HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 31: HALLOWEEN II (1981)

In 1978 John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN became the most successful independent film of that time. The story is a classic tale of good versus evil with a modern realistic slant. Michael Myers in a way was a Dracula-esque figure, an ultimate evil boarding on supernatural, preying upon the young. With Donald Pleasence's character of Dr. Loomis as Van Helsing and Jamie Lee Curtis's Laurie Strode as a Mina Murray archetype all the elements fell into place. And audiences embraced it. John Carpenter became a name in horror, Jamie Lee Curtis had a huge success for her first film, and Donald Pleasence began the role that would make him a legend.

1978 was a big year for horror with films like Dawn of the Dead, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Jaws 2, Piranha, Damien: The Omen II, Magic, I Spit on Your Grave, Faces of Death, and more. And the popularity of the genre would only continue to grow as the 1980's ushered in a new age of horror cinema. The success of Halloween was not lost on the other movie studios. A movie that only cost a few hundred thousand dollars to make and generated millions in revenue was something everybody wanted. Countless copycats emerged, some even achieving incredible heights of success (Friday the 13th being the greatest among them all).

With the "Halloween template" for success being ripped off and reused over and over, and sequels being as natural to horror as ketchup is to a burger, it was only a matter of time before the inevitable. Halloween ended on a cliffhanger. And in 1981 audiences were finally shown the ending.

THE PLOT

The nightmare continues. Michael Myers, after being shot six times by Dr. Loomis, is still at large in the town of Haddenfield, Illinois. Laurie Strode, the lone survivor of Michael Myers' massacre, is taken to the hospital while Dr. Loomis and the police continue the hunt for the killer. The night continues spiraling out of control as more bodies are discovered, innocent kids are mistaken for the killer, and the real Michael Myers yet at large. Meanwhile Laurie is sedated and hospitalized. She wakes up in the middle of the night to discover her stalker has found her. And everyone in the hospital is dead.

THE GOOD

Continuity. The setup at the end of the first Halloween left the perfect opening for a sequel. The night continues and Laurie hasn't escaped Michael Myers. The beginning of Halloween II flows seamlessly from the first film. This is helped immensely by nearly the entire crew and cast returning from the first film. Carpenter was tapped to direct the movie and probably would've had it not been for a scheduling conflict filming Escape From New York. Carpenter did however provide the script and produced the film along with Debra Hill. And Dean Cundy, the director of photography on the first film, returned to photograph the movie. Plus Carpenter's spiritual successor Alan Howarth composing the music ties the film together beautifully. From a technical standpoint the film has all the esthetics of the original.

Expanding Concepts. The two writers of the first film, John Carpenter and Debra Hill, return to write the script. A common misconception about the original film is that Laurie Strode's connection to Michael Myers is revealed. This is false. The revelation that Laurie is Michael's sister doesn't occur until Halloween II. This plot point becomes the backbone of the franchise and blows the story wide open. Halloween II also introduces another key plot point with major ramifications in the sequels, that of the Druids and Celtic mysticism. And Samhain, the end of harvest and the weakening of the barrier between the world of the living and the world of the dead. The druidic aspect is subtle but no less important. Not only does the audience receive everything they loved from the original, but they are also treated to new story details to set minds racing with theories and ideas.

Sequel Standards. The body count is bigger. The deaths are gorier. And there's even a little more skin on display. And all the actors from the original are back too (the ones that survived that is). All of the hallmarks of making a great sequel are present. There's even (what looks like) a definitive end to Michael and Dr. Loomis' story. If you wanted to stop here with the series you could.

THE BAD

Mystery Is Gone. An inherent drawback to most sequels is a slight lack of wonder. John Carpenter has said that he felt not knowing why Michael Myers was stalking his victims was more frightening than knowing the motivations. In some ways he is correct. A motivationless crime removes reason, logic, and consciousness. Once you know someone's motivations you can begin to understand and reason with the antagonist. Here, it's a catch 22. Michael's story needed to be expanded in order to believe his single minded drive to kill Laurie but by doing so he removes some of the terror. And in a sequel the audience is already familiar with the antagonist's modus operandi further diluting some of the thrill. Halloween II is no exception to these symptoms. In spite of these though the film functions nigh flawlessly as an extension of the original.

THE VERDICT

Halloween II is the perfect sequel. Dead Cundy continues his beautiful photography from the original, Alan Howarth picks up every musical theme set down before, and Carpenter and Hill expand the mythos and story to levels that would define the franchise from years to come. And Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence dives into their characters exactly where they left off. Nearly everyone who worked on the original is back under new direction by Rick Rosenthal. John Carpenter too acts as a producer in what is an almost seamless transition from one film to another.

Overall Ranking: 8 out of 10

Great! Everyone Needs to Experience This! The New Standard

Nude-O-Meter: 2 out of 10

For more chapters in the Halloween series and more John Carpenter check out the films below...

John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN (1978)

Rob Zombie's HALLOWEEN (2007)

Rob Zombie's HALLOWEEN II (2009)

John Carpenter's THE WARD (2010)

AND FOR EVEN MORE HORROR CHECK
THE HORROR MASTER LIST

 

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 

HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 30: HORROR OF DRACULA (1958)

Hammer Studios hit major success with 1957's THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN. A big budget serious reimagining of the classic horror tale. Directed by Terence Fisher from a screenplay by Jimmy Sangster and starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee in the central roles. Hammer Studios injected new and terrifying life into what had become a stale and laughable franchise from Universal. So what did Hammer Studios do next? Well, naturally they sought to achieve the same success with another horror franchise driven into the ground by Universal Studios.

