SterlingBen

Revised Goals: 120 Movies 32 Different Beers Legend: * = FTV Wife's Thoughts In Blue
	- Oct 25th -
	95.) Warlock (1989) (VHS) My Thoughts: Ah, now here is a VHS tape that I have gotten my money out of. All of this Sleepy Hollow, American Horror Story and Rose Red business compelled me to watch this little B movie classic. As mentioned in other reviews big fan of the person brought into the future dynamic, especially when it is a Villain too! Good effects, great story, I think it is time to upgrade this to Blu-Ray! (4 out of 5)
	96.) Art Of The Devil (2004) (VHS)* My Thoughts: Thai party girl gets knocked up and raped and then takes her revenge way too fucking far. Moral of the story; get an asian girl pregnant and it is just better to kill her. The movie felt a little uneven to me, the effects were great but the acting ranged quite a bit. Who knew those monks were so good at the black arts? Also yes this movie is filled with hot thai girls and no not a singe one of them gets naked!!!! Come on Thailand, you of all countries can do better than that. (3 out of 5)
	B-22. Southampton: Pumpkin Ale (New York) (Bottle) My Thoughts: A solid pumpkin offering. Spicey on top with a heavy barely aftertaste punctuated by a hoppy bite. There is a bit of a red beer flair to it as well. (3.5 out of 5)
	96.5) - 98.) Forever Knight S01E11-14 (1992) (DVD)* My Thoughts: Might have been the alcohol but there did seem to be have been an uptick in quality for this batch. Some Interview With The Vampire flashback sequences, Cop Killing psychos and even an Avengers reference. perhaps I will have to subsist on downloads of the third season like with The Invisible Man. (3.5 out of 5)
	B-23. Choc Beer Company: Choctoberfest (Oklahoma) (Bottle) My Thoughts: Hey an Oklahoma beer! It is a weird one though. Not a marzen but more of a Pilsner. Decent until it gets a little warm and then it starts getting that weird river water taste. I really wanted to have this as my winner, being a local brew and all, but it is not a contender. Oh well, maybe next year Oklahoma will represent a a bit better. (2.5 out of 5)
	B-24. Lakefront Brewery: Pumpkin (Wisconsin) (Bottle) My Thoughts: Has a nice and surprisingly perpetual pumpkin flavor. And this one is not just spices actual pumpkin flavor. Also has a nice full barley flavor with very light hoppy finish. An excellent balance pumpkin beer. Also the only American brewery I have ever been to; Lakefront! (4.5 out of 5)
	- Oct 26th -
	99.) Halloween II (1981) (Blu-Ray) My Thoughts: I love how this movie takes place the very second the last movie leaves off. A step down from the original for sure but still a good slasher and hey it is the best Halloween sequel. Not a big fan of how they worked in a cult connection or the relative connection for that matter but it comes with the territory. I wonder how Dr. Loomis is with the rest of his patients... (4 out of 5) My Wife's Thoughts: Pretty good, it's some of them it's not realistic. So many people died but it just unbelievable. Drunk doctor, nurse is using the hot tub ,skipping the job just choto unrealistic. (3 out of 5)
	100.) Terror In The Aisles (1984) (Blu-Ray)* My Thoughts: Arg, 100 was a clip show, typical. Love the narrators: Dr Loomis and Lois from RoboCop. But this is less of a documentary than it is just an excuse to show the best parts of 80's thrillers/horror films. It was a fun clip show yes but either you have seen the material or it ruins a movie for you. Also I think I recognize some of the actors in the audience....? (3 out of 5)
	B-25. Asahi: Akiyoi (Japan) (Bottle) My Thoughts: Ah Japan... lots of barley a hint of pear. A great beer and this just a standard grocery store beer, the Budwiser of Japan. $1.50 or less at any grocery/convieneitent store, taste great and 6% alcohol content to boot. (4 out of 5)
	- Oct 27th -
	101.) Jennifer's Body (2009) (Blu-Ray)* My Thoughts: Wow, that was surprisingly good. Megan Fox drips sexuality in this funny, original genre flick. This is the best time I have had with a recent film in quite awhile. And one of the few horror movies where I would easily count myself as one of the first ones to die. Frozen peas. (4.5 out of 5) My Wife's Thoughts: Good movie. Choto unrealistic but it is very interesting story and few famous ladies and I really enjoyed. I'm going to give 4.5 and hope they going to make sequal or two. Would you kiss Jennifer? No. What if she wasn't a demon?I more interested in Chip ka Needy... So yo'd kiss that blond girl? Maybe... guy like Megan Fox but ladies not so much. (4.5 out of 5)
	102.) Dread (2009) (Internet)* My Thoughts: I found this film highly annoying. A few good ideas surrounded by a sea of pretentious douche-baggery crap. I could have rewrote this, fired one actor and had it be 1.5 stars better easy. One of those few movies I would have given up on watching all the way through, had it not been for theme day. (1.5 out of 5)
	102.5) The Walking Dead S04E03 (2013) (Internet)* My Thoughts: Getting back on track here. Rick gets back to his roots, scavenger run and I knew that shit was Carol all along. Of course the ending was the best part. One of those arg 'I have to wait until next week' endings. And then there was the radio transmission. I have always thought that is one of the things I would do. Clear the city up Last Man On Earth style, making barricades along the way and set something up with some of the local radio stations. A loop message on one channel and some music for the end of the world on the other. (4 out of 5)
	103.5) Commentary For Jennifer's Body (2009) (Blu-Ray)* My Thoughts: I had forgotten that this was a Diabo Cody property, that might have been the reason I didn't see it closer to first run, all of the backlash. And now watching it again I can see her dialog quite clearly. Speaking on the movie, I watched the Unrated version the first time around and the commentary here is on the theatrical version. The former, in my opinion, is way more effective and contains several of my favorite parts of the movie! Cody and the director were fun to listen to and a nice change from the normal male only tracks. (3.5 out of 5)
	B-26. Shipyard Brewing Company: Pumpkinhead (Maine) (Bottle) My Thoughts: Not nearly as interesting as it's Smashed Pumpkin brew. But still a good lighter pumpkin beer. Comes on nicely with a light pumpkin spice flavor and ends with apple cider taste . And now that I am really getting into it it is actually really good. While not having the highest rated pumpkin beers I would say shipyard is my favorite overall pumpkin beer company. (4 out of 5)
	B-27. Hofbräu Oktoberfest (Germany) (Bottle) My Thoughts: I usually dislike green bottle beers and generally try to steer well clear of them. In this case I decided to give it a chance since it was an oktoberfest ale. Still has that less perfect more cervesa green bottle taste but it is one of the better green bottle beers I have had. Probably having to do in large part to it being made in Germany. Not a disaster but nothing to write home about either. (2.5 out of 5)
	B-28. Buffalo Bill's Brewery: Pumpkin Ale (California) (Bottle) My Thoughts: Upon first taste it rang kind of average but as it sits on your pallet a distinct vegetable flavor matriculates. I do find it's claim to be America's original pumpkin beer to be dubious, no matter how they want to spin it. (3.5 out of 5)
	- Oct 28th -
	104.5) Zombie (1979) (Blu-Ray) My Thoughts: It is interesting watching this in conjunction with The Walking Dead. Zombie was very influential on the genre and has some effects that still work better than The Walking Dead's (most notably when they go CGI). Also these are all situations the crew from the Walking Dead would be able to overcome with ease. But I guess you have to think; this is the other 99% off the world who can't hack it in the apocalypse. (4 out of 5) My Wife's Thoughts: It is pretty long and slow and is ok and they did not explain how spreading no when they started. They did not say that, suddenly zombie show up and keep biting and some scenes extremely gross. I like that. zombie in the water, I saw the human, zombie makeup almost gone. (2.5 out of 5)
	105.5) The Horribly Slow Murderer With The Extremely Inefficient Weapon (2008) (Internet) (Wild Card #2)* My Thoughts: I liked the idea behind this one and the execution was quite good. But this short is about 5 minutes too long. Turns from funny to annoying as it really essentially is the same joke extended over a period of about 10 minutes. Also it is styled after a movie trailer, a style that would have been more effective over a shorter period of time. I can recommend watching this since it is a short but with some serious caveats. (2.5 out of 5)
	106.5) Commentary For Zombie (1979) (Blu-Ray)* My Thoughts: Not much of a moderator but the returning lead actor is quite interesting to listen to. He talks a lot about the Video Nasty era and while I may not agree with some of his opinions I can respect them from someone who actually starred in said nasties. Lots of fun low budget production stories, worth a listen to any fan. (4 out of 5)
	107.5) Return To The House On Haunted Hill (2007) (Blu-Ray)* My Thoughts: Who would have thought that this would have made the Taye Diggs vehicle seem like such a good movie. So I watched the choose your own adventure version that barely makes this synaptically more interesting than the dreck Asylum churns out. Of course they didn't go near far enough with choices, the only option in the first 30 minutes being 'should main character make a phone call'? After that they are somewhat inconsequential for the most part. There was one awesome one where you got to choose wither or not to have a lesbian tryst with some hot ghost chicks. But otherwise this movie was poorly acted, edited, scripted and contained a bevy of uneven special effects. Not worth it, even at the bargain basement prices the Blu-Ray is going for. (2 out of 5)
	- Oct 29th -
	108.5) Children Of The Living Dead (2001) (DVD) My Thoughts: One of the biggest disappointments I have had in my many years of collecting physical media. And what makes it even worse is that I bought this like day one at full price. What can I say, I saw sequel to Night of the Living Dead, Savini was involved, how could you go wrong? I will spare you yet another review of this terrible terrible movie and point out this article by the Director that is quite an interesting read: here. Although it would have held a little more water if he had gone on to do anything notable in anyway. (1 out of 5)
	109.5) Killer's Delight (1978) (DVD)* My Thoughts: Actually pretty good. More of a crime drama than a horror movie but it is based on famous real life serial killer Ted Bundy. Gritty, suspenseful, just like I like my crime stories. I wonder if Bundy really broke peoples bones like that... And hey thats the guy from The Hills Have Eyes! Guess that's why you don't see many girl hitchhikers now a days. (3.5 out of 5)
	110.5) Children Of The Corn: Revelation (2001) (DVD) My Thoughts: Super low budget but still a step up from 6, crappy CG corn aside. In this one we learn that the Children Of The Corn love video games, hate people in crappy apartments and have corn monsters they can throw in your bathtub. Somehow I also own a copy of this on VHS. Why? Why do I possibly have two copies of this movie? (2.5 out of 5)
	B-29. Newcastle: Werewolf (England) (Bottle) My Thoughts: A rough beer, pleasant brown on the top but this one has a strange bite to it. Spiced swamp bitter apothecary eggplant comes to mind. A red ale that went terribly wrong somewhere. One of the coolest bottles but one of the worst beers of the challenge. (2 out of 5)
	111.5) Sssssss (1973) (DVD)* My Thoughts: Come on Starbuck, you can do way better. A lot of parallels between this and the movie Stanley with all that real snake work. A little too slow and that ending isn't quite what I was looking for but it is entertaining enough. And hey, you gotta love a movie that goes to a carnival freak show. Also you can spot the Universal back lot a lot in movie, something you always see after doing the Universal Studios tour. (3.5 out of 5) My Wife's Thoughts: Don't say thats end...seriously? Suck ending, slow beginning. Unrealistic. Easy to guess what happened and that's interesting. David did not refuse to get the shot, if I were David I won't do that. (2.5 out of 5)
	B-30. Paulaner: Oktoberfest Wiesn (Germany) (Can) My Thoughts: Delicious yeasty nectar of the gods. Now this is a good German beer. Something I could see myself drinking while having some sausages and flirting with a blond busty german girl. And it certainly dosen't hurt that there is so much of it. (5 out of 5)
	112.5) Frankenstein Unbound (1990) (DVD)* My Thoughts: Do not learn anything about this movie. Buy it, get drunk, watch it, thank me later. While technically not a great movie this has been one of the funnest blind buys of the challenge. An amazing cast, an interesting story and fun 80's effects. There is one glaring historical inaccuracy that bugged me but given the story it's not something to really complain about. (4 out of 5)
	- Oct 30th -
	113.5) Children Of The Corn: Genesis (2011) (Blu-Ray)* My Thoughts: That's what you get for demanding hospitality. It has been an interesting journey watching all 8 of the Children of the Corn movies. The children have changed a lot here over the last 29 years, mostly for the worst but there have been a few spikes in quality. This one was slightly better than the last by bringing in some elements from Texas Chainsaw and some new power for the evil vegetable aficionados. There is not really enough here to elevate this above par but it is somewhat effective. Also if you have genuinely creepy moments which are kind of far an in-between in this series. (3 out of 5)
	114.) - 117.5) Forever Knight S01E15-22 (1992 - 1993) (DVD)* My Thoughts: It's not just the Interview with the Vampire nobility flash backs anymore, now they have gone full Wolverine level of flashback. Nick has apparently been in every war and political situation in the last 100 years. There is some CSI video tape zoom in ridiculousness, and yes, I am hooked. Damn it Big Lots, sell me season 1 for $5 and now I have to go spend $25+ on season 2 and $100+ if I can find an excellent deal on season 3. (3.5 out of 5)
	B-31. Samuel Adams: Fat Jack (Massachusetts) (Bottle) My Thoughts: A real beer from Samuel Adams? Quite the occasion. A dark earthy pumpkin ale. The spices hit you on the finish instead of on top like the rest of the pumpkin ales. Mellow but interesting pumpkin offering and the higher alcohol content is, as always, much appreciated. Currently runner up. (4.5 out of 5)
	118.) American Horror Story S03E04 (2013) (TV)* My Thoughts: Now that is how you end an episode! Funny, suspenseful, intense, twisted. This has been the best hour of horror all challenge. I really wish I didn't have a customer service job so I could be the kind of self important asshole that Lange plays. Also fucking zombies vs witches! Hell yeah! (5 out of 5)
	- Oct 31st -
	119.) Chernobyl Diaries (2012) (DVD)* My Thoughts: So this is something I have always wanted to do since hearing about it in the early 00's, back when the tours were illegal. Now I fear I might need to take it off my bucket list as it will probably be crawling with tourist. So I am a little angry at this movie for popularizing this as I image now the tours will be huge and filled with annoying tweens. The movie it's self was pretty average, good location but by the numbers found footage monster fair. Of course the location is not quite as cool as if they had actually shot in Chernobyl but logistically that would not really be possible. I must admit that I do like the found footage style much better if it is a disembodies camera like this and people aren't always saying "why are you taping?", that shit gets old fast. A decent, if dreamsmashy movie. (3 out of 5)
	120.) The Mummy (1959) (DVD)* My Thoughts: Was hoping for something more along the lines of Hammer's Frankenstein and Dracula sequels but this was pretty much just a Universal remake. Still it is a remake of a good property and it does have Cushing and Lee. Average but I would still be interested in seeing the sequels. (3 out of 5)
	121.) The Bowery Boys Meet The Monsters (1954) (Internet)* My Thoughts: I don't know why I expected the Universal classic monsters but I do know I didn't get them. This one has evil mad scientists, large carnivorous plant (that also like sandwiches), a vampiric temptress, a killer ape and a killer robot. Then we have the title characters... and yes I know they were playing for kids in the 50's but this just didn't do it for me. I gathered from the promotion that I saw this under that they had quite a few titles but they really are just a third rate Abbot and Costello. This movie wasn't gouge my eyes out bad or anything but without the genre elements it wouldn't have held my interest. (2.5 out of 5)
More →	Part I, Part II, Part III, Part V

hbsvb

Goal = 50

Final Stats:
60 total - 44 feature films (73.3%); 39 TV/shorts to equal 16 feature film equivalents (16.7%)
55.75 first time views (92.9%)

27 on DVR (45.0%)
5.5 on Amazon (9.2%)
20.5 on Netflix (34.2%)
26 total streaming - Amazon + Netflix (43.3%)
6 on BRD (10.0%)
1 on DVD (1.7%)

1920's - 2 (3.3%)
1930's - 3 (5.0%)
1940's - 2 (3.3%)
1950's - 3 (5.0%)
1960's - 3 (5.0%)
1970's - 4.25 (7.1%)
1980's - 5.25 (8.8%)
1990's - 8.25 (13.8%)
2000's - 6.125 (10.2%)
2010's - 23.125 (38.5%)

Subset films: 8 watched
American Mary
Shakma
Trilogy of Terror
ParaNorman
John Dies at the End
Scream
Pontypool
The Possession

Checklist completed


DVR
BRD
DVD
NWI
Amazon

* first time viewing

1. The Phantom Carriage (1921)*
2. Haxan (1922)*
3. Under the Dome - Speak of the Devil {S1:E11} (2013)*
--- Under the Dome - Exigent Circumstances {S1:E12} (2013)*
4. Scream (1996)
5. Scary Movie 3 (2003)*
6. Kingdom of Shadows (1998)*
7. Under the Dome - Curtains {S1:E13} (2013)*
--- Sleepy Hollow - Pilot {S1:E1} (2013)*
8. Creature with the Atom Brain (1955)*
9. Flesh for Frankenstein (1973)*
10. Sleepy Hollow - Blood Moon {S1:E2} (2013)*
--- Sleepy Hollow - For the Triumph of Evil. . . {S1:E3} (2013)*
11. Mad Monster Party? (1967)*
12. Poltergeist (1982)
13. The Gorgon (1964)*
14. La Leyenda de la Llorona (2011)*
15. Ultimate Spider-Man - Blade and the Howling Commandos {S2:E21} (2013)*
--- Sleepy Hollow - The Lesser Key of Solomon {S1:E4} (2013)*
16. The Call of Cthulhu (2005)*
17. Amityville 3-D (1983)*
18. Screamtime (1986)*
19. The House That Dripped Blood (1971)*
20. The Frighteners (1996)*
21. Isle of the Dead (1945)*
22. ParaNorman (2012)*
23. Das Testament des Dr. Mabuse (1933)*
24. American Horror Story: Coven - Bitchcraft {S3:E1} (2013)*
--- The Walking Dead - 30 Days Without an Accident {S4:E1} (2013)*
25. John Dies at the End (2012)*
26. Giallo (2009)*
27. House on Haunted Hill ((1959)*
28. Sleepy Hollow - John Doe {S1:E5} (2013)*
--- American Horror Story: Coven - Boy Parts {S1:E2} (2013)*
29. I Walked With a Zombie (1943)*
30. The Awful Dr. Orlof (1962)*
31. White Zombie (1932)*
32. Piranha (1978)*
33. King Kong (1933)*
34. The Thing (2011)*
35. American Mary (2012)*
36. In the Flesh {S1:E1} (2013)*
--- In the Flesh {S1:E2} (2013)*
37. In the Flesh {S1:E3} (2013)*
--- The Walking Dead - Infected {S4:E2} (2013)*
38. Haven - Fallout {S4:E1} (2013)*
--- Haven - Survivors {S4:E2} (2013)*
39. Toy Story of Terror (2013)*
--- The Cosby Show - Halloween {S2:E6} (1986)
--- Tiny Toons' Night Ghoulery (1995)*
40. Jack's Back (1988)*
41. Haven - Bad Blood {S4:E3} (2013)*
--- Haven - Lost and Found {S4:E4} (2013)*
42. Haven - The New Girl {S4:E4} (2013)*
--- Haven - Countdown {S4:E5} (2013)*
43. Attack of the Puppet People (1958)*
44. Hotel Transylvania (2012)*
45. Monsters vs. Aliens: Night of the Living Carrots (2011)*
--- Monsters vs. Aliens: B.O.B.'s Big Break (2009)*
--- Megamind: The Button of Doom (2011)*
--- Shrek: The Pig Who Cried Werewolf (2011)*
--- American Horror Story: Coven - The Replacements {S3:E3} (2013)*
46. Pontypool (2008)*
47. Parks and Recreation - Halloween Surprise {S5:E5} (2012)*
--- Haven - Lay Me Down {S4:E7} (2013)*
--- Ellen - Trick or Treat -- Who Cares? {S3:E6} (1995)
48. Shakma (1990)*
49. Army of Darkness (1992)*
50. The Thing (1982)*
51. Mork & Mindy - A Morkville Horror {S2:E8} (1979)
--- Everybody Loves Raymond - Halloween Candy {S3:E6} (1998)
--- Grimm - The Ungrateful Dead {S3:E1} (2013)*
52. Trilogy of Terror (1975)*
53. Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)*
54. Dead Heist (2007)*
55. The Reeds (2010)*
56. The Possession (2012)*
57. Scream 2 (1997)
58. Scream 3 (2000)
59. The Walking Dead - Isolation {S4:E3} (2013)*
--- Home Improvement - Bewitched {S8:E6} (1998)
--- The Simpsons - Treehouse of Horror XXIV {S25:E2} (2013)*
60. Devil (2010)*


Temp TV:



Checklist: completed

BobO'Link

9th Annual Horror Challenge

GOALS
**DONE** #1. Watch the "classic" (1910-1960) Universal Studios Horror films in release date order.
**DONE** #2. Reduce the unwatched pile.
**DONE** #3. Get to at least 100 films watched

☼ - First time viewing
▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲ - Rating on a 1 to 10 scale

