Posts Tagged ‘horror’

Movie Review – Piranha (1978)

Back in 1975, Jaws not only proved to be an extremely successful film in the theaters, but it also gave the audience a reason to think twice before swimming in the ocean.

Of course, the odds of being attacked by a shark are extremely slim, but you *really* don’t know what’s swimming underneath you.  Those might be some harmless fish tickling your toes, it might just be some seaweed, or it could be a sign that something much fiercer is about to attack your legs . . .

1978 saw the release of Piranha, a B-movie that’s partial parody, partial comedy, and partial bloody horror film involving swarms of aggressive fish with razor sharp teeth.  The film involves a school of genetically-modified piranha that are accidentally released into a river.  It’s a race against time to stop the fish before they attack a summer camp and, further downstream, the grand opening of a brand new water park.

Piranha (1978) – movie poster

Directed by Joe Dante, Piranha stars Bradford Dillman and Heather Menzies as Paul Grogan and Maggie McKeown.  Supporting them are basically a bunch of obscure actors and actresses including Kevin McCarthy, Barbara Steele, Melody Thomas Scott, and iconic 1980s actor Dick Miller.

Piranha (1978) – (c) United Artists

Piranha begins with two teenagers who discover a seemingly abandoned swimming pool inside of a former military research base.  It’s late at night and nobody is in sight, so the two teenagers decide to go skinny dipping.  That turns out to be a fatal mistake as the pool is actually filled with carnivorous fish, and the two teenagers are brutally killed. Read more…

Movie Review – The Shining (1980)

A couple of weeks ago I finished reading The Shining, Stephen King‘s classic tale involving the supernatural and an isolated hotel in the Rocky Mountains.

The book was great, and I’ve been having a desire to see the 1980 movie based on the book.  I’ve only see parts of the movie here and there, and that was many years ago.  I’ve never seen the whole movie from start to finish.  After finishing (and thoroughly enjoying the book), it was a matter of taking the time to watch the movie.

The Shining (1980) – movie poster

Directed by film legend Stanley Kubrick, The Shining stars Jack Nicholson in the lead role of Jack Torrance, a writer and recovering alcoholic who accepts the job of a winter caretaker at a prestigious mountain resort.  Supporting him are Shelley Duvall as Wendy Torrance, Jack’s wife, and Danny Lloyd as Danny Torrance, Jack and Wendy’s young son who happens to have a special skill with his mind.

The film also features Scatman Crothers as Dick Hallorann, Philip Stone as Delbert Grady, and Joe Turkel as Lloyd, a friendly bartender who gladly serves Jack his drinks.

The Shining (1980) – (c) Warner Bros.

The Shining begins with Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) arriving at the Overlook Hotel in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, and interviewing for the position of the winter caretaker.  Stuart Ullman (Barry Nelson) likes Jack and hires him for the position even though Jack does not have any experience.  Jack informs him that he’s looking for change, and working at the hotel will allow him to continue working as a writer.

During the interview, Ullman tells Jack that Charles Grady, the previous winter caretaker, fell victim to cabin fever, and he murdered his wife and their two daughters.  This doesn’t seem to be a concern for Jack. Read more…

Book Review – Stephen King’s “The Shining”

Last week I finished reading Stephen King‘s The Shining, a classic tale of horror involving isolation and madness at a haunted hotel during the winter.

It’s a great story to read on these coldest of winter nights, especially when it’s snowing outside.

First published in 1977, The Shining tells a tale of Jack Torrance and how he and his wife and young son take over the caretaker duties for the Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies.  The catch is that the hotel is isolated, and when the heavy snow arrives, the small family will have to fend for themselves for quite some time.  That wouldn’t be a problem if the hotel wasn’t haunted with evil spirits.

Stephen King — The Shining

The Shining begins with Jack Torrance interviewing and being accepted for the position of winter caretaker for the Overlook Hotel.  The Overlook is a prestigious hotel nestled in the Colorado Rockies.  It’s primarily a summertime destination as winter storms can (and will) block the mountain roads and render them impassible.  The Overlook’s previous winter caretaker succumbed to cabin fever, literally went crazy, and killed his family and himself.