THE HORROR OF DRACULA also known as in the United Kingdom simply by DRACULA, was released the following year in 1958. Hammer combined all the elements from The Curse of Frankenstein that made it a success. Terence Fisher calling the shots, Jimmy Sangster with a visceral update to the story, and Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing as the leading actors. What resulted was an even bigger success and a new beginning to the franchise. With two horror successes now under their belt and more on the way, The Horror of Dracula helped launch a new renaissance in horror cinema, the era of Hammer Horror.

The Horror of Dracula marks the birth of the modern vampire film.

THE PLOT

Jonathan Harker arrives at Castle Dracula as the new librarian. Dracula bids him welcome and shows him to his room. That night Jonathan is attack by a comely female bearing fangs. Jonathan's true purpose is revealed as he grabs his stakes and hammer and slays the vampire. His primary target: Dracula. The lord of vampires lures Harker into a trap, disarms him, and turns him into the very creature he fights against. Van Helsing arrives shortly thereafter and unfortunately too late. Van Helsing tracks Dracula to Harker's home where the vampire continues reaping his revenge against Harker's whole family. Van Helsing confronts Dracula in a battle to the death.

THE GOOD

Vampire Slayers. The film begins calmly but with an undercurrent of dread. The introductions to both Harker and Dracula are very civilized, both appearing as gentlemanly unassuming men. We begin to hear recitations from Harker's journal, a faithful recreation from the book. Then the movie takes a 180 degree turn and dives right into the action. Jonathan Harker is revealed to be a vampire hunter stalking his greatest prey: Dracula. Hammer immediately differentiates its Dracula from the book and previous film incarnations. Director Terence Fisher dispenses with the long character reveals and already assumes the audience's acceptance of vampires. Then the film moves Harker out of the way and places the more compelling protagonist, Van Helsing, as the main character.

Epic Nemesis. Peter Cushing plays Van Helsing as a consummate professional in his role as the vampire hunter. No longer the wise old man possessing arcane knowledge of the nosferatu content merely to impart the information to the younger generation. This Van Helsing is a man of action, young and physically capable of battling vampires on his own. Peter Cushing's portrayal is easily the best rendition of the character in film. Likewise Christopher Lee plays Dracula with equal enthusiasm. His Dracula is fast and powerful. His eyes are unnaturally bloodshot, his fangs long, sharp, and dripping with crimson gore. He plays Dracula with frightening intensity and menace. Cushing and Lee are perfectly matched.

Blood and Fangs. Up until the release of this film in 1958, vampire films seldom showed blood nor the vampire's fangs. Strange to imagine today, but the censors were far more strict in the dawning decades of film, especially in Hollywood. F.W. Murnau's 1922 silent classic NOSFERATU was one of the few vampire films to show the fangs. Here it's not ten minutes in that we get a clear and terrifying view of Dracula's fangs and spurts of blood. In addition this film doesn't skimp on the slaying scenes either. Hard hits from the hammer, blood bubbling up, and the vampire screaming in agony. Sure, that's not big deal today, but back then it was shocking.

THE BAD

Censored. As I previously stated the graphic content of this film was shocking and unprecedented for its time. As a result many countries, including the United Kingdom, demanded cuts be made to the movie. Sadly several scenes of gore and violence were cut. Most of the world, including myself, has only ever seen the edited version of the movie. For a long time these scenes were thought lost.  Recently a foreign print of the film was discovered containing a select portion of these cut scenes. A restored version of the film had been assembled and released on Region 2 blu ray and DVD. Sadly for us Americans we are Region 1 for DVD. I still have yet to see this new restored version and eagerly await its stateside release.

THE VERDICT

Peter Cushing's first legendary role was that of Victor Frankenstein. The following year he landed his next legendary role as Van Helsing. Once again Cushing played opposite Christopher Lee in his legendary role as Dracula. This film introduced the action element delivering a fast paced and exciting rendition. Along with action it thrust the character of Van Helsing into the spotlight. It also elevated Dracula to a whole new level of terror and menace with the addition of large scarlet hued fangs and intense bloodshot eyes. And the blood. Maybe the first vampire movie with onscreen blood. Modern vampire films wouldn't be what they are today if not for this movie. The Horror of Dracula is one of the greatest vampire films ever made.

Overall Ranking: 10 out of 10

Leaves a lasting impression. Above repute.

Nude-O-Meter: 0 out of 10

For more Hammer films, Dracula, and vampires check out the films below...

THE MUMMY (1959)

THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF (1961)

PARANOIAC (1963)

 

BLACK SUNDAY (1960)

NOSFERATU ~ PHANTOM DER NACHT (1979)

FRIGHT NIGHT (1985)

LIFEFORCE (1985) 

VAMPIRE HUNTER D (1985) 

Bram Stoker's DRACULA (1992)

FROM DUSK TILL DAWN (1996)

A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT (2014) 

DRACULA UNTOLD (2014)

AND FOR EVEN MORE HORROR CHECKTHE HORROR MASTER LIST

HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 29: AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON (1981)

John Landis is best known for his classic comedy masterpieces ANIMAL HOUSE, BLUES BROTHERS, TRADING PLACES, and many more. He's responsible too for giving the Zucker Brothers their start with KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE. He is, without a doubt, a comedy master. Would it surprise anyone to know that John Landis is also responsible for one of the greatest horror films ever made? He directed segments of TWILIGHT ZONE: THE MOVIE (1983) and a vampire film titled INNOCENT BLOOD (1992). But the horror contribution he's most notable for is...

AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON

Landis' approach to the werewolf film is quite different than the classics that came before it. But even so, he is reverent to films that paved the way. In fact, the classic werewolf movies exist in his film just as they do in the real world. The central characters make references to both Lon Chaney Jr.'s THE WOLF MAN (1941) and Oliver Reed's THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF (1961). Even the title is a reference to the very first werewolf film WEREWOLF OF LONDON (1935). It's like a checklist of all the seminal werewolf films to have come before. Is it any wonder that An American Werewolf In London also became a seminal film of the genre?

THE PLOT

David and Jack are backpacking across Europe. One cold rainy night they stop at a tavern in the middle of nowhere named The Slaughtered Lamb. Inside they see a number of superstitious symbols. The locals turn them away with a word of warning; stick to the road and beware the moon. With no choice left to them Jack and David head out into the night. Off road while wandering across the moors they are attacked by a wolf. Jack is mauled to death and David is hospitalized with claw marks and bite wounds. While in the hospital David begins experiencing strange dreams, dreams of running through the woods like a wild animal. Then Jack's spirit appears to David with a message; "During the next full moon you'll become a werewolf!"

THE GOOD

Reverence through Invention. John Landis clearly loves the classic monster movies. Throughout the film Landis reminds the audience of the classic movies again and again. While his take on the werewolf myth may differ quite a bit from the classic films he integrates classic lore with new mythology. The sign of the pentagram, a key element in The Wolf Man, is present along with the transference of the curse through a bite or gash. From there he begins introducing new elements expanding the mythology. The audience is given a view of lycanthropy from the werewolf's perspective, something rarely seen in film. We see the psychological and spiritual effects of the curse upon the bearer and the degradation of their humanity.

The Transformation. The standout piece of the film is without a doubt the werewolf metamorphosis. While the movie is solid from top to bottom, it's safe to say that the movie wouldn't be half as powerful as it is without the transformation sequence. Many werewolf films, if not all, live and die by their transformation scenes. Rick Baker's effects are legendary. No sight is spared. The film is from the point of view of the werewolf. As such we receive an intimate look at the change, the shifting bone structure, the hair growth, and stretching of the flesh. Just as Lon Chaney Jr.'s change was striking in 1941 so too is David Naughton's. Not only that but we are treated to a different kind of werewolf altogether, not a man in a costume.

Comedy Blend. Perhaps the most unexpected strength of this film is its comedy. I said earlier that John Landis is a master of laughter. Here he brilliantly integrates his mastery of comedy while maintaining the integrity of the horror film. You'll spend as much time smiling and laughing as you do cringing and screaming. And yet the purity of the horror experience is sustained. Perhaps it is this wonderful balance of elements that renders An American Werewolf In London one of the most entertaining and enjoyable films ever made. It's a rare quality in film, but yet it is a quality Marvel Studios has taken note of and strives for in each of their films too.

THE BAD

The Werewolf. The werewolf in this film is a four-legged beast rather than an upright half man half wolf creature. As such the monster is brought to life using what appears to be puppetry. The effect is quite potent in most of the movie thanks largely to a frightening design. Yet we are never given a full view of the werewolf. And some of the shots we're shown, quick glimpses here and there in the Piccadilly Circus sequence, look a little static and awkward. Like Spielberg's use of the shark in Jaws, Landis likely realized the limitations of the creature. This is probably the reason why the werewolf is rarely shown in the film save for a few quick cutaways.

All in all this isn't so much a fault of the film but rather the filmmakers utilizing what they had to the best of their abilities. It's just a shame that after such an amazing transformation scene we're barely allowed to see the werewolf.

THE VERDICT

John Landis, the comedy mastermind, re-purposed his talents to create perhaps the greatest werewolf movie of them all and one of the most entertaining horror movies ever made. He placed his own stamp upon werewolves, expanding the mythology while staying reverent to the classic werewolf films that came before. His blend of comedy and horror work seamlessly together and even enhance one another. And the werewolf transformation is unforgettable, beyond anything modern day CGI effects can create. An American Werewolf In London is quite simply one of the greatest modern horror films ever made.

Overall Ranking: 10 out of 10

Leaves a lasting impression. Above Repute.

Nude-O-Meter: 3 out of 10

For more werewolf movies check out the films below...

THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF (1961)

 THE WOLFMAN (2010) 

AND FOR EVEN MORE HORROR CHECK
THE HORROR MASTER LIST 

HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 28: HELLRAISER (1987)

80's horror cinema, like the 1930's, gave rise to a new host of iconic movie monsters. Jason Voorhees, Chucky, and Pumpkinhead are only a few of the horror icons to have been born in the 1980's horror boom. Arguably it was the 1980's in which fellow modern horror icons Michael Myers, Norman Bates, and Leatherface too achieved renewed heights of success. And Freddy Krueger was perhaps the scariest of them all. In terms of character design and concept Freddy Krueger is a frightening figure. Of course which of them is scarier is purely subjective. What's frightening to one person may not be scary to another. But if there was one other who could possibly be scarier than Freddy in both design and concept it would be...

PINHEAD

In 1986 a novella was published by the title THE HELLBOUND HEART. Written by Clive Barker, the story introduced the world to the characters of the CENOBITES, beings that reside in another realm dedicated to the exploration of the senses. Scarred and disfigured, mutilated to the point where they appear sexless, these beings are armed with hooks and edged weapons. The descriptions don't go much beyond this. The following year Clive Barker directed a film based on his novella. The Cenobites on screen proved more hellish than anything we readers could've imagined. Few films can be described as a poetry of gore and horrific beauty. HELLRAISER still stands as one of the most grotesquely beautiful films ever made.

