Thursday, October 6, 2016

HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 6: THE MUMMY (1959)


After the movie THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON the classic American horror films of old died out. Across the pond however another movie studio prepared to take up the reigns and ensure these classic stories and characters would live on for a new generation. HAMMER STUDIOS in London, England began an new era of horror that has since become legendary. Frankenstein, Dracula, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, and many more iconic monsters were revived and elevated to new heights of horror and onscreen violence.

THE MUMMY was among the many horror stories and monsters resurrected by Hammer Studios. Directed by the Hammer horror maestro Terence Fisher, screenplay by Jimmy Sangster, and starring screen legends Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, these men were Hammer's horror all-star team. Rather than remake the original 1932 Universal Mummy film that starred Boris Karloff as the Mummy Imhotep, Hammer decided to revisit the third Universal Mummy movie from 1942, THE MUMMY'S TOMB. The Mummy's Tomb was a separate story from Karloff's Mummy with a new cast of characters and original story following the murderous mummy Kharis.

A remake of my favorite Mummy movie and one of Hammer's best horror films.

THE PLOT

"Ananka. Lady of the two kingdoms. High priestess of the great God Karnak."

So read the hieroglyphics upon the sarcophagus in the hidden tomb. English archeologist Stephen Banning and his son John discovered the secret tomb. John remained outside, due to a broken leg, while his father stepped foot into the tomb. A blood-curdling scream rang out and John's father was found mad with fear. The excavation continued with John's father being hospitalized. Three years later Stephen Banning was murdered in an asylum in England. Then another man who helped excavate Ananka's tomb was found dead. Someone was killing everyone who desecrated the tomb. John witnessed the second murder, committed by a towering figure wrapped head to toe in bandages. John's days are numbered unless he can figure out who or what is stalking him and how to stop it.
Art by Rick Melton

THE GOOD

Classic Horror Revitalized. The films of the 1920's, 30's, and 40's are the foundation of horror cinema. Without them horror films wouldn't be what they are today. During the late 1940's and 50's these classic films lost their relevancy through some means or another. Hammer Studios injected new life into these classic tales, making them relevant again and frightening. With The Mummy Hammer didn't reinvent the wheel but what they did do was show this classic horror figure in full color and displayed the violence right in front of our eyes. Christopher Lee's striking visage as the Mummy is incredibly potent and evocative of what made audiences afraid of mummies in the first place.

The Actors. Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee are film legends. The Mummy is a prime example of why. These two men carried with them so much persona and gravitas to their performances. Lee's shrouded Kharis is both frightening and powerful in this film, set against Cushing's very real unassuming heroic-type John Banning. And all the action is set against eerie locations like the asylum, Banning mansion, and the dead bog. In addition to Lee and Cushing, lead actress Yvonne Furneaux is gorgeous and enchanting as the reincarnated Princess Ananka.

THE BAD

Remade Not Reimagined. As I stated above this film is a remake of Universal Studios' The Mummy's Tomb and also story elements of the prequel THE MUMMY'S HAND (1940) and sequel THE MUMMY'S GHOST (1944). The film doesn't deviate much from the story laid out in these films. This isn't bad by any means. In fact I was delighted to see that this was the story Jimmy Sangster went with when writing the script. But when comparing this film to Hammer's two other major horror revivals, THE HORROR OF DRACULA and THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, Hammer took many more liberties with the story, making the story uniquely theirs. Here the movie is a fairly accurate remake. Again, this isn't necessarily a negative of the film but maybe a missed opportunity. It still doesn't take away from the fact this movie is solid all around.

THE VERDICT

The Mummy is a straight forward horror film done very well. The film is a solid presentation all the way through. Christopher Lee is creepy and menacing as Kharis, the reanimated homicidal mummy, and Peter Cushing delivers a convincing performance as a normal man caught in a supernatural world. The classic story of the Mummy is brought to life for the first time in full color and frightening detail. A wonderful and exciting monster movie from the golden era of Hammer Horror. If you like classic horror and mummies this is a film not be missed.

This is one of the best mummy movies ever made.