*List Complete*
109 Films Watched
45 First Time Viewings

September 30th
1. Dr Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (03/06/1913) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
2. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (09/06/1923) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
3. The Phantom of the Opera (11/15/1925) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 1st
4. The Cat and the Canary (09/09/1927) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 2nd
5. The Last Performance (11/02/1927) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 3rd
6. The Man Who Laughs (11/04/1928) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 4th
7. The Last Warning (01/06/1929) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
8. Dracula (02/14/1931) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
9. Drácula (03/11/1931 - Spanish) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 5th
10. Frankenstein (11/21/1931) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
11. Murders in the Rue Morgue (02/21/1932) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
12. The Old Dark House (10/20/1932) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
13. The Mummy (12/22/1932) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
14. Murders in the Zoo (03/01/1933) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
15. The Invisible Man (11/13/1933) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
16. The Black Cat (05/07/1934) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
17. Bride of Frankenstein (04/22/1935) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 6th
18. Werewolf of London (05/13/1935) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
19. The Raven (07/08/1935) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
20. Dracula's Daughter (05/11/1936) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
21. The Invisible Ray (01/20/1936) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
22. Night Key (05/02/1937) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
23. Son of Frankenstein (01/13/39) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
24. Tower of London (11/17/1939) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 7th
25. The Invisible Man Returns (01/12/1940) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
26. Black Friday (04/12/1940) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
27. The Mummy's Hand (09/20/1940) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 8th
28. The Invisible Woman (12/27/1940) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
29. Man Made Monster (03/28/1941) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 9th
30. Horror Island (03/28/1941) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
31. The Black Cat (05/02/1941) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 10th
32. The Wolf Man (12/12/1941) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
33. The Ghost of Frankenstein (03/13/42) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
34. The Mad Doctor of Market Street (02/27/1942) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 11th
35. The Strange Case of Doctor Rx (04/17/1942) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
36. Invisible Agent (08/07/1942) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
37. The Mummy's Tomb (10/23/1942) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 12th
38. Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (03/05/1943) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
39. Captive Wild Woman (06/04/1943) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
40. Phantom of the Opera (08/27/1943) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
41. Son of Dracula (11/05/1943) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
42. The Mad Ghoul (11/12/1943) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
43. Calling Dr. Death (12/17/1943) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
44. Weird Woman (03/01/1944) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
45. The Invisible Man's Revenge (06/09/1944) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
46. The Mummy's Ghost (07/07/1944) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 13th
47. The Climax (10/20/1944) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
48. Dead Man's Eyes (11/10/1944) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
49. House of Frankenstein (12/01/1944) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
50. The Mummy's Curse (12/22/1944) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
51. The Frozen Ghost (06/01/1945) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
52. Strange Confession (10/05/1945) (aka The Missing Head) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
53. House of Dracula (12/07/45) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 14th
54. Pillow of Death (12/14/1945) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
55. House of Horrors (03/29/1946) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
56. She-Wolf of London (05/17/46) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 15th
57. The Brute Man (10/01/1946) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
58. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (06/15/1948) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 16th
59. Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (03/07/1951) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
60. Strange Door (12/08/1951) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
61. The Black Castle (12/15/1952) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 17th
62. It Came from Outer Space (05/25/1953) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
63. Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (08/01/1953) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
64. Creature from the Black Lagoon (03/05/1954) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 18th
65. This Island Earth (06/01/1955) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
66. Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (06/23/1955) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
67. Revenge of the Creature (07/22/1955) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
58. Cult of the Cobra (08/05/1955) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 19th
59. Tarantula (12/14/1955) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
60. The Creature Walks Among Us (06/26/1956) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
61. The Mole People (12/22/1956) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
62. The Deadly Mantis (05/??/1957) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
63. The Monolith Monsters (12/10/1957) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
64. Monster on the Campus (12/17/1958) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
65. The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1936) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
66. Crimes at the Dark House (1940) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
67. The Face of Marble (1946) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 20th
68. The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake (1959) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
69. I Bury the Living (1958) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
70. The Snake Woman (1961) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
71. Monster from the Ocean Floor (1954) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
72. Daikaijû Gamera (1965) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
73. The Wicker Man (1973) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
74. Serpent Island (1954) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 21st
75. House of 1000 Corpses (2003) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
76. Slaughter of the Vampires (1962) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 22nd
77. The Giant Claw (1957) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
78. Creature with the Atom Brain (1955) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 23rd
79. Zombies of Mora Tau (1957) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
80. The Werewolf (1956) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 24th
81. Reptilicus (1961) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
82. The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 25th
83. The Amazing Transparent Man (1960) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
84. The Neanderthal Man (1953) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
85. Blood Thirst (aka The Blood Seekers) (1971) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 26th
86. I Eat Your Skin (aka Zombies) (1964) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
87. Blood Stalkers (1978) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
88. The Thing (1982) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
89. Prince of Darkness (1987) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
90. Violent Midnight (1963) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
91. Castle of Blood (1964) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
92. The Howling (1981) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
93. Torture Garden (1967) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
94. Giant from the Unknown (1958) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 27th
95. The Brotherhood of Satan (1971) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
96. Mr. Sardonicus (1961) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
97. Rosemary's Baby (1968) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
98. Let the Right One In (2008) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
99. Re-Animator (1985) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
100. The Bloody Judge (1970) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
101. The Return of the Vampire (1944) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 28th
102. The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
103. Horrors of the Black Museum (1959) ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 29th
104. The Headless Ghost (1959) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
105. The Horror of Party Beach (1964) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 30th
106. The Curse of the Living Corpse (1964) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
107. Grave of the Vampire (1972) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

October 31st
108. The Thirsty Dead (1974) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
109. The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967) ☼ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

Checklist:

J. Farley

Goal - At least 50 watched, complete theme nights.

First time viewings are in orange.

October 1st

1: Jack's Back (1988) [VHS] - I decided to start the challenge on a strong note with one of my personal favorites. A serial killer is copying Jack the Ripper in L.A. After his twin is killed and declared the murderer, a shoe salesman works to find the true culprit and clear his brother's name. This is such a great, underrated film with an intriguing mystery at it's core and solid performances from James Spader and the luscious Cynthia Gibb. I need this on Blu-ray as soon as possible. Special mention to the opening scene and the song, "Red Harvest", which plays over it... Pure 80's bliss.

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2: Dial Help (1988) [Youtube] - silly Ruggero Deodato flick in which an English model staying in Rome becomes haunted by killer phones. Probably the only film where someone is killed via payphone coins. We even get a telephone POV shot as a phone sneaks up some stairs. Charlotte Lewis is an attractive lead, and there are some nice scenes where she's being hypnotized into seduction by the haunted phones. An absurd film, but I had a blast with it, and it's way more entertaining than Deodato's awful attempt at a slasher, Body Count.

3: Violent Midnight (1963) [DVD] - an eccentric war veteran turned painter is accused of murder when one of his models is found stabbed to death. Also kown as Psychomania, this early slasher is one of the most enjoyable horror pictures of the 60's. Not content to focus solely on the murder mystery, it goes all over the map in a variety of fun directions. Not surprising when you consider it came from the makers of Horror at Party Beach, but this is a far better film than that one.

4: Transformations (1988) [VHS] - unfairly bashed pic about a space pilot who, infected by a succubus curse, crash lands on a prison planet.This is low-budget fun through and through. One of my favorite scream queens, Lisa Langlois, star's as the pilot's love interest. As always, she lights up the screen. Patrick Macnee also pops up as a priest who has dealt with the succubus in the past. The VHS art doesn't have much to do with the film, but it's a terrific image all the same.

October 2nd

5: The Stranger Within (1974) [Youtube] - Barbara Eden stars as a housewife who winds up mysteriously pregnant despite the fact that her husband has had a vasectomy. Things only get weirder from there. A decent adaptation of a Richard Matheson story. It sort of drags at times, and you would think the husband and family doctor would have done more after some of the stuff that happens, like Barbara's wounds healing right in front of them. Instead, they just keep acting like she's gone off the deep end rather than contacting someone about the bizarre events. That said, it's an interesting watch overall.

6: Satan's Triangle (1975) [Youtube] - an eerie Bermuda Triangle-based chiller told mainly through flashback. After a rescue attempt gone wrong, one half of a coast guard team is stranded on a ship with the vessel's only surviving passenger, a prostitute named Eva. She then proceeds to tell him the events that took place on the ship as it sailed through the Devil's Triangle. This is a very moody tele-film with a nice sense of dread throughout. It all culminates in one of the creepiest endings I've witnessed in a good while.

7: Mysterious Two (1982) [VHS] - this is a virtually unknown, but truly fascinating gem inspired by the Heaven's Gate cult. From Gary Sherman, this has an unsettling mood similar to that of the director's Dead & Buried. Still one of the best TV films I've seen. Robert Englund has a decent-sized role as a sheriff's deputy. Very highly recommended. Unfortunately, it seems to be the forgotten title in Sherman's filmography.

8: The Demon Murder Case (1983) [Youtube] - true event TV horror film about a boy possessed by demons. As was the case with the story behind this year's The Conjuring, Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated the incident on which this is based. I have to say, where many possession films come off as campy and over-the-top, this one is pretty unsettling. Definitely one of the more effective possession films out there.

October 3rd

9: The Supernaturals (1986) [Youtube] - a military group on a training exercise in the woods fall victim to the angry spirits of Confederate soldiers. I tried recording this off of TV many years ago, but the VCR screwed up. Turns out it did me a favor. This is an awful excuse for a movie. Nothing makes sense, the characters are interchangeable and it's flat-out boring. Skip this mess.

10: Barracuda (1978) [Youtube] - a small coastal town begins experiencing vicious barracuda attacks. This wound up being far better than I expected. More of a conspiracy thriller than outright horror, it goes in an interesting direction before ending on a fantastically downbeat note. The whole thing is considerably enhanced by Klaus Schulze's ominous score.

11: The Rift (1990) [VHS] - from the director of Slugs and Pieces. Of all the underwater horror pics made in the late 80's/early 90's, this is my favorite. Not that the competition is anything to write home about, but this is a nice creature feature with a good cast. I have it on VHS as Endless Descent.

October 4th

12: Antiviral (2012) [Blu-ray] - in the not too distant future, people are so obsessed with celebrities that they voluntarily go to clinics to be injected with diseases harvested from the objects of their obsessions. A fantastic film from the son of David Cronenberg, and a scathing commentary on the celebrity worship that seems to consume our culture more and more every day. It's also full of suitably nasty imagery, as Brandon Cronenberg is clearly a chip off the old block. Nice detached performance from Caleb Landry Jones as the lead, and it's always good to see Malcolm McDowell make an appearance. Watch closely for a blink and you miss it cameo from DC toward the end of the film.

13: Grave Secrets (1989) [Netflix streaming] - a bitchy woman hires a paranormal researcher to look into a headless ghost haunting her country inn. What a horribly dull movie this was. Paul Le Mat and Renée Soutendijk are very bland leads, and nothing remotely interesting happens for the majority of the running time. On top of that, the ghost is one of the least menacing I've seen outside of cartoons. Only an appearance by David Warner enlivens the proceedings, but he's gone almost as quickly as he shows up.

14: Homebodies (1974) [Youtube] - a group of elderly folks resort to murder when a greedy developer selects their apartment building for demolition. An offbeat horror film with an odd tone, touches of pitch black comedy and social commentary about the treatment of the elderly. This one's a hidden gem. There's something subtly disturbing about watching old people commit cruel murders and enjoying their acts of deadly sabotage. I always wanted to see this one, but the VHS isn't the cheapest. Score another one for Youtube.

October 5th

15: Hack-O-Lantern (1988) [Youtube] - a cheesy slasher my old video store had under the alternate title, Halloween Night. I never got around to renting it, so nice to see it on online. The movie itself is nothing special, but there's some entertaining camp on display. For whatever reason, it randomly stops dead at one point to let some moron do his stand-up "comedy" routine for what feels like an eternity. Chalk this one up as an okay time-killer at best.

16: In the Shadow of Kilimanjaro (1986) [VHS] - factually-based terror tale about a drought leading to vicious baboon attacks in Kenya. This is an underrated film with convincing attack sequences and beautiful Kenyan scenery. I've never been a huge fan of the killer ape sub-genre, but this one's a winner. Always loved the poster art, too.

17: Death Weekend (1976) [VHS] - a sleazy dentist takes a model to his isolated country house for the weekend, but the two incur the wrath of a psycho and his gang of punks. Probably my favorite of the Last House on the Left inspired films, I prefer it to it's inspiration as well. We get great work by Don Stroud as the lead psycho and some underlying commentary with the dentist caring more about his house and possessions than the life of his girlfriend. The only downside is the incredibly annoying gas station attendants, but at least they get killed off.

18: Funeral Home (1980) [Youtube] - a girl goes to live with her grandmother to help out at her new bed and breakfast, formerly a funeral home run by her missing grandfather. I didn't much care for this when I first saw it many years ago. Since it stars one of my favorite scream queens in Lesleh Donaldson, I decided to give it another chance. It worked much better for me this time around. It's a solid variation on the Psycho theme, and Lesleh is a joy to watch.

October 6th

19: Fright Night Part II (1988) [Fox 4 DFW] - had the TV on while I was at the computer and was surprised when this came on channel 4 at midnight. While not quite up to the quality of the original, I've always enjoyed this sequel despite the oddball plot element of the lead being convinced there are no such things as vampires after what he went through.

20: Haute Tension (2003) [DVD] - probably my overall favorite horror film of the 2000's. Still as intense and thrilling as ever, and I'm firmly in the camp of loving the ending.

21: The Immortalizer (1989) [DVR recording/MGM HD] - a mad doctor kidnaps teens and uses their bodies to give rich old people a new lease on life. This is a cheap and cheesy little slice of fluff entertainment. I had to cringe when the hero of the movie always managed to do the wrong thing and get himself into trouble. There was a scene early on where he could have easily just thrown someone out an open window and solved his problem completely, but nope. The villains were very annoying, too.

October 7th

22: The Black Pit of Dr. M (1959) [DVD] - I've enjoyed most of the Mexican horror films I've come across, but this is still undeniably the best. Possessing some of the most beautiful B&W photography I've seen and a great setting in and around a rural hacienda, the film is superbly atmospheric. It's also cleverly plotted, though the mood alone is more than enough reason to see it.

23: Beaks: The Movie (1987) [Youtube] - a news reporter and her cameraman investigate increasingly numerous stories of bird attacks around the world. A late cash-in on Hitchcock's The Birds from schlock king, Rene Cardona, Jr. For the first half of the movie, it was slightly more engrossing than I anticipated with a few well-done bird attacks and some intrigue as the various accounts are looked into. Unfortunately, it goes south afterward with long-winded scenes of people trying to avoid birds or doing random things while we wait for birds to attack, all of this set to some really lame music. There's an okay climax set on a train, but instead of having it end the film, they follow it up with a different set of characters escaping from an attacked birthday party. This escape seems like it'll never end and produces no suspense whatsoever. Michelle Johnson is really slumming it here as the reporter. Also, the vacationing family is hilarious, especially the dad.

October 8th

24: Whiskey Mountain (1977) [Youtube] - while searching for a buried cache of old civil war weapons around the titular mountain, two married couples encounter pot-growing hicks who don't take kindly to their territory being encroached upon. For a hicksploitation film, this one's relatively tame. The first 50 or so minutes are mainly spent with the four principle characters making their way through the wilderness, the occasional minor act of sabotage popping up here and there. We do get a rape scene that's rather innovatively conveyed solely via photographs. The cast does a decent job, and it's always great to see cult icons, Christopher George and Roberta Collins, on screen, the latter looking as ravishing as ever. Of the three William Grefe titles I've seen (the others being Death Curse of Tartu and the atrocious Sting of Death), this is the best, though it's nothing special.

25: Frankenstein Created Woman (1967) [DVR recording/TCM] - the only Hammer Frankenstein I had yet to see, this one involves the Baron taking the soul of an executed man and putting it in the body of a suicidal girl. A solid entry in the series, though Frankenstein's screen time seems to be more limited than usual. When he does appear, Cushing commands the screen as usual, though the real star of this one is the lovely Susan Denberg as the Baron's latest experiment. We also have some truly detestable villains here, and it's fun seeing these smarmy rich kids get what's coming to them.

October 9th

26: Shakma (1990) [Netflix streaming] - since I used my killer ape pick for the true story theme, I decided to give this one a go. I'd been meaning to check it out since it popped up on Netflix, so convenient timing. It was nice seeing Amanda Wyss in a horror film again, and Roddy McDowell's presence is always welcome. That said, In the Shadow of Kilimanjaro is definitely the superior killer baboon film.

27: Demon Wind (1990) [Youtube] - I was always drawn to the memorable lenticular VHS cover when I saw this at the rental store, but I never got around to actually renting it for some reason. Same thing happened with The Dead Pit, though when I finally checked that one out on DVD, it was a stinker. Fortunately, this was far better. A mixture of Evil Dead and Demons about a group of kids encountering demonic forces at a cabin, this was a blast to watch. It's got it's share of cheesy moments, so I'd rank it more on the level of a Night of the Demons, though I enjoyed this more than I did the first movie in that series.

October 10th

28: The Ghost Dance (1980) [VHS] - after the remains of a sadistic Indian shaman named Nahalla are taken to a nearby museum, Nalhalla's spirit possesses a thief and begins a killing spree. Horror films which center on Native American themes are often among my favorites to watch. Hell, many of the old Indian legends are basically horror stories in and of themselves, ones that are actually frightening. Combining such elements with a slasher was a novel idea. The film is well-made, one or two jarring scene transitions not withstanding. The VHS transfer is beat up, but you can tell that it's an exceptionally filmed picture. There are some striking visuals too, especially the one in which Nahalla stands in front of a stuffed eagle, his back looking like it has sprouted wings. Not only the most memorable shot of the film, but a thematically rich one as well.

29: The Shadow of Chikara (1977) [VHS] - having just been on the losing end of the Civil War, Wishbone Cutter decides to go after the diamonds his friend hid on a sacred mountain that the Indians supposedly fear. An intriguing mixture of western and horror archetypes, this was directed by Earl E. Smith, the man who served as writer on The Town that Dreaded Sundown and The Legend of Boggy Creek. Once we get past all the battlefield stuff, the film really gets going and develops an eerie vibe relatively quickly. The film is sort of stopped dead in it's tracks midway through when we're introduced to some bushwhackers, but this segment doesn't last too long. One scene late in the film has caused a bit of controversy, as a few horses fall over a cliff. I'm not sure how they did it, but it certainly seems realistic. While I saw the ending coming, it's still effectively creepy in it's execution.

30: Eyes of Fire (1983) [VHS] - filmed in the wilds of Missouri, Avery Crounse's offbeat gem is one of the most beautifully photographed horror films of the 80's. The dense woodlands are naturally pleasing to the eye, but they become something else entirely when seen through the stunning direction of Crounse. He makes sure that, while lovely in appearance, these woods are deeply foreboding. Brad Fiedel's score adds to the unease of the situation and gives off an otherworldly vibe to match. In spite of a low budget, the period setting feels authentic. It was a fascinating period, the colonial era, and I feel that more horror films should be set in and around that time. I don't think there is anything more terrifying than the unknown, so what better time than the days of the unknown to tell a story of this nature?

October 11th

31: Wacko (1982) [Youtube] - Greydon Clark's Without Warning is one of my favorite obscure horror films, so I was delighted to see his attempt at the ever popular horror spoof on Youtube. I wasn't disappointed, as this is one of the funniest spoofs I've seen. I'll have to double-bill it with Student Bodies in the future.

32: Highway to Hell (1991) [VHS] - when his fiancee is kidnapped and taken to Hell, a guy, along with his dog, heads out to save her. A long-time favorite of mine, this is a charming and imaginative horror comedy that never gets old. I love the bizarro vision of Hell here, and it's always a big plus seeing Pamela Gidley and Kristy Swanson in a movie. Lots of cameos from random comedians, too.

October 12th

33: The Last Exorcism Part II (2013) [DVD/Redbox] - I loved The Last Exorcism, but I didn't feel that it needed a sequel. That said, I decided to give this a chance. For the first half of the film, it remains interesting through it's subtlety. Nowhere near as interesting as the first film, but interesting all the same. Unfortunately, after Nell meets with a woman who claims she can rid her of her problems, things go south in a hurry. Also, what an awful ending with bad special effects to boot. Definitely a case of less is more.

34: Curse of Chucky (2013) [DVD/Redbox] - I've never been a huge fan of the Child's Play series. I like the first, hate the second, enjoy 3 and Bride well enough despite their flaws and never bothered with Seed, which looked horrible from the previews. That said, after hearing that this one was going back to it's horror roots, I was intrigued. After watching it, I have to say it's tied with 3 as the best since the original. To my surprise, they actually succeeded in making Chucky creepy. A lot of that has to do with his look this time around, particularly his eyes, which look pretty freaky. It was also a plus to keep him quiet until well into the film. Once he starts talking again, he's back to being typical Chucky. Really enjoyed Fiona Dourif's performance and the throwback to the big old house horror of days past.

35: Headhunter (1989) [VHS] - an African demon is decapitating people in Miami. Lovely Kay Lenz and her irritating partner investigate. This is your typical monster/killer on the loose story, but that doesn't mean it's not enjoyable. We get some pretty cool scenes here, particularly ones where the demon imitates people to get close to his victims. The climactic fight is a bit over-the-top and not all that satisfying. What is satisfying, however, is seeing Kay Lenz in another horror film. She stars in my favorite made for TV horror, The Initiation of Sarah, and it's always a huge plus to see her in more genre titles.

36: Dark Age (1987) [VHS] - for my money, the best of the killer crocodile/alligator sub-genre. A giant croc is eating people in Australia. Ranger Steve and his delightful girlfriend try to track down the creature, which happens to be sacred to the Aborigine people. Not your typical killer croc flick, this one has a bit more meat on it's bones with it's look into Aborigine culture and a message about nature conservation. John Jarratt and Nikki Coghill are likable leads, and there's a group of poachers who you really hope to see eaten. The Australian scenery is naturally gorgeous, and we also get some nice croc attacks, including one where the giant reptile eats a small child.

October 13th

37: Death Doll (1989) [Youtube] - after a fortune telling machine predicts a bad future for a young couple, the husband dies in a fire. Following this, the wife, very much pregnant, begins receiving odd phone calls and has her house broken into, a mysterious doll left as a calling card. After a mistaken identity murder, she realizes her life is in danger. This movie manages to pull off a surprisingly uneasy mood early on, as we don't know who is tormenting the lead or why. There's a pretty suspenseful scene where the unknown assailant breaks into a house she's staying in and she tries to sneak out without being noticed. However, once a certain character shows up midway through the film, it's all too obvious that they're the killer, and the mood dissipates. The motive is also a disappointment, and the ending drags on for too long.

October 14th

38: Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) [Blu-ray] - I've always preferred this to the first one. The mutant gremlins, the high-rise setting and the satirical vibe are all welcome components. Zach Galligan is still annoying, and he always will be.

October 15th

39: The Curse (1987) [DVD] - I love the Curse series. Sure, all four films are completely unrelated, but who cares? This one is based on Lovecraft's The Colour Out of Space. A nasty film with a bleak atmosphere and a real asshole performance from Claude Akins. It'd be nice to get a properly framed Blu-ray.

40: Deadly Blessing (1981) [Arrow Blu-ray] - aside from The Hills Have Eyes, this is my favorite Craven film. It's thematically interesting in it's juxtaposition of a strict, patriarchal culture with individuals who hold more modern values. Fertile ground for Craven given his stern religious upbringing. While the movie adheres more closely to the slasher formula, the setting and the implications of the supernatural both help to distinguish it. The entire picture is shrouded in an eerie atmosphere from the get-go. The country setting is beautiful, yet strangely menacing in the confines of the film. We also are treated to a few unnerving sequences, the snake in the bathtub and the spider dream sequence in particular. There's also a lengthy set-piece which takes place in the barn, exceptionally well-done. Maren Jenson brings a grounded quality to her role. It's a pity she didn't do anymore films, TV or anything after this.