THE PLOT

Frank lived his life in the pursuit of pleasure. Eventually he came into possession of a puzzle box rumored to open gateways to new realms. What lay in store for him was quite the opposite. Months after Frank vanishes, when an accident spills blood in Frank's room, the blood resurrects Frank's desiccated corpse. Escaping the horrors within the puzzle box, Frank tells Julia, his brother's wife now living in the house, that he needs more blood to rebuild his body. Promising her his undying love, Julia brings unsuspecting visitors one after another to Frank. He kills them and sucks their blood until he is nearly whole again. But what of the beings responsible for Frank's state? What happens when these beings called Cenobites come looking for him?

THE GOOD

Evil and Eviler. The antagonist in this film also happens to be one of the protagonists. This is Frank's story. His pursuit of furthering his sensorial experiences leads him to the Cenobites and the movie is about his escape and resurrection. He wasn't a good man to begin with. After death he became something worse. The movie is about him killing enough people to regrow his flesh. Frank is the monster for the majority of the film. But from the beginning the film tells us of an even greater evil, unfathomable darkness: The Cenobites. These figures are terrifying enough to scare Frank into killing as many people as necessary to escape them. In a way the Cenobites are the heroes, slaying the monstrous Frank. But even though they destroy Frank they represent a far greater evil to come.

Pinhead and the Cenobites. Clive Barker truly tapped into his nightmares when designing the Cenobites. Nails driven into the skull. Hooks pierced through the flesh. Skin sliced open and peeled back and more. And Doug Bradley's voice and performance adding incredible gravitas to his character. In the hands of another actor the character of Pinhead and perhaps the movie itself may not be the legends they are today. Or perhaps the sequels may have explored other avenues. Few characters in film evoke such fear and horror as Pinhead does. Just as Robert Englund and Freddy Krueger were the perfect combination of actor and character, Doug Bradley and Pinhead are the perfect alignment.

The Gore. I talk about the gore a lot in my horror film reviews. But very few movies achieve the level of reality, intensity, and graphic beauty reached in this film. Frank's reanimation sequence is one of the greatest scenes in all horror cinema. The image of the hook piercing the human body and pulling the skin is so incredibly visceral, eliciting sympathetic squirms and gasps from viewers. And all of it is set to Christopher Young's gothic score. Gore in films can be gratuitous and not essential to the plot. The gore in this film is what the movie is about. Bodily ruin and pain.

THE BAD

Too Much. This film is nigh perfect and an incredible achievement in practical visual effects. If there is something here to caution it would be to the faint of heart. You could say that this film goes to levels many may find uncomfortable. Some may find this movie goes to a level beyond enjoyment. It is in this seldom traveled path of blood and gore which is both the film's greatest strength and weakness. This would not be a film I'd recommend beginning your horror education with. This film has to be built towards. Released in the latter half of the 1980's was perfect for Hellraiser. So beware. This is Advanced Horror education.

THE VERDICT

Clive Barker created only a part of his vision with his novella The Hellbound Heart. The vision was completed when he finished his film Hellraiser. Barker explores great depths of evil through one monster and even greater evil through another. Boundless visions of blood and gore push this horror film beyond most. And Doug Bradley's performance as Pinhead and the designs for the cenobites are among the scariest horror figures in all cinema. Pinhead may well be the most frightening horror icon in history. Hellraiser is not for the average viewer. It is an example of a deeper level of horror.

Overall Ranking: 10 out of 10

Leaves a lasting impression. Above repute. 

Nude-O-Meter: 3 out of 10

For more Clive Barker and 80's horror icons check out the films below...

 NIGHTBREED (1990)

PSYCHO (1960)

John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN (1978)

FRIDAY THE 13TH (1980)

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)

PUMPKINHEAD (1988) 

AND FOR EVEN MORE HORROR CHECK
THE HORROR MASTER LIST 

1980'S HORROR

The 1980's was the last great era for horror cinema. The sheer number of horror films produced during the years 1980 through 1989 is staggering. An estimate of over 500 horror films were made. That's more than 50 horror films a year. A new horror film each week. It's no wonder so many horror classics came during that stretch. Even if only a tenth of those movies were any good that's still around fifty films, five truly good horror films a year for ten years. The number is probably higher than that and some day we'll make a list of the best horror films of the 1980's. I used to wonder how so many horror icons and modern classics could come from that decade. Looking at the macro view I can see how.

HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 27: PHENOMENA (1985)

What do you get when you cross a chimpanzee, a Swiss all girls boarding school, telepathic insects, Iron Maiden & Motorhead, a reincarnation of Beelzabeb, somnambulism, and a psychotic killer? One of the craziest, far out, totally freaking awesome horror movies ever made! PHENOMENA a.k.a. CREEPERS stars Jennifer Connelly, Donald Pleasence, and Tanga the chimpanzee in a supernatural murder mystery thriller unlike any horror movie you've ever seen before. Fascinating concepts, skin-crawling co-stars, and final act that can only be described as jaw-dropping. All this from the mind of Italian horror maestro Dario Argento.

The world of horror has been forever changed by the works of Dario Argento. Whether it was inspiring more Italian horror filmmakers like Michele Soavi (Dellamorte Dellamore) and Lamberto Bava (Demons) or inspiring horror legends John Carpenter and George Romero, Argento's films have had a lasting effect. His films have a flavor uniquely his own. Phenomena was written, directed, and produced by Argento himself with a musical score featuring his own group "Goblin" as well as classic metal bands Iron Maiden and Motorhead. Without question there is no other film quite like this one.