Overall Ranking: 9 out of 10
Really Good! One worth owning.
Nude-O-Meter: 0 out of 10



For more Hammer Horror and classic monster movies check out these gems below


AND FOR EVEN MORE HORROR CHECK
THE HORROR MASTER LIST  
Art by Rick Melton

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Wednesday, October 5, 2016

HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 5: DARK WAS THE NIGHT (2015)


Myths and legends about things in the wild yet undiscovered or creatures spoken of in ancient or tribal lore often provide the basis for many a horror film. Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, the Wendigo, and even the well-worn werewolf and vampire first found their stories told either in books or word of mouth. These stories and the monsters therein have endured the test of time and still terrify and fascinate us today. Why? Because they connect to us on some core level and instill in us mystery and wonder about the world we live in.

DARK WAS THE NIGHT is one such tale about the undiscovered mysteries of nature and the world around us. The film channels a Stephen King-esque atmosphere and mood as well as that of a classic well-done horror film. Think of a classical monster movie approach and go from there. SALEM'S LOT kept coming to mind as well as the Hammer Horror film THE REPTILE. I saw the trailer in front of another horror film and was instantly intrigued. Then I saw it was available on Netflix streaming. I couldn't resist.

THE PLOT

A small New England town is beset by a series of strange incidents. One of the horses of a local breeder vanishes without a trace. Several dogs all over town go missing. And then a bizarre series of muddy tracks stretching across the town indicating something with an upright posture and hooves cloven in three. Sheriff Shields follows the tracks outside the town into the dense woods surrounding the area. There he finds the bodies of multiple hunters ripped to pieces, their severed limbs and innards strewn about the trees. When the worst snowstorm in years hits, this mystery creature wanders into town once more, breaking into houses, and killing the residents. Trapped and unable to leave town, Sheriff Shields must protect his people and find the thing responsible.

THE GOOD

The Acting. Simply put, I was blown away with the actors in this movie. Kevin Durand as Sheriff Shields delivers one of the best performances of his that I've ever seen. I have long thought him a fantastic actor but after seeing his performance here I believe he can do anything a movie could ask of him. Lukas Haas too is wonderful as the deputy. Every actor approaches this film seriously and elevates what could've been a forgettable film into something special. Even the bit players like Sabina Gadecki are good in the movie.

The Story. What if the legend of the Wendigo was real? What if a man-eating Sasquatch wandered out of the woods and started killing people? That's the kind of movie premise in Dark Was The Night. A wendigo or sasquatch aren't necessarily in this movie but that's the story being told, stories about Bigfoot or urban legends of a lizard man. The film takes its time developing the story and the characters. By end of the film you are familiar with everybody in the town. The tension and suspense building is executed with precision and comes across naturally. The movie feels like a classic monster tale the likes of which are few and far between nowadays.

THE BAD

The Special Effects. One watches a monster movie to see a well done monster. Sadly this film's major weakness is the CGI effects used to realize the monster. The monster design is good and the few practical effects in the movie showing parts of the monster are wonderful. But rather than sticking with a man in a monster suit the film attempts to showcase the creature with computer graphics and the CGI effects are sorely lacking. If not for the excellent performances and direction this film would've likely fallen to the wayside because of the weak CGI effects. If only someone from Stan Winston's studio or KNB or Tom Savini had provided them with a wicked awesome practical monster suit... Oh well. The movie still tells a frightening story and tells it well.

THE VERDICT

If the CGI special effects had been high quality Dark Was The Night would've stood up next to the classic horror greats. As it is the acting exceeds most horror films and director Jack Heller composes a taught suspenseful thriller. Kevin Durand stands out in this film as an actor who could be trusted with just about any role. Durand and Heller save this film from being just another Sy-Fy original film. Despite the CGI, Dark Was The Night was a very well done horror film. It's sad that the CGI couldn't measure up to the acting or direction.

Overall Ranking: 6 out of 10
Above average. Worth the Price
 
Nude-O-Meter: 0 out of 10


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Tuesday, October 4, 2016

HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 4: SINISTER 2 (2015)


Horror director Scott Derrickson has become a favorite of mine through his films THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE, DELIVER US FROM EVIL, and SINISTER. With the film Sinister Derrickson created a new and genuinely terrifying evil entity known as Bughuul, a demon from ancient times still present today, still claiming human souls. Through the use of an unnerving soundtrack, blood curdling imagery, and superb acting Sinister stood out from the rest of the class of horror films of the last five years as one of the best. On the film commentary by Derrickson he hinted at a sequel in the works.

Three years after Sinister reared it's horrific head the long awaited sequel finally hit theaters. SINISTER II was released in theaters in 2015 and the director's chair was passed from Scott Derrickson to Ciaran Foy. Derrickson however stayed on to produce and write the script along with C. Robert Cargill who wrote the script with Derrickson for the first film. The producers brought back nearly everyone from behind the camera of the first film for the sequel as well as one actor. Essentially the whole crew is back under a new director.

