HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 19: RETURN OF THE EVIL DEAD (1973)

TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD, a Spanish horror film from director Amando De Ossorio, introduced the world to a horde of unforgettable ghoulish monsters, the BLIND DEAD. Medieval Templar knights, devil worshipers and practitioners of witchcraft, returned from the grave to feast upon the flesh of the living. Frightening and gory, director Ossorio took the best aspects of mummies, vampires, and flesh-eating zombies, infused them with occult black magic and satanism for something truly horrific. Obscure to many, and until awhile ago completely unknown to myself, the Blind Dead are some of the best horror discoveries I've made in recent years.

In 1973 the Blind Dead stepped forth from the grave once more. RETURN OF THE EVIL DEAD (no relation to Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell's Evil Dead films... or is there?) borrowed certain elements from George Romero's NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD with its basic plot structure. This sequel gives the undead Templars more screen time, ups the gore and body count, and increases the tension and suspense beyond that of the first film. Many regard the second film in the Blind Dead series as the superior entry in the franchise. As good as the first film is, and it is indeed one of my favorites, Return of the Evil Dead is equal if not better than its progenitor.

THE PLOT

The Portuguese village of Bouzano celebrates every year the night that the satanic Templars were executed in their village. As the Templars were burning alive they cursed the villagers and their descendants that one day they would return and enact their revenge. Five hundreds years later during the annual celebration the village pariah, a disfigured man named Murdo, performs a satanic ritual resurrecting the Templars. During the fireworks display the undead Templars lay siege to the village killing nearly everyone. A small group of survivors barricade themselves in a house as the hordes of the Blind Dead surround them.

THE GOOD

Excess. Everything that made the first film a frightening and memorable spectacle is recaptured here and enhanced. The Blind Dead make their appearance earlier and their massacre is far grander. Like any quality sequel the stakes are raised. Many consider these films and other Euro horror to be nothing but pure exploitation and this certainly is the case. But many aspects set this film apart from the countless unremarkable blood and skin films from the same era. The music, the violence, the gore, and of course the horrific monster designs, all things present in the first film which set these above mere exploitation.

Quick Starter. One aspect that sets this film above its predecessor is its plot. I mentioned before that this film borrows a bit from Romero's Night of the Living Dead, particularly the plot point where a small group of survivors are holed up in a house while legions of flesh-eating living dead surround the building. But before then we are privileged to the massacre of the town which begins a mere thirty minutes into the film. In this respect the film surpasses even that of NIGHT providing more action and destruction by the film's villains. There is very little dead space in this film (pun intended). It opens with a gruesome spectacle and not ten minutes later we're treated to a human sacrifice. And it just keeps going. Menacing, suspenseful, atmospheric, and exciting.

Where the first film had a fair amount of bland plot that the viewer had to slog through and a strange subplot, this film is far more exciting and direct. This film moves along at a brisk pace.

THE BAD

Weathered. You need to suspend your disbelief at moments with the special effects. This shouldn't be a surprise given it's an effects heavy movie from Spain in 1973. Much of these effects are absolutely wonderful and still hold up today. But there are a few that don't. Also there isn't really any continuity between the first film and the second. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. One can view this film first and be perfectly all right. This film functions independently of the others. But all the iconography remains. If you can appreciate these kinds of the films for what they are and be mindful of the context and time period from which they were made you should have no problem enjoying these films as I do.

THE VERDICT

The Blind Dead templars return for a night of bloody carnage and mayhem in this faster paced and wonderfully gory sequel. The action starts quicker. The body count is higher. It's bloodier. And the Blind Dead are on screen a lot longer. Everything that was great about the first film is recreated here and the faults of the first film are non-existent. This film is a fine example of one of the great horror sequels and another reason why the Blind Dead deserve a place next to the legendary horror film monsters.

Overall Ranking: 7 out of 10

Really Good! One worth owning.

Nude-O-Meter: 3 out of 10

For more of the Blind Dead and other films about creatures rising from the grave 

check out these other films below...

TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD (1972)

THE MUMMY (1932)

THE MUMMY (1959)

BLACK SUNDAY (1960) 

ARMY OF DARKNESS (1992)
 (Similarities between some of the Deadites and the Templars, no?)

 NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1990)

ZOMBIE (1979)

HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 18: THE PSYCHIC (1977)

The modern horror template was set by none other than mystery queen Agatha Christie. Not only did she set standards for mystery tales and thrillers but also for the modern slasher film. And then there were none. Over the years filmmakers and storytellers have added to and expanded upon the classic "Whodunit" scenarios with varying degrees of success. It's not easy to create a compelling mystery. To do so requires a talented storyteller. Of the films by Lucio Fulci that I have seen, if one was to say to me that gore maestro Fulci was such a storyteller, I would've been skeptical. And I'd be wrong.

THE PSYCHIC a.k.a. Seven Notes In Black is a deftly crafted thriller mystery. The film runs the viewer through a gauntlet of twists and turns, keeping one guessing, but never losing control. Compared to Fulci's later films such as Zombie, City of the Living Dead, and The Beyond, this film is quite restrained for Fulci in terms of graphic violence and gore. But it is within this restraint that Fulci demonstrates the extent of his abilities as a storyteller.

THE PLOT

Virginia has had clairvoyant episodes, visions, since she was a child. On her way to her husband's second home, a place she's never been to before, she experiences a vision of a woman dead, a murderer loose, and a person being buried alive. When she arrives she discovers one of the rooms in the house is the exact same room from her vision where a body was buried behind a wall. She hacks open the wall and discovers a skeletal corpse. Virginia can't ignore her visions anymore as she finds herself trapped in the middle of a murderous plot.

THE GOOD

The Architecture. Good thriller mysteries are not easy to assemble. The Psychic is well built, well put together film. There is a lot going on in this movie and a lot of elements being juggled together. We see a series of images during Virginia's vision and over the course of the movie these images come together. Then we see images which are close to Virginia's vision but subtly different. Situations pan out differently than expected. These twists and turns lead the viewer on a merry chase of red herrings and new leads. This kind of plot chasing runs the risk of convolution and losing one's audience. That is not the case here. Never does this film lose control.

Restraint. Don't look for Fulci's signature graphic violence and gratuitous gore here. In the beginning of the movie we are shown Virginia's mother's death as she plummets down the side of a cliff (a scene Fulci mimicked from his earlier 1972 film Don't Torture a Duckling). Her face is slowly scraped off as she falls against the rocks. That is the goriest moment in the film. Here Lucio Fulci shows the breadth of his skill presenting an enthralling narrative without the need of gore or extreme violence. Moments arise in the film where Fulci elects to build tension and suspense rather than spectacle. The result is a fantastic mystery that more than just genre lovers can enjoy and engage with.

Score! I also must point out the wonderful and haunting score for the film. Once you hear it you'll never forget it. It is one of the iconic aspects of the film and has been ripped off and reused by others again and again.

THE BAD

The Buzzer Beater. Spoiler Alert! At the end of the film Virginia finds herself the victim of the murderer's evil plot. Virginia survives thanks to her friends coming to the rescue. Now this is purely a point of preference on the part of me, the viewer, but I feel the film would've had a more resonate ending had Virginia died. It's not that I want to see evil succeed but that the ending in the film, really only the last minute, feels like a stock ending. Again this is purely preference and a negative towards the film. Other than that this movie works very well all around. I could nitpick on poor dubbing and the less than believable face scraping off against the rocks scene but I actually don't have much of a problem with those. They come with the territory and they didn't diminish the enjoyment of the film for me.

THE VERDICT

I did not expect this film to be as good as it is. I watched this movie hoping to see more of the Fulci gore and spectacle I have come to know from his latter films. What I received was a well written, well assembled, well executed mystery thriller worthy of the greats. If you're a fan of Lucio Fulci's films The Psychic is a prime example of one of the director's best. If you're merely looking for a break from the blood and gore look no further. The Psychic is worthy of adding to the collection.