THE PLOT

Jennifer just arrived at a Swiss boarding school for girls. Everyone at the school is one edge due to the recent murder of a young girl. One night Jennifer sleepwalks out of the school over to an abandoned building. Inside she sees another young woman murdered. Still asleep, she wanders out into the woods until she comes upon a house. She wakes with no memory of what she saw. The resident of the house, Professor McGregor, helps her inside. McGregor, a renown entomologist, notices his collection of insects reacting strangely to Jennifer's presence. They follow her, even listen to her. She admits to always having a fondness for insects. Professor McGregor begins to suspect a unique connection between Jennifer and insects, even the insects that feed on decaying corpses. Perhaps, he wonders, if she might be able to use the insects to track down a killer?

THE GOOD

Supernatural Thriller. It's a pretty common theme to find supernatural elements in horror movies. What's unique about this is that it's the protagonist who has the supernatural powers. And these powers are unique too: the ability to communicate with bugs. And where the story takes Jennifer's abilities is intriguing. She can calm them and likewise excite them. A firefly lights her way through the dark of night. And the carrion flies lead her on the trail of a coldblooded killer. Her abilities keep growing, building to the epic climax at the end. The film also makes some subtle implications about Jennifer which sadly go largely unexplored. The implication being that Jennifer may be Beelzebub incarnate. Interesting, yes?

Entomology, the study of insects, plays a key role in the plot. Specifically forensic entomology. By what type of insects are present on a rotting corpse one can trace back to the near exact date in which the murder took place as well a specific location depending on the type of insect. Donald Pleasence plays Professor McGregor and delivers another fantastic performance while educating the audience on entomology. Not only that but the film attempts to explain insects' seemingly supernatural senses. Then there is the biblical implications as well. The film dives head-first into the world of insects, both scientifically and philosophically.

Then there is the chimpanzee. You will definitely remember the chimpanzee and the epic finale.

THE BAD

Music Choices. I love me some metal. And you can't get much better than Iron Maiden or Motorhead. And I love their inclusion here along with the already bizarre score from Goblin. I only question their placement. One begins playing over what should be a somber emotional scene where a body is carted out passed Jennifer. It continues playing while a detective is interviewing someone. It's a flat scene with intense metal music playing in the background. Then another fast-paced metal song plays as Jennifer slowly sleepwalks outside. Every time the filmmakers insert a metal song it's to a slow moving scene. This doesn't necessarily hurt the movie however it does make you tilt your head and ask, "Whaaaaaat?"

THE VERDICT

Some say SUSPIRIA is Argento's masterpiece. Others say it's DEEP RED. I enjoy both of those films very much but I say the ultimate Argento experience is PHENOMENA. It's like someone reached into a bag of random plot ideas and instead of picking one they picked them all. Insects, chimps, all girls school, and murder. Tying forensic entomology with an avatar of Beelzebub in a supernatural murder mystery with a chimp (of course there's a chimp, why wouldn't there be?) makes for one unique and memorable horror experience.

Overall Ranking: 8 out of 10

Great! Everyone Needs to Experience This! The New Standard

Nude-O-Meter: 0 out of 10

For more Dario Argento and Euro Horror check out these films below...

DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING (1972)

THE PSYCHIC (1977)

ZOMBIE (1979)  
THE MOUNTAIN OF THE CANNIBAL GOD (1978)
 TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD (1972)

RETURN OF THE EVIL DEAD (1973)  
SUSPIRIA (1977)   
TORSO (1973)  
BLACK SUNDAY (1960)  
CASTLE OF BLOOD (1963)

AND FOR EVEN MORE HORROR CHECK
THE HORROR MASTER LIST

HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 26: THE BLOB (1988)

I think it's safe to assume that the horror genre easily has the most remakes of any. There are some good ones as well as some best left forgotten. There are some films that should never be remade like JAWS or THE EXORCIST. Then there are films that deserve remakes, classic films limited by the technology of the era in which they were made. Examples of these are THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD (1951) and THE FLY (1958). The remakes of these films elevated the content to undreamt of levels. After watching the originals and then the remakes it's astounding what Carpenter and Cronenberg accomplished.

The 1958 horror film THE BLOB is a true classic of the genre, imaginative, clever, and inventive beyond its peers. Thirty years later director Chuck Russell showed the world a new terrifying vision of this horror essential. When one talks about Carpenter's The Thing and Cronenberg's The Fly few others compare. Chuck Russell's THE BLOB (1988) is a re-imagining on an epic scope. The remake takes the concept of the original and updates the effects beyond anything the filmmakers of 1958 could've imagined. Chuck Russell did for The Blob what Carpenter and Cronenberg did for The Thing and The Fly. Often overlooked, Russell's The Blob stands among the best horror remakes of all time.

Okay, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration. But it's a really fun movie.

THE PLOT

A meteorite makes planetfall in the forest outside of Arborville, Colorado. A hermit living nearby is the only resident to witness the event and goes to investigate. He scoops a gelatinous substance out of the space-rock. It drips onto his hand and begins dissolving his flesh. He runs into the road screaming straight into oncoming traffic. Two high school students on a date drive him to the hospital. The blob grows larger the more flesh it eats. And the bigger it gets the faster it consumes its victims. It slithers its way into town on an unsuspecting populace. The only ones who know are a couple teenagers. It's up to them to save the town and with it the world.