Jack himself is a recovering alcoholic and a person with some problems in his past.  He’s an accomplished author and has been off and on writing a play.  Jack was also fired from his previous position as a college English instructor after he lashed out and attacked one of his students.  Jack’s temper and sometimes uncontrollable violence have caused him to also hit and injure his young son, Danny.  All of those events continually haunt Jack as he tries to get his life back on track. Read more…

Movie Review – The Mummy’s Curse (1944)

Just when you thought that it was finished . . . along comes another sequel to the Mummy series of movies.

As we remember in The Mummy’s Ghost, Yousef Bey was sent to Mapleton, Massachusetts to recover the mummified body of ancient Egyptian Princess Ananka as well as the mummy Kharis.  Yousef was tasked with recovering those two mummies and returning them to Egypt so that they could rest in piece.  Of course, things didn’t go as planned, and choas ensued.  The movie ended with Kharis taking the reincarnated version of Princess Ananka into a swamp so that they would both drown and finally be together for eternity.

Released in late 1944, The Mummy’s Curse advances the storyline another twenty-five or so years (presumably in the year 1995), and it changes locations from Mapleton, Massachusetts, to the swamps of Louisiana.  An. irrigation project accidentally unearths the mummies Kharis and Ananka.  Two representatives from a museum arrive to try to excavate the site and recover the mummies.  The story takes a turn when the mummified body of Ananka walks again and turns into a human being, a beautiful young lady with no memory of her past.  As Kharis tries to catch Ananka, there’s also treachery involving the museum representatives, and death lurking around every corner.

The Mummy’s Curse (1944) – movie poster

Directed by Leslie Goodwins, The Mummy’s Curse stars Lon Chaney, Jr. as the mummy Kharis.  Chaney was the only actor to return from the previous film.  Other actors and actresses in this Mummy film include Virginia Christine as Princess Ananka, Kay Harding as Betty Walsh, Dennis Moore as Dr. James Halsey, Peter Coe as Dr. Ilzor Zandaab, and Martin Kosleck as Ragheb.

The Mummy’s Curse (1944) – (c) Universal Studios

The Mummy’s Curse begins in Louisiana twenty-five years after the events in The Mummy’s Ghost.  The locals remember hearing stories about the mummy and how he carried a woman into the swamps, but those stories are turning out more like legends and local folklore.  Perhaps there’s more to the stories as many of the construction workers are convinced that the local swamps are actually cursed with an evil presence.  One of the workers disappeared the previous night, and the rest of the workers are concerned for their own safety. Read more…

Movie Review – The Mummy’s Ghost (1944)

In The Mummy’s Tomb we learned that the mummy Kharis was still alive and (mostly) well despite being burned with fire at the end of The Mummy’s Hand.

Thirty years after the events in The Mummy’s Hand, Kharis was set to America along with Mehemet Bey to get revenge against the members of the Banning Expedition along with their descendants.  Although Stephen Banning and Babe Hanson were killed by Kharis, Banning’s son, Dr. John Banning, managed to kill Mehemet and defeat Kharis with the help of a mob of people.  The Mummy’s Tomb ended with Kharis being killed in a fire and John Banning marrying his fiancée, Isobel Evans.

Of course, that’s not the end of the story involving Kharis.  This is where the next film, The Mummy’s Ghost, comes into play.

After the failure of Mehemet Bey, the ageing High Priest of Arkam sends another follower to America to simply retrieve Kharis (allegedly still alive and well despite being set on fire *again*) and the mummified body of Princess Ananka, and to return them to Egypt so that they can rest in piece.  Of course, things don’t go as planned and the town of Mapleton, Massachusetts has to face the killer mummy one more time.

The Mummy’s Ghost (1944) – movie poster

Directed by Reginald Le Borg, The Mummy’s Ghost features the return of Lon Chaney, Jr. as Kharis, Frank Reicher as Professor Norman, and George Zucco as the ageing Andoheb.  Newcomers this time around include John Carradine as Yousef Bey, Robert Lowery as Tom Hervey, and Ramsay Ames as Amina Mansori / Ananka.

The Mummy’s Ghost (1944) – (c) Universal Pictures

The Mummy’s Ghost begins in Egypt as Yousef Bey (John Carradine) is summoned to a secret meeting with the High Priest of Arkam, Andoheb (George Zucco).  It looked like Andoheb died in the previous film after handing over the duties to Mehemet Bey, but apparently there must be a glitch somewhere in the space-time continuum.  Anyway, Andoheb proceeds to tell Yousef Bey about the history of Kharis and Princess Ananka, and the purpose of the tana leaves.  He also informs Yousef that although the world believes that Kharis was destroyed, the mummy is still, in fact, alive.  Kharis’s sole purpose is to guard the tomb of Princess Ananka.