Overall Ranking: 7 out of 10

Nude-O-Meter: 0 out of 10

I couldn't find the trailer so here's a sample of the haunting soundtrack for the film. Enjoy!

For more Gaillo films and more from Lucio Fulci be sure to check out these:

ZOMBIE (1979)
SUSPIRIA (1977)

HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 17: KRAMPUS (2015)

Let's add a little Christmas cheer to this Halloween season! Christmas horror films are a truly rare breed. There are several C and D list horror movies out there with Christmas themes but finding an actual decent Christmas horror film is a difficult endeavor. The list that I can come up with can be counted on one hand: Black Christmas (1974) to which there was also a 2006 remake, Gremlins (1984), and Silent Night Deadly Night (1984) but truthfully SNDN isn't a very good movie however it is fun. Like I said, a good quality Christmas horror film is quite elusive.

Gremlins, in my opinion, is the reigning champion in terms of a quality Christmas horror film... until now. KRAMPUS, directed by Michael Dougherty, adds to this small group of films and sets the bar for all others to come. All the hallmarks of a true Christmas film are represented in Krampus to appease even the most staunch and strict Christmas movie lover. And it is filled with wild, imaginative, and frightening creatures that even Joe Dante or Steven Spielberg would approve of. This film is the new Gremlins.

Simply put, Krampus is one of the best horror films I've seen in years.

THE PLOT

Max still believes in Santa Claus. He has his letter to Santa ready to go. Then his aunt and uncle arrive with their four children and belligerent great aunt. He can see the tension rise in his parents. Christmas dinner is a complete disaster. Everything gets off to such a horrible start that Max begins to lose faith in Santa and lose hope in everything that makes Christmas special. He tears up his letter and casts the pieces to the wind. Suddenly a blizzard hits. The storm is unrelenting. The power goes out and there is no sign of anyone anywhere, no cars in the streets, no neighbors in the windows. But something is out there... in the snow, on rooftops, coming down chimneys, and he's not bringing with him Christmas cheer.

THE GOOD

Genre melding. Christmas, horror, and comedy are the core ingredients that make up this film. And everything is blended and balanced naturally and organically. The comedy doesn't hijack the film or make light of the subject matter but is done in a way that keeps the film from going so dark it loses the Christmas elements. The horror and holiday elements gel, one feeding the other. Conflict is a key element in all Christmas films, strife of a sort that our characters must overcome to find the true meaning of Christmas. The conflict comes from the family at first and then is amplified by the horror side of the story. Ultimately it is the horror that brings the family back together. Nothing is too forced or ham-fisted. The Christmas, horror, and comedy all compliment each other nicely.

The creatures. The monsters in this film are a joy to behold. There are a few CGI effects here and there. But where the film really shines is in its practical effects. With a few exceptions the monsters you see on screen were really on the movie set. Puppetry, animatronics, suitmation, and trick photography are used to bring the creatures to life in this film. And the effect is awesome. Then there are the designs. The filmmakers take beloved iconic Christmas characters and symbols and warp and twist them into something grotesque and terrifying. The Jack-in-the-Box creature is a wonder to behold! The brilliant creators of the WETA WORKSHOP are to thank and it is no doubt that this movie achieves the heights that it does in due part because of these people.

THE BAD

PG-13. There isn't much of anything I can fault this movie for. For the most part this movie is executed brilliantly on all fronts. However as a general rule of horror being rated PG-13 limits how far a film can go. There isn't much swearing or cussing in the film but honestly I feel if there were it would undermine the Christmas spirit of the film. There isn't much blood or gore either. This I go back and forth on. The movie builds its tension and suspense in natural ways. Even though there are comedic moments the film is actually quite serious.

In the tradition of effective modern horror classics like The Exorcism of Emily Rose and The Conjuring, Krampus manages to achieve its scares without splashes of red everywhere. Personally I am a gore hound, the "gore the merrier" I usually say. But again I feel the filmmakers made the right choice to go without gore, therefore retaining more of its Christmas movie esthetic. But then again with such great monsters I can only imagine what a mighty parade of gore and blood its effects artists could bring to the screen.