THE GOOD

Disgusting in a good way. Tonally this film is far from The Thing or The Fly. This movie is fun in its approach without making fun of itself. It feels like an 80's movie. Little regard for human life. High body count. Lots of gore and amazing effects. The team of Chuck Russell and Frank Darabont (the same duo responsible for A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET PART 3) deliver a wild and imaginative monster movie complete with grotesque and detailed death scenes not seen anywhere else. The Blob is almost like a living pile of crap with tentacles, melting and devouring everyone in its path. And you see it all. The effects are top notch and put today's CGI to shame.

The Fake Out. Just when you think you know what you're getting in for this movie throws you a curve ball. It's not just a straight forward remake of The Blob. It's one part The Thing, one part E.T. and one part The Crazies. Darabont and Russell manage to bring in all these wonderful elements into the story in interesting and natural ways. The film takes everything you think you know about the Blob and conventional storytelling and turns it on its head. Just when you think the story is headed this way it suddenly turns in a different direction. As a result of this the film continually defies audience expectations and keeps the viewer engaged the whole time.

THE BAD

80's Fun. When watching this film it has the distinct flavor of the era in which it was made. This is an 80's without a doubt. The musical score. The carefree vibe. The clothing, hair styles, and mediocre teen actors. None of this is necessarily a bad thing. It merely reflects the common style of Hollywood from the time. I for one like 80's movies very much and that decade is one of the best periods ever for the horror genre. However, when I started comparing The Blob with Carpenter's The Thing and Cronenberg's The Fly, those films felt timeless, the directing approach very different. At first I was slightly disappointed. The Fly and The Thing are some of the best examples of that particular style of storytelling. And so too is The Blob. It's just a different style than the other two.

THE VERDICT

Fun. Exciting. Thrilling. Chuck Russell's remake of The Blob is one of the most entertaining modern horror films. And in a genre full of remakes it stands as one of the most remarkable. It takes the elements of the original horror classic and delves deeper and wider. The special effects are top notch for the era and still hold up today. The creature design and realization is one of the best ever realized through practical effects and the gore and death sequences are unlike any you've ever seen. The original Blob is an essential horror film. Chuck Russell's remake is too.

Overall Ranking: 8 out of 10

Great! Everyone Needs to Experience This! The New Standard

Nude-O-Meter: 0 out of 10

Art by Jared Moraitis ~ Beast Pop

Want more updates of your favorite horror classics? Check out these other films below...

INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1978)

NOSFERATU ~ PHANTOM DER NACHT (1979) 

THE FLY (1986) 

INVADERS FROM MARS (1986)

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1990) 

Bram Stoker's DRACULA (1992)

THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (2003) 

DAWN OF THE DEAD (2004)

FRIDAY THE 13TH (2009) 

Rob Zombie's HALLOWEEN (2007) 

THE CRAZIES (2010)

PIRANHA 3D (2010) 

 THE WOLFMAN (2010)

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (2010) 

THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN (2014)

AND FOR EVEN MORE HORROR CHECK
THE HORROR MASTER LIST 

 

 

HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 25: A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)

Wes Craven was, without a doubt, one of the modern horror cinema masters. Very few directors have pushed the horror boundaries as far as he did. With films like THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, which left me and my friend sick to our stomachs afterwards, and THE HILLS HAVE EYES Craven showcased some of humanity's worst nightmares and greatest fears. The depths of darkness he mined with his films can only be described as pure horror. For many of his earlier horror efforts he explored horror from a realistic view, the horrors that could really happen to people. But it would be through an exploration of nightmares themselves that would be his greatest success.

Once in a great while an idea comes along radically different from any others. All the right elements come together and an icon is born. Wes Craven, Robert Englund, and the rest of the crew did exactly that with the film A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. It was unlike anything Wes Craven had ever done before and unlike anything the world had ever seen. Fred Krueger is nothing short of the stuff of nightmares. A demonic court jester. An inner demon hellbent on our self-destruction. And sleep. We all need to sleep. We can't escape it. Sleep is as inevitable as death and in this film sleep means death.

No horror film before and no horror movie since has been as creative and terrifying as A Nightmare On Elm Street.

THE PLOT

Nancy is having nightmares. Vivid and lifelike dreams with a dark figure inside terrorizing her. What's even more frightening is that her friends are also having nightmares, the same fiendish figure frightening them. Suddenly one of her friends dies. Then another friend dies. And another. And Nancy's nightmares are getting worse and feeling real. The tormentor in her dreams is getting closer and she's sure he's the one who killed her friends. Somehow, she doesn't know how, their dreams are killing them. She has to do something if she is going to survive. But all she has is a name: Fred Krueger. And a secret she must uncover before it's too late.

THE GOOD

The Concept. Wes Craven once read an article about a boy having horrid nightmares. The boy was convinced the nightmares would kill him... and they did. Craven took this strange story and it became A Nightmare On Elm Street. Everyone has dreams whether we remember them or not. Some of these dreams are so vivid we lose ourselves in the reality of them. Some dreams are fantasies we wish we'd never wake from. And others we wake from in a cold sweat with our heart racing, relieved that it was only a dream. Or was it? This phenomenon is universal. Everyone can relate to the experience. That's one of the reasons why this film is so incredibly potent. Wes Craven tapped into a primal fear that's been with humanity since the dawn of time. And what's even more frightening is the question of how one begins to fight their own dreams.