Yousef Bey’s mission is to return Kharis to Egypt along with the mummified body of Princess Ananka.  Andoheb then hands over the official duties of being a high priest as Yousef swears to carry out his mission. Read more…

Book Review – Stephen King’s “‘Salem’s Lot”

Today I finished reading ‘Salem’s Lot, one of Stephen King‘s earlier novels.

Set in the fictitious town of Jerusalem’s Lot, Maine, the story involves an ancient vampire attacking the residents and slowly building an army of the undead.  It’s up to a small team of people to defy the odds and put an end to the attacks before the whole town is eventually killed.

Stephen King — ‘Salem’s Lot

‘Salem’s Lot begins with Ben Mears, a writer who grew up in the town of Jerusalem’s Lot (often shortened to just ‘Salem’s Lot), a small town in Maine.  He’s returning to town to continue working on his next book, a story involving the Marsten House, a house with a very negative reputation (for both the locals as well as Ben Mears).

After arriving in town, Ben quickly begins a relationship with Susan Norton, a young lady who is a fan of his writings.  Ben also befriends Matt Burke, an older high school teacher who knows anything and everything about the town.

Ben’s arrival in ‘Salem’s Lot coincides with a mysterious Austrian named Kurt Barlow purchasing and moving into the abandoned Marsten House.  One of the odd things is that nobody in town ever sees Kurt Barlow, they only see his associate and business partner, Richard Straker.  It’s Richard Straker who handles the affairs of the house as well as sets up and runs Barlow and Straker — Fine Furnishings, a high-end furniture store planned for the tourists.

It’s not long until a young boy named Ralphie Glick suddenly disappears.  He was walking through the woods with his older brother, Danny, when Danny was attacked by an unknown entity and fell unconscious.  When he later woke and returned home, Ralphie was still missing.  Later we learn that Ralphie Glick was sacrificed in a ritualistic manner to appease a higher being.  Not only after that Danny Glick falls ill and dies while in the hospital.  Danny becomes the first person in ‘Salem’s Lot to become a vampire. Read more…

Movie Review – The Mummy’s Tomb (1942)

In 1940, the horror film The Mummy’s Hand introduced the audience to a new storyline involving a killer mummy from ancient Egypt.

While not as successful or critically acclaimed as the original movie, 1932’s The Mummy, The Mummy’s Hand did offer a somewhat new plot along with a new cast of characters.  And unlike the original film, The Mummy’s Hand made it easier for the writers to continue the story in a sequel.

The Mummy’s Tomb continues the story that was established in The Mummy’s Hand.  As we suspected, the fire really didn’t kill Kharis.  It also turns out that Babe Jenson’s bullet didn’t kill Andoheb either.  Set thirty years later and in New England, Andoheb sends his follow with Kharis on a mission to kill everybody associated with the Banning Expedition along with their descendants.

The Mummy’s Tomb (1942) – movie poster

Directed by Harold Young, The Mummy’s Tomb returns Dick Foran as Stephen Banning, Wallace Ford as Babe Hanson (renamed from Jenson in the previous film) and George Zucco as Andoheb.  In this film we’re introduced to John Hubbard as Dr. John Banning, Elyse Knox as Isobel Evans, Turhan Bey as the villain Mehemet Bey, and Lon Chaney, Jr. as the mummy Kharis.

The Mummy’s Tomb takes place thirty years after the events in the first film, putting this movie around the year 1970.

The Mummy’s Tomb (1942) – (c) Universal Studios

The film begins with an aged Stephen Banning (Dick Foran) recanting the tale of his expedition and that of Kharis the mummy to his family and friends.  Banning is back in his hometown of Mapleton, Massachusetts.  The guests at his home include his son, Dr. John Banning (John Hubbard), and his fiancée, Isobel Evans (Elyse Knox).  It takes about eight or nine minutes for Banning to tell his tale.  During that time we see flashback clips from the previous movie.  As far as Banning knows, both the mummy and Andoheb were killed. Read more…

Movie Review – The Mummy’s Hand (1940)

Back in 1932 the audiences were terrified with The Mummy, a horror film that involved an ancient Egyptian priest being brought back to life, and his quest to kill a modern woman so that he can reincarnate an Egyptian princess.