October 16th

41: Iced (1988) [Youtube] - a group of skiers get together at a mountain resort years after one of their acquaintances died in a ski accident. Soon, they're being targeted by someone with murderous intentions. I'm a big slasher fan, but I didn't think too highly of this one. I figured now was a good time to give it another chance, but it just reinforced my initial opinion. The main reason I dislike this one is because of the characters. This has to be the most unlikable group of people I've ever encountered in a slasher. More fun to see them slaughtered, sure, but we have to spend a ton of time with them before the killings start. Plus, the two most despicable of the bunch wind up surviving! I did like the killer's reveal scene, even if his identity was obvious. The ending doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

42: Dear Dead Delilah (1972) [Youtube] - figured I'd follow that lousy slasher up with one of my favorites, this great southern fried obscurity. Matriarch Delilah tells her dysfunctional family that there is $50,000 hidden on her estate, and whoever finds it gets to keep it all to themselves. As they search, someone begins picking them off one by one. Could it be Luddy, the former mental patient who now works as Delilah's maid? The plot is nothing original, but this film is full of unique characters, snippy dialogue and superb performances. The first half is talky, but it's never dull, as the characters are so well-drawn. Once the murders kick in, the film doesn't let up. There are some memorable demises, including a gruesome decapitation and a bloody shotgun blast to the face. The tone is like a southern soap opera crossed with a slasher. I wish the VHS went for cheaper, but hopefully it'll get a nice disc release one of these days.

43: The Devonsville Terror (1983) [DVD] - 300 years ago, three women suspected of being witches were executed in the small township of Devonsville. In the present day, the citizens are still fearful of a curse supposedly placed on the town as a result of the executions. When a local merchant murders his wife, the curse is seemingly reactivated with three young women arriving in town shortly afterward. Are they the witches reincarnated? Ulli Lommel's best film by far. The autumnal town atmosphere is so thick that it makes for perfect Halloween viewing. We also get a terrific score and an interesting story. Witch tales are among my favorite genre material, and this one puts some unique characters front and center in the form of the Devonsville residents. We also get Donald Pleasance as a doctor suffering from a family curse. As the female lead, Suzanna Love is relatively stiff, though her character is meant to be a bit of an enigma anyway. The climax, complete with exploding and melting heads, is definitely the highlight of the picture.

44: Burned at the Stake (1981) [Youtube] - in 1692, Ann Putnam causes a frenzy with her baseless claims that many women around Salem are witches. Moving to the present, Loreen begins suffering from strange visions and signs of possession. It seems she may be Ann reincarnated. Bert I. Gordon is better known for his giant monster movies, but it's this understated affair that makes for his best work. It's a unique take on a fascinating historical subject, and, while clearly low budget, it's ambition shines through. The acting is all around solid, but the picture is carried by the lovely Susan Swift, who stars in dual roles as both Ann and Loreen. She's terrific as both, especially the manipulated Ann, and you really feel her empathy and need for redemption at the end. My only complaint about the film is that one key nighttime scene is too dark to really make out what's going on. The VHS isn't easy to come by, which makes me regret not being able to get my old video store's copy when they shut down.

October 17th

45: When a Stranger Calls Back (1993) [Youtube] - I'm not a fan of the original When a Stanger Calls. I find it dull and meandering. Even the much lauded opening is nothing special, paling in comparison to the truly chilling Black Christmas. So, it took me a while to get around to the sequel, which I wanted to give a shot since Jill Schoelen is number one on my list of favorite scream queens. I'm glad I did, as this is a definite improvement. This time around, we get an opening that is actually pretty unsettling. Director Fred Walton also doesn't make the same mistake with the psycho in this one, instead keeping him mysterious and creepier as a result. Schoelen is great, no surprise there, but the returns of Carol Kane and Charles Durning seem awkward from a plausibility standpoint.

46: I Saw What You Did (1988) [Youtube] - a made for TV remake of one of William Castle's weaker efforts. I originally saw a re-airing of this on some TV station and found it to be quite enjoyable. It still holds up as a fun little flick, due in large part to a solid cast, which includes Shawnee Smith, Wishmaster's Tammy Lauren and Robert Carradine as the weirdo they call up. Interestingly, this was also directed by Fred Walton.

47: Nightwing (1979) [DVR recording/Sony HD] - I searched for this on YouTube a few weeks back, as I wanted to watch it for the Native American theme. I came up empty, but was pleasantly surprised to see it airing on Sony HD a few days later. I found it to be better than it gets credit for with it's blend of bat attacks and Indian mysticism, as well as it's look into life on reservations. The first attack scene winds up being pretty cheesy, but the majority of the film maintains a serious tone that works. Beautiful location photography and a nice Henry Mancini score are bonuses. David Warner is another plus, and it was interesting to see Stephen Macht here. I never would've guessed this was the same guy who played the wicked foreman in Graveyard Shift. Would make a good double-feature with Frankenheimer's Prophecy, which tackles similar themes. Both films even have supporting roles for two The Thing alumni in common.

October 18th

48: Mary, Mary, Bloody Mary (1975) [VHS] - recommending this in the main thread put me in the mood to revisit it myself. An intelligent take on vampirism that predates the similar Martin, but doesn't get as much attention despite being just as good, if not better. Cristina Ferrare is memorable (and gorgeous) as Mary, the woman tortured by an inescapable thirst for blood. The pacing is suspenseful, and the story goes in some very interesting and unexpected directions. A seasoned horror vet pops up in a key role, but it's best left unspoiled for those wanting to see the film.

October 19th

49: Psycho From Texas (1975) [VHS] - Wheeler is a nutcase hired to kidnap a retired oil man and hold him for ransom. He and his accomplice successfully grab their target, but rather than stick around, Wheeler can't resist heading out to cause more trouble. This is a wild obscurity that's always a blast to revisit. Wheeler is a sleazy screw-up who goes around tormenting people, including a young Linnea Quigley in her screen debut. He even gets his own theme song. This thing is full of crazy situations, over the top acting (the kid playing Wheeler in a flashback takes the cake) and grindhouse flavor. It also contains what may be the longest foot chase in film.

50: Winterbeast (1991) [DVD] - oddball movie revolving around an Indian gateway to Hell, which a few park rangers investigate. This is a low budget labor of love in the same vein as Equinox. With a variety of weird stop-motion creatures on display and the bizarre story arc involving the owner of the Wild Goose Lodge, it's all over the map. But hey, in this movie's case, that's actually part of it's charm. The myriad of creatures we get to see, the ridiculous acting and the strange atmosphere all add up to a cheesy good time. If you liked Equinox, you'd probably like this.

51: The Jar (1984) [YouTube] - peculiar curiosity about a loner who comes into possession of a jar containing some kind of demon, which proceeds to drive him mad. This is a slow-going oddity that can best be described as inaccessible. The story, or lack thereof, centers around deranged hallucinations. While interesting to see, that's really all there is, as the film offers no reasoning or cohesive narrative. Definitely a strange movie, but not very good.

52: The Serpent Warriors (1985) [YouTube] - I watched the insane Calamity of Snakes about a month before the challenge and thought it would have been perfect for tonight's theme. Fortunately, there's this thing, which combines some of that film's crazier moments with an unfinished American picture to create a really nutty mixture. The American portion consists of Clint Walker infiltrating a snake cult, which, for some reason, has a bunch of bikers among it's membership. All of this is pretty ridiculous and lame, blown away by the portions shown from COS, which are used in this version to show a man cursed by the cult, and thus being plagued by snakes. You'd be better off just watching COS, but this is interesting just to see how they take two preexisting works and meld them to create a different story.

October 20th

53: The Vampire (1957) [DVR recording/TCM] - not to be confused with the Mexican film from the same year, El Vampiro, this is a quickie about a small town doctor who accidentally takes pills which transform him into a vampire. John Beal is good as the tortured lead, and James Griffith steals the show in his all too brief part as Henry. I think the ending would have been better without the final chase sequence, as you know what's coming. If it had ended in the doctor's office, it would have been more satisfying on a character level. An okay time-waster.

54: Last Rites (1980) [YouTube] - the higher-ups in a rural town, including the owner of the local mortuary, are vampires who cover up their bloodsucking activities. Unfortunately, this terrific premise is squandered by poor execution. The vamps continuously make dumb decisions that come back to bite them, there's no consistency to vampire lore when it comes to certain death scenes and we get long shots of people driving to pad out the running time. It does have it's moments, like what befalls a girl who was in a drag racing accident, but a disappointment overall.

55: Grave of the Vampire (1972) [DVD] - offbeat vampire film starring Michael Pataki as Caleb Croft, a bloodsucker who teaches night classes on the occult. William Smith plays his son, the half human, half vampire product of rape who seeks to destroy his father. While the film isn't very bloody, the acts of violence committed by Croft come off as pretty vicious. Pataki plays him as a truly despicable sort. As the son, Smith reminded me more of a bump on a log than anything. I suppose that's just the part, that of a secluded outsider with no world experience. There's a fight toward the end that is surprisingly well-done, and there are a few interesting tidbits, like one of Croft's students who longs to be a vampire.

October 21st

56: The Medusa Touch (1978) [Blu-ray] - Richard Burton stars as Morlar, a man with the ability to cause disasters simply by thinking one up. This splendid slow-burner boasts strong performances, good effects and a lead character who can be seen as a sort of antihero with his well-warranted cynicism. There's also a nice touch of pathos with Morlar wondering if perhaps he's caused most of the world's disasters over the years of his life. In what is perhaps the film's most memorable scene, he causes a spectacular plane crash, a scene even more effective in light of today's sensibilities. Haunting ending, too.

57: Abby (1974) [YouTube] - William Girdler's wacky blaxploitaion take on The Exorcist. In typical Girdler fashion, this is cheaply made, but very entertaining. Carol Speed is quite over the top as the possessed titular character. Her antics are pretty amusing, as is her demonic voice, spouting out typical blaxploitation style insults. Blacula himself, William Marshall, stars as the man who must exorcise the demon. The exorcism itself is rather underwhelming. I have to wonder why Warner sued over this picture, but left alone several far more blatant Exorcist ripoffs.

58: Jennifer (1978) [VHS] - Lisa Pelikan gives a great performance as Jennifer, a social outcast with the ability to psychically summon snakes. When disturbed Sandra and her friends target Jennifer, they may push her too far. Another surprisingly strong cash-in on Carrie. I'm a big fan of the De Palma film, but I actually prefer both The Initiation of Sarah and Jennifer overall. Throw in the underrated The Rage: Carrie 2, and you have one hell of a quadruple feature. Pelikan is very sympathetic in her portrayal here. She's a nice, caring person targeted by a sociopath simply because she comes from humble roots. The film is so good thanks to Pelikan's performance, as she really sells the character. The only disappointment is that I think Sandra gets off too easy in the end.

59: The House of Seven Corpses (1974) [DVR recording/TCM] - a horror film is being shot in the infamous Beal house. After finding the Tibetan Book of the Dead, the director decides to use some of the passages in his film, leading to disastrous results. It doesn't seem that many people care for this title, but I found it pleasantly enticing. It really takes it's time in getting to the horror, but I really enjoyed seeing the inner workings of the picture that the characters were shooting. That, combined with the atmosphere of the old house and John Ireland's tyrannical performance as the director, made sure I was never bored. In fact, I think I enjoyed that portion of the film more than what comes after.

October 22nd

60: Shock 'Em Dead (1991) [VHS] - riotous flick about Martin, a nerdy loser who makes a deal with a voodoo priestess to become a famous rock star. The catch? He has to feed on the lifeforce of others to live. Easily the most entertaining of all the hard rock horror movies I've seen, this is a tongue-in-cheek delight. Traci Lords stars as a band manager that Martin lusts for. A nonsensical good time.

61: Death Spa (1989) [YouTube] - a jerk's health spa is haunted by the vengeful ghost of his former wife. I expected this to be better than it was. It feels more like a series of random set-pieces thrown together rather than a complete film. It just comes off as sloppy in execution. The lead character is pretty unlikable, so I was rooting for the ghost, played with charismatic glee by the always reliable Shari Shattuck. Ken Foree has a small role and there are some decent death scenes, but stick with the wild Killer Workout if you want a spa horror flick.

October 23rd

62: The Hills Have Eyes (1977) [DVD] - still Wes Craven's best film all these years later, and a great example of budget horror film-making. It's just an overall gem of a film with unique villains, a terrific setting and a nice dose of commentary on human nature. As a dog lover, I appreciate the German shepard being portrayed as the real hero of the picture. This is also the film that led to my crush on Dee Wallace Stone back in the day. Aja's lousy remake doesn't come close to matching the original's quality.

63: Lord of Illusions (1995) [DVD] - from Craven's best film to Barker's best. I love the slowly unraveling mystery approach and the dreamy L.A. photography, not to mention the glimpse into the world of illusionists and magic. With it's mixture of various elements, it really comes off as a horror noir. Scott Bakula is solid as the weary D'Amour, but the real standout among the cast is Daniel Von Bargen as the sinister Nix. He is perfect in the role, bringing to life what I feel is one of the most memorable villains in all of horror. The cult element in the film also adds a disturbing touch. Some of the special effects look dated, but the imagination in storytelling is nothing short of amazing. Overall, one of the most undervalued horror films out there.

64: Society (1989) [DVD] - this was Brian Yuzna's first film as director, and it's still his masterpiece. It works as both a joke on the rich and an allegory about their tendency to leech off of the have-nots. Even though it's pretty clear right from the start that things aren't what they seem, there's a great sense of paranoia here. You wouldn't expect a former Baywatch star to be an alienated sort, but in the context of the film, it works. The climactic scene are really something to behold. Quite perverse, and the effects by Screaming Mad George are spectacular. I also can't go without mentioning the sinister reworking of the "Eton Boat Song" which plays over the opening credits.

October 24th

65: Fatal Games (1984) [VHS] - aspiring Olympians at the Falcon Academy of Athletics begin falling victim to a javelin-toting killer. I love this crazy slasher, one of the oddest and most entertaining you're going to come across. The javelin kills are repetitive, but there's so much going on that the lack of creative demises doesn't matter. The situations, subplots and characters maintain my interest every time. I also love the music that pops up whenever the killer is about to attack and all the red herrings. When I first saw this, I correctly guessed the killer's identity, but the way out there motive was a total surprise. If you're looking for an all-around fun time, Fatal Games takes the trophy. I mean, where else are you going to see someone break out scuba gear to javelin someone in a swimming pool? Also, in the vein of "Fall Break" from The Mutilator, it has an awesome theme song.

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66: Mirage (1990) [DVD-R] - teens camping in the desert are stalked by someone in a mysterious black truck. This unconventional slasher from the director of Blacula is very hard to come by. In fact, out of all the VHS tapes I've searched for, it's the only one I've never found anywhere, leading to me ordering a DVD-R copy. For such a cheaply produced affair, the cinematography is noticeably great. The film takes place almost entirely in the day, but still manages to really have a foreboding atmosphere with it's desert setting and one loopy, surreal bit after another. That desolate beige that runs on for miles only helps to reinforce the emptiness and ill-fate that's to beset the characters. The killer and his methods are quite different, and the film actually manages a haunting vibe throughout. Special mention to the terrific nightmare sequence midway through.

67: Ghost Story (1980) [DVR recording/Encore Suspense] - four elderly men are haunted by a ghost from their past. I rented this many years ago, but had to stop the tape shortly after one character's fall from a high-rise window and didn't get to finish it before returning it to the video store. I'm surprised it took me this long to get back to it, but better late than never. Based on Peter Straub's lengthy novel, this is a very trimmed down adaptation. It has an interesting cast of vets, but it's Alice Krige who owns the screen as the evil entity come back to haunt them. You just know there's something not right with her the moment she appears, and the feeling only intensifies from there. Now, there are hints to her true nature in the film, but they're so subtle that some viewers may not pick up on them. The book goes into more detail about what she truly is. Frankly, as an overall adaptation, this has to be chalked up as a disappointment. It's decent enough as a standalone, albeit a bit dry and with a weak climax. Dick Smith's wonderful effects are underused.

68: Keep My Grave Open (1976) [YouTube] - Texas filmmaker S.F. Brownrigg directed this combination of character study and slasher horror. With this viewing, I only have one Brownrigg title left to see, Scum of the Earth. The lovely Camilla Carr stars as an icy, aloof woman who lives with her recluse brother, Kevin, in a rural farmhouse. Or does she? Meanwhile, someone brandishing a sword is offing anyone who comes near the house. This is a low key affair that takes it's time building atmosphere and giving us a look inside the lead character's mind. It's definitely a one woman show, and Carr is up to the task. The outcome really isn't a mystery, but I really appreciated the film's minimalist approach and Carr's performance. That said, the ending is a bit dumbfounding.

October 25th

69: Next of Kin (1982) [VHS] - after her mother's death, Linda inherits the retirement home she ran. Once there, reading through her mother's diary sets off a series of unsettling memories. Bizarre occurrences begin taking place as well, almost as if someone were toying with her. I've seen this Aussie gem referred to as a slasher film on more than one occasion, though I wouldn't necessarily call it such. It's more of a slow-burning mood piece, one that's quite ambiguous at times. It's also effectively creepy, one of my favorite scenes involving a figure watching the heroine just out of her eye range as she roams the woods in search of her boyfriend. Said boyfriend is played by John Jarratt, a mainstay in Australian horror. Naturally, the filming locations are gorgeous and the cinematography does a fine job of catching them in all of their glory. The film is complimented by a unique score and some stylish sequences, such as one terrific slow motion bit where Linda is rushing down a flight of stairs. The ending gets really wild, leaving the film's more subdued nature behind for an extravagant finale. All said and done, this is one of Australia's finest contributions to the genre.

70: Nightkill (1980) [YouTube] - a woman's lover poisons her domineering husband. She agrees to help him cover up the crime, but it isn't long before the lover disappears and weird things start happening. Is her husband still alive? Jaclyn Smith stars in this overlooked gem as a woman who finds herself in way over her head. Mike Connors makes the most of his short screen time as her husband, and Tenebre's Anthony Franciscus plays the lover. Robert Mitchum shows up as a detective investigating the disappearances. Despite not feeling very sorry for the main character, I found this to be a pretty suspenseful film. It centers around an engrossing mystery, and it kept me guessing for a while. Eventually, the identity of the culprit becomes rather clear, but the actual reveal makes for a strong moment. The film ends on a bleak note.

71: Knife of Ice (1972) [DVD] - my favorite Umberto Lenzi film, this unusual giallo stars Carroll Baker as Martha, an emotionally scarred woman who lost her ability to speak when she witnessed the death of her parents. Years later, her sister Jenny is in town for a visit, but the visit is cut short when she winds up murdered. Compared to some of the gialli out there, this is a slower, more subdued affair, but that's certainly not a slight against it. The pacing works beautifully, allowing the mystery a gradual build and letting the viewer take in the lush atmosphere of the countryside town. Baker is solid in her part, doing a good job of getting across her emotions based on physical acting alone. Evelyn Stewart appears all too briefly as the doomed sister. As usual, there are red herrings galore, including a devil worshiping druggie. The ending is one of the more interesting in the giallo canon.

72: Innocent Blood (1992) [DVR recording/Cinemax] - a rather embarrassing mixture of mobsters and vampires from John Landis. A female vampire bites a mob boss, but is interrupted before she can make sure he doesn't come back as a vampire himself. As the mob boss, Robert Loggia is the best thing about this movie. He's clearly having a ball playing the part, and he's a lot of fun to watch. Unfortunately, everything else is pretty uninteresting. The stuff with Loggia aside, the attempts at comedy here are usually embarrassing and don't come close to matching the charm of An American Werewolf in London. Also lame is how easy it is to kill the vamps, so when Loggia is building his own army, they're decimated in no time. Potential wasted.

73: Endangered Species (1982) [VHS] - eerie horror/sci-fi/mystery about cattle mutilations and other strange occurrences in a Colorado community. Alan Rudolph directed this under the radar favorite, easily his best, most intriguing film. It delves into potential government conspiracies, satanism and U.F.O.s, all big areas of interest to me. What's actually going on, as it turns out, is quite disturbing, mainly due to how close to reality it is. The film has a deadly serious tone that suits the material perfectly. There's one particularly gruesome death scene midway through, and a cow carcass flying through the air on some sort of suction valve proves to be an image that sticks with you. I still have my big box VHS and intend to keep it, but I'd love to see this on Blu-ray.

October 26th

74: Child's Play 3 (1991) [Blu-ray] - after the original, this has always been my favorite of the series (tied with Curse now that I've seen it). I fail to see why it garners so much hate while the awful second film gets such praise. Chucky has more of a mean-streak in this one, and I enjoy the military school setting. The factory climax was the only good part of the prior entry, but 3's climax in the carnival funhouse bests it and leads to Chucky's most memorable demise. Also, I had such a crush on Perrey Reeves in this movie, and revisiting it, I still do.

75: House IV (1992) [YouTube] - wacky fourth entry in the series has William Katt returning as his character from the original. After his death, his new family moves into the old house he grew up in, which turns out to be haunted. This is a fun little flick with some memorable scenes such as a talking pizza and a bit where the house makes two thugs see each other as what they most fear. About midway through, things take a ridiculously silly turn when Katt's stepbrother visits a toxic waste dump run by some way over the top characters. That said, it's an enjoyable slice of fluff overall, and the most likable entry in the series after the first.

76: The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999) [DVD] - I ignored this sequel for a long time, as I expected it to be a total bomb. I finally wound up watching it on Encore Suspense one evening, and I was most pleasantly surprised to see that it's actually a terrific little film. I kicked myself for avoiding it and got the DVD. Emily Bergl is solid as a girl who discovers her telekinetic abilities following a friend's suicide. She winds up unleashing it on the sleazy scum responsible. Amy Irving returns to her role from the original, though she doesn't have much to do. That said, the tragic love story at the heart of the film works and it's great seeing the lowlifes get their due comeuppances. Special mention to Walter, the sweet basset hound.

77: Piranha (1995) [YouTube] - remake of the Joe Dante classic is one of those that sticks very close to the original. It lacks the charm of Dante's film, but it's enjoyable enough in it's own right despite the familiarity, and it's certainly better than all those SyFy Channel creature features. William Katt's in this one too.

78: Carnosaur 2 (1995) [DVD] - in name only sequel that's basically the Aliens formula with dinosaurs. That said, what a fun little monster flick this is! Don't expect anything new, as it sticks to the formula, even including a dino-related helicopter crash and a climactic machine fight with a big T-Rex ala the Alien Queen battle. Total low-budget entertainment through and through. Thumbs down to offing the lovely Arabella Holzbog so soon though.

