As I've said before, I've never been a huge fan of Freddy Krueger. Yes, he was very scary in the original A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, and it's a genuine 80's classic of horror. Absolutely. ELM STREET was a true breath of fresh air, as we had been subjected to countless knife-wielding madmen wearing masks, which we love of course- but ELM STREET was truly different and creative. But somewhere around the third installment, I really started to lose interest in the old guy. Once he started cracking wicked one-liners, he just stopped being scary and started being annoying. To me, at least. Now I'm not dogging on the guy here-Anyway, I just recently re-visited the first sequel, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET PART 2: FREDDY'S REVENGE. And wow! This is seriously the most homoerotic and campy horror movie of the 80's!
A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET was extremely successful when it hit theaters in 1984, so a sequel was inevitable. Two years later, we got one, titled A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET PART 2 FREDDY'S REVENGE. And what a curious sequel it was. The film is full of blatantly obvious homosexual undertones- lots of male nudity, the school coach who just happens to be a leather daddy- even Jesse, the main character, at one point ends up in a gay bar. Jesse also keeps saying throughout the film that there's something inside him that wants to "come out", and he's obviously more interested in his buddy than his girlfriend. (His buddy, Grady, was played by Robert Rusler- do you blame Jesse? haha) It's actually quite amazing that they not only had the balls to pull this off in 1986, but even more amazing is the fact that nobody seemed to notice any of the gay stuff at the time. At least I didn't.
FREDDY'S REVENGE is set five years after the original film. A new man and his family have bought Nancy's house, who went mad from her ordeal and is now institutionalized. Mark Patton deliciously plays Jesse, the oldest son who now occupies Nancy's bedroom. He seems to be a sexually confused teenager who starts having terrible nightmares. Yes, Freddy is back, haunting Jesse's dreams now, and is intent on taking over Jesse's body and using it for his dirty work. FREDDYS' REVENGE tends to be the least favorite of the series, and on some levels, it's easy to see why.
There are definitely some silly moments to be found, but also some pretty good moments too. The opening bus scene is actually done quite well, and the "transformation" scene is also a standout moment. Freddy is still pretty much kept in the dark for most of the film, which is much more effective, and is played very sinister. It's the last time Robert Englund plays Freddy seriously, as further performances up the camp factor. The movie has a good premise- I like the idea of Freddy trying to take over somebody's body, and I like that Jessie is living in the original house. And the idea that that this kid is or could be sexually confused was actually a pretty bold move for 1986. I was fourteen at the time I first saw this, and seeing it as an adult now, it's obvious a lot of stuff went right over my head.
FREDDY'S REVENGE is a camp lover's delight as there are many hilarious moments to be found. Clu Gulager and Hope Lange certainly camp it up as Jesse's parents, although Kim Myers delivers an honest and earnest performance as Lisa, Jesse's girlfriend. She also very much resembles a young Meryl Streep. Throw in sexy 80's icon Robert Rusler as Jesse's wise-cracking best friend Grady, and you've got yourself a rather memorable sequel, to be honest. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET PART 2: FREDDY'S REVENGE is certainly one of the most curious and strange horror movies to come out of the 80's. There are moments of high horror mixed with high camp- which in my eyes certainly makes for interesting viewing.
This is the most underrated of the series, even though some fans complain about the implied bisexuality of the main character. I find it to personally give the film an unusual twist- and in all the following sequels, nothing this original or bold can be found anywhere. This film offers plenty of flaws, but I would give it a solid B just for creativity and uniqueness.
As I said before, this is the last film where Freddy is played for terror, instead of for laughs. Freddy thankfully does not fire off embarrassing and silly one-liners in this film- if that's what you're looking for, skip to Parts 3 and on. This sequel for the most part seems to be more concerned with racking up tension instead of the body count, and that's perfectly fine with me. It's not a great film, but it's not a terrible film either. I find it quite fascinating, actually.And it definitely has some great and memorable moments. It does seem that the film has gained a definite cult following in the past few years, and Mark Patton is proud of his participation in the film and of being one of the first male 'final girls'. And rightly so. Ah, the 80's.
I love Margot Kidder. I really do. She alway seems like she'd be that cool aunt who would sneak up to the attic with you and pull out a joint at Thanksgiving. Always saucy, Margot starred in the awesome BLACK CHRISTMAS, and of course will always be Lois Lane.Which brings us to that hoary classic we all know and love- THE AMITYVILLE HORROR starring Margot Kidder and James Brolin. Supposedly based on the "true" story of the Lutz family, THE AMITYVILLE HORROR successfully started a franchise of books and films, and made funny, triangular windows and barn-shaped homes instant icons of horror around the world.
