Seems there's a lot going on at Dewitt College in rural Ohio. The basketball team has won, there's a scavenger hunt going on, and it seems a disturbed killer in a bear suit with knives for claws is lurking around the dimly lit campus in search of victims... I'm not making this up! Who is angry enough to start knocking off students at Dewitt College? Well, you just have to watch it to find out.
I'm quite a fan of the early 80s campus slashers, and this one is a prime example. Filmed in 1982 but released a couple years later in '84, GIRLS NITE OUT is a run-of-the-mill, low budget slasher that still manages to be utterly entertaining and watchable the entire time. It's either wonderfully or painfully dated- depending on how you view the past. For me- it's absolutely delicious and I'm instantly taken back to late Friday nights huddled on the sofa watching scary movies on HBO in 1985. Yes.
I'll tell ya, GIRLS NITE OUT just needs to be seen- bad reputation be damned! I cannot stress how much fun this movie is.
The body count is small but somewhat effective, there is some pretty good atmosphere overall, and the cast is very energetic and likable. Lots to love here. You've got Hal Holbrook, the always-delicious Rutanya Alda (in a role you simply have to see to believe), and Julie Montgomery (Betty from REVENGE OF THE NERDS). Plus we get horror alumni Lauren-Marie Taylor from FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2 and Carrick Glenn of THE BURNING!
I like how it incorporates a rather playful tone to the festivities- the winning basketball team, the parties, the scavenger hunt, the crazy dj- and balances it with a slightly creepy and odd vibe. Yes, odd. It's an odd slasher. It's almost seedy at times. The lighting.... the grainy film stock... Maybe that's why I liked it so much. It's total B-movie schlock, and I personally loved it. There's something appealing to me about these cheap but effective college campus slashers, and this is one of my favorites of that genre. For a good time, sometimes we all just need a good old-fashioned GIRLS NITE OUT.
Horror can come in two different kinds of movies- ones that rely simply on cheap scares to make you jump every five minutes, or ones that take a more subtle and serious approach. Films that linger, work their way into your brain. Disturb you. "Don't Look Now" is one of those films. It's utterly chilling and disturbing, and will haunt you afterwards.
Here's the story. Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie are happily married with two children and living in England. Their youngest daughter drowns, and naturally shattered, go to Venice to grieve her death. During their stay, a rash of strange murders hit the city as body after body is hauled out of the canals. Then the couple meet a pair of elderly sisters, one of whom is a psychic. She insists that she knows of their daughter, and that she's happy. On top of all this, a mysterious figure in a red coat is spotted around Venice. And guess what? Their daughter just happened to be wearing a red coat when she drowned. How does this all connect? That is the brilliance of "Don't Look Now". It's a frustrating, haunting, jarring, and thought-provoking little movie. And extremely effective.
Released the same time as "The Exorcist" in 1973, "Don't Look Now" is often overlooked and unheard of. Obviously, "The Exorcist" made a bigger impact. But it's a truly mind-bending and chilling shocker that was honestly way ahead of its time. It's wonderfully intriguing and maddening- and the stunning Venice locations and photography truly give the film an other-wordly, almost dream-like feel. It's almost hard to describe this movie. Those of you expecting one of those neat, tidy endings that wrap up all loose endings will be thoroughly disappointed. What you get from watching this movie is entirely up to you, as much of it is open to interpretation. Think Dario Argento mixed with David Lynch.
Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie give first-rate performances here, the direction by Nicholas Roeg is top notch, and the film positively drips with symbolism. Normal, ordinary things suddenly become nightmarish and sinister in "Don't Look Now". It's truly original, with lots of creepy music and moody, hallucinatory cinematography. Some horror fans hate this movie, as it made them angry. Like I said, your interpretation is up to you, and some simply can't think for themselves- they need Michael Bay to spell it out for them. But if you can just go with it and open your mind, you might enjoy it. I did very much. It truly creeped me out. Oh and out of nowhere comes a shocking and unbelievable sex scene between Donald and Julie, and the Sutherland rocks some truly righteous hair in this movie.