79: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006) [DVR recording/IFC] - to say I didn't care for the 2003 remake would be an understatement, which is why I'm just now seeing this prequel due to a TV showing. This is admittedly a better effort, but it's still nothing special. Plus, due to it being a prequel, we know none of the villains are going to die and that the main characters are likely all doomed. I did like the ending with the cop and the guy he pulled over getting an unpleasant surprise, best part of the movie.

October 27th

80: Meatcleaver Massacre (1977) [YouTube] - a college professor who teaches classes on the occult is targeted by one of his students, a sociopath who, along with his loser friends, kills off the professor's family and puts him in a coma. However, the coma doesn't keep the professor from summoning a demon to seek revenge. This dark little picture (both thematically and technically) is on the sloppy side. The demon itself is mostly invisible due to the budget, but I think this enhances the attack scenes, especially considering how lame the demon looks once you get a look at it toward the end. Unfortunately, everything aside from the revenge sequences is pretty dull and amateurish. Christopher Lee provides opening and closing narration that has nothing to do with the actual film and was used for this title without his knowledge.

81: The House on Straw Hill (1976) [Blu-ray] - I'd always wanted to see this one, mainly because of the sultry Linda Hayden. Fortunately, the film itself is very much worth seeing for reasons beyond just her presence. It's an effective blending of psychological horror and exploitation with an atmospheric build-up, great location shooting and Linda delivering an impressive performance. It's a bit on the predictable side, but it remains compelling due to the aforementioned qualities. A video nasty, though not one of the more graphic ones.

82: Escapes (1986) [YouTube] - low-grade anthology with Vincent Price introducing each story via a mysteriously delivered videotape. The segments and movie itself are pretty short and painless, but there's nothing special here at all. I'm surprised they managed to get Price for such an obviously cheap production.

83: Edge of the Axe (1988) [VHS] - a rural community is plagued by a series of brutal axe murders. This slasher opens with a woman being slaughtered while going through a car wash. It's a solid scene that immediately gets you hooked. The film can be a bit of a mess as far as tone goes, bouncing all over the place at times. It does even out eventually. Upon my initial viewing, the sheriff struck me as an asshole who was so preoccupied with ignoring the obvious that I wouldn't have been surprised had he turned out to be the killer. That said, I was able to correctly guess the killer's identity about midway through. I was also hoping this person would be the killer, as I thought it would be the best course the film could take, so I wasn't disappointed. The killings are mainly people being chopped with an axe. As a dog-lover, one scene involving a dog gets under my skin. Absolutely love the ending and the final shot. From José Ramón Larraz, the man who gave us Vampyres and the awful Rest in Pieces.

84: The Evictors (1979) [VHS] - a couple moves into a new house, but they are soon menaced by a prowler who keeps showing up. Charles B. Pierce, the man behind The Town that Dreaded Sundown and The Legend of Boggy Creek, directed this outstanding mood piece. Jessica Harper and Michael Parks play the married couple, and both are superb. Vic Morrow is the real estate agent who sales them the house. He's fine, though his role isn't the largest despite his top billing. The slow-burning pace works brilliantly here. The 40's atmosphere and impact of World War II are also well-realized. Some effective sepia-toned flashbacks further the mood, as do the hushed nature of the townspeople in regard to the house's history and the lovely scope photography. Pierce's best film.

85: The Wolf Man (1941) [Blu-ray] - not my favorite werewolf film or my favorite of the Universal monster pictures, but definitely one of the best of both. Lon Chaney, Jr. is great as the tortured Larry Talbot. Evelyn Ankers is also incredibly charming as his love interest, a real compliment since women from the period generally don't suit my fancy. The make-up is rather crude, but it works well enough. Love the foggy atmosphere. Only disappointment is a too abrupt ending.

October 28th

86: Stones of Death (1989) [YouTube] - people living on a development built over a sacred Aborigine burial ground begin falling prey to a curse involving the Kadaicha, stones that mark for death anyone who receives one. This is sort of a supernatural slasher flick from down under with various animals used to off the unsuspecting teens of the development. The death scenes are interesting, particularly for their animal element, and there are some effective nightmare sequences. This is yet another Aussie horror film that takes a look at Aboriginal culture, and it makes for some unique viewing. Not a perfect film, but I'm a sucker for Australian horror.

87: The Outing (1987) [VHS] - long-time favorite of mine with a museum curator's daughter unwillingly unleashing an evil djinn. This is such a fun movie with the added bonus of being shot in my home state of Texas. Indeed, I actually met the lead girl, Andra St. Ivanyi, several years back and asked her about starring in this. I've always loved the novelty of having a djinn as a horror villain, and the museum setting is unique. Throw in some inventive kills and some fun special effects, and you've got one of the most entertaining horror flicks of the 80's. My VHS has surprisingly strong pic quality, so it'll do until a nice disc release comes along.

88: Wishmaster (1997) [DVD] - saw this in the theater on opening night in 1997 and thought it was an absolute joy. Like The Outing, this is an evil djinn picture. This one's more polished, but no less enjoyable. I love the cameos from various horror icons and creative ways in which people have their wishes turned on them.

89: Wishcraft (2002) [DVD] - the third in my little "careful what you wish for" triple feature. This one involves a teen who comes into possession of a totem that grants him three wishes. Meanwhile, a murderer is offing his classmates. I caught this on TV while randomly flicking through channels one day and found it surprisingly engrossing. It's certainly one of the better slasher films from the last two decades. There's a romance subplot that actually works too, thanks in large part to the charm and allure of lovely Alexandra Holden.

October 29th

90: Mosquito (1995) [VHS] - this low-budget creature feature is a video store favorite of mine. It boasts a fun cast of quirky characters, including Gunnar Hansen as an unlucky bank robber. The film also has a nice rural Michigan atmosphere and good giant mosquito effects. Way better than the awful Skeeter.

91: Zeder (1983) [DVD] - a typewriter is given to an author as a gift. He reads the ink ribbon and discovers that it reveals the locations of K-zones, places that supposedly lead to the resurrection of the dead if buried there. Pupi Avati is a very underrated filmmaker. None of his films get the recognition they deserve, be it The House with Laughing Windows, The Arcane Enchanter or this unsung gem. Some call it boring, but I absolutely disagree. The mystery, characters and atmosphere were more than enough to keep me intrigued throughout. It's a slow burn with a deeply ominous tone. There are some fascinating ideas thrown around, and the film is often times very creepy. I can't let the gorgeous Anne Canovas go unmentioned either. A very rewarding picture that only gets better with repeat viewings. As a side note, it's rather interesting to see the similarities between certain aspects of this film and Stephen King's later novel, Pet Sematary.

92: Sole Survivor (1983) [DVD] - a woman is the sole survivor of a plane crash, but along with the luck, she can't shake the more sinister feeling that something is off. What's more, she's continuously being watched by various people, none of whom appear to be very vibrant or full of life. This moody little chiller was directed by Thom Eberhardt, a man better known for the lighter Night of the Comet. While I enjoy that film, I feel that this one is more deserving of the spotlight. There's a cheesy romantic subplot, but for the most part, the film works quite well. It sets a somber tone from the get-go, the scenes of Denise being watched are suitably creepy and everything comes to a head in a clever climax. I was happy when this was finally released on DVD, though the transfer isn't as good as I'd hoped.

93: Return of the Family Man (1989) [YouTube] - an escaped serial killer returns to his childhood home just as a group of tourists are visiting it. This is a cheesy slasher from South Africa. It's one of those movies that pointlessly pretends it takes place in America despite the obvious accents. I don't know why they can't just let it take place in, you know, South Africa. It's an unremarkable affair with an okay kill or two and an absurd villain. I did like that one character who I thought for sure was a goner wound up surviving.

94: The Initiation (1984) [DVD] - a group of sorority pledges sneak into a mall overnight to pull off a prank that will get them initiated. Someone else is in there with them though, and it isn't long before bloodshed ensues. This is actually one of my favorite slashers, a large reason for that being the creepy atmosphere of the mall at night. It has multiple levels and is unlike any mall I've ever been to. We also get a few instances of characters catching a glimpse of the killer lurking about, something that I'm a sucker for. Getting that eerie look at something out of the corner of your eye, not sure if you really saw anything at all. Daphne Zuniga plays the lead, and I've always found her appealing even if she's far from the greatest actress. Vera Miles and Clu Gulager are also on hand to add some class to the proceedings. As for the kills, they're not the bloodiest, but they do their job. On my initial viewing, I didn't see the ending coming, though I've heard people say they did. There are some blatant clues.

95: Hide and Go Shriek (1987) [VHS] - teens spending the night in a furniture store of all places wind up being stalked by a psycho. One of the more out there slashers of the 80's, due in large part to the killer's identity and his insane motive. The furniture store setting is also odd, but it has a good, if overly dark atmosphere. I also like the fact that the victims in this one actually decide to band together and fight back as a group, but it loses a few points for allowing the least likable character to survive.

October 30th

96: The Sentinel (1977) [DVD] - one of my all-time favorites. A model rents an apartment, which she soon discovers is sitting upon the gateway to Hell. Based on the novel of the same name, The Sentinel is an underrated gem from director Michael Winner. It sports quite the cast, though it's the gorgeous Cristina Raines who shines the brightest. I really wish she had been in more films. The atmosphere of the New York brownstone is palpable, as it should be considering what it's on top of. The neighbors, who may or may not really be there, add a lot of flavor to the picture. Burgess Meredith is particularly memorable as the deceptively vile Charles Chasen. We also get a great uncomfortable moment with Beverly D'Angelo. This film has some truly effective imagery, from the carnival freaks to the shots of a roaming old man. Indeed, the scene where Cristina goes to investigate the strange noises in the apartment above her's makes for one of the creepiest sequences in film. Black and white cat, black and white cake!

97: The Hitcher (1986) [DVD] - Robert Harmon's masterwork about a demented hitchhiker and the kid he puts through hell is one of my top three favorite horror films. Rutger Hauer delivers his best performance as the mysterious John Ryder. He's so convincingly sadistic, yet he has a sense of underlying pathos. The bizarre relationship between he and C. Thomas Howell's unfortunate character makes for an intriguing aspect. The film boasts a terrific score that douses the proceedings with a sense of inescapable dread, a feeling only enhanced by the lonely vistas of the Texas desert. It's a haunting film with more layers than you'd think.

98: Prince of Darkness (1987) [DVD] - John Carpenter's masterpiece about a priest enlisting the help of a college professor and his students in preventing the coming of the Anti-God. I consider this to be Carpenter's crowning achievement. In fact, it's my favorite horror film aside from the original Black Christmas. Carpenter really struck gold with the script, as it's both intelligent and thought provoking. The film is slow burning, yet intensely unnerving. The overall mood, the creepy street people, the church itself and the eerie occurrences caused by the Anti-God's growing power all make for an unsettling watch. I also must make mention of the recurring dream projections via tachyons. A brilliant idea that adds an even deeper level to the film's frightening nature. The sense of hopeless isolation that Carpenter is able to convey despite the church being in L.A. is yet another impressive accomplishment in a film that never fails to impress. It's a rare case when I have not one bad thing to say about a movie, but this is one of those instances. It all works beautifully for me. The film's terrific church setting makes a brief appearance in the Dolph Lundgren/Brandon Lee flick, Showdown in Little Tokyo.

99: Voices (1973) [YouTube] -

100: Demon Warrior (1988) [VHS]

October 31st - Dawn November 1st

101: The Wild Beasts (1984) [YouTube]

102: Deadly Eyes (1983) [VHS]

103: Idle Hands (1999) [Blu-ray]

104: Night of the Scarecrow (1995) [Blu-ray]

105: Grave Encounters 2 (2012) [Netflix streaming]

106: Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) [Blu-ray]

107: The Blair Witch Project (1999) [Blu-ray]


Theme Nights - COMPLETED


Number of films watched - 107
First time viewings - 43

****LIST FINALIZED**** - mini-reviews will be finished before the weekend is out.

Undeadcow

1st = first time viewing
Tm = theme day item

September 30 (after dusk) [Criterion Crossover theme night]
1. Goke, Body Snatcher From Hell (1968) [DVD] 1st Tm 5/10 - great visuals but also a bit preachy.
2. The Living Skeleton (1968) [DVD] 1st Tm 3.5/10 - atmospheric but gets bogged down in having too many twists and excessive genre bending.
3. Cronos (1994) [Blu-Ray] Tm 8.5/10 - Cronos is a classic and watching it in high definition for the first time was a blast.

October 1 [1963, 1988 Anniversary theme day]
4. Wicked Lake (2008) [Blu-ray] 1st 4.5/10 - really tedious for the first half but the final part of it is fun, it's like a pro-feminist film directed by undersexed men.
5. Bad Dreams (1988) [DVD] 1st Tm 4/10 - a surreal film that falls apart in the last segments.
6. Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Meyers (1988) [Blu-ray] Tm 4.5/10 - what did they do to Michael Meyers?
7. Human Centipede II: Full Sequence (2011) [Online Streaming, Netflix] 1st 3/10 - a clever idea that seems to go nowhere and focuses more on gross outs at the cost of plot.
8. Happy Birthday To Me (1980) [Blu-ray] 1st - 7/10 a fun slasher movie with inventive kills and a great finale.
9. Black Sabbath [Italian Cut] (1963) [DVD] Tm 6/10 - a classic for many but I found the stories inconsistent with the second one being too content rich for the time.
10. The Possession (2012) [Blu-ray] 1st 7/10 - despite some familiar elements it's a lot of fun; like a modern jewish Amityville Horror with actual creepiness.

October 2 [Made For TV theme day]
11. Don't Go To Sleep (1982) [Online Streaming - YouTube] 1st Tm 5.5/10 - filmed like an unassuming family drama so much of the suspense focuses is on children that it almost parodys family friendly tv entertainment to a chilling effect with some gutsy twists.
12. Killer Tongue (1996) [DVD] 1st 2/10 - Even appreciating oddball humor, camp, and fantastic cinema I failed to understand Killer Tongue.
13. The Funhouse (with Joe Bob Briggs segments from YouTube)(1981) [Blu-ray] 1st 7.5/10 - the horror is slow going but it oozes carnival atmosphere and free spirited good times so much it's fun anyway and the suspense ratchets up when it needs to.
14. Hatchet (2007) [Blu-ray] 6.5/10 - I used to dislike Hatchet because it seemed to take forever to get started and bog down in flat "humor" but this time around really enjoyed it, great practical effects.
15. Hatchet II (2010) [Blu-ray] 1st 7/10 - Hatchet II felt a lot more targeted than the first with more action.
16. Hatchet III (2013) [Blu-ray] 1st 4/10 - the flat humor returns and it felt like they struggled with deciding on how to "end" the series, a lot felt like a rehash of part 2.
17. Devil Dog: Hound of Hell (1978) [Blu-ray] 1st Tm 3/10 - Kudos to them for making a satanic dog movie but the script was slow and a lot (too much) like those satanic kid movies.
18. Omen IV: The Awakening (1991) [DVD] 1st Tm 5.5/10 - The too familiar plot still carries a good bit of tension. After watching Devil Dog: Hound of Hell and Omen IV: The Awakening it's amazing to me how many Omen re-treads there are. I think I basically watched the same movie twice as I had seem before with The Omen (and it's remake).

October 3 [Aquatic theme day]
19. The Reef (2010) [Online Streaming, Netflix] 1st Tm 6/10 - The Reef was really atmospheric with great wave splashing sound effects and quality photography that gave me the sense of being stranded in an open sea, filmed with real sharks was a bonus too.
20. Island of the Fishmen (1979) [Digital download] 1st Tm 3.5/10 - Potentially cool but under-utilized fish creatures in a movie that draged a bit too much into mild adventure fantasy with fleeting interesting imagery.
21. Grace (2009) [Blu-ray] 1st 3/10 - a surreal potentially cool concept with slow execution but nice gore and queasy blood effects.
22. Room 237 (2012) [Online Streaming, Netflix] 1st 2/10 - stupid/random theories about a movie were enough to make my IQ drop 5 points.

October 4 [Body Horror theme day]
23. Society (1989) [Digital Download] 1st Tm 8.5/10 - really fun absurd social commentary with cool practical effects.
24. American Mary (2013) [Blu-ray] 1st Tm 5/10 - stylish with interesting visuals but seems too in-authentically "extreme" at times, fun in a pop culture type of way but feels overly serious for the content.
25. Hellboy: Sword of Storms (2006) [Blu-ray] 1st 5.5/10 - a fun movie to watch with the kids with some creative monsters that reminders me a little of the old Ghostbusters cartoon.

October 5 [Based on a True Story theme day]
26. Texas Chainsaw 3D [in 2d] (2013) [Blu-ray] 1st 6/10 - much better than I expected despite retconing the series, the leatherface character is diminished but it has good tension and takes ambitious steps with the series.
27. The Texas Chainsaw 2 (1986) [Blu-ray] 1st 5/10 - I liked the more slapstick approach making the family look more oddball and eccentric therefore more menacing but Bill Mosley was a bit too over the top. Clever homages to the original.
28. Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III [Uncut] (1990) [DVD] 1st 4/10 - duller and smaller scale with even less convincing oddity and elements that are becoming predictable but it keeps points for trying to keep with the mythos and some iconic swamp/trailer imagery.
29. A Haunting In Georgia [Made-For-TV Pilot/Movie] (2004) [DVD] Tm 4/10 - the A Haunting series is a guilty pleasure of mine but ...In Georgia features a story that feels too hoaky and isn't one of the stronger stories.
30. A Haunting In Conneticut[Made-For-TV Pilot/Movie] (2002) [DVD] Tm 5.5/10 - this scared me when I first saw it but it must not hold up as well on repeat viewings.
31. The Mummy (1932) [Blu-ray] 1st 8/10 - much different than I expected with more mystery, subtlety, and atmosphere than it would have been if Karloff just chased people around in toilet paper.
32. Daddy I'm a Zombie (2011) [DVD, Redbox] 1st 5/10 - surprisingly dark for a cartoon with gothic visuals and some great environments, fantasy set-up often involving few characters exploring a sweeping dead/muted environment can feel dry at times but gets points for playing things more serious than slapstick/cutesy.

October 6 [Splat Pack theme day]
33. The Lords of Salem (2013) [DVD, Redbox] 1st Tm 4.5/10 - Zombie's absurd visuals seem to work well with the hallucinatory storyline here and the unashamed campiness was great. Some things are over-exaggerated a bit too much to the point of seeming like a dream-like parade of sometimes relevant hit or miss imagery rather than a plot.
34. Mama (2013) [Blu-ray, Redbox] 1st 7/10 - The most scared I've been so far this challenge. It's an inventive take on hauntings with some creepy moments despite a tendency to over-reveal.
35. 11-11-11 (2011) [Netflix Streaming] 1st Tm - 6/10 - a silly premise that feels preachy at times but also conveys an effective paranoia in being so focused on "coincidences" often involving dimly lit rooms with hallucinatory imagery.
36. Spider Baby or, The Maddest Story Ever Told [Director's Cut] (1968) [DVD] 1st 8.5/10 - a fun mix of cartoonish humor and creepy antics.
37. The Rape of the Vampire (1968) [Blu-ray] 1st 4.5/10 - ultimately satisfying but could have been better, it's very disjointed and busy but with some of Rollin's trademark imagery and a fury of interesting ideas under-developed.
38. Devil (2010) [Blu-ray] 1st 6/10 - better than I expected with good pacing and a satisfying ending but probably not one with great replay value.
39. V/H/S/2 (2013) [DVD, Redbox] 1st 7.5/10 - a fun anthology film tribute to low budget movies with some creepy and over the top segments.

October 7 [Black & White theme day]
40. Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933) [Online streaming, YouTube] 1st 4.5/10 - overly familiar now due to being ripped off by so many subsequent films but has some interesting mystery elements.
41. House of the Wolf Man (2009) [Digital downlaod] 1st Tm - a faux black/white movie homage set as completion to the "House of..." Universal monsters crossover line that is painfully slow moving and stiffly acted wasting a potentially cool premise despie some interesting meta-horror aspects (that fall flat).
42. The Black Sleep (1956) [Netflix streaming] 1st Tm 5/10 - a hyper mad scientist frankenstein derivative with fun set pieces and light gore propels to a satisfying end but some subplot felt forced.
43. Blood Diner (1987) [DVD] 1st 4.5/10 - a clever sequel/remake to H.G. Lewis' Blood Feast movie with hit and miss humor that is often too slapstick/oddball for my taste but with a fun cartoonish energy.

October 8 [Peter Crushing theme day]
44. Necronomicon: Book of the Dead (1993) [Digital download] 6/10 - a fun Lovecraft homage with gruesome effects even if the anthology segments feel streamlined/abbreviated at times.
45. Cassadaga (2011) [Digital download] 1st 6/10 - a ghost mystery that is at times slow with interesting imagery and a cool ghost/villain. Worth seeking out due to the slow moving tension of special effects and plot with interesting psycho-sexual elements. Like a cross between Pieces with Stir of Echoes.
46. The Blood Beast Terror (1968) [Blu-ray] 1st Tm 4/10 - The Blood Beast Terror had some pacing problems but the outdoors zoological vibe was nice and when it did show up the "blood beast" was a cool creature.
47. The Vampire Lovers (1970) [Blu-ray] 1st Tm 4/10 - moody and atmospheric but also overly familiar and slow.

October 9 [Jungle / Ape theme day]
48. Devil Hunter (1980) [DVD] 1st Tm 4.5/10 - overly long with some sloppy production but also hypnotic with soft wide shots of jungle landscapes or tribal randomness without much dialogue (even limited plot). Slow but interesting in it's exploitative and frequently first person perspective composition, a cheesy shamelessly exploitative fever dream with a cheap looking villain.
49. Shakma (1990) [Netflix Streaming] 1st Tm 3.5/10 - an unintentionally funny monkey movie that was slow moving.
50. The Flesh Eaters (1964) [DVD] 1st 6.5/10 - the black and white cinematography works well to create a seemingly peaceful locations shattered by a unexpected/subtle terror with amusing practical effects.

October 10 [Western / Indian theme day]
51. Eyes of Fire (1983) [Youtube Streaming] 1st Tm 7.5/10 - atmospheric period setting with cool imagery with unique horror elements that I really enjoyed.
52. The New Daughter (2009) [Blu-ray] 1st Tm 8.5/10 - surprisingly good movie with unexpected twists that's genuinely creepy.
53. Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011) [Blu-ray] 1st 6/10 - subtle psychological tension carries it with a nice ambiguity. [Wild card #1]

October 11 [Comedy theme day]
54. Severance (2006) [DVD] Tm 4/10 - slow to get started and a misfire in blending together workplace comedy elements it has some clever antics at times but takes "forever" to get going.
55. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) [Blu-ray] Tm 5/10 - a fun pop culture early 90s time capsule with good build-up.
56. Zombiegeddon (2003) [DVD] 1st Tm
57. Hotel Transylvania (2012) [Blu-ray] Tm 6/10 - loud and kinetic fun to watch with the kids that has some cute homages to classic monster movies.