The movie is loads of fun and borders on high camp 90% of the time- gobs of flies, puking nuns, black goo oozing out of toilets, red eyes in windows, demonic voices, Rod Steiger scarfing up every bit of scenery along the way, and James Brolin packing some serious heat under those skivvies of his. Regardless of your opinion on whether all of this really happened, the movie itself has attained almost cult status and is one of the most famous horror films to come out of the 1970's. I'm sure by now you know the story. George and Kathy Lutz buy an unbelievably cheap house in Amityville, Long Island. The home was the sight of the infamous DeFeo murders the previous year. George and Kathy Lutz and their children move into the house on 112 Ocean Avenue and are instantly plagued by strange and frightening experiences until 28 days later when they leave all their belongings behind and flee for their very lives.
THE AMITYVILLE HORROR has all the classic elements of a great ghost story- respected actors and director, an eerie back story, and a super-creepy score by Lalo Schifrin. This was one of my favorites growing up, and of course I own the box set (The DVD boxset contains some great special features if your'e a geek like me and find documentaries and the making of certain movies fascinating- it includes not one, but two History Channel documentaries on the actual Amityville murder case and the paranormal investigations that followed, plus a trip down memory lane with our favorite Margot in a featurette about making the movie. Good stuff.) The cinematography on THE AMITYVILLE HORROR is top notch, and the use of colors work to great effect here-different tinted shots of the house, combined with some great exterior shots of fall foliage help the overall look. And the set design. Can you name a single more famous or well-known design of a "haunted house" in a film? It instantly struck a chord in movie-goers and became a pop culture phenomenon by the time the 80's rolled around.
This was huge stuff back in the late 70's, with the original murders and the whole Lutz debacle. Regardless of how good or bad the movie actually is, its infamy will live on. On an interesting note, if it weren't for the true story of the DeFeo massacre that actually happened there, would the movie itself be so memorable and well-loved? For me personally, it's impossible not to think of THE AMITYVILLE HORROR when the 1970's are brought up, it's that ingrained into my psyche, I guess. So I would say yes, it would.
The crew of the spaceship Nostromo are on their way back to Earth when they pick up a distress signal on an unknown planet. Stopping to investigate the suspected SOS, they instead find an extremely lethal alien life form that boards their ship. One by one, the crew members fall victim to the terrifying monster.
One of the greatest monster movies ever, Ridley Scott's "Alien" completely gets under your skin. The way he shot this movie, combined with H.R. Giger's unbelievable designs, create a claustrophobic, tension filled nightmare. It's amazing that even though this movie is over 20 years old, it really hasn't dated much. It's still as bleak and futuristic today as it was upon its release in 1979. The atmosphere on this movie is simply amazing. Claustrophobia reigns supreme here- but the film offers so much more. Everything about this movie is amazing- acting, directing, set design, music- pure movie-making perfection. Scott's deliberately slow pacing and editing create an overwhelming sense of fear and dread. The opening titles perfectly set the tone and mood of this movie. The audience instantly knows what it's in store for. We know something horrible is going to happen, we just don't know when. And by the time things do get really scary, we're already sucked in. Jerry Goldsmith's score also greatly enhances the terror here- the movie simply wouldn't have worked near as well without it.
Almost set up like a classic slasher movie in outerspace, we soon find the crewmembers being knocked off one by one until the final showdown between Ripley and the Alien. But ALIEN is certainly not your standard "Hollywood" horror movie. There are no moments of comic relief. No messages of hope. It refuses to give the audience breaks in the growing tension. And the characters don't suddenly lose all sanity for the sake of a death scene. Everything in ALIEN unfolds just as it would in real life. For some, it's hard to get into a movie like this.
Sigourney Weaver created one of the most successful characters in movie history with her Ripley. She owns this movie-I simply can't imagine any other actress playing her character. And she proved that a female character could carry a type of movie usually reserved for males. But the praise doesn't just go to Sigourney- the entire cast deserve full credit here. The Alien itself is one of the greatest monsters in movie history, a truly original and terrifying creation, and the film was inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress for film preservation. Oh, and the trailer is hands down one of the greatest horror movie (or any movie...) trailers I've ever seen- if I were sitting in a theater and saw this, I would have to see this movie immediately. A film that never gets old and it always entertaining.