THE VERDICT

Krampus is wonderful experience all around. Whether you're a Christmas movie fan or a horror fan this film delivers on both fronts. The Krampus lore is a seldom touched subject and feels fresh. The creature effects are top notch utilizing mostly practical effects. As a monster movie this film exceeds expectations. It's rare to see a film nowadays with such creativity. This film is pure entertainment and sure to become a holiday classic.

Overall Ranking: 8 out of 10

Nude-O-Meter: 0 out of 10

 For more Christmas Horror and for a good laugh check out this other Christmas horror classic

SILENT NIGHT DEADLY NIGHT (1984)

 

HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 16: THE PYRAMID (2014)

Mummies, pyramids, ancient tombs, and evil curses have long been a source of fright and horror either in reality, in our imaginations, or on the movie screen. The fact that many mysterious deaths have actually occurred surrounding the discoveries ancient Egyptian tombs is one reason why movies on the subject are so frightening. Are there such things as curses? Is there something truly supernatural at work in the hidden pyramids and tombs of the ancient world? Maybe. Who really knows for sure?

I have long been a fan of Mummy movies. The classic Universal Mummy movies from the 1930's and 40's along with the Hammer Studios Mummy movies remain favorites I go back to again and again. It has been a while since we've had an actual scary Mummy movie though. The Stephen Sommers/Brendan Fraser Mummy movies were fun adventure films but it would be a stretch to call them horror films. So naturally when I saw previews for the film THE PYRAMID, a new horror mummy movie, it went on my watch list. And you can never go wrong with Alexandre Aja involved.

THE PLOT

Archeologists Nora and her father Holden have uncovered the tip of a previously undiscovered pyramid in the desert outside of Cairo. Civil unrest is sweeping through Cairo, erupting in riots and public disobedience. Just as the archeological team unearths an entrance to the pyramid tensions in Cairo rise and the team is ordered to evacuate the area for safety. Nora and the others can't risk the find of the century possibly being swept out from under their noses by another team. They decide to head into the pyramid rather than leave. Inside they discover various oddities that don't match any other recorded pyramid. Then one of them thinks they see something moving in the darkness. The floor suddenly gives way. A member of their group is pinned underneath a massive stone. Something takes his body in the dark. Unable to go back the way they came, they must now explore the pyramid to find a way out while something in the dark preys on them one at a time.

THE GOOD

The Concept. Easily the strongest aspect of the film is the story. Ideas are presented that I've never heard of nor seen in a Mummy movie before. The premise is that the pyramid is three-sided as opposed to four and that the pyramid was buried on purpose to get rid of something. The story incorporates the ancient aliens theory with Egyptian mythology in a very cool way. The film also touches on pieces of the Book of the Dead, the Egyptian gods Osiris and Anubis. The writers mixed all these ideas together into one intriguing plot which held my attention for the duration of the movie.

Hot Chicks and Monsters. Not going to lie, one of the reasons I kept watching was lead actress Ashley Hinshaw. One of the appeals of horror films are the attractive women within them. Hotties can't carry a horror film alone however. The second ingredient is a compelling monster. This movie has both. The monster in this film was not what I expected and was actually quite refreshing. They also didn't skimp on blood and gore which was appreciated. Actor Denis O'Hare (AMERICAN HORROR STORY, TRUE BLOOD) also costarred in the film as Nora's father and was a welcomed addition.

THE BAD

Handheld Camera. Sadly this is another handheld camera horror film and it really didn't need to be. It reminded me of the movie AS ABOVE SO BELOW which I personally wasn't too impressed with. For me, the handheld horror movie gimmick has ran its course. Luckily this movie gives us a few steady-cam shots to even things out. The other major drawback was the monster design. It looked as if the CG render of the monster was only half-finished. The CGI in general was a tad on the weak side. And then the acting fell wanting at times. Annoying characters didn't die quickly enough. So yeah, there are a fair share of weaknesses.