October 12 [Decapitation theme day]
58. Ghost Ship (2002) [Blu-ray] Tm 7/10 - a guilty pleasure film with near constant action and despite a generic script and unconvincing sets is a blast to watch. Totally under-rated.
59. John Dies At the End (2012) [Netflix Streaming] Tm 7/10 - clever and funny, oddity that comes across as suspension and plays out like a good mystery. Interesting story structure.
60. Torture Garden (1967) [DVD] 1st 5.5/10 - a broad assortment of streamlined but amusing anthology stories framed by an
awkward wrap-around.
61. Thunder Cops (Operation Pink Squad 2) (1987) [DVD] 1st 7.5/10 - a fun spectacle filled with cartoonish antics but surprisingly well written to convincingly justify each madcap twist.

October 13 [Killer Doll theme day]
62. Child's Play (1988) [Blu-ray] Tm 6.5/10 - bold execution with some satire and a good finale.
63. Child's Play 2 (1990) [Blu-ray] 1st Tm 3.5/10 - the most unconvincing sequel ever, better defines the doll character but poor set-up.
64. Child's Play 3 (1991) [Blu-ray] Tm 4.5/10 - some clever scenarios and more polished but still falls short.
65. The Mummy's Hand (1940) [DVD] 1st 3.5/10 - really slow going leading to an atmospheric conclusion.
66. Dolls (1987) [YouTube Streaming] 1st Tm atmospheric, creepy, and gruesome... much better than I expected, well executed.
67. Bride of Chucky (1998) [Blu-ray] Tm 5.5/10 - a clever sequel filled with originality.
68. Curse of Chucky (2013) [Blu-ray] 1st Tm 7.5/10 - a nice surprise with some great fan nods... slathered in dimly lit atmosphere and tension with a touch of black comedy.
69. Seed of Chucky (2004) [Blu-ray] Tm 2/10 - obnoxiously filled with fleeting pop culture references and poor attempts at comedy, elements of self-reference are nice but not when they overshadow substance. Self-reference was cute when New Nightmare or Scream did it but is now old.

October 14 [Family Friendly theme day]
70. Ghostbuster (1984) [Blu-ray] Tm 8/10 - classic horror comedy
71. Trilogy of Terror (1975) [YouTube Streaming] Tm 5.5/10 - a tame anthology film that has some interesting ideas and an unforgetablec climax.
72. Malevolence (2003) [Netflix Streaming] 1st Tm 5/10 - dimly lit low budget film but with some clever twists.
73. Paranorman (2012) [Blu-ray] Tm 6/10 - slow at first but has some great effects and works as a kids appropriate zombie film.

October 15 [Farm theme day]
74. Children of the Corn: Genesis (2011) [Blu-ray] 1st Tm 5/10 - sometimes strained and absurd but creepy and better than I expected (but probably not as good as a Children of the Corn movie as it could have been).
75. Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971) [DVD] Tm 6/10 - atmospheric and ambiguous with slow pacing contributing to some pacing deficiencies but has a thoughtful plot.
76. The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1971) [Blu-ray] 1st Tm 4/10 - more of a police procedural with a cool docudrama feel but not as great as had been hyped to me.

October 16 [Ice theme day]
77. Devil Times Five (1974) [DVD] 1st Tm 1.5/10 - vile filth that makes little sense... guy acting retarded... extended slow motion sepia colored kill segment... there's a nun... swinger guy... blah blah blah...
78. Jack Frost (1997) [YouTube Streaming] Tm 4/10 - surprisingly competent but gets carried away with feeling too clever, an absurd concept that is played seriously and comes across not funny or scary but just cutesy... the world needs more cute horror movies. Jack Frost works better as "anti-Christmas" angst than as standalone horror.
79. Phantasm II (1988) [Blu-ray] 8/10 - I love the Phantasm series, it's too bad the excellent theme song from 1 doesn't reappear but the ethereal imagery and road trip vibe of the second are a lot of fun. Too bad not more high definition Phantasm exists.
80. Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet The Wolfman (2000) [Netflix Streaming] 4/10 - hand drawn animation that's refreshing with some nods to the classic Wolfman film but also a tad dry and straightforward for my taste in children's cartoons.
81. The Fog (1980) [Blu-ray] 6/10 - atmospheric with a unique narrator and plot structure that ultimately feels awkward despite the excellent imagery.

October 17 [Telephone theme day]
82. The Caller (2011) [Netflix Streaming] 1st Tm 6/10 - some played out story conventions but with a genuinely creepy advesary and something unconventional for the horror genre.
83. 976-EVIL II (1992) [DVD] 1st Tm 2/10 - the first 976-EVIL is a guilty pleasure of mine, but this sequel is an abomination... the villain is unlikeable (but not enough to be effective) and it squanders the potentially interesting horrorscope "hotline theme" with thin characters no one cares about taking anything interesting about the first film (character driven lust for approval/power) and gutting it.
84. Vampirella (1996) [Digital download] 1st 2/10 a mid-90s glam comedy that has some cute intentionally campy segments but is overly long and although looking the part the Vampirella actress' limited acting ability stints the film.

October 18 [Telephone theme day]
85. Vampires in Havana (1985) [YouTube] 1st Tm 8/10 - a frantic madcap enjoyable adult cartoon with some social commentary humor, much more fun than I expected it to be.
86. Seven Women For Satan (1976) [DVD] 1st Tm 4/10 - slow moving gaudy castle segments intersected with half naked girls and their psychedelic dancing, ripe with cliches but more enjoyable than it sounds.
87. The Ghost Ship (1943) [DVD] 1st Tm 6/10 - a subtle and unique horror movie.
88. Mary, Mary, Bloody Mary (1975) [YouTube] 1st Tm 8/10 - a modern vampire tale that starts off with 70s style erotic horror featuring some creative sight gags, sex, and soap opera style setups but then things really get wild with an intelligently written script and an interesting anti-hero.

October 19 [Psychotronic theme day]
89. Mystics in Bali (1981) [DVD] 1st Tm 4/10 - I like the ethnic folklore vibe and unique adversary but aside from some far out effects the movie seemed slow at times.
90. Hausu (1977) [Blu-ray] Tm 7/10 - I like the frantic energy with cartoonish spook imagery and hallucinatory elements that work surprisingly well for a live action zany comedy.
91. Frogs (1972) [DVD] Tm 7/10 - amphibians versus southern bourgeoisie in a film that seems to get more surreal and interesting each time I see it.
92. Return of the Living Dead 3 [R-rated cut] (1993) [DVD] 7.5/10 - a great zombie movie with tons of twists and a unique focus on a sympathetic villain character that features a over the top finale.
93. Wizard of Gore (1970) [Blu-ray] 1st Tm 5/10 - HG Lewis continues to surprise me, this is dreamy original film with an interesting magician that works well even if it feels like they couldn't figure out how to get past a cool initial premise. Some of the gore effects were intense (I expected corny/dated).

October 20 [Vampire theme day]
94. Dracula [Commentary with David J. Skal] (1931) [Blu-ray] Tm - an interesting historical commentary discussing Stoker's novel, theatrical/play history, Universal Studios politics, sexual under-tones, creative processes, techniques used, etc. Having begun to feel burnt out by adaptations of Stoker's Dracula a detailed commentary pointing out the background was refreshing.
95. Ganga & Hess (1973) [Blu-ray] 1st Tm 5.5/10 - a modern urban "vampire" story with some unique tribal music that centers of melodrama filled with 1970s relics along to compliment the intense dramatic elements.
96. Frankenweenie (2012) [Blu-ray] 1st Tm 6/10 - a clever homage that has some pacing problems with a slow start but really gets wild.
97. Sundown: The Vampires in Retreat (1989) [DVD] 1st Tm 6/10 - a dated but action packed vampire comedy with a spirited showdown.

October 21 [ESP theme day]
98. Scanners II: The New Order (1991) [Blu-ray] 1st Tm 7.5/10 - an over the top spectacle that doesn't shy away from telekenetic fury, fast paced and fun.
99. Island of Lost Souls (1932) [Blu-ray] 5/10 - I like the biblical references and the existential undertones but it didn't hold up as well for me on this third viewing.

October 22 [ESP theme day]
100. Murder Rock: Dancing Death (1984) [DVD] 1st Tm 4/10 - an eccentric giallo filled with 80s spandex, odd dance numbers, red herrings, spandex, an unusual murder weapon, and spandex.
101. The Devil's Carnival (2012) [Netflix Streaming] 1st Tm 3/10 - overblow pageantry but ultimately shallow with sing-songy talking instead of actual musical range.
102. Scream (1996) [Blu-ray] 1st 4.5/10 - Light hearted but some of the self-reference and parody isn't as clever as they thought and many of the characters are obnoxious.
103. The Baby (1973) [Netflix Streaming] 1st 5.5/10 - slow at times but toys with viewers preconceptions and has a really unique premise along with interesting feminist under-tones.
104. The Dunwhich Horror (1970) [Netflix Streaming] 1st 6.5/10 - an atmospheric mix of out dated psychedelic effects and eerie horror.
105. The Monster Club (1981) [Blu-ray] 1st Tm 7/10 - a fun casual anthology film with diverse stories and a lively cast clad in cheap costumes intersected with 80s pop music.

October 23 [Class Warfare / Occult Detective / Evil Families theme day]
106. Strigoi (2009) [Netflix Streaming] 1st Tm 5.5/10 - a moody dry comedy mystery based on possible Romanian mythology vampires involved in a quirky land battle.
107. Insidious Chapter 2 (2013) [Theatrical] 1st 2.5/10 - sometimes creepy in a cheap haunted house way, this sequel destroys all the eeriness of the first replacing it with campy twists, unfunny humor, and rips off a number of other better movies.
108. Carrie [remake] (2013) [Theatrical] 1st 7/10 - a serviceable remake that broadcasts some of the themes more explicitly and while straight forward was fun with what seemed to me a better ending.
109. The Howling (1981) [Blu-ray] 8/10 - I love The Howling with it's mystery feel, dated/nostalgic environment, and werewolf insanity. The pacing and reveal are really good with nice practical effects.
110. Cast A Deadly Spell (1991) [YouTube Streaming] 1st Tm 4/10 - compelling acting with a fun noir vibe, unique premise, and interesting effects; the film felt limited (there aren't that many characters/locations) at times and the YouTube quality wasn't very great.

October 24 [Slasher / Killer theme day]
111. Psycho III (1986) [DVD] 1st Tm 6.5/10 - a cool direct continuation from II with great acting and a script that stays true to it's roots.
112. The Prowler (1981) [Blu-ray] 1st Tm 5/10 - an atmospheric slasher with some gory kills but limited cast and some predictability.
113. Mr. Hush (2011) [Netflix Streaming] 1st 2/10 - unmenacing characters attempt to torment a wooden actor who barely emotes by responding with poker faced profanity through a horribly slow paced run time that doesn't have much plot to begin with giving away any twists in the beginning then just poorly trudging along.
114. Dread (2009) [Netflix Streaming] 1st 3/10 - moody and angst filled with brief scenes alternating from place to place, it takes some liberties with the source short story that weaken the material and the pretentious existential elements ultimately miss. The short story is so much better.
115. Resolution (2012) [Netflix Streaming] 1st 7.5/10 - a clever premise and unique story that I enjoyed in it's cryptic nature.
116. Three On a Meathook (1973) [YouTube] 1st Tm 3/10 - featuring some of the most unconvincing love stories ever on film padding out it's already short run time with fluff and slow pacing towards a lukewarm conclusion.
117. House on Haunted Hill (1959) [Netflix Streaming] 1st 4.5/10 - showy with an interesting plot gimmick but dated.
118. Dead In Tombstone (2013) [DVD Redbox] 1st 6/10 - kinetic and fast pasted thin action fluff with light horror elements. [Wildcard #2]

October 25 [Horror Mystery theme day]
119. House of Mortal Sin[aka The Confessional] (1976) [DVD] 1st 4/10 - slightly subpar in being so transparent for a horror thriller.
120. Twixt (2011) [DVD Redbox] 1st Tm 5.5/10 - a seemingly average story that is competently produced with a huge emphasis on dream imagery with a complicated final act.
121. Phenomena (1983) [Blu-ray] Tm 6/10 - unique premise with too slow buildup to some typical giallo kills then what must be the most absurd yet awesome climax in cinema history.
122. World War Z [Theatrical/PG13 cut] (2013) [Blu-ray] 1st 3/10 - a magical political thriller than wastes it's zombie theme showing moments of tension but is too often unintentionally funny and the superman hero character contributes to an ending that is unsatisfying. "Mother nature is a serial killer."
123. In the Mouth of Madness (1994) [Blu-ray] 8/10 - a favorite of mine with hallucinatory imagery, Sam Neil, David Warner, and some great twists.

October 26 [Remake/Sequel/Franchise theme day]
124. The Last Exorcism Part II (2013) [Blu-ray Redbox] 1st Tm 6.5/10 - doesn't fit as a sequel much better than I'd heard. Demon possession themes are played well in a social context; creepy with some eerie imagery.
125. Halloween 2 (1981) [Blu-ray] Tm 6.5/10 - I love continuous sequels. The hospital location is cool and they really delve into the lore in this one but lulls a little in the middle.
126. Final Destination 5 (2011) [Blu-ray] 1st Tm - 6/10 gruesome kills with in your face but fake CGI 3D style and some nods to earlier installments in the franchise while .
127. Amityville 3-D[in 2D] (1983) [Blu-ray] Tm 4/10 - I love how this deviates from the previous films and although it's not great, I enjoyed it's formula despite unmemorable characters.
128. The Masque of the Red Death (1964) [Blu-ray] 1st 6.5/10 - great abstract plot with colorful imagery if not a little overly long for the content with some odd additions to the original story, the masque seems a bit more limited that in the text but a fun film.
129. Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) [Blu-ray] 7/10 - classic stop motion techniques give NBC a timeless feel with eccentric characters that are at their best when the holidays really clash.
130. The Awful Dr Orloff (1962) [DVD] 1st 4/10 - people tell me Orloff is one of Franco's more accessible films and I found much of it to be more traditional with some absurdity but also dry at times.
131. The Wizard of Gore[R-rated cut] (2007) [DVD] 1st - 4.5/10 - Chrispin Glover puts on a good show and the "alternative rock" image is fun, with the Suicide Girls stealing the show, but also lacks the charisma of the original with a much weaker ending. The DVD transfer is really dark and foggy.

October 27 [Home Invasion theme day]
132. The Collector (2009) [Blu-ray] 1st Tm 6/10 - gruesome and kinetic with a memorable villain. Good use of setting.
133. The Collection (2012) [Blu-ray] 1st 4.5/10 - less suspenseful and more action oriented fleshing out the villain more but otherwise not near as good. Might be better suited as a link to a follow-up, or the previous, film than a standalone film.
134. Requiem For a Vampire (1971) [Blu-ray] 1st 5.5/10 - slow moving and nonverbal with tons of nudity and many of Rollin's trademarks.
135. Lady In Black (2012) [Blu-ray] 1st 7/10 - surprisingly creepy and atmospheric despite the mis-cast main character and some cliche effects. Haunted house ghost movies are my weakness and this one got me, even though I know it wasn't one of the better ones.
136. In Their Skin (2012) [DVD] 1st Tm 4/10 - a masterful subtle yet tense first half smashed to bits by a really weak last part with under-developed themes but some great character emphasis. They had a great well executed idea then stalled out, but worth seeing.

October 28 [Ghost/Supernatural theme day]
137. Sadako (2012) [NetFlix Streaming] 1st Tm 6/10 - a brilliant idea for a 3D movie, much of it felt hammy instead of eerie but once it picked up I couldn't look away. The attempts to veil known/obvious plot points reminded me of those silly Tomie movies with it's dark comedy and casual disregard for series mythology in favor of pulp cheap style - I'm glad to see the Ringu films go on, but wish they'd at least agree on some sort of canon. I like where they took the Sadako character.
138. Grave Encounters (2011) [Netflix Streaming] Tm 4/10 - tries some unusual/gutsy things while horribly botching the effects with poor actors whose idea of emoting is to endlessly scream profanity.
139. Shock [aka Beyond the Door II] (1977) [DVD] Tm 5.5/10 - not as great as the first time I saw it but a nice psychological ghost thriller with good ambiguity and creepy family dynamics, it's gorier than you'd expect.
140. The Apparition (2012) [Blu-ray] 1st Tm 3.5/10 - overly vague with fluffy atmospheric scares that wasn't as bad as I negative reviews suggested, not original but an enjoyable mediocre time killer.
141. Atrocious (2010) [Netflix Streaming] 1st Tm 9/10 - a suspenseful Spanish found footage movie with great pacing, creepy atmosphere, and memorable twists.
142. The Pact (2012) [Netflix Streaming] 1st Tm 3.5/10 - a mystery thriller with some lurid aspects but was too dramatic and for my eerie ghost seeking mood. I've heard great things about The Pact but failed to appreciate it.
143. Manhattan Baby (1982) [DVD] 1st Tm 6/10 - under-rated, a unique premise with great Egyptian theme that isn't as lurid as Fulci's other material but was more fantastic and mysteriously supernatural. It's an ambitious and refreshing premise that is aimlessly executed. Great soundtrack.
144. The Cabinet of Dr Caligula (1920) [Netflix Streaming] 6/10 - too bad expressionism is dead, the dark slow frame rate cartoonish over-exaggeration is a cool style. The carnival abstract plot seems more detailed than many movies today.
145. Death Ship (1980) [Blu-ray] 1st Tm 4.5/10 - slow going and sterile on the most brightly lit abandoned ship ever but once it gets going things there are some cool bits, it's hard to mess up a haunted ship movie and this comes close but... it's a haunted ship movie with talented character actor, George Kennedy, so pulls it off - barely.

October 29 [Zombie theme day]
146. Outpost: Black Sun (2012) [Blu-ray] 1st Tm 8/10 - well paced and atmospheric focusing on mystery with plot based nazi zombie mythology. Not short on flying bullets but doesn't resort to popcorn fluff action and contains the sort of boisterous antics you'd expect from the basis, much more serious in tone than you'd expect.
147. Love Bites (2001) [DVD] 1st 7/10 - stylish and subtle with much better execution that the pretentious DVD case lets on. It has a simple but memorable "theme song."
148. The Flesh And The Fiends (1960) [Online Streaming, Daily Motion] 1st Burke and Hare seem to be surprisingly popular characters for a movie, here with a greater emphasis on a questionable doctor player with vigor by Crushing.
150. Pontypool (2008) [Netflix Streaming] Tm 5.5/10 - a novel premise and narrative experiment ultimately feels boring with random plot revelations, not horrible but it doesn't live up to the hype.
151. Rammbock [aka Berlin Undead] (2010) [Netflix Streaming] 1st Tm 6/10 - intense, people trapped against zombies never gets old and there's a cool urban feel to this movie, it starts with a bang and has good pacing with a dramatic focus.

October 30 [Demon/Satanism theme day]
152. Night of the Demons 2 (1994) [Blu-ray] 1st Tm 6.5/10 - bigger than the original with more absurd antics and some nods to the original. I prefer this sequel despite it's corniness.
153. Antichrist (1974) [DVD] 1st Tm 3/10 - I knew it was a cheaply made exorcist knock-off but I expected some lurid sleaze or gung ho amplification of the theme going in, that was not the case - this was really a cheap and not very suspenseful knockoff.
154. Dark Side of the Moon (1990) [YouTube Streaming] 1st Tm 6.5/10 - a VHS era blend of familiar elements with a twist that's surprisingly fun from the dated styles and technology to the large scale outer space horror.
155. Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go To College (1991) [DVD] 1st 3/10 - cashes in on the sex comedies of the 80s by adding Ghoulies to the raunchy blend of undersexed rebelliousness that sounds much better than it actually is, too slapstick for my taste. Much of the action seems staged for comic book style freeze frames (even though it's continuous) than actual film and ultimately fails at pulpy homage.
156. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) [Blu-ray] 5.5/10 - the depraved white trash angle is tiresome with a lame attempt at origin explanation but I love the extended chase scene and R Lee Emery really steals the show. Whatever happened to Jessica Biel?

October 31 [Halloween theme day]
157. Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) [Blu-ray] Tm 7/10 - fast paced and much more fun than I expected with a great trick 'or treat vibe and really eerie conflict.
158. Nightmares [aka Stage Fright] (1980) [DVD] - 2/10 - boring with some fleeting lurid/gory shots, probably the least suspenseful giallo I've ever seen. The theater/play location is a smart device for a movie but tedious here.
159. The Convent [R-rated Cut] (2000) [DVD] Tm 7.5/10 - I love The Convent, it's gutsy silly derivative but well made muck with a lot of energy.
160. Monster House (2006) [Blu-ray] Tm 5.5/10 - every year I watch Monster House with the kids, it's a fun movie but probably not fun enough for a yearly tradition.
161. La Leyenda De La Llorona (2011) [Netflix Streaming] Tm 4.5/10 - a zany cartoon that I first found whimsical and enjoyably over the top but this second viewing didn't hold up as well, it seemed too absurd but is a good watch around the kids.
162. Prince of Darkness (1987) [Blu-ray] 7.5/10 - a surreal theme with slasher and supernatural elements that works well.
162. Le Manoir du diable (1896) | Le Monstre (1903) | Frankenstein (1910) [Wildcard #3]

November 1 [before dawn]
163. [Rec] 3: Genesis (2012) [Netflix Streaming] 1st - not as great as the first two but a reasonable "zombie" movie with style. Fun and kinetic if not a missed opportunity to build more on the [Rec] series.