So can I just try to explain my love for THE SENTINEL? It's one of the many supernatural shockers to ooze out of the 70's during the whole "satanic" craze, all influenced by the horror classic ROSEMARY'S BABY. It's completely batshit crazy and it's awesome.
This little doozy tells the story of glamorous New York model Alison Parker. Alison, it seems, isn't ready to settle down and become a wife yet to her lawyer boyfriend (Chris Sarandon), and in an act of independence finds herself a lovely brownstone in Brooklyn Heights, shown to her by Ava Freakin' Gardner, that is. But the fun is just beginning as we then meet her daffy neighbor, played by Burgess Meredith who devours every bit of scenery around him, as usual. Throw in some masturbating lesbians, weird cats, blind priests, and geriatric orgies and you've got a wonderfully weird and entertaining supernatural shocker from the 70's. Oh and did I fail to mention that the lovely brownstone they are all living in appears to be not only haunted, but it's the gateway to Hell? They sure don't make movies like this anymore.
As nutty as this movie is, there are some genuinely creepy and shocking moments throughout, and it's really quite ballsy. I have distinct memories of seeing the creepy-looking VHS cover slyly peering at me from the top shelf of TOTALLY TAPE, begging me to rent it- which of course I did. And I loved every lurid minute of it. It's complete oddball horror cinema, and it's got that extra special helping of overall 70's strangeness that just sends it all to a whole other level. There is just something very appealing about this movie.
THE SENTINEL is literally bursting with a cast of familiar faces- Ava Gardner, Burgess Meredith, Arthur Kennedy, Chris Sarandon, Eli Wallach, Christopher Walken, Jerry Orbach, Beverly D'Angelo, and Jeff Goldblum all show up throughout. I'm not making this up, I promise! It's also chock-full of strange rituals, the Catholic Church vs. the Devil, dark conspiracy theories, nightmarish scenes of horror, and a shocking ending to boot! THE SENTINEL easily belongs right up there with ROSEMARY'S BABY, THE EXORCIST, THE OMEN, and THE AMITYVILLE HOROR as supreme examples of the Satanic/supernatural craze that swept Hollywood in the wake of the Manson murders. Good stuff, kids.
Overall, I say it's a must-see for horror fans. "Campy" doesn't even begin to describe THE SENTINEL- yet it's got some truly spooky moments in it. Like I said, it's an odd film. It seems the director is purposely trying to throw the viewers off with outrageously campy and off-putting scenes- and for the most part, it succeeds. The film threatens to go completely over-the-top at times, and almost does... but always manages to somehow stay on track. It's completely absurd, but somehow it all works. THE SENTINEL has grown a rather respectable cult following over the years and deservedly so. It's trashy, weird, repulsive, eerie, and odd. And I loved every trashy, weird, repulsive, eerie, and odd minute of it.
I have such a huge place in my heart for cheesy 80's horror. Pretty obvious, right? Which brings us to the most recent 8'0s treasure I've blown the dust off and given a whirl. I don't recall ever seeing NIGHT OF THE DEMONS in its entirety back in the day. I distinctly remember certain scenes here and there, but finally saw the entire film from start to finish last night. And let's just say, I'm so glad I crashed Angela's party, cuz it was awesome. NIGHT OF THE DEMONS is so outlandishly campy and absurd that it's impossible to take any of it seriously. It's very much like THE EVIL DEAD in that respect.
NOTD tells the story of nutjob Angela and loose Suzanne (memorably played by both Amelia Kinkade and Linnea Quigley), who on Halloween night, decide to throw a dance party at "Hull House", an abandoned funeral parlor. During a seance, a horde of demons are unleashed on the partying teenagers, and Angela and Suzanne become possessed. This is when NOTD kicks into high gear, as the two set out to infect the entire group of horny teens. It's completely over-the-top, with boobs, blood, and plenty of demonic mayhem to spare. Director Kevin Tenney (WITCHBOARD) obviously loves the genre and gives the frantic fright fest some nice touches along the way. You know how I am about my atmosphere, and NIGHT OF THE DEMONS is positively soaked in it. It's a bona fide cult classic, and pretty damn funny on top of it. And this movie works best with that right group of people under those right circumstances, if you know what I mean... It's silly, it's ridiculous, and frankly it's not October without it. And that's a huge part of why I love it.