THE VERDICT

Not everything worked in this film, however it does possess a fair share of positives making the experience not a complete waste of time. The handheld camera technique has grown tiresome but the amount of intriguing concepts are plentiful. There's an abundance of food for thought. The writing in this film was well done while execution was both hit and miss. I will say that I found it more enjoyable than other recent handheld horror. If this movie proves one thing it's that there is still plenty of material for new Mummy horror films, which you can never have too many of.

Overall Ranking: 5 out of 10

Good. Average.

 

Nude-O-Meter: 1 out of 10

For more handheld horror and Egyptian scares check out the movies below

AS ABOVE SO BELOW (2014)  

 THE QUIET ONES (2014)

THE MUMMY (1932)

TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD (1972) 

HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 15: HENRY - PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER (1986)

There are horror movies that scare you. There are horror movies that make you laugh. There are even horror movies that pull on your heart strings. And there are those that disturb you. These latter horror movies make you feel dirty and disgusting just for watching, like peering through a window of pure depravity. You feel as if your soul could use a good rinsing afterwards. It's probably a good practice not to watch these kinds of films too often. But any good horror marathon needs at least one of these to get you off the couch and turn off the television for a while. My friends and I call this particular sub-genre of horror "Soul Crushers."

Not to oversell this too much, HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER is a horror film of the "soul crushing" variety. Starring Michael Rooker in his feature film debut, well before he was Yondu in Marvel's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, and Tom Towles before he became a featured player in Rob Zombie movies. In fact there are a lot of elements about this movie that seem to have seeped in Rob Zombies films, especially the DEVIL'S REJECTS. After seeing this movie I feel fairly certain this is reason why Rob Zombie employs Tom Towles so often. So without further delay...

THE PLOT

Henry is a serial killer living in the city. He lives in an apartment with a man named Otis, a former convict on probation. One day Otis brings his sister to the apartment to stay for a while. Unbeknownst to either Otis or his sister, Becky, Henry often goes out at night killing. One night Otis and Henry meet with two women. Henry kills both women while Otis watches. Otis realizes he has a taste for killing too. Henry begins teaching Otis how to kill and the two go on a series murders together. How long can the two of them keep killing before someone notices? And what will Henry do when Otis sets his sexual desires on his sister, Becky? Will Otis be Henry's next victim? Or is a worse fate in store for the two killers?

THE GOOD

Authenticity. Ever wondered what a killer, a real life killer, is like? Look no further. If you are a normal human being, by that I mean not a serial killer, you will have a hard time relating to these characters because they are so alien from anyone like yourself. The acting and portrayals of these characters is stark and frightening. They clearly don't think like you or I do and the actors, whom I'm sure in real life are quite nice people, are chilling in their performances. Michael Rooker has played some dark characters in his day but Henry is easily the darkest depths he's ever gone.

Photography. The movie is shot with very direct camera angles, nothing artsy or extravagant. This style of filming reinforces the gritty nature of the story. It's crude. It's dirty. It's disgusting. And it only adds to the vile experience of watching this movie. There is a portion of the film shot with a handheld camera, a videotape recorder, and these sections are even rougher. There is a particular scene with Henry, Otis, and Becky all dancing while recording themselves. The scene goes on for an extended period of time and exemplifies the uncomfortable feeling of being with these characters.

THE BAD

Painful. Like I described earlier, this film is hard to watch at moments. This is actually a strength of the film rather than a weakness. If you're like me you'll find it a struggle to keep going on. Everything about this film is designed to make one feel uncomfortable and in that endeavor, for me personally, the filmmakers succeeded. But it is that very feeling which is the essence of this particular kind of film. Call it what you will, but this film really does show that darker perverse side of humanity that most of us, if we're lucky, can't relate to.