Infinite Possibility. Anything can happen in our dreams. The wildest of fantasies come to life. When it comes to horror movies a majority of them result in people being murdered with guns or edged weapons. Murders grounded in reality (mostly). In Elm Street the deaths are anything but ordinary. Sliced open while floating on the ceiling. Pulled down into an ocean below the bathtub. And being eaten by one's own bed and liquefied. These are only some of the nightmares in Elm Street. This film gives audiences sights they've never seen before, waking nightmares on the screen. The possibilities are endless, limited only by the filmmakers imaginations.

Fred Krueger. Perhaps the most frightening character cinema has ever produced. Nothing is beyond Krueger's reach nor are we able to escape him. We all have to sleep sometime. His character design too is horrific along with the ghastly things he can do. And his intelligence. He's not a single-minded brute in a mask but a monster that knows our deepest secrets and worst fears. But what really brings the character to life is the performance of actor Robert Englund. Channeling incredible depths of human darkness and infusing that depravity with a sinister glee, Robert Englund, Wes Craven, and the make-up effects team created an icon. Fred Krueger has become a modern Dracula.

THE BAD

Limitations of the era. With endless possibilities and wild scenarios requires impressive special effects. And while some of these special effects are quite convincing others show their age. The technology of 1984 couldn't match the filmmakers' imaginations at times. But even so, all one needs to do is suspend their disbelief at times and let themselves be immersed in the story. It's only a few shots too that don't quite convince. The majority of the effects are brilliantly realized and ahead of their time. In reality there is very little about this film that fails to impress.

THE VERDICT

For modern horror cinema and horror films in general, A Nightmare On Elm Street is one of the best examples of the genre. The concept is one that every person in existence can relate to. And the character of Fred Krueger is the embodiment of fear itself. The men and women who brought this film to life managed to capture perhaps humanity's oldest and most enduring fear. And they brought something new to the screen. Endless possibilities inhabit this film as well as the inevitable fear that after watching it we too must go to sleep eventually.

Overall Ranking: 10 out of 10

Leaves a lasting impression. Above Repute

 

Nude-O-Meter: 1 out of 10

For more Nightmares by Wes Craven and other horrors check out these films below...

Wes Craven's NEW NIGHTMARE (1994)

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (2010) 

NEVER SLEEP AGAIN: THE ELM STREET LEGACY (2010)

 

BABADOOK (2014)

LIGHTS OUT (2016)

AND FOR EVEN MORE HORROR CHECK
THE HORROR MASTER LIST 

HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 24: THE EVIL DEAD (1981)

A group of friends decide to spend the weekend away in the country at a reclusive cabin in the woods. Unspeakable horrors beset them as night falls. One by one the friends are dispatched until all but one is left alive. And just when the terror seems at its end it springs to life for one last moment of fright.

Sound familiar?

This is one of the most common horror plot lines of them all. This scenario is used often for many reasons, mainly because it has proven so very effective. One of the finest examples is THE EVIL DEAD. Directed by Sam Raimi, the film began as a college project and eventually became so much more.

Made on a shoe-string budget with limited resources at their disposal, The Evil Dead has become a landmark film as either a horror masterpiece to some or a movie so bad it's funny to others. The actors were friends or fellow classmates. The special effects had to be employed cleverly and executed with genius and ingenuity. The intent was to make a serious horror film. What resulted, whether by accident or because of the limited resources available, is a powerful horror film with unexpected and certainly unintentional moments of humor. Whether you feel that The Evil Dead is hilariously funny or the most grueling experience in terror ever, one thing is for certain...

The Evil Dead is one of the greatest modern horror films ever made. A true classic.

THE PLOT

A group of friends decide to spend the weekend away in the country at a reclusive cabin in the woods. A mysterious presence permeates the cabin. They discover a macabre looking grimoire in the basement and a recording made by the previous guests at the cabin. They play the recording and listen as a voice recites an incantation from the tome. Evil spirits rise out of the earth. One by one the friends fall victim to unspeakable horrors and eventually death until only one remains. Can this last survivor holdout through the night or will he too become a victim of the evil dead?

THE GOOD

The Demons. They're not zombies. They're not monsters. They're not ghosts. They're uniquely their own. Evil spirits have been portrayed in countless ways throughout cinema history, none quite like those featured here. Levitating, white-eyed, deformed creatures. A disembodied presence stalking the woods. The very woods themselves coming to life in one of the most disturbing sequences in the movie. Laughing, taunting, and corrupting everyone they touch. And bursting with geysers of blood, crumbling to pieces like rotted moldy ruins, and bubbling over with creamed corn? And more. The evil spirits in this movie and this franchise are an assault on the senses, the mind, and the soul.

The Unintended. If you sit back and immerse yourself in the story, forgive the bad acting, and suspend your disbelief when the special effects fall short, this really is a terrifying horror film. This is certainly what was intended. However, a sad fact is that some of the acting and special effects probably didn't meet Sam Raimi's desired expectations. These shortcomings do however provide another layer of enjoyment: unexpected laughter. Clearly Sam Raimi realized he had tapped into a rare quality and fully embraced it in the sequels. It's this quality that has defined the series and makes the Evil Dead films a unique experience. 

But remember that the humor in this one is completely unintended. And when taken completely seriously it is terrifying horror film.

THE BAD

The Unintended. Repeat the paragraph above titled "The Unintended." The filmmakers wanted to make an intense and grueling horror film. Sadly they didn't have the means nor the technology to convincingly realize their vision. Obviously something good came out of the resources utilized and a melding of horror and humor the likes never before seen was born. But Sam Raimi wanted us to scream, not to laugh. What would this film look like had the effects and acting been 100% real? You can see what the movie might've been if you suspend your disbelief when things lack. One of the taglines on the posters read "the ultimate experience in grueling terror." That sounds like an incredible horror film to me. And it could've been had Sam Raimi the money and resources necessary. Even so, The Evil Dead is still one of the best horror movies ever.