Stephen King's novel "Gerald's Game" is a first-rate chiller that for some reason has not made the transition to the big-screen. Odd, considering how many of King's other works have been adapted. "Gerald's Game" is vintage King, and it's scary. For those of you not familiar with the story, it goes something like this.
A forty-ish married couple, Gerald and Jessie, take a small vacation up to their lakeside cabin in Maine. It's October, which means they're basically alone up there. Gerald has invested in some handcuffs, to add a bit of kinkiness to their lovemaking. Jessie doesn't exactly relish the idea, but decides to be a good sport and indulge her middle-aged husband's fantasies. Gerald handcuffs his wife to the headboard, and at the worst possible timing, decides to drop dead of a heart attack- leaving Jessie cuffed to the bed. Alone. Her only company is a mangy, starving dog that has been abandoned in the woods. A desperate dog who either has to eat or die...
Now this alone could be a harrowing tale all in itself- how is Jessie going to get out of these handcuffs before she starves to death? They are miles from a living being- she hears a chainsaw off in the distance, but it could be across the lake for all she knows. And then there is that dog to deal with... But King ups the ante here, and sends the story straight into full-blown horror. As if Jessie trying to get out of those handcuffs and dealing with that darn dog who's hellbent on making a feast out of her dead husband lying on the floor beside her aren't bad enough, later on she wakes up in the middle of the night and sees a shape of a man standing in the corner of the room...
"Gerald's Game" is a terrifying and highly entertaining read. And this could be one hell of a horror movie, if done right, that is. Because it's so simple. Think about it. Being handcuffed to a bed in a cabin on a deserted lake in late October is scary enough- without adding a mysteriously spooky figure standing in the corner of your bedroom. This is the stuff nightmares are made of, and King has fashioned a highly entertaining one here- and for fun cleverly intertwines the character of Jessie with the unforgettable Dolores Claiborne. This book was released in 1992, and while there's been lots of speculation and talk about a film version, so far, nothing. While we're waiting though, in case you have not read this book- I highly recommend it.
A woman steals $40,000 and flees town. During a bad thunderstorm, she stops at an out-of-the-way motel to spend the night. What follows is one of the most infamous scenes in horror history.
"Psycho" is pure movie-making genius. Hitchcock's masterpiece is a brilliant exercise in music, cinematography, editing, acting, and directing. I can only imagine sitting in an unsuspecting audience in 1960, completely unaware of what was about to happen on the screen. NOTHING had ever been done like this movie before, especially the infamous 'shower scene'. With the heroine of the film brutally butchered during the first 30 minutes, Hitchcock suddenly and shockingly announced that from now on, all bets were off. Horror was no longer safe. Anything could happen. "Psycho" undoubtedly paved the way for the likes of "Night of the Living Dead","The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", and "Halloween", and so many others. It's so engrained into our culture now that you don't even have to have seen the movie to know the story. (Although I would have to say you have no business watching movies if you don't...) You can even buy a shower curtain with "Mother" weilding a knife on it, it's so well-known.
Anthony Perkins made such an impact as Norman Bates, that he never was able to escape the role. He was forever known as Norman. Can you think of any other memorable role of Anthony Perkins? He is simply too good in the role. His Bates is truly spooky- and he cast the mold for Michael Myers, Hannibal Lecter, and such. "Psycho" was the first true slasher, inventing a genre and changing the face of horror movies forever. It's Hitchcock's scariest moments on celluloid I think, besides "The Birds". And still holds up magnificently, especially next to some of the pale remakes bombarding us today. It's still crisp and fresh. I can't imagine anybody not having seen this classic example of tension and suspense. And if you haven't, what are you waiting for? This is one of the greatest of many great Hitchcock movies, and the grandfather (or should I say mother?) of all slashers. Words really can't do the movie justice, though. Just watch the movie. You'll see what I'm talking about.
1963's "The Haunting" just might be the best and scariest haunted house movie ever. Director Robert Wise has crafted a supremely chilling adaption of Shirley Jackson's brilliant novel, "The Haunting of Hill House". At turns sad, eerie, touching, and downright frightening, it holds up far better than most modern ghost stories, especially that miserable waste of celluloid that was the remake. No, the original 1963 version is simply superb and it really could not have been brought to the screen any better.
Julie Harris turns in an unforgettably haunting (pardon the pun) performance as Eleanore, who is trying to regain her life after taking care of her invalid mother for the past few years. She joins Dr. Markway and two other ghostbusters (the dependable Russ Tamblyn, and Claire Bloom, as a gasp!, lesbian who has her sights on Eleanore...) to find out what is really going on at Hill House, a brooding, downright scary house with a long history of unpleasantness.