There's so much to love about NIGHT OF THE DEMONS- the bad acting, the cringe-inducing but hilarious puns, the outrageous gore effects, the boundless energy. Throw in some "Evil Dead" mayhem and some righteous 80s fashions, a great time is guaranteed. It's certainly as fun as "The Evil Dead", maybe even more fun. This movie, like most starring Linnea Quigley, is certainly an acquired taste. Those looking for a serious scare might look elsewhere. I can appreciate both myself- depending on my mood. "Night Of The Demons" has made its mark on pop culture apparently, as it's yet another 80s classic to be remade. I haven't seen the remake, but I would imagine it's pretty hard to replace the original.
The original PROM NIGHT from 1980 is one of my favorite horror films of the decade. It's one of the most memorable slashers of the 80;s, in my opinion, and it obviously struck a chord with movie-goers as it has produced two sequels and a remake. PROM NIGHT was one of the more popular slasher films of the early 80's, so a sequel made sense after a few years.
As I'm sure most everybody knows by now- this second installment has nothing whatsoever to do with the original PROM NIGHT. Besides them both taking place at Hamilton High, there is no continuity with the original storyline. No Jamie Lee Curtis, no killer- in fact, it's not even a slasher film. Here's the jist.
It's 1957, and beautiful but loose Mary Lou Mahoney is caught cheating on her boyfriend Bill, who initiates a prank on Mary Lou. Of course, it backfires, and she winds up dead by her jilted ex-boyfriend just as she was about to be crowned queen of the prom. Burned alive, to be exact. We flash forward 30 years later, and Bill is now principle of Hamilton High. His son is about to attend the prom with Vicki Carpenter, who finds a trunk in the school basement. She opens it, and finds Mary Lou's old prom dress. Guess what happens next? You betcha. The vengeful spirit of Mary Lou takes possession of pretty Vicki, and soon all hell breaks loose at doomed Hamilton High. I swear!
This non-related sequel to the slasher classic PROM NIGHT is a pretty entertaining story of revenge from beyond the grave that gleefully rips off many classic shockers without a trace of guilt throughout. Besides the obvious traces of CARRIE, it's also easy to spot the echoes of THE EXORCIST, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, and even a bit of THE EVIL DEAD thrown in for good measure. It's a fun and frantic slice of schlocky 80's teen horror that's almost impossible not to enjoy, as cheesy as it is. The cast and crew give it their all, and there's an obvious love of the genre that shows in the finished product.
HELLO MARYLOU: PROM NIGHT 2 is much more of a black comedy than the original PROM NIGHT. As fun as it is, I still wish they had kept it more serious and dark, like the first film. I personally don't think this was the right direction to take the "Prom Night" franchise (not that it was my decision to make, but still...)- but then again could they have honestly done the original justice and believably continued the storyline from it? Probably not. Anyway, this sequel is certainly entertaining if a bit odd, quirky yet kinda cool. I can honestly say it was great fun watching,and I lump this one in with NIGHT OF THE DEMONS or THE EVIL DEAD. Over-the-top, frenetic, and fun.
Going in to the Australian indie horror flick THE REEF the other night, I was expecting another OPEN WATER. Both of these movies are low-budget affairs with unknown actors and both are about people terrorized by sharks. And, both movies are based on two seperate but supposedly true stories. I know OPEN WATER doesn't have the greatest reputation among horror movie fans, although I personally enjoyed it. However, I am thrilled to say that THE REEF takes what OPEN WATER hinted at and took it far and beyond. It's a full-blown horror movie that manages to be downright scary and frighteningly tense- I actually found the suspense almost too much to bear at times. And this stuff is right up my alley.