THE PLOT

Deputy So & So has been on a mission since the deaths of the Oswalt family. What he discovered while digging deeper into the Oswalt case was a world of evil he never dreamed existed. Picking up where Ellison Oswalt's research ended, the now ex Deputy So & So has traveled across the country to where similar horrific events had occurred. Not only has he discovered the pattern but he has also come across a way of fighting the evil: burning down the sites where the bloody rituals had taken place. If he can burn them all down before any other innocent people inhabit them then he will prevent the evil from spreading. When driving up to the next site on his list he discovers a family already living in the house and the evil ritual already at work. He has no choice but to save the family and put himself directly in the path of an ancient demonic entity.

THE GOOD

A New Point of View. Rather than the classic horror sequel troupe of basically repeating the same story and the same formula as the original, Derrickson and Cargill's script for Sinister II shows the audience the demonic infestation from a new angle. The demon Bughuul haunts children and eventually persuades them to murder their family. The first film explored this concept through the eyes of an adult true crime author. Sinister II shows the audience a similar story but through the eyes of the children. Sinister II provides a whole new perspective on Bughuul making the sequel feel fresh and new rather than a rehash of the original like so many other horror sequels. But don't worry. Everything that made the original film a truly terrifying delight is present here: the 8 mm home videos, the disturbing music, and the creepy children all return.

Fighting Evil. Actor James Ransone returns as Deputy So & So and delivers a wonderful performance. The script takes Ransone's character in new directions rather than merely mirroring Ethan Hawke's role from the first film. Deputy So & So takes the fight to Bughuul in a creative and interesting way. His battle with Bughuul places him in the demon's sights too resulting in some of the scariest scenes in the film, the scene in the old church being a personal favorite. Bughuul himself is just as menacing and scary as he was in the original. The character design for Bughuul is simple yet frightening with hints of more evil lurking beneath the surface.

THE BAD

The Tone. The film feels a bit rushed, almost as if the script was too big for a 97 minute film and they crammed it all in anyway. This doesn't detract from the film all that much as the scares come in quicker succession and the plot develops all the faster. This isn't a bad quality but rather a personal preference. The first film developed at a slower pace and as a result felt more natural. The original film's scares felt more suspenseful. Sinister II has some fantastic moments worthy of the original but also has few moments that feel rushed and slightly forced. Again, not necessarily a bad thing as the movie moves along at a faster pace and engages the audience right away. And perhaps that was the intent of the filmmakers.

THE VERDICT

Sinister II delivers everything you loved about the original film and presents it through fresh eyes. The mythos surrounding the demon Bughuul are expanded upon and a nemesis is created to combat the evil. For those of you wanting a straight repeat of the original, do not expect to get it here. Sinister II is a new angle and a different direction. Personally I hope a Sinister III comes our way eventually as there is one more perspective yet to be explored: Bughuul himself. The character is so interesting and terrifying that he begs further exploration. I thoroughly enjoyed Sinister and Sinister II and look forward to more.

Overall Ranking: 6 out of 10
(Above Average. Worth the Price)
 
Nude-O-Meter: 0 out of 10

For more films by Scott Derrickson check out these other horror gems below


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Monday, October 3, 2016

HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 3: SLITHER (2006)


There are so many sub-genres within horror cinema that you can find just about any horror movie to fit a specific mood you're in. Horror and comedy for instance are the perfect examples of two extremes in film genres that one wouldn't think would work together but every now and then a movie does it. Striking the right tone is the key. Many horror/comedies don't work because the tone is off or the film doesn't know which it wants to be. Finding one's audience too can be tricky too. For horror/comedies sometimes the horror fans can be put off by the jokes and sometimes comedy fans can be put off by the horror. A tricky blend to be sure.

A film that manages this difficult mix rather well is SLITHER. Directed by James Gunn, long before he did Guardians of the Galaxy, this movie manages not only horror and comedy but other elements as well all the while being an homage to horror films of the 1980's. This film is loaded with easter eggs to all things horror while simultaneously merely being a fun film to watch. Filled with fun actors like Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Banks, Michael Rooker, and more, Slither has everything you need for a good time.

It's a movie by a fan for the fans.