The scares begin almost immediately as we are treated to the first shot of Hill House- the house itself just lookswrong, with all its odd angles and brooding atmosphere. The caretakers of Hill House are extremely creepy as well- Mrs. Dudley delivers a simple and terrifying line when Eleanore arrives at Hill House. "No one can hear you if you scream. In the night.....in the dark...." Hill House is all wrong angles and distorted hallways. It just looks wrong.
"The Haunting" contains some truly scary scenes- especially the one where Eleanor thinks Theo is holding her hand to tightly in the dark, only to find out it wasn't Theo holding her hand at all... Truly one of the greatest horror movies to come out of the 60's, "The Haunting" ranked #18 on Bravo's list of 100 Scariest Movie Moments. Forget the abysmal remake- just pretend it doesn't even exist. Watch the original alone in the dark one night and tell me you didn't come down with a good, solid case of the creeps. And the book that this horror classic is based on is simply one of the best written ghost stories of all time. Shirley Jackson's "The Haunting Of Hill House" is essential reading- and they perfectly brought to life Jackson's novel. Like "Rosemary's Baby", the book and film go hand in hand. "The Haunting" is awesome.
Sure, 1981's MY BLOODY VALENTINE is a shameless rip-off of HALLOWEEN and FRIDAY THE 13TH, but then again, what slasher released from 1980 to 1984 wasn't ripping them off? It's a beloved Canadian slasher that has gained hardcore cult status, and is one of the more beloved slashers of the 1980's. I have very fond memories of this movie- many a Friday night was spent breathlessly watching Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers and Harry Warden stalk their victims. Good, scary stuff!
Yes, there is a plot, and it goes something like this. Seems the townsfolk of Valentine Bluffs have not celebrated Valentine's Day in twenty years due to a horrible mining accident. The only miner found alive afterwards, Harry Warden, mentally snapped and was institutionalized. He vowed to seek revenge if Valentine's Day was ever celebrated again. Well twenty years later, the townspeople have decided to ignore Harry's warnings and proceed with the dance. Soon, bloody heart-shaped boxes containing eerie valentines and real human hearts start showing up as warnings, while carefree partiers roam the dark mines, unknowing of the danger that lurks with them. It seems Harry Warden is back, pick-axe in hand. And he's pissed.
Slashers and horror flicks were a dime a dozen in the early 80's, but something about the holiday-themed slashers really seemed to strike a chord with movie goers- (BLACK CHRISTMAS, HALLOWEEN, FRIDAY THE 13TH, APRIL FOOL'S DAY, NEW YEAR'S EVIL, etc...) so of course MY BLOODY VALENTINE neatly fits into this group.
The film dutifully follows the rules of the slasher handbook, and makes a very memorable entry in the slasher genre. It boasts some great effects, great cinematography, and great locations. They perfectly captured a small mining town, as it actually was filmed in a small mining town. That dark, deserted mine is a perfect location for a horror flick, and murderer Harry Warden is a pretty scary dude. With his gas mask, heavy breathing, and pick-axe, he's not a person you would want to meet in a dark mineshaft. And these guys did it right- they never made a sequel followed by a gazillion others.
A group of young adults in the backwoods of West Virginia have some car trouble. As they're looking for a phone, they find a cabin that's occupied by a family of inbred, deformed cannibals who just happen to be hungry. A frightening chase into the mountains follows.
As cheesy as I thought "Wrong Turn" would be, I was pleasantly surprised to find out how kick-ass it is. This movie was a complete shock to the system in 2003. Gory, gruesome, and downright harrowing at times, this was a no-holds-barred return to classic horror, and I loved every single minute of it. Throw "Deliverance", "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", "The Hills Have Eyes", and "Just Before Dawn" into a blender, and presto! you get "Wrong Turn". Yes, we've seen the whole "kids stranded in the woods menaced by a psycho" scenario countless times before, but the story line, special effects, taut direction, and shocking tone more than make up for it.
"Wrong Turn" did everything a horror movie is supposed to do, for me anyway. There were parts where I cringed and almost covered my eyes- and yes I did scream out loud during one scene. Disturbing and atmospheric, yet oddly nostalgic, there is never a dull moment in "Wrong Turn", it just keeps pumping right on til the end. Yet, it's another one that oddly alot of horror fans seem to not like. There's plenty of gore to satisfy hardcore fans, yet also offers some genuine suspense and dread throughout. It's a great and nostalgic throwback to earlier horror films of the 70s and 80s.