Statistics:


Current Favorites: The New Daughter, Atrocious, Dolls, Thunder Cops, Eyes of Fire, Spider Baby, V/H/S/2, Happy Birthday to Me, Mama, The Last Exorcism Part 2, Outpost: Black Sun
Disappointments: Killer Tongue, Hatchet III, House of the Wolf Man, Shakma, Island of the Fishmen, Devil Times Five, Vampirella, Mr. Hush, The Pact, The Antichrist (1974)

LIST FINAL

Checklist [Completed]:

Subset Films [Completed, 31/31]:

Theme Nights [Completed, 31/31]:

MrStayPuft

Goal: 150

Blue = Repeated viewing
Green = 1st time viewing

RESULTS:
First time views: 102/155 = 65.8%
(BLU RAY) views: 86/155 = 55.5%

Some highlights:
1)Found footage completist: Watched [REC]1-3, Paranormal Activity 1-4, V/H/S/ 1-2, and Blair Witch Project
2)3D Blu rays! Bought my first 3D tv earlier this year, and was surprised how much I enjoyed this gimmick. Amityville 3D and House of Wax ('53) were great, Texas Chainsaw was mediocre.
3)My first year doing commentaries for favorite films I've watched repeatedly: The Thing, Evil Deads 1-3
4)Top 5 Favorite first time views: Scanners, Christine, House of Wax ('53), The Conjuring, Amityville Horror ('79)
5)Top 5 Worst films: Goulies 3, Gingerdead Man 3, Lake Placid 4, Hellraiser 7, Shocker
6)Best Surprise: Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
7)Best blu ray upgrades: The Howling, The Burning, Amityville 3D, House of Wax 3D ('53)
8)Biggest disappointment: Hatchet 3 - huge letdown after loving the first two
9)Best re-visit: Day of the Dead ('85)


Sept 30th (Dusk)
1)Halloween (2007) - (BLU RAY) Just tradition by now, always start with this remake. When I saw it in theaters, I really expected the film to end with Michael disappearing after Loomis goes back to look for him after shooting him in the empty swimming pool. Still would have similar ending to the original, but different. Now, I guess I can appreciate the ending a little more, being very similar to the original TX Chainsaw Massacre's ending (young girl screaming, covered in blood). Not a good remake, nor a film that's enjoyable to watch repeatedly. 3/10
2)The Outing (AKA The Lamp) - Much prefer the title The Lamp over The Outing, as the latter sounds too much like a camping trip gone bad. I love how an archeologist isn't even smart enough to work a toaster. What kind of teenagers think it would be a fun time to spend a night in a museum? Really? Maybe middle schoolers, but high schoolers, yea right! Was moderately fun, and the museum setting is something unique for a horror film. I hated the Genie's voice, sounded too much like it trying too hard to be evil, almost like Bale's fake Batman voice. 4/10
3)Hausu - (BLU RAY) If I had to describe this movie to a friend, it would be imagine Wonka's boat ride, but a feature length film. I liked how even a beautiful piano score can be haunting. This will get multiple re-watches from me to fully comprehend everything, but I got a sense of an underlying love theme. 6/10

Oct 1st
4)Demonic Toys - Another cheap production, but there's always something about the "evil toy" genre that I'll watch. I like how good vs evil is personified as two little aged boys wrestling. Another thing I found odd is how a demon trying to impregnate a woman to be reborn refers to it as "doing the nasty". Sounds like that demon has been watching a bit too much MTV. 4/10
5)Pandorum - (BLU RAY) Watch out Milla Jovovich, there's a new hot action chick in town! My initial thoughts were that this was going to be a copycat of The Descent, but in space. However, as the movie goes on and more truths and discoveries are found, the movie gets more involved and interesting. For instance, the revelation of how the creatures came to be. The creatures looked decent, not great, too similar to the Moria Orcs in Lord of the Rings. I always find it interesting how scientist-type characters can become regular G.I. Joes when needed. 7/10
6)Tales from the Crypt Presents: Bordello of Blood - Quite surprised at how much I enjoyed this. From Chris Sarandon's eccentric priest character to Dennis Miller's witty humor, this was a fun vampire film. Second hottest vampire ever put to screen after Salma Hayek. I think every church needs a Laserlight O' the Lord, would certainly reserve a seat for me every Sunday! 7/10
7)Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight - Surprise double feature! Decent, but not nearly as fun as Bordello. That old gal can run pretty fast for a lady with half an arm missing. Billy Zane is such a temptress, even I would not be able to resist his charm. It's good to see Dick Miller getting some tail for once. Some good makeup and effects, but overall dull. 4/10
8)When a Stranger Calls ('79) - I could make a joke about a cop chasing a man named Duncan, but I won't. The opening segment is legendary, absolutely thrilling. Unfortunately, everything that follows falls flat. So am I supposed to believe a man locates an old girl he terrorized seven years later just by seeing her picture in the paper? What, did the newspaper print her home address? 5/10
9)Hellraiser - I love how Clive Barker was able to do so easily what Stephen King never could, direct a successful adaptation of his own writing. Great make-up and creature effects, combined with an innovative plot make this a classic. 9/10
10)Mama - (BLU RAY) The short this movie is based upon was great, but made into a feature length film, it fails. I felt no connection between the characters. The brother spent most of the film hospitalized, and it's hard to feel any emotion towards the girls who are distant. Some occasional good jump scares, but the wonky CGI ruins most of them. It's hard to believe two girls were raised five years on only berries. 3/10
11)The Virgin Witch - (BLU RAY) Plentiful nudity, but not much else. Not all witches ride brooms and wear hats, instead, this coven is sophisticated and respected. If I were a MD, I would prescribe a hot bath to all my hot female clientele. Some beautiful location shots are featured. 3/10

Oct 2nd
12)Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer - (BLU RAY) I'm sure there's an underlying message when the characters are watching and enjoying their own violence, similar to how any audience watching the movie is enjoying it for the violence as well. Very real and gritty. Similar level of shock to Clockwork Orange. 8/10
13)Ghoulies 3: Ghoulies go to College - I'm sure the Ghoulies being summoned out of a toilet are symbolic to the franchise going right down the shitter. I barely tolerated this junk, it's full of juvenile humor that never comes across as comical. Even the main horror element of the movie, the Ghoulies themselves, speak in a comical manner and partake in drinking beer. Here's the plot: Two fraternities are duking it out for a pranking crown, so a professor uses the Ghoulies to thwart their hijinks. Panty raid scene was the only saving grace of this garbage. 1/10
14)28 Days Later - (BLU RAY) I generally prefer the slower zombies to running, but I'll make the exception here. For some reason, this movie is more terrifying than the zombie lore because anyone can become infection through even slight contact with body fluids. The "fuzzy" picture quality was a nice touch as well. 7/10
15)Hellraiser 2: Hellbound - I'm glad Pinhead and the gang have more screen time, but the added mythology with the hellworld was too convoluted. Gotta be embarrassing for the Cenobites to be defeated by a fifteen year old mute girl. My uncle is a MD, so I know for a fact that doctors are neat freaks, and in no way would let a blood-covered, skinless corpse walk around their house dripping blood all over. Some genuinely great nightmarish sequences with frightening imagery. I hate how some sequels feel the need to have recap scenes from the first film, which came out just a year prior. 6/10
16)Stitches - (BLU RAY) One thing this movie did perfectly was cast actual teenagers! I don't know why this concept is so foreign, but bravo, the entire cast was perfect. I was smiling the entire movie, with the cat death scene and the clown tricycle made me bust out. Great old school slasher with brilliant effects and over-the-top gore. I still prefer Killer Klowns, but I can see myself enjoying this more and more for years to come. 8/10
17)Halloween ('78) - (BLU RAY) The new 35th anniversary blu ray video quality is great. This movie personifies the Halloween season, the score is immortal, and it is my favorite slasher of all time. 10/10

Oct 3rd
18)Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein - (BLU RAY) I was surprised at how well the movie flows, must have been hard writing a movie that introduces this comedy duo to not one, but three of the classic monsters. Only thing I didn't like is how the Wolf Man was turned into a bumbling idiot, loosing his footing over branches and such. 8/10
19)The Vagrant - Thank you Shout! for bringing me movies I would have never been able to watch. Great blend of is he crazy or is there an actual homicidal man on the loose, and Bill Paxton pulls off crazy easily. The vagrant's makeup reminded me of a diseased member of ZZ Top. 7/10
20)X-Ray - (BLU RAY) Illogical and filled with so many plot holes that it makes my head spin, but it's still a decent enough slasher. I work as a RN, so some minor inconsistencies had me laughing. An MD is missing and nobody bothers to page or call police? An MD checks a blood pressure with no stethoscope, and no staff explains any detail as to what they are doing, probably because the writers had no medical experience and didn't want to come across as fools. Anyways, plenty of red herrings, everybody has the suspicious stare going on and of course all the doctors have the same facial mask of the killer. 6/10
21)Jess Franco's Count Dracula - Completely surprised as to how accurate this film is to Stoker's novel, moreso than Universal's attempt and I hated the liberties taken with Coppolo's version. Only significant difference I could find was that Van Helsing was a professor in the novel who is called upon from Dr. Seward, owner of the sanitarium, requiring his expertise. Great set pieces, avoids unnecessary gore and brilliant performance from Lee. 7/10
22)Silent Hill - (BLU RAY) Never played the games, sadly I was a Resident Evil fan and we all know what shit that franchise turned into when put to film. Thankfully, not the case here. Love the look of Silent Hill, and any viewer knows that once that air horn blows, all hell is about to break loose. Keeps that video game feel, with the main character moving from clue to clue while discovering backstory on the town and its inhabitants. CGI is dated, but only a minor complaint. 8/10
23)Halloween II (1981) - (BLU RAY) And the award for the most criminally understaffed hospital goes to Carpenter's Halloween 2! Somehow Carpenter made his theme even better by adding synthesizers and an ominous drumbeat. A completely different take from the original, no longer is Michael just a shape in the background, but here, we see him move around and his POV. One of the few decent follow-up slashers. 7/10

Oct 4th
24)Night of the Living Dead ('90) - (BLU RAY) One of those not necessary remakes, but it's a good update with enough differences to stand on its own. Great effects by Savini, and personally, I thought the grading on the picture was great. 6/10
25)Kuroneko - (BLU RAY) Ghost stories, awesome. Samurai films, awesome. Combine the two and you get a great tale. Loved the gorgeous photography, foggy landscapes with bamboo trees really created atmosphere. 8/10
26)Lake Placid - Forgot how much fun it is to hear Betty White cuss. Like Jaws in ways (two characters not getting along), but with more characters. Great effects by Stan Winston Studios, and it has its comical moments without ever being overly bloody. 7/10
27)Schizoid - (BLU RAY) If you would have told me that Christopher Lloyd could out-creep Klaus Kinski, I woulda called you a liar until I saw this. Too slow for me, there were only two deaths within the first hour. No wonder why the killer uses a scissors, because he can't aim a gun worth shit. 4/10
28)Gingerdead Man - Diva dough fight! Poorly written, each character is stereotypical, and when a romance does bloom, it's vomit-inducing ("I know she doesn't have a concussion because I go to community college for nursing at night" *Barf*). The main actress talked in a whisper the entire film. 2/10
29)Halloween 3: Season of the Witch - (BLU RAY) Only three masks to chose from for kids, WTF? In my 10 or so years of trick or treating, I wasn't any of those three. Tom Atkins is a MD, detective and ninja rolled into one in this movie. I avoided this movie for YEARS because I knew it was hated amongst many fans and didn't have Michael, so I never bothered. Thankfully, I avoided many of the spoilers before watching it for the first time last year, and now I can appreciate the sinister nature of the plot. Loved that they kept the pumpkin zoom-in for the opening credits, albeit this time a digital pumpkin. I'll be damned if this doesn't have the catchiest tune in a film ever. 7/10

Oct 5th
30)Gingerdead Man 2: Passion of the Crust - Somewhat enjoyable if only for the complete parody the movie portrays of FullMoon Studios itself and its fans, I guess they think we're all 27 year old virgins that live with our mothers. More kills than the first which is a good thing, the curling iron was something new. 4/10
31)Suspiria - Brilliant film that needs a blu ray release more than any other movie. In my top five favorite horror movies easily. 10/10
32)John Carpenter's Vampires - The opening was great, but I felt the rest of the movie dragged. The psychic connection plot only felt like it was there to move the story along and the ending was a bit of a letdown. If anything, I think this movie proves how powerful hot women are, moreso than vampires even, because one guy continues to love a hot chick despite not one, but TWO attempts to kill him. Am I the only one that thought the second priest looked like Johnny Depp from Secret Window? 5/10
33)Antichrist - (BLU RAY) A bit too cryptic for me, but I guess with a title like Antichrist, what was I expecting, right? I found myself talking to my television for Charlette to put her clothes back on, not because she's unattractive, but because every time she took them off, some bad shit went down. I'm sure there's a lot more symbolism and message I'm missing, and I get the evil nature of humans gist, but I still think I missed a lot. 6/10

Oct 6th
34)The Godsend - In no way better than the Omen, but still effective due to the idea of killing children/siblings. I'm just surprised CPS didn't get involved like after the death of the second child. 5/10
35)Hellraiser 3: Hell on Earth - Great to see more Pinhead action, the nightclub massacre was fun. The new Cenobites were good creations as well. 6/10
36)Dead Snow - (BLU RAY) Now this was a fun film! It's refreshing to see the fat, nerdy, film-lover guy being the only one in the film getting some action. I've seen fast zombies before, but these are sack-the-QB fast zombies. Plenty of gore and a good throwback to some 80's classics. 8/10
37)Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday Night Cleaver - Opening Silence of the Lambs spoof was slightly amusing, but nothing else. Piss poor CGI blood/death acting even for FullMoon standards. Loved the blatant disco music ripoffs, but of course different enough to avoid copyright laws! In the most brilliant death scene, one girl sprays her friends with hydrochloric acid after the gingerdead man swtiches a hose connected to water with acid. So she sprays her friends, they proceed to melt, she screams, and then in what can only be described as the dumbest scene, sprays herself in the face with the same hose. C'mon! 1/10
38)TerrorVision - (BLU RAY) A good premise and great monster effects wasted on a film with the most annoying characters. The parents being swingers and the huge grin on the dad's face after literally every word out of his mouth was a bit too over the top for my preferences. 4/10
39)Deadgirl - (BLU RAY) I don't know how to rate this one, easily the most disturbing movie I've ever seen. Film subject is taboo in more than one way, and this comes from someone who isn't uncomfortable easily. One thing I can say for sure is how much I really do not miss my high school days. x/10

Oct 7th
40)Hellraiser 4: Bloodlines - I expected this to be when the series turns to crap, but it turned out decent. It's a good continuation of the cliffhanger from the end of 3, and the story is nicely told through three timelines. The dog cenobite was something new. Didn't enjoy Pinhead's dialogue though, seemed dumbed down a bit. 4/10
41)The VideoDead - (BLU RAY) It's like Videodrome Light. Slightly different take on the living dead, in that they are jealous of the living and don't like to see their own images due to their deathly appearance. Slow paced, amateur makeup and gore, but borderline enjoyable. 4/10
42)The Town that Dreaded Sundown - (BLU RAY) Great horror film that feels real, with enough terror elements but not brutal enough to the point of sensationalizing the crimes. The narration, added with occasional comedic lines, make this a wonderful made for tv movie. Does an excellent job detailing just how these crimes affected the town as opposed to a "killer on the loose" angle. 8/10
43)Swamp Thing - (BLU RAY) I've only read Alan Moore's Swamp Thing run, so I'm not entirely familiar with the character. Thought it was too repetitive, Cable gets in trouble, Swamp Thing rescues, rinse and repeat. Score felt entirely lifted from Friday the 13th, especially the chase scenes. Arcane turns into a reptilian boar...thing? Nothing too exciting, neither a good comic book movie nor action movie. 5/10
44)Halloween 4: Return of Michael Myers - (BLU RAY) My normal reaction is to hate all child actors, but Danielle Harris is a natural and felt destined for horror movies. Best part of the movie is the ending, which brings the saga full circle. Decent sequel, my biggest problem is how Michael felt like he was in too many places within too little of time span. He has time to stalk Jamie, kill an electrician at a powergrid, and wipe out an entire police station all within one night. 5/10

Oct 8th
45)Black Roses - Sure some teenagers are committing crimes and murdering folks, but to me, the darkest element of this movie was the inappropriate teacher/student relationship. Fun movie that pokes fun at all the generational complaints of previous generations. 6/10
46)Q: The Winged Serpent - (BLU RAY) I don't know how Larry Cohen can make such a low-budget film so darned entertaining, it looks effortless. Part of it comes from Moriarty's oddball performance and the stop-motion of the winged beast, but I enjoyed it throughout. 7/10
47)Lake Placid 2 - Pretty much a copy from the first film, but with a lower budget, awful effects, and teenagers whose present is solely to become crocodile food. I got tired of John Schneider whipping his luscious locks around real quick. 2/10
48)The Toxic Avenger - I can see what makes this such a cult classic, hugely entertaining. Has a little bit of everything, political satire, monster flick, superhero parody, action, etc. As someone who has never felt comfortable in a gym, I feel the stereotypical jocks portrayed are spot on accurate. 8/10
49)The Amityville Horror ('79) - (BLU RAY) Great blend of psychological horror with questioning of faith. Exorcist did it perfectly, this one is close behind. James Brolin sells his role wonderfully, his eyes have that crazy look that only Jack Nicholson could ever top. 9/10
50)Hatchet - (BLU RAY) Decided to watch this one with the Adam Green and Kane Hodder commentary. More information on the stories behind getting the film started and promotion moreso than production stories, which is nice since it doesn't repeat too much information from previous commentaries. Learned why they chose not to cast Danielle Harris, and just why it was important to cast Englund and Todd despite their small roles. 8/10

Oct 9th
51)Hellraiser 5: Inferno - It's hard to like a movie when the lead character is a crooked cop, stealing evidence, cheating on his wife and setting up his partner. Not enough Pinhead, he appears only once in the first hour and only three times overall, with maybe 2 or 3 spoken lines. The series tried to do something different and go my psychological, and it's a change seeing Pinhead orchestrate such an elaborate plot to bring about madness slowly rather than going to the straight "ripping your flesh apart" route. Still boring though. 3/10
52)A Blade in the Dark - Some good gore effects, and the story was interesting mirroring the horror movie with the plot. Somewhat dull with only three kills total, but otherwise decent giallo. 6/10
53)Sexcula - I wonder what Bram Stoker would think seeing his creation adapted into a film like this. One special feature on the dvd is "linear notes from porn archeologist Dimitrios Otis", how does one go about becoming a porn archeologist? I sense an Indiana Jones adventure spin-off! The girls are beautiful and natural, and the plot is insanely bizarre with a female pleasure-bot that spends the entire film laying naked on a table, a girl-gorilla strip tease, and the most sensual wedding I have ever seen, even the priest was saying "lets get on with it!". 3/10
54)Amityville Horror 2: The Possession - (BLU RAY) Hated how they throw all the subtleties of the first out the window. Here, there's blood dripping down walls, guns flying in the air, and everything getting thrown around in the kitchen. Felt like two different movies with the first fifty minutes focusing on the horrors of the family and the house, then the last fifty minutes is all about the son and demon possession. The demon makeup was decent, but overall felt too much like a Exorcist clone. 6/10
55)Texas Chainsaw Massacre ('74) - True story, I was going to design my living room with bones and feathers, but then I didn't want all my friends to think I was copying this movie. Not much needs to be said, a classic that's light on gore and heavy on atmosphere. 10/10
56)Sinister - (BLU RAY) Frightening throughout, have you noticed it's always writers who go crazy in horror movies? Original with plenty of jump scares. 7/10
57)Body Melt - Nothing too spectacular besides the great gore effects. 4/10

Oct 10th
58)Hellraiser 6: Hellseeker - Best entry since 3, and it was a pleasure to see the return of Ashley Laurence despite her limited scenes. The main character gets so much ass in the movie it's unreal: his wife, domineering boss, slutty neigbor, even his acupuncturist was making moves! I liked that it is the first entry to try a "twist" ending which caught me off-guard. 6/10
59)28 Weeks Later - (BLU RAY) Worthwhile sequel with enough differences to stand apart from the first. Of course there is an outbreak, but this time there is an increased military presence that serves as an additional danger along with the infected. Only thing I didn't like was the plot with the mother who is infected but showing no symptoms. Felt too much like an I Am Legend rip-off. 7/10
60)Amityville 3D - (BLU RAY 3D) Lori Loughlin, schwing! Even as a teen character she gives off that motherly persona. My first 3D feature in my home theater. Big difference here from the previous two is the replacement of the importance of religion with paranormal scientists. 3/10
61)Curse of Chucky - (BLU RAY) Great to see Chucky back and looking as good as ever, but this easily portrays the "direct to dvd" vibe. The Charles Lee Ray plot seemed shoehorned in. As an actor, close up shots of your mouth while chewing has got to be embarrassing. Glad Dourif returned, and loved that it pretends Seed never happened. 5/10
62)Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters - (BLU RAY) This was a lot more fun that it had any right to be. I'm glad the filmmakers took a chance and gave it the R rating, because I feel the story could have been told with a PG-13 easily. With the R rating, you get cursing, limbs being blown off and over the top action for nearly the entire run time. Great fun, plain and simple. 8/10
63)Psycho - (BLU RAY) Top 5 favorite horror movie, perfect score, brilliant performance by Perkins, and unforgettable. This is the personification of suspense. 10/10

Oct 11th
64)Halloween 5 - (BLU RAY) Two major plots I hated about this one include Jamie's psychic link with Michael, and then Loomis wanting to help Michael "eliminate the rage" rather than just kill him like he wished in all previous movies. The man in black was a nice mystery throughout the film, but seriously, there is not a single explanation to his purpose? Just going to show his feet three times and that's it? 3/10
65)Cold Prey - One thing this movie gets right is likeable characters. They not only help their friend who breaks his leg by making a splint and getting him to shelter, but they each have their own romance problems as well and act as real characters would. Similar to Halloween, the killer has no motive and just a very brief backstory. 8/10
66)Halloween 6 (Producer's Cut) - I avoided this movie forever, in fact, I never saw any version of the movie simply because of all the reviews saying how this version is the only way to watch the movie. I got my answer of who the man in Black was, and I suppose this cut makes sense, but it's still nothing earth shattering like I was hoping for. 4/10
67)Dawn of the Dead ('78) - (BLU RAY) My favorite zombie movie ever. Couldn't be any better. 10/10
68)Silent Hill Revelation - (BLU RAY) Amusement parks are freaky enough, so to see a Silent Hill version of one, forget it! Plot isn't as interesting as the first, apparently some Order needs Shannon to release some god...or something. Was genuinely surprised to see Malcom McDowell in this. Some genuinely creepy scenes, like Vincent being tied to a stretcher with the nurses, and the spider-mannequin was a decent creation. 6/10
69)Piranha 2: The Spawning - I don't get the hate for this film, if you can get past the goofy concept of flying piranha, it's alright. Nowhere near the atrocity expectations I had for it. 5/10