THE PLOT

A meteorite carrying a small alien lands in the woods outside a small northern town. The alien infects a local man named Grant and begins growing and mutating inside him, taking him over. The alien, through Grant, begins infecting others in the town including a woman who eventually bursts with thousands of slug-like alien worms. The worms slither towards town, jumping down the throats of anyone crossing their path, and turning the townsfolk into zombie-like creatures. Grant's wife, Starla, police chief Bill, and a small band of others are all that stand in the aliens way towards total infestation.

THE GOOD

Monster Mayhem. The monster in this movie is grotesque. Michael Rooker plays Grant and slowly over the course of the film transforms into one of the most hideous creatures in all of cinema. The techniques employed to bring the monster to life range from practical effects to CGI and for the most part look very impressive. But Grant isn't the only monster in the film. The alien worms play a big role in the film, resembling crimson maggots, birthed from a human being ballooned to the size of the boulder at the beginning of Raiders of the Lost Ark. There are a range of zombified townsfolk and a re-animated deer. Not to mention a host of vomit-worthy shots of rotting meat, animal carcasses, and human ruin.

Gore and More. This movie is a call to a certain group of 80's horror films, films that didn't pull their punches and went for the throat. John Carpenter's THE THING being one of the biggest influences as well as Peter Jackson's DEAD ALIVE (Braindead), Sam Raimi's EVIL DEAD and EVIL DEAD II, Fred Dekker's NIGHT OF THE CREEPS, Dan O'Bannon's RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, Chuck Russell's THE BLOB, and many more. If you like any of these movies you'll like Slither. Slither has enough blood and guts to stand proudly next to these modern classics. It manages to capture the appropriate tone of these films too while never making fun of itself or the audience.

THE BAD

CGI Effects. This film has more things good going for it than bad. But there are a few CGI moments which look CGI compared to the convincing practical effects. Then there is the zombie-deer puppet which falls somewhat short. But you know what, these don't really hurt the film at all. If anything they add to the fun experience and enrich the homage feeling to the wanting effects of certain 80's horror movies (I know, they didn't have CGI in the 80's but you get what I mean). Sometimes a wanting effect helps establish a certain tone more effectively than a truly realistic looking effect.

THE VERDICT

If you love 80's horror gems like THE RE-ANIMATOR and classic monster movies then Slither delivers in spades. In the days of weak PG-13 horror or goreless ghost stories James Gunn supplies a judicious amount of disgusting spectacles, blood, guts, and R rated monster bliss. Nathan Fillion and the rest of the cast capture the fun esthetic of horror/comedies while keeping a serious face. A horror film for horror fans, you can enjoy Slither immensely on its own, but if you've seen Evil Dead II and The Thing and Night of the Creeps then the experience is all the more fulfilling.

Overall Ranking: 7 out of 10
Really Good! One worth owning.

Nude-O-Meter: 1 out of 10

For more horror comedies and horror films that inspired Slither check out these below!

 
 
AND FOR EVEN MORE HORROR CHECK
THE HORROR MASTER LIST  
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Sunday, October 2, 2016

HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 2: THE FOG (1979)


John Carpenter, the modern horror master behind such classics and personal favorites as HALLOWEEN (1978), THE THING (1982), and PRINCE OF DARKNESS (1987) as well as many more great films, is a man of many talents. Mr. Carpenter not only has directed his films, but also scored them, written them, edited them, and in a few cases even acted in them. And also among these talents of his is the ability to tell several different kinds of stories effectively. It's worth noting that the director rarely repeats himself in terms of story. Sure, he revisits the horror genre quite often but each visit is a decidedly different experience.

THE FOG is John Carpenter's campfire ghost story. Hot on the heels of Halloween's huge success, Carpenter and fellow mastermind Debra Hill were under pressure from the studio to produce a film as terrifying as Halloween. Rather than recycle the formula that worked so well with Halloween, Carpenter and Hill decided to a horror story on the opposite end of the spectrum. Supernatural forces at work, unexplainable events, and dark vengeful spirits. Sounds about as far from a slasher film as film as you can get. But even so Carpenter once again delivers a masterpiece of horror.

The Fog is one of my favorite horror films.

THE PLOT

100 years ago a ship carry a crew of lepers sailed for a newly established community in northern California. The current residents, fearing the infected sailors arrival, deliberately steered the ship into the rocks off the coast of the community by means of a night fire along the beach. Now, in the present, the community is preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary. The night before the celebration a mysterious fog arises off the ocean. The fog moves against the wind, traveling along a predetermined course as if possessing a mind of its own. Something else is in the fog. Something supernatural. Vengeful. Something threatening to kill everyone in the community.