The Mummy was a hit with the audiences.  Not only did the film provide thrills and chills, but it also involved the ancient Egyptians, one of the oldest known civilizations.  And mummies, pyramids and tombs are just plain awesome as well.

It was just a matter of time before The Mummy would receive a sequel.  More Mummy films would be made, but, unfortunately, none of them would be a sequel to the original film.

The Mummy’s Hand (1940) – movie poster

Released in 1940, The Mummy’s Hand is a new Mummy film that’s part remake/ripoff of the original film, and part original story.  The Mummy’s Hand does involve a similar back story and even uses footage from The Mummy, the main story has been changed to present an original film.

Directed by Christy Cabanne, The Mummy’s Hand stars Dick Foran as Steve Banning, an archaeologist in Egypt who is down on his luck at making a major discovery.  Wallace Ford is Babe Jenson, Banning’s sidekick, and Peggy Moran plays the role of Marta Solvani, Banning’s accomplice / partial love interest / damsel in distress.  Tom Tyler plays the role of Kharis, an Egyptian mummy still alive after thousands of years.

The Mummy’s Hand (1940) – (c) Universal Studios

The Mummy’s Hand begins in modern times (1940) as Egyptian Andoheb (George Zucco) arrives at the Hill of the Seven Jackals to answer the summons of the High Priest of Karnak (Eduardo Ciannelli).  The elderly priest is dying and has decided to tell his follower, Andoheb, the story of Kharis (Tom Tyler).  The two of them gaze into a pool of water and the high priest explains that Princess Ananka died and Kharis tried to resurrect her body by using tana leaves.  Kharis is caught in the act, and as punishment he is mummified alive and buried underground with tana leaves.

The high priest informs Andoheb that the secret to controlling Kharis is through the tana leaves.  During each full moon, the leaves can be cooked and converted into a fluid which can then be administered to Kharis and to keep him alive.  If Andoheb would need to restore movement to Kharis so that he could be used to attack people, for example, then Andoheb would need a bigger dose of tana leaves.  The priest cautions that too many tana leaves will give Kharis uncontrollable power. Read more…

Movie Review – The Invisible Man (1933)

Back in 1897, science-fiction author H.G. Wells introduced the world to The Invisible Man, an optic scientist who was able to make himself completely invisible.  The scientist is unable to reverse the effects, and he goes insane and on a killing rampage in the English countryside.

This story was made into a film of the same name in 1933.

The Invisible Man (1933) – movie poster

Directed by James Whale and produced by Carl Laemmle, Jr., The Invisible Man stars Claude Rains as Dr. Jack Griffin / The Invisible Man.  Co-starring in the film are Gloria Stuart as Flora Cranley, William Harrigan as Dr. Arthur Kemp, Henry Travers as Dr. Cranley, and Edward E. Clive as Constable Jaffers.

The Invisible Man (1933) – (c) Universal Pictures

The Invisible Man begins on a snowy night as a mysterious man, Dr. Jack Griffin (Claude Rains) checks into a room at The Lion’s Head, an inn in the English village of Iping.  His appearance is rather startling as he’s wrapped in bandages around his head, he’s wearing dark glasses at night, and his hands are hidden behind gloves.  Despite his strong request for a room with a warm fireplace, the innkeepers, Mr. Hall (Forrester Harvey) and his wife (Una O’Connor), furnish him with a room and a hot meal.  The patrons at the bar speculate that the mysterious man recently escaped from a prison, and that’s why he’s hiding at the inn. Read more…

Movie Review – The Haunting (1963)

Today we’re taking a look at The Haunting, a 1963 horror film that takes viewers into a house believed to be terrorized by ghosts and other evil spirits.

Nearly everybody has heard of an allegedly haunted home in their town or neighborhood, an old, unkept or unoccupied place where it’s said that restless spirits gather at night.  That premise is used in The Haunting where a paranormal psychologist takes a small team with him to investigate Hill House, an old home that has seen its share of death and is a place where ghosts still call home.  But are the ghosts and paranormal entities real, or is it just part of their imagination?

The Haunting (1963) – movie poster

The Haunting is a black-and-white paranormal horror film based on the book, The Haunting of Hill House.  The film was directed by Robert Wise and stars Julie Harris in the lead role of Eleanor Lance, a psychologically fragile woman who is known for having a paranormal event in her past.  Supporting her are Claire Bloom as Theodora, Richard Johnson as Dr. John Markway, and Russ Tamblyn as Luke Sanderson.