Oct 12th
70)Hellraiser 7: Deader - I'm getting tired of the person investigating the box storyline. Pinhead has little screen time, and kills are very lame. 2/10
71)Lake Placid 3 - Crocodiles are getting borderline, mutated-scy-fy channel qualities at this point. They're biting through windows, dragging vehicles underwater and leaping through the air. RIP Michael Ironside's career. 2/10
72)[REC] - (BLU RAY) The scariest horror movie in the past decade, and the only one I give a perfect score to. Incredibly realistic with long shots and emotional acting, and the last fifteen minutes are the most terrifying moments I've seen. 10/10
73)[REC] 2 - (BLU RAY) Less scares, but more action and plot. 8/10
74)[Rec] 3: Genesis - (BLU RAY) I learned reading the bible can save your life! Without the camera gimmick, the series falls into just being another, average zombie movie but with more gore. Refreshing to see the events occurring outside the apartment complex, and it did have a nice tie-in to the original with one character working at the vet clinic where the dog was infected. Not sure if the "happy" ending was suitable for the series though. Bring on four! 6/10

Oct 13th
75)Exorcism - (BLU RAY) Introduced myself to Jess Franco last year, and was impressed/curious enough to try out some more. Nothing but pure sleaze, although feels repetitive. Black mass, girl gets killed, girl has sex with a man, gets killed, girl takes off clothes, gets killed yada yada yada. Seriously, does no woman wear undergarments in any of his films? 4/10
76)An American Werewolf in London - (BLU RAY) The best werewolf transformation effects in the history of film. The deterioration makeup of Jack is iconic, as is everything else about this film. 9/10
77)Dark Skies - (BLU RAY) Different take on the alien abduction genre. You know how to instantly make yourself look crazy? Just tape a bunch of random newspaper articles up over your walls and voila, instant crazy! Not boring, but nothing captivated nor scared me to the point of Paranormal Activity levels. 5/10
78)Cold Prey 2 - Decent sequel, but nothing spectacular. There was a little bit more development from the killer, but it doesn't go too far before being abandoned. Same situtation as the first, just replace an abandoned hotel with a near-closing, minimal staff hospital. While some horror villains are brought back just because, the explanation behind the killer being revived is semi-plausible, although highly unlikely I'm sure. 6/10
79)House of Wax 3D ('53) - (BLU RAY 3D) Wow, now this is what horror is all about! It's a dark tale with a nice twist and Price playing the lead perfectly. 3D effect was decent, best scene for that was the dancers at the Music Hall, looked as if the stage was right in front of you. 9/10
80)Countess Perverse - Jess Franco's version of The Most Dangerous Game. Easy to tell it's a Franco film because you have to sit through an hour of girls making out, girls swimming naked and discussing fantasies before the actual hunting of humans part of the film begins. 5/10

Oct 14th
81)Frankenstein ('31) - (BLU RAY) Nothing says instant party crash like carrying around the corpse of your recently deceased daughter through a party. My favorite Universal monster movie. 10/10
82)MoH: We all Scream for Ice Cream - Not bad, William Forsythe pulls off creepy clown with ease. Ridiculous concept with a run of the mill revenge plot, but funny at times. Nothing great though. 4/10

Oct 15th
83)The Bride of Frankenstein - (BLU RAY) Watched this for the first time last year, and I think my opinions have changed more favorably. Liked the intro segment with Mary Shelly narrating the "sequel". The monster meeting the blind violinist and befriending each other is very emotional and touching. Slightly more faithful to the novel with the monster learning language and being misunderstood by hurting others while only wanting a companion. Only Universal monster movie sequel I'd give a perfect score to. 10/10
84)MoH: The Damned Thing - Sloppy cgi and poor execution ruins an interesting concept, the idea of violence as a monster. Worth seeing to see a man repeatedly bang himself in the head with a hammer. 3/10

Oct 16th
85)MoH: The Washingtonians - Pride and Prejudice added zombies, Abraham Lincoln became a vampire hunter, it's always fun messing with American history! What if George Washington was a cannibal? No real terror here, and in complete horror cliche fashion, the cannibals give the family a tour of their mansion and explain their origins before trying to murder them. Best part for me was how three SWAT members with rifles dispatch an entire room of Washingtonians armed with bayonets. 4/10
86)MoH: Right to Die - Part ghost story and part political statement. The MRI death looked gruesome, and it earns bonus points for the BEST boobs out of the entire series. 5/10

Oct 17th
87)Son of Frankenstein ('39) - Great addition to the franchise with Lugosi as Ygor, he's the real horror here! As a man who survived a hanging and pronounced legally dead and uses the monster to enact his revenge on the jury members, terrifying! 7/10
88)Hellraiser 8: Hellworld - It's no shock to find high-grossing celebs get their start in horror, and here we have Henry "superman" Cavill. It's a haunted house story mixed with Hellraiser lore. My first impressions were that of joy in that the series is no longer that repetitive 'slowly going insane trying to discover the mystery of the cube while people around me die' story that the past 3 entries had. However, in the end, there were so many twists that it just became unbearable. 2/10
89)Phantasm - Classic that is so different, I almost don't know how to categorize it. Great soundtrack and likable characters. 9/10
90)Hands of the Ripper - (BLU RAY) Interesting from a psychology point of view I suppose, but a lesser memorable Hammer movie. Great production, set design and costumes, just a slower plot. 5/10
91)Evil Dead ('13) - (BLU RAY) You know that saying 'Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me'? Well, the main character gets fooled like..fourteen times. Maybe it was because I watched Silent Hill a few nights ago, but I hated the air-raid siren-like sound effects scattered throughout the soundtrack. Decent enough remake with enough gore and story differences to stand apart, but it didn't wow me. 6/10
92)Tower of Evil - (BLU RAY) I love how a group of archeologists can instantly turn into professional detectives. There is enough intrigue and eerie vibe to keep my interest, but what really bothered me was the characters. They were written like soap-opera characters, each is cheating on one character but still married to another, yeesh! 6/10
93)Hatchet 2 - (BLU RAY) Great continuity with the first. Adam Green sure had faith in Kane Hodder to have him actually show emotion. More history on the Crowley family is learned, and of course the gruesome kills continue. Decapitation from your own intestines and pulling out a jaw was nice, but my favorite kill had to the the 30 blows to a man's face with the blunt end of the hatchet (yes, 30! I counted!). Oh, and Vernon is my favorite black man in a horror movie ever. 7/10


Oct 18th
94)The Fly ('58) - (BLU RAY) Dated for sure, but that doesn't make it any less terrifying. I've seen the Croenenberg version multiple times, but honestly, his reveal after the transformation still shocked me. And like the officer says near the end, his scream hill haunt my dreams! Truly terrifying. 8/10
95)Evil Dead ('81) - Watched this one with commentary with Sam Raimi and producer Robert Tapert. Not as interesting or fun to listen to as Bruce's, but still insightful with information on how they financed the film. 10/10
96)Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn - Again did the commentary track, this time by Raimi, Campbell, co-writer Scott Spiegel and make-up artist Greg Nicotero. A bit cluttered at times, but you can tell how much passion all these fellas had on working together and making such a film. 10/10
97)Lake Placid 4: The Final Chapter - A new low for the already sunken series: gator vision. That's right, a gator's POV as it's attacking. Not only that, but they also do not act like crocodiles at all, they're thrashing around, growling constantly and running on pace with a vehicle. My favorite part is when a girl is crying because she lost some library books in a tour bus that was destroyed, so she is crying because she won't be allowed to check out more books. NERD ALERT! 1/10
98)The Woman in Black - (BLU RAY) Average ghost story with many horror cliche's, but still some chills. Radcliffe gives a performance worthy of shedding his Potter persona. Only thing truly unique was the ending, bravo to the writers for giving the movie a happy ending. 6/10
99)Christina: Princess of Eroticism - (BLU RAY) Poetic at times, but lifeless and felt like a chore to get through. 3/10
100)The Blair Witch Project - (BLU RAY) Little scares scattered in between a group of college kids lost in the woods make for a terrifying reality. I actually liked the fact the witch was never shown, makes it even more strange and gives it a more authentic feel. There's no major jump scares, but I'd be lying if I said I didnt' feel shaken through the whole film. 9/10

Oct 19th
101)MoH: The V Word - By the book vampire tale, but does have some decent gore shots. 2/10
102)Massage Parlor Murders - (BLU RAY) More of a police procedural than murder mystery, but not great at being either one. I loved how the music ranged from generic 70's jazz to a WTF scene where a portly man dances in a leotard to "In the Hall of the Mountain King" while a topless masseuse claps him on. There is a completely random nude swimming party for no reason in which an officer proceeds to chase a suspect wearing only a towel from said party. Kills are quick, simple and tame. Some plots are never resolved such as one officer's marital problems. Definatley an oddity, but enjoyable. 5/10

Oct 20th
103)MoH: Sounds Like - I think any of us would go insane in the same situation. Not scary, but more of a sci-fi Twilight Zone material. 5/10
104)The Dorm that Dripped Blood - (BLU RAY) Loved it for simply an accurate portrayal of real college students. No partaking in sex or drugs, instead, they occupy their time playing pool and talking about relationships. Some nasty kills, such as a head being bashed in by a bat embedded with nails, or an electric drill to the back of the head. What really makes this stand out from all the other slashers is the ending. I won't spoil it, but it's one in a million. 7/10

Oct 21
105)976-Evil I'll give it credit for it's originality and somewhat decent product for a first time director. Some good makeup, but nothing great. 5/10
106)Poltergeist - (BLU RAY) Don't know why, but this is one horror movie my wife insists on watching. Great effects, and I love the build-up to the 'holy shit' final act. This is one I grew up on, so the nostalgia is through the roof. 8/10

Oct 22
107)Return of the Fly - Well, if the teleportation doesn't sell so well, it serves as a great way to get rid of bodies! Same idea as the first, but adds a new plot line of a partner who double crosses Philippe and tries to sell his plans. Enjoyable, but the method the story uses to create another fly-creature felt forced. 7/10
108)Orca - The most absurd plot of all time! You mean to tell me that an Irish character can go an entire movie without a drop of liquor? Preposterous! Killer whales used to be fearsome until Free Willy had to screw that up. Certainly not bad, but some of the revenge angles are a bit of a stretch, even for horror standards. I liked the speech "I'm just like the orca, my parents were killed too when I was young". 6/10
109)The Howling - (BLU RAY) I liked how this movie tore up (no pun intended) traditional werewolf lore. For instance, these lycanthropes do not need a full moon to change shape, and they have the ability to regenerate. Gives them even more terror, especially when a mass of them are congregated in a single location. 8/10
110)Paranormal Activity - (BLU RAY) I'm not going to lie, this is my favorite horror series running. Even upon rewatches, despite knowing when and where jump scenes are, it still manages to make me a nervous wreck while watching, and for some time after. Oh, and Katie Featherston is my pick for hottest horror babe of all time. 9/10
111)Vacancy - A movie about an evil Matt Damon running a motel in which a group of people terrorize its inhabitants while being filmed. Nothing unique or suspenseful really, and I have a hard time believing a member of an elite vampire assassin squad would have such a hard time dispatching a few masked humans. 4/10

Oct 23rd
112)Terror Takes Shape - Good documentary on my 2nd favorite horror film. Lots of cast involved, with a little bit of everything touched upon. 7/10
113)Army of Darkness (Director's Cut) - Commentary with Campbell, Sam and Ivan Raimi. They end it by saying their sole intention was to make an entertaining film, and they succeeded with glory. Lots of good information, such as the stories behind all the memorable quotes in the film. I agree with the crew that the director's cut ending better suits the film. My least favorite of the trilogy, but that just shows how much I love these films. 8/10
114)The Burning - (BLU RAY) - How does a series like The Howling get 7 sequels, but this treasure does not get one? Great summer camp slasher with great effects. Only complaint I have is the reveal of the killer and his motive revealed at the beginning of the film. 7/10
115)Paranormal Activity 2 - (BLU RAY) More jump scares and story development than the first, but I still prefer the first if only for how big of impact it had on me. 8/10

Oct 24th
116)Curse of the Fly - Essentially a love story with each hiding a past they're not proud of. Gone is any notion of a fly-creature, replaced this time with hideous "failed" experiments. I guess there is still some shock value (the splicing of two seperate humans into one), it still feels like an average sci-fi horror film from the 60's. 6/10
117)Dracula: Prince of Darkness - (BLU RAY) The one Hammer film that has characters with the mentality of college kids' in that they still go to a castle despite it not appearing on a map, a warning from a clergyman, and their cab driver abandoning them after being afraid to go any further. The loss of Cushing is unfortunate, but it's still largely a great vampire movie. 7/10
118)Warm Bodies - (BLU RAY) I love owning this simply for the fact I can bust this out every time the wife feels like watching a romance movie. The narration from the zombie's perspective is interesting, but the trailer kind of ruins the best bits. 6/10
119)976-Evil 2 - Felt way too much like a Nightmare on Elm Street rip-off, only instead of killing teens in their sleep, a demon kills his enemies through "astral projection". 3/10
120)The Conjuring - (BLU RAY) If I can go through life without ever seeing that Annabelle doll ever again, I win at life. Creepy and tense atmosphere throughout, a near perfect horror film. Delivers the chills through story, visuals and that damned doll! 9/10
121)Hatchet 3 - (BLU RAY) Seeing Danielle Harris being hosed down was my highlight, but man, those tattoos are not a turn on. With the loss of Tony Todd, Sid Haig steps in and his role was memorable. It fits the trilogy nicely, but something just felt "off" about this one. Lots of gruesome kills as usual, but Crowley's constant grizzly growls took me out of the film every time he showed up. 5/10

Oct 25th
122)Young Frankenstein - (BLU RAY) My favorite Mel Brooks movie. Lots of gags, a perfect spoof, and an outstanding performance from Wilder make this one of my favorite comedies. 10/10
123)Shocker - Convoluted mess. It took forty minutes until the killer is executed and where the real meat of the movie starts. Felt like Craven didn't know what type of movie he wanted to do, first forty minutes is a slasher, then the killer is jumping around from body to body, then he gets sucked into the boob tube. Nothing memorable at all really, just a chore. The heavy metal soundtrack seemed fitting, however. 2/10
124)C.H.U.D. - Commentary with director, wrtier and stars John Heard, Daniel Stern and Christopher Curry. Fun experience, these guys are laughing throughout, making jokes like "look, there's a young Brad Pitt!" and still seem to hold a grudge they never earned their money. Fun commentary for otherwise mediocre film. 5/10
125)Texas Chainsaw - (BLU RAY 3D) Takes the franchise and completely turns it on its head. The 3D wasn't spectacular, nor was the film, but worth a watch for a loyal fan. 4/10
126)The Lords of Salem - (BLU RAY) I'm glad Zombie's writing has much improved, nowhere near as white-trashy as his previous films. Good story with build up, very bizarre visuals and a Rosemary's Baby vibe. Was Satan depicted as a 3 foot midget mutant? Bonus points for Velvet Underground in the soundtrack. Will definately revisit with Zombie's commentary, am very curious to hear his explanations. 7/10
127)V/H/S/ - (BLU RAY) A nice offering of various directors' styles that blend found footage short films into an anthology. Everybody is going to have different favorites, but I enjoyed the first segment about a monsterous girl picked up by clubbers to be a great beginning. My favorite was the fourth, in which a woman is convinced her apartment is haunted and tries to convince her boyfriend via webcam. I think they could have cut a segment or two, felt a little too long. 5/10

Oct 26th
128)Psycho 2 - (BLU RAY) Overcame many hurdles to be a very good sequel. Still maintains the psychological horror, and bravo to Perkins for his ability to keep his nervous mannerisms (shaking, stuttering, jaw movements). The story reveal at the end felt out of place and slightly ruins the series though. 7/10
129)American Psycho - In my top 5 favorite horror movies, always entertains no matter how many times I've watched it. Infinitely quotable, great did he/didn't he aspect, and perfect performance from Bale. 10/10
130)Hotel Transylvania This is a wonderful way to introduce young children to the Universal monsters, but as an adult, my interest was skewed. There's a good teen romance angle, and naturally I liked the Twilight diss, but compared to some other recent animated horror films (Coraline, Monster House, Paranorman) I feel this one can only be loved by children. 4/10
131)The Nest - (BLU RAY) Thank you to Scream Factory for unearthing films like this that I probably never would have seen otherwise. Not great, Arachnophobia certainly does a better job on playing with fears, but it's not a total disappointment either. Never seemed to be a great danger as there only seemed to be about 12 people total on that island. Still, the effects were great and horrific. 5/10
132)Creepshow 2 - (BLU RAY) Worth a watch once, but not one I'll come back to nearly as much as the first. Had some sporadic good effects, but overall looked much cheaper. The first story was pretty tame, whereas "The Raft" had some great melting/gore effects with a sense of isolation, but the true gem was "The Hitchhiker" which would probably give anybody under the age 14 nightmares. 4/10

Oct 27th
133)The Serpent and the Rainbow Good blend of mysticism with zombie-lore. One of Craven's better films outside of NoES and Scream, one filled with at times terrifying imagery (coffin filling with bood). 7/10
134)Scanners - Wow, Croenenberg never fails to bring the goods. Intriguing plot that moves quickly, and Michael Ironside channels creepy Jack Nicholson. Great effects and a beautiful finale. 9/10
135)ParaNorman - (BLU RAY) My feelings were mixed. I felt Norman's ability could have used a little more exploring, and when the curse starts to hit the town, it was a bit weak. 7 zombies rise from the grave and a witch's face appears in the clouds and that's it? It's still fun, some good gags and the animation is top quality. 6/10

Oct 28th
136)Schizoid (AKA A Lizard in a Woman's Skin) - Decent giallo, but not one of the best in the genre nor the best from Fulci. Liked it enough, but not enough to seek out the unrated edition. I do feel fortunate to own this, however, as I lucked out and got an early copy shipped from amazon of Scream's Up all Night marathon before they lost the rights and replaced it. 5/10
137)The Brood - Maybe because I watched Scanners last night, but this one didn't live up to my expecations. The last 20 minutes serves as the reveal and is typical Croenenberg, but the hour long plot leading up to it didn't hold my attention. 6/10
138)Psycho 3 - (BLU RAY) I'm glad the film retconned the ending of 2, but that's about all I enjoyed. 3/10
139)Chrstine - (BLU RAY) I love how there is no explanation given for why the car is evil. No "the car is possessed", "the car was built on top of an Indian burial ground" or "a worker died while constructing the car" bullshit, just a car murdering folks. The soundtrack was great, effects still hold up, and by golly was Keith Gordon wonderful. His transformation of his character rivals that of Christopher Reeve switching between charming Superman and bumbling Clark Kent. 9/10
140)V/H/S/ 2 - (BLU RAY) Much better than the first. 3 out of the 4 segments were great, with the last one about an alien invasion in a suburban household being the weakest. 8/10

Oct 29th
141)Deadly Blessing - (BLU RAY) Slow pace and bland story left me disappointed. Felt like it didn't know if it wanted to be a supernatural or slasher film, or perhaps a mixture of both. Either way, dull. 4/10
142)The Thing - Watched it listening to commentary with Carpenter and Russell. Highly enjoyable to listen to as both provide insights into the effects, shooting locations and story. One thing that shocked me to learn was how comparable the film is to the AIDS panic in the 80's, which was just hitting the news at the same time of this movie's release. 10/10
143)People Under the Stairs - This is like the Home Alone of the horror genre in that a 13 year old child is able to outsmart adults, despite the adults having intricate knowledge of all the traps and secret passages in their own home. Very bizarre in a bad way, two siblings are calling each other Mommy and Daddy and the guy is wearing a gimp suit for half the film. It's certainly good in terms of production and is a decent thriller, but this film is simply not for me. 3/10
144)Lifeforce - (BLU RAY) Not a bad movie, but I loved how the movie tried desperately to sound scientific. For example, a "specimen bag" is simply a net, astronauts are describing a foreign object in space as "enormous" without describing shape or length, and my favorite is when a doctor describes the vampire as being "totally dangerous". The third act was very abrupt as all of a sudden the characters come back from investigating the whereabouts of the space gal, only to find London under martial law and NATO under control. Very ambitious project with some very good effects at times, but not a great movie by any stretch. 7/10
145)Scanners 2: The New Order - (BLU RAY) Whereas scanning in the first film remained a mystery for most of the film, here it's overused and to see actors trying to act with only their eyes is hilarious. Story is decent, but with none of the original stars returning, I don't see why the writers felt the need to make the character the son of the first film's couple. 4/10
146)Don't Be Afraid of the Dark ('10) - (BLU RAY) Biggest problem I have with this is they R rating. I see no reason why this should be rated R. Only one grisly death scene where a character gets stabbed multiple times, but the blood is CG and there's no gore. Offers a few jump scares, but the creature effects are terrible. The most horrifying thing for me was the creatures whispering in the walls before they're even visible. 4/10

Oct 30th
147)Day of the Dead ('85) - (BLU RAY) I avoided this movie for years after being disappointed with it the first time I watched it, probably because of the little screen time of zombies. My perspective has changed and I've come to appreciate the film more. The focus here is on the breakdown of society and how nobody can get along. Every character is to their breaking point and each group has their own interest. The Rhodes' "Choke on 'em" death may be the most memorable death in the entire series. 8/10
148) The Psycho Legacy - Very informative documentary on the entire series. Learned how Perkins didn't get along with Meg Tilly in 2, and that he was jealous he couldn't return to direct 4. Shocked to see the discussion of how Re-Animator ripped off the theme as I thought that topic would have been avoided. 9/10
149)Phantasm 2 - (BLU RAY) - Only thing worthwhile here is the somewhat added lore to the series with the gold sphere and the Gravers, and the last 20 minutes is worthwhile as Reg and Mike do battle with the Tall Man. Otherwise the proceeding hour is dull, and the psychic connection plot was irrelevant. 6/10
150)The Fog ('80) - (BLU RAY) The best compliment I can give Carpenter for this movie is that it genuinely feels like a ghost story put to film and it oozes atmosphere like none other. Another unique quality is how all the film's events occur within 24 hours. 9/10
151)Paranormal Activity 3 - (BLU RAY) The best in the series in my opinion. The Bloody Mary sequence, rotating fan and ending are all moments that keep me on edge. 9/10

Oct 31st
152)Girl in Room 2A - Thanks dvdtalk and Chad! This was my prize from participating last year, so this was a mandatory watch. The reviews on the back make it sound like an influence on films like Hostel, but I wouldn't make that comparison. The cult leader in the red cape looked like a rejected WWF wrestler. It's a blend of horror mystery with action, and definitely has much cheese. 6/10
153)The Shining - My favorite horror film of all time. Thank you Kubrick for going against the author's wishes and giving us a horrifying experience that only you can deliver. 10/10
154)Scanners 3: The Takeover I'll summarize this film with three words: scanner kung fu! There's also an underwater scanner duel. 5/10
155)Paranormal Activity 4 - (BLU RAY) I'm a faithful Paranormie (I coined that term) until the end, but compared to the previous three, this one has many more plot holes and less scares. What happened to Robbie? 6/10

arw6040

Drop

2007 List
2008 List
2009 List
2010 List
2011 List
2012 List

10/1
1. Coraline

10/2
2. Event Horizon

10/5
TV-2.5. Sleepy Hollow: Season 1, Episode 3: For the Triumph of Evil (1/2 entry)