THE VERDICT

Incredibly gory. Maniacally evil. A modern classic. The Evil Dead is the definition of a cult classic, more fans cropping up every year. Intended to be a serious horror film, and with some forgiveness from the audience, is an intense and disturbing experience. A mixture of unforeseen elements give the movie an unintended and unique quality, a melding of humor and horror. Without this film not only would we not have the Evil Dead sequels, but also countless other knock-offs and homage films like CABIN IN THE WOODS and DALE AND TUCKER VS EVIL. What the filmmakers created with this film is a horror genre staple.

Overall Ranking: 9 out of 10

Nigh Perfect! Makes it into my Top Ten. A Rarity.

Nude-O-Meter: 2 out of 10

For films that inspired The Evil Dead and those that were inspired by it check out the movies listed below...

EVIL DEAD II (1987)

ARMY OF DARKNESS (1992)

EQUINOX (1970) 

TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD (1972)

RETURN OF THE EVIL DEAD (1973)

 FEAST (2005)

DEAD SNOW (2009)

DEAD SNOW 2 - RED VS DEAD (2014)

AND FOR EVEN MORE HORROR CHECK
THE HORROR MASTER LIST 

HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 23: NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968)

Once upon a time the word "Zombie" didn't mean flesh-eating ghouls re-animated by a virus or celestial phenomenon. At one time it referred to voodoo magic, the result of the dead or seemingly dead people enslaved by the power of a "Houngan" or "Mambo" (voodoo priest and priestess). These zombies were essentially mindless thralls and not necessarily dead either, but those under the spells of voodoo. Classic horror films like WHITE ZOMBIE (1932), I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE (1943), and THE PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES (1966) are some of the best examples of these black magic shambling husks.

In 1968 a film came out with the title NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. Directed by George A. Romero, this film didn't exactly feature zombies in the traditional sense, but a worldwide phenomenon of the recently deceased rising from the grave. These shambling corpses had a taste for human flesh and were slaves to no one save their own insatiable appetite. It would be years later when these living dead would be dubbed zombies, not by the filmmakers but by the fans. Now the commonly used definition for zombies is that of the creatures first featured in George Romero's immortal classic.

Night of the Living Dead changed the horror genre forever across all mediums.

THE PLOT

Barbara and Johnny's evening trip to the cemetery becomes a living nightmare as they are attacked by reanimated corpses. Johnny is killed and Barbara flees into the woods where she comes across an abandoned farm house. A man named Ben, fleeing from similar marauders, bursts into the house too. He and Barbara barricade the windows and doors and secure the house. As night falls more of the living dead descend upon the house. The more that come the more the barricades begin to weaken. Barbara and Ben have to decide whether or not to flee while they still can or defend themselves from an endless horde of flesh eating ghouls.

THE GOOD

Simplicity. While the film revolutionized the horror genre its strength lies in its simplicity. Cannibal corpses lay siege to a farm house and the occupants try to survive the night. Nothing fancy. It's a straightforward zombie survival story. The characters are your basic archetypes and the roles are well acted and well presented. Even the zombies are fairly simplistic in design and demeanor. And within this setup is a tense and exciting narrative. Say you'd never seen a zombie movie before and never heard of the concept. That's exactly what situation these characters are in. An event like this has never occurred before. They don't know what's happening. The audience learns along with the characters.

The Living Dead. Zombies today are as common and world renown as Frankenstein, Superman, and King Kong. Everyone knows them and knows the rules. Back in 1968 audiences watching had no idea what kind of creatures were attacking Ben and Barbara. Recently deceased people standing up again and a simpleminded unrelenting desire to rip you apart and eat you. No reason as to why the phenomenon was occurring either. Today zombie designs have come a long way. Even so, the living dead in this film are as frightening and disturbing as the zombies today. Standout scenes in the film being the zombies chowing down on chunks of raw flesh, a little girl zombie stabbing her mother with a trowel, and piles of zombies burning. No matter how good future zombie movies and television shows are, the original still holds up today.

THE BAD

Nothing. This isn't a perfect movie. No movie is. But this film is damn near perfect. If it suffers from anything it would be imitation. Like many great classic horror films Night of the Living Dead spawned an endless stream of copycats and imitators. As a result the concept has become incredibly familiar. But even so most of these imitators haven't improved upon the concept of this film. Sure, maybe some have more advanced gore effects and zombie make-ups, but for the majority of them the rules and setup are just as Romero and his crew laid out. If you are in a position to introduce someone to the world of modern zombies, do them a favor and show them this film first before the others.

THE VERDICT

The first and still the best of the cannibal zombie films. A genius of simplicity and suspense, Night of the Living Dead introduced the world to what we now call the modern zombie. Every rule you ever heard about zombies came from this movie. Enhanced by glorious black and white and nightmarish visuals far ahead of their time, Romero's classic fright film still holds up today as one of the best modern horror films ever made.

Overall Ranking: 10 out of 10

Leaves a lasting impression. Above Repute

 

Nude-O-Meter: 2 out of 10

For more living dead zombie mayhem check out these other films below...

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1990)

I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE (1943)

TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD (1972)   

ZOMBIE (1979)

ZOMBIELAND (2009)

BURYING THE EX (2014)

DAWN OF THE DEAD (2004)

DEAD SNOW (2009)

DEAD SNOW 2 - RED VS DEAD (2014)