The Haunting (1963) – (c) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

The Haunting begins as Dr. John Markway does a voiceover and tells us a brief history of Hill House.  We quickly learn that Hill House is a house that has been surrounded by death and mystery.  The house was built by Hugh Crain as a home for his wife and daughter, Abigail, in a remote part of New England.  As a carriage was bringing Hugh Crain’s young wife to the completed house, the horses were spooked and the carriage crashed against a tree, killing his wife before she could step foot into the house.

Instead of leaving, Hugh Crain and Abigail remained in Hill House.  Hugh remarried but his second wife fell down a flight of stairs in the house and died from her injuries.  Following his second wife’s death, Hugh Crain went to England where he would later die in a drowning accident, leaving Abigail with a caregiver in Hill House.

Abigail chose to continue living in the nursery throughout her years at Hill House, never changing rooms or even seeking a husband and family of her own.  Later in life she would become bed-ridden and dependent upon a young female companion from the village.  Her young companion would often sneak away and see her boyfriend while the elder Abigail slept.  One evening the companion was away when Abigail desperately needed help.  She died and the companion inherited Hill House. Read more…

Movie Review – Santa’s Slay (2005)

Everybody knows that Santa Claus is a kind and friendly person who distributes presents on Christmas Eve to good little boys and girls.

But what if Santa was really an evil person who kills others, and the only reason he’s been nice for the past thousand years is because he lost a bet?  What if Santa was really a killing machine who was finally free to kill again?

That’s basically the premise for Santa’s Slay, a 2005 comedy horror film that gives us an alternate version of Santa Claus.  Directed by David Steiman, Santa’s Slay stars professional wrestling icon Bill Goldberg as Santa Claus.  The rest of the cast members are mainly nobodies, but you will catch glimpses of Dave Thomas, James Caan, Fran Drescher, Chris Kattan and Rebecca Gayheart.

Santa’s Slay begins on Christmas Eve in 2005.

Santa’s Slay (2005) – (c) Media 8 Entertainment

The Mason family is bickering with each other as they sit down to a formal dinner.  Suddenly Santa Claus (Bill Goldberg) comes crashing down the chimney.  He stabs Mr. Mason’s (James Caan) hands to the table with a pair of knives.  Daughter Taylor Mason (Annie Sorell) faints and falls backwards onto the dogs’ fancy bed and accidentally impales herself through the throat.  Santa drinks a bottle of alcohol, lights a lighter, and then sprays the fire onto Mrs. Mason’s (Fran Drescher) hair.

Jason Mason (Chris Kataan) tries to fight Santa, but Santa easily kicks him into a shelving unit, knocking him unconscious.  The fire is out on Mrs. Mason’s head and she’s badly burned.  But that doesn’t stop Santa.  He drowns her in a container of eggnog.  Gwen (Rebecca Gayheart) pleads with Santa that she’s been good right before he bashes her head with one of the table’s legs.  Beth (Alicia Loren) tries to run away, so Santa takes the star off the Christmas tree and throws it into her back, killing her.

Santa then grabs a drumstick from the turkey and shoves it into Mr. Mason’s mouth.  He then rams his head against the table, jamming the drumstick into his mouth and killing him. Read more…

Movie Review – Evil Dead (2013)

This weekend marks the nationwide release of Evil Dead, a remake of the classic 1981 horror film, The Evil Dead.

Evil Dead takes us back to the 1980s as a small group of five friends spend some time at an old cabin in the woods.  Just like the original film, some of the people are Michigan State University students, and yes, Sam Raimi’s trademark Oldsmobile car is parked outside of the cabin.  It’s beat up, covered in weeds and other growth, and it has clearly seen better days, but that small tribute is part of this newer version of the classic horror film.

Directed by Fede Alvarez, Evil Dead stars Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas and Elizabeth Blackmore as the five friends who encounter an evil presence at an old cabin out in the woods.  2013′s Evil Dead was produced by Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell and Robert G. Tapert, all three of them being connected to the original The Evil Dead film as the writer-director, main star, and producer of the film trilogy.

Evil Dead (2013) – (c) TriStar Pictures

Evil Dead begins with an injured young woman running through the woods.  She’s quickly captured by two men.  She later wakes up tied to a post in a building.  After her blindfold is removed, the woman is shocked that her father is one of the people who trapped her.  She pleads for her life as her father douses her with a flammable liquid, telling her how sorry he is to do so.  While he’s doing that, an older woman is reading from an old book and urging him to continue with the ritual.