THE GOOD

The Setup. From the get go the film begins establishing the mood of the film. First you have a campfire scene where a man recites a ghost story to a captivated audience of children. Then the story moves to a series of little odd events, electronics turning on by themselves, objects moving by themselves, and so on all the while the opening credits are still rolling by. This judicious storytelling continues throughout the film, every scene calculated and purposeful. This film is well executed from start to finish building the presence of the supernatural gradually. The preternatural elements begin relatively minuscule and grow in shock and awe as the movie builds towards its climax. This expert delivery of the story is a solid strength of the film.

The Ghosts. Sometimes in horror films the less you see the more frightening the experience. JAWS (1974) is a great example of less being more. Carpenter adheres to this philosophy in the Fog. The vengeful ghosts are the antagonist of the film and they are never shown in full light. These ghosts are some of the more frightening ghouls in all of horror cinema and are only ever shown in silhouette. The costume design for these spirits is extremely effective in creating dread and menace. Reminiscent of the designs of the Blind Dead Templars from TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD (1972), some of the scariest looking creatures in horror. Many times when the audience finally sees the obscured monsters in the dark the reality isn't as scary as what they had imagined. Speaking only for myself, the brief clear glimpses of the ghost in The Fog fully delivered, especially the climactic finale.

THE BAD

Nothing. Some animated effects haven't held up too well over the years but those shots are few and far between. Depending on your personal stance on the supernatural you may get into the film or you may not. Personally I love this film and everything about it from the technical and storytelling aspects are done so well. Interestingly one of my favorite aspects almost never happened. The ghosts were not originally present in the film. The Fog, at one point, was a very troubled film and went through re-shoots and an arduous editing process. The ghosts and the graphic violence were results of the re-shoots. Effects maestro Rob Bottin joined Carpenter's crew for the first time and contributed the horrific designs of the ghosts. So when you're watching this film just imagine what it look like without the ghosts and onscreen violence.

THE VERDICT

The Fog explores the power of the supernatural in the most effective way possible. The story is setup and told brilliantly without a wasted moment in the film. The film's mood is established from the get go and the atmosphere is rich and palpable. Basically what I'm saying is this is a scary movie and one of the best executed films from start to finish that I've ever seen, horror film or otherwise. From the actors, to the story, the sound, and the editing, top to bottom this film is amazing. It effected me the first time I saw it and it is just as effective and compelling years later. The Fog is one of the best modern horror films I've ever seen.

Overall Ranking: 9 out of 10
Nigh Perfect! Makes it into my Top Ten. A Rarity.
Nude-O-Meter: 0 out of 10


For more John Carpenter films and related horror check out the films below


 
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Saturday, October 1, 2016

HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 1: FRANKENSTEIN (1931)


Horror films existed before 1931, many of them classics and groundbreaking cinema. The German silent film classics THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI and NOSFERATU remain two examples of the finest in horror. John Barrymore's DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE and Lon Chaney's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA are a few of the great American horror films from that era. Horror movies were many and those still celebrated today are of the highest caliber. These films set the precedent for what was yet to come. In 1931 director Tod Browning released a film starring a relatively new Hungarian actor by the name of Bela Lugosi. Browning's DRACULA was the beginning of the first true horror film era. But it was another movie released later that year which proved horror films were here to stay.

Any student of cinema should recognize the importance and influence of James Whale's FRANKENSTEIN on the horror genre and cinema as a whole. For me the story of Frankenstein was my first delving into the darkness of imagination. My whole life I've loved dinosaurs and giant animals like King Kong and Godzilla. But with dinosaurs and animals, what we see as frightening is just their instinct. With Frankenstein, as a child uncovering the tale for the first time, the darkness contained within was different, calculated, perverse, and vengeful. I've always loved monsters, even before discovering The Monster, but it was Frankenstein who first introduced me to horror.

THE PLOT

Henry Frankenstein, a gifted student in the field of human biology, believes he has discovered the secret to creating life. Obsessed, Henry secludes himself in a lonely watchtower with his project. Body snatching. Grave robbing. Nothing is beyond him. With the help of a hunchback named Fritz, Henry builds a body from countless human corpses. Harnessing the power of the heavens, Henry imbues his creation with life. But, unbeknownst to Henry, the brain used in his creation formerly belonged to a criminal. The Monster commits his first murder. Then another. Henry abandons his creation. The Monster terrorizes Henry's village in search of his creator to do the only he knows how: kill.