THE VERDICT

Sick. Twisted. Wrong. These are some of the adjectives I'd use to describe this movie. It is well done and very effective in making you feel ill at ease. To be perfectly honest, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is not a horror movie I found enjoyable nor one I'd ever consider watching again. Once was enough. But isn't that the point of these kinds of films? They're not supposed to make you feel good afterwards. Exciting? No. Entertaining? No. Brutal and disgusting? Yes. Scary? Yes. I watched this movie because I'd never seen it before and it ranks high many lists of the scariest movies. What is truly scary about this film is that there probably are people just like the ones in this movie in real life.

Overall Ranking: 7 out of 10

Rated high for effectiveness NOT for entertainment value

 

Nude-O-Meter: 5 out of 10

We don't often watch these kinds of films but if you liked films such as the list below then give this one a try.

Films similar to Henry

THE DEVIL'S REJECTS

I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE

CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST

HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 14: GREEN ROOM (2016)

Claustrophobic thrillers are a tricky task to pull off. Having a movie set primarily in a single room is difficult enough let alone the challenge of making it entertaining. I tip my hat to any director who can effectively make it happen. Devil (2010), the thriller about a group of people trapped in an elevator was pretty good. Buried (2010), a film about a man buried alive had its moments. And then there is the classic Terence Young film Wait Until Dark (1967) starring Audrey Hepburn. Without extending the boundaries too much the list of movies that fit this particular criteria is small.

At its core essence it is similar to the classic slasher film or even the cabin in the woods horror tale in that a group of friends are dispatched one by one by an assailant in a single night of terror. The David Fincher film PANIC ROOM (2002) and the Bryan Bertino's THE STRANGERS (2008) feel the most akin to Jeremy Saulnier's GREEN ROOM. No monsters. Nothing supernatural. Merely a small group of individuals cut off from help, trapped, and a group of people outside trying to kill them. It's a simple set up with limited resources but an incredible challenge for writers and directors.

Green Room is an example of a claustrophobic thriller done right.

THE PLOT

A hardcore punk band traveling the pacific northwest unknowingly find themselves performing a gig at a Neo Nazi compound in the middle of nowhere. As the group gathers up their gear to leave one of them dashes back into the green room to retrieve their cellphone. In the room they see a dead body and a murder in progress. The whole band is forced back into the green room and are locked inside. Outside the Neo Nazis begin staging an accident and arm themselves to kill their captives. The band isn't going down without a fight however.

THE GOOD

Inventive. In films where an ensemble cast of characters are knocked off Agatha Christie style they can go two ways. 1: Characters make idiotic choices and death results. Or 2: Characters make smart choices and bring the fight to their would-be-killers and still end up dead. This movie falls into the latter. The characters feel fully formed for the most part and seeing any of them die is sad. They make smart choices for the most part and are quite resourceful. The characters demonstrate effective creativity in combating their captors and in moments becoming even more frightening and grizzly than their enemies.

Realistic. This movie is suspenseful and intense and never goes over the top with gore or unbelievable situations. The villains too are portrayed fairly believably. Patrick Stewart plays the central villain with calculated efficiency. You've never seen Patrick Stewart so dastardly. Even the protagonists each embody one sort of natural reaction or another. In addition to Patrick Stewart it is Anton Yelchin and Imogen Poots who really steal the show and put forth stellar performances. Imogen Poots has maybe the best scene in the movie.

THE BAD

Deflation. For as intense a movie as Green Room is there are a few moments were the action and suspense completely stops. For my personal preference I wish the movie would've strove to maintain the tension and continually build towards ever greater heights. As I was watching I kept comparing the film to the Evil Dead remake of 2013 or even the suspense of The Strangers from 2008. The way the film travels with its various stops and starts is in keeping with the realistic approach but for me personally those 'stops' prevented the film reaching truly noteworthy heights like Evil Dead or The Strangers. Even so, the movie as a whole was very well done.

THE VERDICT

Realistic brutal suspense, smart resourceful characters, and some frighteningly inventive sequences round out this fantastic film from director Jeremy Saulnier. The film drags a bit at first before taking off full steam. The characters keep their wits about them instead of merely existing for the sake of a body count and give us someone to cheer for to kill the badguys. There are few dead moments where the movie nearly stops outright before picking up again. But even so this film makes for a very tense and exciting watch.