The father tries to strike a match when the young woman suddenly reveals that she’s possessed.  She screams and rants at her father, taking responsibility for killing her mother.  Her father lights a match and the woman burns while still tied to a post.  After she’s burned for a few moments her father raises a shotgun and shoots her point blank in the head, killing the young woman.

Fast forward to today. Read more…

Movie Review – Black Christmas (1974)

“If this picture doesn’t make your skin crawl . . . it’s on TOO TIGHT.”

That’s the tag line for Black Christmas, a 1974 Canadian independent horror film that takes place on a college campus during Christmas break.  This film has also been known by alternate titles such as Silent Night, Evil Night and Stranger in the House.

Directed by Bob Clark, Black Christmas stars Olivia Hussey and Margot Kidder as two of the sorority sisters.  Supporting them are Keir Dullea as Peter Smythe, and John Saxon as police Lieutenant Kenneth Fuller.

Black Christmas (1974) – (c)Ambassador Film Distributors / Warner Bros.

Black Christmas begins one night at the start of Christmas break on a college campus.  As the sorority sisters drink and have a good time, we watch the point-of-view of a disoriented man as he climbs up the trellis on the side of the sorority house and enters the attic.  Shortly later the girls receive an obscene phone call.  Instead of being disgusted or scared, Barb Coard (Margot Kidder) provokes the caller, to which he replies that he’s going to kill her. Read more…

Movie Review – Gremlins (1984)

For the longest of times gremlins have been known as little monsters that like to destroy mechanical and electrical devices.

Is your car broken?  Blame it on a gremlin.  Did an appliance recently break?  It was a gremlin.  The more that you believed in the creatures, then the more likely they would arrive and cause chaos.

In 1984, Gremlins brought those mischievous little creatures to life in a full-length film.

Directed by Joe Dante, produced by Steven Spielberg, written by Chris Columbus, and with music provided by Jerry Goldsmith, Gremlins tells the tale of the wicked little creatures wrecking havoc on a small town during Christmas.  The evil creatures are accidentally created from a mogwai when the rules required to take care of it are broken.  It’s up to two teenagers to stop the gremlins from completely destroying their town.

Gremlins begins as Randall Peltzer (Hoyt Axton), an inventor with good concepts but bad mechanics, is browsing through Chinatown when he meets the grandson of an antique shop owner.  Inside the antique shop, Randall tries to sell his latest invention, something called the Bathroom Buddy, to Mr. Wing (Keye Luke), the owner of a Chinese antique shop.  His sales spiel is interrupted by some strange noises.  When he investigates he discovers a little furry creature called a mogwai (voiced by Howie Mandel).

Gremlins (1984) – (c) Warner Bros.

The mogwai is a cute little creature and Randall thinks that it’ll make the perfect gift for his teenage son.  Unfortunately, Mr. Wing will not sell him the mogwai, even when Randall offers $200.  Mr. Wing claims that it takes a great amount of responsibility to keep a creature, and the mogwai is not for sale.  However, Mr. Wing’s grandson has a different attitude about the deal.  He has Randall meet him outside of the shop.  Outside, the grandson sells the mogwai for $200.  He claims that his grandfather is crazy.  Besides, the family could really use the money.

Before Randall leaves, the grandson tells him the three rules when caring for a mogwai.

1) Keep him in dark areas.  He hates light and sunshine will kill him.

2) Do not get him wet.  No drinking water and definitely no baths.

3) Most important of all, do NOT feed him after midnight.

It seems simple.  What could go wrong? Read more…

Movie Review – The Evil Dead (1981)

In honor of the nationwide release of the horror film Evil Dead (2013), today we’re taking a big step back to 1981 and the cult horror classic film, The Evil Dead.

Set in 1981 and taking place at a remote cabin in the mountains of Tennessee, The Evil Dead is a low-budget horror film that takes the supernatural element of demonic forces and makes them quite horrific and gory.  There are possessions here along with violence and plenty of blood and guts.  When it was first released, The Evil Dead was considered one of the most gory films of all time.

