnard Hughes provides a scene stealing performance as the grandfather and rounds out this cast perfectly.
Overall 'The Lost Boys' is very much a product of its time, but that doesn't hold it back in any way as it's a horror comedy masterpiece that will continue to sustain its never ending legacy for all time.
The Final Conflict (1981)
An okay conclusion to the original trilogy
'Omen 3: The Final Conflict' is the third and final instalment of the original 'Omen' trilogy that manages to effectively change things up by moving things forward and introducing some incredibly high stakes along with a few genuinely shocking moments, intense and exciting sequences, and plenty of bloody violence featured throughout. All of which makes this a decent if not entirely satisfying ending to the Damien Thorne saga.
The Plot = Damien Thorne (Sam Neill) now an adult and fully aware of his destiny to take over the world and plots to kill his future divine opponent. A group of monks plans to stop him by destroying him once and for all.
The movie's plot is excellent and does a great job with sustaining that compelling narrative throughout its runtime and racks up the tension and suspense when needed despite a few pacing issues here and there, but mostly it does keep you invested thanks to the stellar lead performance by Sam Neill who gives off natural charisma while at the same time being calculated evil, he's simply excellent and it's the main reason why this movie works so well.
The imagery is striking and fits the theme of the movie so well with its stunning set pieces, striking visuals, and eerie landscapes that fits the sinister tone of the movie incredibly. The final climax is where the movie falls rather short as you don't quite get the epic conclusion that was promised, but it was fine if a little too intimate and that's the main reason why this isn't considered as good as the first 2 Omen movies.
Overall 'Omen III: The Final Conflict' does a good job although not fantastic end to the original ''Omen' saga, but its well worth a watch and definitely far better than what followed it (part 4 & the remake).
Sleepwalkers (1992)
Entertaining B-Movie Schlock
'Sleepwalkers' is a fun, cheesy, campy, and over the top horror film that features a twisted yet interesting narrative, an odd tone, an uneven mix of horror and comedy, and a bizarre incestuous relationship subplot thrown in for good measure and what do you get well an entertainingly unhinged thrill ride from the mind of Stephen King.
The Plot = Charles Brady (Brian Krause) and his mother Mary Brady (Alice Krige) move to a small town in Indiana having recently fled California after killing a young girl and draining her lifeforce. The mother and son duo are not human, they are in fact creatures from another world called Sleepwalkers and need to feed on the lifeforce from young women to survive.
This movie isn't based on any of Stephen King's books or short stories, it's his own original screenplay and what he's created here is an odd and interesting feature that manages to a more subdued slow burn horror while also being a schlocky b-movie. The combinations of these elements don't always work, but then there's the 2nd half of the film which is where things really go off the rails and becomes pure b-movie entertainment.
The cast performances here are pretty good for the most part and works well within the context of the film. Brian Krause gives a believable performance as the handsome and charming Charles before switching things up and going completely hammy and unhinged and it's a delight to watch. Alice Krige gives a solid performance that really elevates the production and her chemistry with Charles is incredibly strong yet in a creepy way. Madchen Amick gives a fantastic performance as the female lead Tanya; she proves she's more than just a beautiful face as she's the heart of this entire movie and rises above the questionable dialogue she's given.
Overall 'Sleepwalkers' is a goofy yet fun time that never fails to entertain and while it may not be the best thing Stephen King has ever written, it's still a hell of a ride.
Pet Sematary (1989)
Demented and Mind Boggling
'Pet Sematary' is a crazy and unsettling Stephen King adaptation directed by Mary Lambert and drenched in a macabre sense of wonder that covers every part of this chilling supernatural horror film. The movie's production oozes an eerie atmosphere that nails the graphic and personal material that Stephen King is known for along with an interesting narrative, odd moments, and some painful cinematic moments in this rather faithful adaptation of one of King's absurd stories.
The Plot = A young family comprised of Louis and Rachel Creed (played respectively by Dale Midriff and Denise Crosby) and their 2 young children Gage (Miko Hughes) and Ellie (Blaze Berdahl) moves to a small rural town in Ludlow Maine to make a fresh start until tragedy strikes and the next door neighbour Jud (Fred Gwynne) introduces Louis to an ancient Indian burial ground beyond the pet cemetery that can bring the dead back to life, but when they come back they're not the same as they once were.
Outrageous at times and overly melodramatic the movie seems to have people split down the middle as people seems to ever love it or hate it, but personally I love it as it features a rich personality and off beat tone with many unforgettable moments that really packs a punch with its devasting and gruesome narrative that deals with love, loss, and letting go, but on the other hand it totally goes off the rails with many random moments and unusual performances which strangely enough bridges the gap between disturbing horror and b-movie schlock. The movie is a mixed bag and while it may not be perfect, but it always manages to be entertaining with its off-kilter approach to the material.
The cast performances here are great as they range from subtle low-key to over-the-top performances and that's what makes this movie work so well. The cast does a wonderful job in filling out this strange world with the standouts being Dale Midriff, Denise Crosby, Fred Gwynne, Brad Greenquist, and Miko Hughes.
Overall 'Pet Sematary' is a solid adaptation, and the filmmakers make great use of Stephen King's wonderful story, its mind-boggling, macabre, and yet thrilling at the same time.
Lisa e il diavolo (1973)
A Strange yet Compelling Horror Classic
'Lisa and the Devil' is a strange yet ambitious supernatural Italian/Spanish horror film directed by the legendary filmmaker Mario Bava who manages to create something fractured and brilliant at the same time which is quite an achievement. The movie thrives in its dreamlike atmosphere and surreal imagery as it draws you into its nightmarish fantasy world and never lets up until the final climax.
The Plot = Lisa Reiner (Elke Sommer) is a tourist sightseeing through Toledo Spain until she sees a painting of the devil on a local mural and then she sees a man Leandro (Telly Savalas) who looks exactly like the image she then flees in terror and gets lost and later becomes stranded at a strange mansion that's seemingly held in a supernatural grip.
This is not a straightforward horror flick by any means due to its somewhat fractured narrative and almost lacking in any sort of cohesive sense, but it's bizarre and intriguing enough to keep you invested throughout its runtime thanks to its morbid beauty and interesting cast performances. This is a prime example of filmmaking gone wild a stunning work of art and Mario Bava manages to create something really compelling here and it's such a shame this underrated gem isn't talked about more.
The performances here are top notch from everyone involved. Telly Savalas gives an outstanding performance as the sinister yet charismatic butler who steals every scene, he's in. Elke Sommer gives a strong and alluring performance as the female lead. Alida Valli provides a standout performance as the blind countess, and Alessio Orano provides a stranger and off-kilter performance as Max.
Overall 'Lisa and the Devil' is a strange yet compelling supernatural horror classic and a firm highlight in Mario Bava's filmography. The less said about the re-cut version titled 'The House of Exorcism' the better, stick to this one.