Overall Ranking: 6 out of 10

(above average. worth the price)

 

Nude-O-Meter: 0 out of 10

For another such grueling experience in terror check out...

THE STRANGERS (2008)

HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 13: FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE (1974)

One of the longest enduring and incredibly entertaining sub-genres within horror is that of the horror anthology film. Stretching as far back as 1924's silent horror film WAXWORKS by the great German filmmaker Paul Leni to 2014'a V/H/S: VIRAL and on. Many of the biggest names in horror have contributed to this sub-genre from Roger Corman and Mario Bava to Hammer Horror legends Freddie Francis and Roy Ward Baker to horror masters like George A. Romero, Joe Dante, John Landis, and John Carpenter. And the greatest of the great horror actors have lent their talents from Boris Karloff, Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Donald Pleasence and more.

Short. Sweet. And frightening. This style of horror lends itself well to television with such series as The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, Tales From The Crypt, Freddy's Nightmares, and Tales From The Darkside. Even the Simpsons has their own horror anthology episodes once a year: The Treehouse of Horror. As you can see, the horror anthology is a time honored tradition and beloved format that continues to endure. One of the classics in this sub-genre is a film titled FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE and stars many amazing actors including Peter Cushing, Donald Pleasence, and David Warner.

THE PLOTS

An old antique shop named 'Temptations' receives five patrons each purchasing a rare one of a kind piece from the collection. One purchases an old mirror, another steals a military medal, one tag swaps a silver pill box, and the fourth purchases an old door and frame. One by one each patron is thrust into a unique kind of hell, the unethical and amoral meeting gruesome demises while the one honest customer barely survives. The fifth patron attempts to rob the antique dealer only to find out the dealer may not be exactly what he seems. Deception, possession, demonic entities, and supernatural forces abound in this quartet of grim tales.

THE GOOD

Little Investment. Big Return. One of the most appealing aspects of horror anthologies is the judicious storytelling. This film tells four tales along with the bridging sequences all within a quick 97 minute runtime. There's no filler. There isn't any downtime. Just one creepy story after another. And you don't lose any quality either. There's plenty of blood and gore. There's good scares and creep outs. Plenty of atmosphere and even some dark humor. Needless to say you get your money's worth.

Pedigree Actors. What first attracted my attention to this film were none other than horror icons Peter Cushing and Donald Pleasence. These two in a film together is more than enough for me. Cushing plays the antique dealer and does a remarkable job. Donald Pleasence plays one of the leads in the second story alongside his real life daughter Angela Pleasence. Their feature story is perhaps the creepiest of all the shorts. The very first short in the collection stars David Warner, another wonderful actor of sci fi and horror. In short, the acting is quality and a treat for horror fans.

THE BAD

There isn't necessarily anything bad about this movie. What it comes down to is personal preference. If you prefer your movies to be more of an immersive experience, to spend the whole time getting to know a set of characters and plot, a horror anthology may not be the best choice for you. This film is set up like a collection of episodes with a one and done approach. If you're cool with that then what are you waiting for? With me, my only gripe would be that Peter Cushing doesn't play a bigger role and that neither he nor Donald Pleasence share the screen together. I am a big fan of both of them and would love to see Doctor Loomis and Van Helsing team up to take down evil.

Like I said, there isn't anything really wrong with this movie, just personal preferences here and there.

THE VERDICT

From Beyond the Grave is a horror anthology from legendary names in horror. Amicus Productions, one of the great names in horror cinema, is responsible for this bloody, creepy, and disturbing collection of short films. Loaded with the likes of Peter Cushing, Donald Pleasence, and David Warner, this movie has great and expedient storytelling and prime acting. If you love campfire tales of horror this is a movie not to be missed.

Overall Ranking: 6 out of 10

(above average. worth the price)

Nude-O-Meter: 1 out of 10

Keep checking back as October rolls along and we continue counting down the days until Halloween, one scary movie after another.