Directed by Sam Raimi and starring Bruce Campbell in the lead role of Ashley “Ash” Williams, The Evil Dead is the film that launched both of their Hollywood careers, one as a hit director and the other as a cult film actor.  Those two aren’t the only famous people who had a hand on The Evil Dead.  Joel Coen (of the now famous Coen brothers) was one of the editors of this film.

The Evil Dead begins with five Michigan State college students heading to Tennessee to spend spring break at a remote cabin.  Their journey takes them along back roads and deeper into the Appalachian Mountains.  The group has a scare when their car suddenly veers into the oncoming traffic of a big truck, but they regain control and miss the head-on collision.  They then have a second close encounter when part of a rickety old bridge suddenly gives way.  A car tire pokes through the bridge but they manage to cross the river to the opposite side.

The Evil Dead (1981) – (c) New Line Cinema

After the harrowing journey, Scotty (Hal Delrich), “Ash” (Bruce Campbell), Cheryl (Ellen Sandweiss), Linda (Betsy Baker) and Shelly (Sarah York) finally arrive at the old cabin.  Ash and Linda are a couple, Scotty and Shelly are another couple, and Cheryl is Ash’s sister.  The cabin has a rustic charm to it though the college students now seem a bit hesitated with staying there.

The gang settles into the cabin and odd things begin to occur.  Cheryl is sitting in her room making sketches when suddenly the clock’s pendulum stops moving.  Her hand then becomes possessed and she draws a picture of a strange book.  After that she has a vision of the cellar door on the kitchen floor. Read more…

Movie Review – Jaws (1975)

Dahhhhh, duhhhhhh.

Dahhhhh, duhhhhhh.

Dahhhhh, duhhhhhh.

We all know that infamous movie theme.

It’s the movie that scared beach visitors out of the water.  It’s the movie that continues to spark terror and fascination towards sharks.  It’s the movie that helped catapult the directing career of Steven Spielberg, and helped make composer John Williams into the legend he became.

Yes, folks, it’s 1975′s hit movie, Jaws.  Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw, Jaws is the legendary film that puts the fictional island town of Amity in the clutches of a massive (and hungry) great white shark.  Just how far will the new but dedicated police chief go to protect the citizens of Amity and stop the killings in the water?

Jaws (1975) – (c) Universal Pictures

Jaws begins with an innocent teenage beach party in June of 1975.  Two teenagers escape from their friends for a little privacy.  The girl talks her friend into going skinny dipping.  She hits the water first, but as we see, an innocent swim in the ocean turns into absolute horror.  Something grabs the girl and yanks her underwater.  She manages to escape to a buoy, but the unknown creature grabs her again, this time dragging her underwater for good. Read more…

Movie Review – The Cabin in the Woods (2012)

What do you get when you take a film such as The Truman Show (1998) and then add a horrific and supernatural twist to it?

The result is a film such as The Cabin in the Woods, a horror film that takes a group of innocent people and places them in a conspiracy much deeper and darker than they could ever imagine.

Directed by Drew Goddard, The Cabin in the Woods stars Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz and Jesse Williams as the five young adults who are unknowingly sent to their deaths at a remote cabin in the woods.  The film also features Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford as two technicians who work for the mysterious corporation, and Sigourney Weaver as the Director.

The Cabin in the Woods was actually filmed in the spring of 2009 and slated for an initial release in February of 2010.  However, the MGM film studio was dealing with financial problems and The Cabin in the Woods, along with 2012′s Red Dawn, were both delayed indefinitely.  Lionsgate eventually acquired the distribution rights to The Cabin in the Woods, and the much anticipated horror film was finally released on April 13, 2012.

The Cabin in the Woods begins with two technicians, Gary Sitterson (Richard Jenkins) and Steve Hadley (Bradley Whitford), as they prepare for an operation of some sort.  All we know is that they have a light-hearted attitude as if this sort of event is routine yet still fairly important.

The Cabin in the Woods (2012) – (c) Lionsgate Films

Meanwhile, a group of five college students, Dana Polk (Kristen Connolly), Holden McCrea (Jesse Williams), Marty Mikalski (Fran Kranz), Jules Louden (Anna Hutchison) and her boyfriend, Curt Vaughan (Chris Hemsworth), depart on a weekend trip to a remote cabin.  They have an ominous start to their trip when they stop for gas at an old gas station and the attendant, the only worker there, insults the gang and hints that they’ll have problems returning from the cabin.  They pay the man and quickly leave the filling station, heading up the road and deeper into the woods.  As they pass through a tunnel, we see an eagle crash into an invisible wall, foreshadowing the dangers of the artificial “world” the gang just entered. Read more…

Movie Review – Sinister (2012)

Paranormal horror films are about a dime a dozen these days.