It starts off in typical genre fashion- introducing the rather bland cast of characters to basically show us who's going to be swimming for their lives in twenty minutes or so. There is some minor character development here, although just enough to warrant some sympathy down the line. It works. Now this being a horror movie, of course something goes awry in the opening scenes and becomes the setting for terrors to come. In this case, the characters' boat runs aground on an upraised barrier reef and overturns, leaving the characters stranded in the ocean with two rather unsettling choices- stay on the overturned and slowly sinking boat in shark-infested waters, or take the risk of blindly swimming roughly twelve miles to unseen shores in shark-infested waters. What do you do? One out of the five stays on the boat, while the other four risk it and take off swimming. And it's not long before they realize that they're being followed by a huge Great White. A very hungry one. This is where THE REEF kicks into overdrive and becomes a frightening exercise in terror and suspense.
What truly makes THE REEF so effective is that the filmmakers didn't use any CGI for the making of this film. The shark scenes are by far the most realistic and scary I've ever seen in any movie. The actors truly had to contend with actual sharks while filming, and footage of the actors are very convincingly combined with footage of a real Great White Shark. The effect is amazing. There is not one second that you don't believe everything you're seeing in this film. The scenes of the Great White circling the group and attacking are so chilling and real that they are a startling reminder of why people are still to this day so terrified of these creatures. It's a situation I would most definitely not want to be in. This is truly intense stuff- and by far the best shark film besides the original JAWS that I've ever seen. We were scared silly watching this movie, it was really that frightening. If you are afraid of sharks or deep, dark water, then this might not be the film for you. But if you are a fan of brutal, agonizing suspense and dread that never lets up for one second, take a swim in THE REEF. It's very reminiscent of that other indie Australian horror flick from a few years back that I loved so much, BLACK WATER. Those Aussies! Good, dark stuff.
I've never been a big fan of the "SAW" films. I remember watching the original back in 2004, and I remember liking it, but for whatever reason I never really felt compelled to watch any more of them. However, I recently went back and re-watched "SAW", and I have to say I have a new found respect for the film. My opinion has changed.
I found "SAW" much more entertaining the second time. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood when I saw it years ago. Anyway, this time I was completely sucked in the first 5 minutes of the film, and honestly couldn't tear my eyes away from the screen. As I'm sure everybody knows by now, the film starts with two men waking up chained to a bathroom pipe with a dead man lying on the floor between them. It doesn't take them long to figure out they are prisoners in the lair of serial killer, nicknamed 'Jigsaw'. It's a sick and gory thrill ride that keeps you on the edge of your seat every second of the way. I marveled at how scary and creepy it was-I mean, that weird, clown doll slowly riding in on that tri-cycle is the stuff of nightmares. Super creepy. And "Saw" is very reminiscent of "Se7en"- they both have that gritty and grimy look to them. It really is a nasty little movie.
Looking back, I see it as a smart and engrossing little thriller that's far more than just your average slasher movie. It's not entirely original, but it doesn't matter. Maybe the acting isn't the greatest either, but it was a low-budget film by a first time director and I think the brilliance of the story and script more than make up for it. One minor complaint that I have of the original "Saw"is the editing. They could have slowed down the pace of the film, and stretched out the tension maybe a bit more. I prefer a slow burn most of the time- "The House Of The Devil" is a great example of how sometimes slow but sure can be much more effective. The almost frenetic editing of the film can be a bit annoying- but like I said, it's a minor complaint. "Saw" is still extremely engrossing and entertaining.
Obviously "Saw" struck a nerve with audiences- released in October of 2004, the film eventually grossed over $100 million worldwide and becoming one of the most profitable horror films since the original "Scream" back in 1996. Of course they green-lighted a sequel, and audiences happily went on to make the annual "Saw" entry a Halloween staple. For some reason the franchise started to annoy me and I never truly gave them a chance. Which is why I went back and re-watched the original. The greatest horror movie ever? Of course not. Do I think it deserves 24 sequels? No way. But... I honestly did enjoy watching it the second time around. Funny how opinions can change on movies sometimes.
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