THE GOOD

Aged to Perfection. Time has been kind to this film. One of the aspects I personally love about black and white horror films is that the older they get the more authentic they look. Movies aren't shot like this anymore nor do actors perform this way anymore. Sound design, set design, make-up, special effects and more, very little of it is the same as it is with today's movies. These movies become unique experiences unto themselves. There's a raw documentary-like feel about them, especially the precode Hollywood horror films. Frankenstein is no exception.

The Icons. So much of what we recall as being synonymous with Frankenstein is not present in Mary Shelley's novel but in fact inventions of this film or stage productions from that era. Boris Karloff in Jack Pierce's legendary make-up is perhaps the most recognizable image in all of horror cinema and it is nowhere near how the creature is described in the novel. Bringing the creature to life via lightning and electricity was also an invention of the film. Henry Frankenstein's hunchbacked assistant, later known as Igor, was an invention of an earlier stage production and not a part of the novel. Dwight Frye, the actor playing the hunchback in the film, is solely responsible for the character's longevity. The use of a criminal brain or 'abnormal' brain for the monster was also created for the film.

And perhaps the most memorable scene of all time: "It's alive! It's alive!" A moment absent from the novel made iconic by actor Colin Clive's brilliant performance and haunting voice. Colin Clive and Dwight Frye don't receive nearly the amount of credit they deserve for their part in making this film the cinematic milestone that it is. If you haven't guessed, the film deviates quite extensively from the novel, but both the novel and this particular film version have made the story of Frankenstein immortal. True, this movie is far from the first horror film ever made (which coincidentally was a production of Frankenstein from 1910), but the landscape of horror cinema as we know it was shaped by this film.

THE BAD

Adaptation. Despite this film's enduring success and unquestionable influence the fact remains that the film is, at best, a loose interpretation of Mary Shelley's novel. If you're assigned to the read the book for a class this film will do you no favors. It is best to regard this Frankenstein and the novel as two separate entities. But due to this film's profound impact on pop culture, elements of it have permeated nearly every film rendition of Frankenstein that has followed. If you're wondering why no 100% faithful film adaptation exists of Mary Shelley's novel place your blame on the brilliant cast and crew of this film and director James Whale's incredible vision. To be clear, I don't consider this a downfall of the film but rather a testament to the power and endurance of this particular interpretation.

THE VERDICT

Just as Mary Shelley's novel has left a lasting imprint on the literary world so too has James Whale's film effected cinema. For myself I can firmly place the blame for my lasting fascination with horror cinema on Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, and Dwight Frye. I regard this film as the Citizen Kane of horror movies. This film wasn't the first classic Universal horror film I was exposed to nor my top favorite (that rank belongs to THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON), but this film and this story have influenced me far more than any other horror film ever has. The book is my all-time favorite literary work and similarly this film is one I celebrate every year.

Overall Ranking: 10 out of 10
(Leaves a lasting impression on my life. Above repute)
Nude-O-Meter: 0 out of 10


For more classic horror films and black & white cinematic gems check out these films below

PSYCHO (1960)  
CARNIVAL OF SOULS (1962)

AND FOR EVEN MORE HORROR CHECK
THE HORROR MASTER LIST 

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HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS 2016!!!

"When there's no more room in Hell the dead will walk the earth."


Hello again and Happy October 1st! The Halloween season is once again upon us and that means a 31 day long horror movie marathon! Everyday during the month of October we here at Blood Work will spotlight a different horror movie in anticipation of Halloween. This marks the third year of Blood Work's Halloween Horror Days tradition.

Old and new, monsters to murder mysteries, slashers to evil spirits, and everything in between! We'll try to touch on all sorts of horror films from the silent classics that form the foundation of the genre all the way to the latest and greatest from 2016. We love just about all types of horror films as long as they're done well.

So, if you love horror movies just as much as we do and if you have the means we would love to have all of you join us this October in watching some old favorites, new classics, and some unearthed hidden gems. Feel free to comment and join in on the frightening festivities as we count down the days to October 31st and All Hallow's Eve!


And if you can't get enough check out the archives for more great horror films already featured on Blood Work!

THE HORROR MASTER LIST
Every horror movie we've ever reviewed here at Blood Work!

(basically if it's rated a 5 or higher it is a good one! 4 and below let it go)




 
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