Whether it’s some sort of demon trying to get you, “found footage” of ghosts in your house, or being possessed, this genre has been exploited in many ways recently.  While some of the films are fresh and give the audience plenty of new material, other films tend to be repeats of past ideas or concepts.  And still other films will attempt to present a fresh idea but fail miserably and get lost in the cliches.

That’s kind of where 2012′s paranormal horror film Sinister comes into play.

Produced as a low-budget paranormal horror film, Sinister stars Ethan Hawke as Ellison Oswalt, a true-crime author who becomes obsessed with the Super 8 mm snuff films he finds in the attic of his new home.  Fred Thompson plays the sheriff of the small town, a man who is not pleased with Oswalt’s reputation of casting police officers in a negative way.  James Ransone plays Deputy So-And-So, an eager cop who wants to help Oswalt research the material for his new book.  Rounding out the cast is Vincent D’Onofrio as Professor Jonas, a specialist in the occult who helps Oswalt understand just what is happening in his home.

Sinister (2012) – (c) Summit Entertainment

Sinister begins with the showing of an 8mm film.  We see four people blindfolded and bound with nooses around their necks.  An unknown person cuts a massive tree branch.  The branch falls to the ground which acts as a counterweight and lifts the four people into the air, strangling them to death. Read more…

Movie Review – Misery (1990)

Today we’re taking a look at Misery, a horror film based on Stephen King‘s hit novel of the same name.

Released in 1990, Misery is a horror film that tells the tale of author Paul Sheldon as he nearly dies in a car crash and he’s cared for by Annie Wilkes.  It turns out that Annie is Paul’s number-one fan when it comes to his famous set of books starring Misery Chastain.  Annie is a bit of a crazy woman though and she tortures Paul and makes him write her a brand new Misery book, just for herself.  Her methods drive Paul to the breaking point and set up a climatic conclusion in her isolated mountain home.

Directed by Rob Reiner, Misery stars James Caan as Paul Sheldon and Kathy Bates in the role of Annie Wilkes.  Supporting them are Richard Farnsworth as Buster, the local sheriff, Frances Sternhagen as his wife and deputy, Virginia, and Lauren Bacall as Marcia Sindell, Paul’s publicist.

Misery begins in the mountain town of Silver Creek, Colorado as novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan) is finishing his latest work.  He’s set the same pattern for a number of years now where he always goes to the same hotel in the small town to finish writing his latest manuscript.  This procedure is no different for the conclusion of his latest novel.  Paul has a celebratory smoke of his cigarette, a glass of champagne.  The next day he climbs into his Ford Mustang and begins the long drive back home to New York City.

Misery (1990) – (c) Columbia Pictures

A snowstorm quickly develops as Paul drives through the mountains.  He misses a curve in the road and his car slides over the edge and rolls to a stop.  He’s badly injured and unconscious.  Without any help soon he’ll surely die out there in the wilderness. Read more…

Movie Review – The Mist (2007)

Something is in the mist.

Something horrible, something terrifying, and something that is not from this dimension.

The Mist (based on Stephen King’s short story of the same name) takes place up in Maine.  The morning after a terrific storm, the Drayton family awakes and surveys the damage to their home and property.  David Drayton (Thomas Jane) takes his son, Billy (Nathan Gamble), and neighbor, Brent Norton (Andre Braugher), into town to grab some needed supplies.

It’s the town’s grocery store where most of the movie takes place.  The town’s emergency siren blares, and shoppers watch as every emergency vehicle in town goes flying up the road.  They also watch as a thick mist approaches them, cutting back the visibility and nearly blocking out the sun.

Moments later, a local man comes running into the store, bleeding and absolutely horrified.  His warning is simple:  something is in the mist, and it ain’t friendly.

The Mist (2007) – (c) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

The approaching mist quickly sweeps through the parking lot and envelops the store.  A massive tremor shakes the building, terrifying the shoppers.  As power is still out from last night’s storm, the shoppers quickly lock the doors, sealing themselves indoors.  It’s after the store’s stock boy ventures outside and is killed do the shoppers barricade themselves, setting the stage for the siege against the unknown.

The big questions remain, what is inside the mist, and can anybody help them? Read more…