10/6
3.5. Leviathan
4.5. Room 237

10/8
TV-5. Sleepy Hollow: Season 1, Episode 4: The Lesser Key of Solomon (1/2 entry)
TV-5.5. American Horror Story Asylum: Episode 1, Welcome to Briarcliff (1/2 entry)

10/9
TV-6. American Horror Story Asylum: Episode 2, Tricks and Treats (1/2 entry)
TV-6.5. American Horror Story Murder House: Episode 2, Home Invasion (1/2 entry)
TV-7. American Horror Story Murder House: Episode 3, Murder House (1/2 entry)
TV-7.5. American Horror Story Murder House: Episode 4, Halloween Part 1 (1/2 entry)

10/10
TV-8. American Horror Story Asylum: Episode 3, Nor'easter (1/2 entry)
9. World's End: The Legacy of Day of the Dead

10/11
TV-9.5. American Horror Story Asylum: Episode 4, I Am Anne Frank Part 1 (1/2 entry)
10.5 The Lords of Salem

10/12
TV-11. American Horror Story Asylum: Episode 5, I Am Anne Frank Part 2 (1/2 entry)
TV-11.5. American Horror Story Asylum: Episode 6, The Origins of Monstrosity (1/2 entry)
TV-12. American Horror Story Asylum: Episode 7, Dark Cousin (1/2 entry)
TV-12.5. American Horror Story Asylum: Episode 8, Unholy Night (1/2 entry)
13.5 Bride of Chucky
TV-14. American Horror Story Asylum: Episode 9, The Coat Hanger (1/2 entry)
TV-14.5. American Horror Story Asylum: Episode 10, The Name Game (1/2 entry)
TV-15. American Horror Story Asylum: Episode 11, Spilt Milk (1/2 entry)
TV-15.5. American Horror Story Asylum: Episode 12, Continuum (1/2 entry)
TV-16. American Horror Story Asylum: Episode 13, Madness Ends (1/2 entry)

10/13
17. Seed of Chucky
18. Curse of Chucky
TV-18.5 American Horror Story Coven: Episode 1, Bitchcraft (1/2 entry)

10/14
TV-19. The Walking Dead: Season 4, Episode 1: 30 Days Without An Accident (1/2 entry)

10/15
TV-19.5. Sleepy Hollow: Season 1, Episode 5: John Doe (1/2 entry)

10/16
TV-19.75 Toy Story of Terror (1/4 entry)

10/17
TV-20.25 American Horror Story Coven: Episode 2, Boy Parts (1/2 entry)

10/18
21.25. Psycho

10/21
22.25. House

10/22
TV-22.75. The Walking Dead: Season 4, Episode 2: Infected (1/2 entry)
23.75. Scream
24.75. Scream 2

10/24
TV-25.5. The Walking Dead: Season 1, Episode 1: Days Gone Bye (3/4 entry)
TV-26. American Horror Story Coven: Episode 3, The Replacements (1/2 entry)

10/26
27. Pee-wee's Big Adventure (Wild Card 1)

10/30
28. The Shining

10/31
29. Monsters University
30. The Adventures of Pete & Pete, Halloweenie (Wild Card 2)

nezumi

10-07-2013: Added titles 1-8
10-14-2013: Added titles 9-16
10-21-2013: Added titles 17-23; minor edits
10-28-2013: Added titles 24-31
11-01-2013: Added titles 32-36; minor edits
11-04-2013: Added reviews; minor edits

My viewings this year are dedicated to the late Jerry G. Bishop, Chicago TV's original Svengoolie.

LAST YEAR: 39 films
THIS YEAR'S PERSONAL GOAL: 31 films

THE LIST
All films are DVD format unless noted.
Bold indicates a first-time viewing.
* = Wildcard selection

1. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
2. Tokyo Zombie (2005) - Two goofball employees at a fire extinguisher factory accidentally murder their boss, so they ditch the corpse at an illegal dumping ground in the center of Tokyo called "Black Fuji." Years of illegal toxic waste dumping finally cause the bodies buried in Black Fuji to rise from the dead. Ignore the comparisons to Shaun of the Dead in the disc case's hyperbolic copy. The film operates on a twisted sort of childlike logic, but it still works.
3. Tokyo Gore Police (2008)
4. Goke, Body Snatcher from Hell (1968)
5. Genocide (1968)
6. Dracula (1931) - Broadcast television, part of Svengoolie.
7. Dracula 2000 (2000)
8. Dracula II: Ascension (2003)
9. Dracula III: Legacy (2005)
10. Daybreakers (2009) - Google Play.
11. Shakma (1990) - Youtube. See my comments from the "Shakma" discussion thread.
12. Chopping Mall (1986) - All the references to Corman in this film lead me to believe it began its life as a gag reel shot for Concorde Pictures' Christmas party.
13. Maneater of Hydra (A.K.A., "Island of the Doomed") (1967) - If you can, see the "Movie Macabre" version of this film with Elvira. It's pretty unbearable otherwise. In a bizarre coincidence, this film was directed by Corman regular Mel Welles, who plays the cook in my previous viewing selection, Chopping Mall.
14. Cult of the Cobra (1955) - Broadcast television, part of Svengoolie.
15. Island of Lost Souls (1932)
16. The Hidden (1987)
17. Final Remains (A.K.A., "Mortuary") (2005) - A couple of stoners and their girlfriends break into a funeral home where they run afoul of the homicidal undertaker. I think. Perhaps the most charitable thing that can be said about the film is that it features some fairly attractive women, but that's hardly enough to warrant a viewing of this misbegotten waste of disc space.
18. Christine (1983) - Google Play. It's probably been decades since I've seen this film, and the shots of the car repairing itself still make my jaw drop.
19. Making Monsters, "Distorters Make the Best Monsters!"* - Travel Channel. There might be an interesting reality television show about Halloween decoration manufacturers, but this one ain't it.
20. Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) - Google Play. I've only seen two "Friday the 13th" films: this one and Jason X. Some don't care for the self-conscious humor, but I think you have to be in the proper mood to enjoy the film.
21. Curse of the Undead (1959) - Broadcast television, part of Svengoolie.
22. My Bloody Valentine (1981)
23. The Fear Chamber (2009) - A homicide detective is nearly killed when he interrupts a serial killer during a murder. Once recovered, the detective begins to experience visions of the killer's victims, which may or may not be due to the detective's alcoholism and/or prescription drug use.The core problem with the film is that it lacks any cohesion from scene to scene. I suspect that Richard Tyson (Three O'Clock High) and Steven Williams (21 Jump Street) appear in the film to fulfill some sort of court-mandated community service.
24. Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
25. The Pit and the Pendulum (1991)
26. Bad Inclination (2003) A woman is murdered with an architect's triangle (or set-square) in an apartment complex, inadvertently providing covers for several tenants to commit their own murders. The film is an unsatisfying attempt to recapture the magic of classic giallo. Not even the brief appearance of Franco Nero as a manic street preacher can help this film.
27. Witchery (1988) - A group of strangers (including David Hasselhoff and a pregnant Linda Blair) are trapped in an abandoned island hotel by a witch who died on the island. I think. This film is one of two unofficial sequels to the "Evil Dead" series and shares only the most superficial motifs of those films. The makeup effects are actually not half-bad, and the kills are pretty gross fun.
28. The Midnight Meat Train (2008) - Bradley Cooper plays a photographer who accidentally stumbles across a butcher (Vinnie Jones) who is using the subways to hunt his prey. I have to admit that I wasn't too impressed the first time I saw this film. There's too much reliance on terrible looking CGI blood. The "twist" ending is preposterous. However, I found myself appreciating Ryuhei Kitamura's direction a little more the second time around. It's a shame the source material doesn't quite match up with his energetic style.
29. I was a Teenage Zombie (1987) - VHS.
30. Fright Night Part II (1988) - Broadcast television.
31. The Fat Albert Halloween Special (Broadcast television) / The Andy Griffith Show, "The Haunted House" / The Munsters, "Herman Munster, Shutterbug" / The Munsters, "Just Another Pretty Face"
32. Evil Dead II (1987) - VHS.
33. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
34. Village of the Damned (1960)
35. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown*
36. Monster House (2006)

Giles

9th Annual October Horror Movie Challenge

01 - Halloween / 35th Anniversary Edition Bluray / Oct. 1 / ★★★★★
02 - The Devil's Backbone / Oct. 1 / ★★★★★
03 - Room 237 / Oct. 2 / ★★★★ / ☼
04 - The Funhouse (UK 'Arrow' bluray) / Oct. 3 / ★★★★ / ☼
05 - American Mary / Oct. 4 / ★★★ / ☼
06 - Human Centipede II: Full Sequence / Oct. 5 / ★★★ / ☼
07 - Rawhead Rex / Oct. 6 / ★★ / ☼
08 - Nightmares in Red, White and Blue: The Evolution of the American Horror Film / 2008 / Oct. 7 / ★★★ / ☼
09 - World War Z / unrated version ☼ / Oct. 8 / ★★★★
10 - The Other / 1972 / Oct. 9 / ★★★★★ / ☼
11 - Suspiria [with commentary track] / Oct. 10 / ★★★★★ / ☼
12 - The Possessed / 2013 / Oct. 11 / ★★ / ☼
13 - It Lives Again (It's Alive II) / Oct. 13 / ★★ / ☼
14 - It's Alive III: Island of the Alive / Oct. 13 / ★★★ / ☼
15 - Evil Ed / 1995 / Oct. 14 / ★★.5 / ☼
16 - Curse of Chucky / Oct. 15 / ★★★★ / ☼
17 - House by the Cemetary / [Catriona MacColl and Calum Weddell commentary track ☼] / Oct. 17 / ★★★★
18 - The Wolf Man / 1941 / [commentary track ☼] / Oct. 18 / ★★★★
19 - Escape From Tomorrow / Oct. 20 / ★★★ / ☼
20 - [REC]³ Genesis / Oct. 21 / ★★ / ☼
21 - Carrie (2013) / Oct. 22 / ★★★ / ☼
22 - Maniac (2012) / Oct. 23 / ★★★ / ☼
23 - I Spit On Your Grave (2012) / Oct. 24 / ★★★ / ☼
24 - The Conjuring / Oct. 25 / ★★★★ / ☼
25 - Zombie Flesh Eaters [ Stephen Thrower / Alan Jones commentary track ☼] / Oct. 26 / ★★★★★
26 - Nightmare on Elm Street / [cast-crew commentary ☼] / Oct. 26 / ★★★★★
27 - The Devil's Rock / Oct. 27 / ★★ / ☼
28 - Frankenstein's Army / Oct. 27 / ★★ / ☼
29 - The Fly (1958) / [commentary track ☼] / Oct. 28 / ★★★★★
30 - Psycho (1960) / [commentary track ☼] / Oct. 28 / ★★★★★
31 - Mama / Oct. 29 / ★★★★ / ☼
32 - Prince of Darkness / Oct. 29 / ★★★ / ☼
33 - Paranormal Activity 4 / Oct. 30 / ★★★ / ☼
34 - In the Mouth of the Madness / Oct. 30 / ★★★★ / ☼
35 - Silent Hill: Revelations / Oct. 30 / ★★★ / ☼
36 - The Dunwich Horror / 1970 / Oct. 31 / ★★★ / ☼
37 - My Amityville Horror / Oct. 31 / ★★★ / ☼
38 - Hatchet III / Oct. 31 / ★★ / ☼
39 - The Nightmare Before Christmas / Oct. 31 / ★★★★★
40 - Ghostbusters / 70mm print / Oct. 31
41 - Paranormal Activity 4 / ★★ / Nov. 1 (midnight to dawn) ☼
42 - Vampire Sucks / ★ / Nov. 1 (midnight to dawn) ☼

TV (count: 15)

- Paranormal Witness ["The Coven"] / Oct. 4 ☼
- Ghost Adventures ['100th Episode: "The Exorcist House"'] / Oct. 5 ☼
- Ghost Adventures ['Up Close & Personal'] / Oct. 5 ☼
- The Simpsons ['Tree House of Horrors XXIV'] / Oct. 6 ☼
- Bob's Burgers ['Fort Night'] / Oct. 6 ☼
- Lost Tapes ['Zombies'] / Oct. 8 ☼
- Lost Tapes ['Mothman'] / Oct. 9 ☼
- Ghost Adventures ['Alcatraz'] / Oct. 12 ☼
- The Walking Dead ['30 Days Without An Accident'] / Oct. 14 ☼
- Ghost Hunters ['Undying Love'] / Oct. 15 ☼
- Toy Story of Terror / Oct. 16 ☼
- Super Fun Night ['Chick or Treat'] / Oct. 16 ☼
- Ghost Hunters ['The Coroner's Case'] / Oct. 17 ☼
- Lost Tapes ['Werewolf'] / Oct. 18
- Dead Files Revisited ['Surrounded' & 'Hotel Hell: 60min] / Oct. 20 ☼
- Ghost Adventures ['Mustang Ranch'] / Oct. 20 ☼
- Regular Show ['Terror Tales of the Park III'] / Oct. 21 ☼
- MAD [Halloween Special: 'Doraline; 'Monster Mashville'] / Oct. 22 ☼ WILD CARD #1
- South Park ['Goth Kids 3 Dawn of the Posers] / Oct. 24 ☼
- Ghost Hunters ['Shock Island'] / Oct. 25 ☼
- The Walking Dead ['Infested'] / Oct. 25 ☼
- The Walking Dead ['Isolation'] / Oct. 27 ☼
- Giada at Home ['Ghoulish Goodies'] / Oct. 27 ☼
- Ghost Adventures ['Thornhaven Manor'] / Oct. 29 ☼
- American Horror Story: Coven ['Bitchcraft'] / Oct. 29 ☼
- American Horror Story: Coven ['Boy Parts'] / Oct. 29 ☼
- Ghost Hunters ['Hyde and Seek'] / Oct. 30 ☼
- Dracula (2013) ['The Blood is the Life'] / Oct. 31 ☼
- American Horror Story: Coven ['Fearful Pranks Ensue'] / Oct. 31 ☼
- Ellen ['Ellen's Halloween Show'] / Oct. 31 ☼
- Ghost Adventures [Halloween Show: Transylvania] / Nov. 1 (midnight to dawn) ☼
- 666 Revealed / 2006 / Nov. 1 (midnight to dawn) ☼
- SNL Halloween / 2013 / Nov. 1 (midnight to dawn) ☼

Literature

- "Jacqueline Ess: Her Will And Testament" - Clive Barker / Oct. 3
- "Son of Celluloid" - Clive Barker / Oct. 4
- 'Belief in Vampires, from 12th Century revenants to Bela Lugosi' - Richard Suggs [BBC History Magazine / Sept. '13 / pages: 36-38] / Oct. 5
- "Rawhead Rex" - Clive Barker / Oct. 6
- "Midnight Meat Train" - Clive Barker / Oct. 12

Misc. (count: 2)

- Beyond Comprehension: William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist / Oct. 29 / ☼ WILD CARD #2
- World's End: The Legacy of Day of the Dead / Oct. 30 / ☼ WILD CARD #3

(not counted)

'31 Horror Movies in 31 Days Season Six'
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #1: BOA (2001) / Oct. 5
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #2: ALIEN 2 ON EARTH (1980) / Oct. 5
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #3: MORTUARY (1983) / Oct. 5
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #4: PYTHON (2000) / Oct. 5
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #5: THE RAGE CARRIE 2 (1999) / Oct. 7
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #6: DREAMANIAC (1986) / Oct. 7
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #7: VENOMOUS (2001) / Oct. 7
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #8: VAMPEGEDDON (2010) / Oct. 10
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #9: CARRIE (2002) / Oct. 10
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #10: BOA VS PYTHON (2004) / Oct. 10
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #11: DAY OF THE DEAD (2008) / Oct. 14
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #12: TERROR ON ALCATRAZ (1987) / Oct. 14
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #13: KILLER CROCODILE II (1990) / Oct. 14
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #14: THE BURNING (1981) / Oct. 14
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #15: TRICK OR TREATS (1982) / Oct. 18
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #16: SSSSSSS (1973) / Oct. 18
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #17: SORORITY HOUSE MASSACRE II (1990) / Oct. 18
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #18: FORBIDDEN WORLD (1982) / Oct. 25
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #19: RAGING SHARKS (2005) / Oct. 25
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #20: DEAD SILENCE | THE APPARITION | WORLD WAR Z / Oct. 25
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #21: FATAL GAMES (1984) / Oct. 25
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #22: DEAD SPACE (1991) / Oct. 25
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #23: SLASHDANCE (1989) / Oct. 25
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #24: THE CHILLING (1989) / Oct. 25
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #25: TOO SCARED TO SCREAM (1985) / Oct. 30
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #26: VENOM (2005) / Oct. 30
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #27: RING OF DARKNESS (2004) / Oct. 30
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #28: DOOM ASYLUM (1987) / Oct. 30
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #29: HARD ROCK NIGHTMARE (1988) / Oct. 30
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #30: NIGHT SCHOOL (1981) / Oct. 31
- 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days #31: DEMONOID (1981) / Oct. 31

~
- The Talking Dead ['30 Days Without An Accident'] / Oct. 14
- The Talking Dead ['Infested'] / Oct. 25



☼: First Time Viewing
titles in blue: bluray

rbrown498

Orange Title - Denotes first-time-ever viewing

Caution: Spoilers may follow!

Last year's tally: 26 films; 13 first-time viewings

This year's goals: 75 films; 50 first-time viewings; complete all lists


9/30/2013

NOTE: This film is NOT counted in my totals, as I consider it to be a sort of pre-Challenge warm up.

XX House (1977) (Blu-ray) - It’s not often that I’m completely at a loss for words about anything, much less a film…but House has left me somewhat speechless. Simply put, as director/fan Ti West says in a supplement to the film, there is no other film like it. While the back of the case likens House to an episode of Scooby-Doo as directed by Mario Bava, I found it to be more like a live-action Max Fleischer cartoon as directed by Jean Cocteau and produced by Sid and Marty Krofft. The “plot” is that seven friends visit the home of one of their aunts, and while there, the house eats them, one by one…although it’s really impossible to describe the film adequately, as it’s got to be seen to be appreciated. I found myself laughing out loud quite often, and there were two or three times that I had to replay a sequence because it was so creatively adventurous. Everyone’s not going to like this film, but I found it to be absolutely delightful.

10/1/2013

1. Black Sabbath (1963) (DVD-R from VHS) - While not my favorite Bava movie as a whole, I still love Black Sabbath…mainly because its “The Drop of Water” segment, at the time I first saw it, was the scariest thing I’d ever seen in my life up to that point. I prefer the AIP cut and Titra dub, as that’s the version that first made such a huge impact on me, but I prefer the sequencing of the Italian cut better, because the film builds in intensity and scares until culminating in Bava’s finest 20 minutes, “The Drop of Water.” The other two stories don’t do a lot for me (and “The Telephone” doesn’t make a lick of sense in its AIP incarnation), but that dead psychic in “The Drop of Water” makes up for all of the film’s inadequacies. That segment is STILL terrifying, 50 years after it was made.

2. X - The Man with the X-Ray Eyes (1963) (DVD) - For its budget, this is an extremely well-done little film, with Ray Milland inventing eye drops that allow him to see through things. At first, he’s only able to see through people’s clothes, but unlike 99% of the world’s male population, he doesn’t want to stop there. As he takes more dosages of the drug, the effect becomes cumulative, and soon he’s able to see through skin, then through organs, then into what lies on the other side of our reality. Don Rickles shows up in a rare straight role, and the ending must have been a complete mind-scrambler 50 years ago. Highly recommended.

10/2/2013

3. Don't Go to Sleep (1982) (Streaming--YouTube) - This one-size-fits-all made-for-TV horror film has always been at the edges of my radar, but I saw it for the first time tonight. I'd always heard that it was one of the scarier TV fright flicks, but it didn't do much for me. It does, however, cover pretty much all the bases when it comes to horror films, as it features a ghost, an evil kid, a psycho killer, an iguana, and Ruth Gordon. Even with all that, I have to say that I was mightily disappointed.

4. The Possessed (1977) (DVD-R from the Warner Archive Collection) - Now, THIS is a good old-fashioned TV horror movie. You know that it's a good one because it stars Joan Hackett, who was in two other great made-for-TV horror films, Dead of Night and Reflections of Murder. It's also set at a girls' boarding school, which, in '70s TV-movies at least, were known to be hotbeds of witchcraft, Satanism, and other icky stuff. Harrison Ford shows up as a science teacher, and PJ Soles, as one of the featured students, rocks one of the worst hairdos ever. The Possessed was the pilot film for a proposed series which would have starred James Farentino as a wandering evil-fighter. Too bad that none of the networks picked up the series; in the right hands, it could have been a winner.

10/3/2013

5. The Reef (2010) (DVD) - I'll admit that I have a fear of the ocean, mostly due to my phobia about being eaten by really big fish. The Reef exploits this fear pretty well, yet I really didn't enjoy the film. My problem with it stems from the fact that I don't see the entertainment value in such a realistic depiction of the aftermath of a shipwreck, when there's obviously very little hope that any of the protagonists will make it out of their situation alive. For me, horror and suspense movies should be fun, and I didn't have any fun with The Reef. The film is exceedingly well-made, but to what end? While I didn't hate it, I doubt that I'll ever want to rewatch The Reef.

6. Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) (Blu-ray 3D) - When I watched Creature tonight, I watched it in 3D for the first time since a local university showed it during my high school years. While it was a lot of fun with a big crowd, it was just as enjoyable in my living room tonight, due to the quality of the Universal Blu-ray presentation. This go-round, I was really struck by how incredibly detailed the Creature costume was. I especially liked how the Creature gasped for air when on land, and every time it opened its mouth, the inside looked remarkably like the inside of a fish's mouth, and the gills moved back and forth. This Blu-ray print has so much detail that I even noticed that the Creature's claws, when it grabbed the riverbank, bent like the rubber that they were. It's a classic, and it's great to finally own a decent copy in 3D.

10/4/2013

7. American Mary (2012) (DVD) - This surprisingly enjoyable (well, to me, anyway) twisted little fable about a medical school dropout who goes pro as a body modification surgeon features an outstanding performance by Katherine Isabelle. While I've known her face before, from such films as Ginger Snaps and the made-for-TV version of Carrie, I never took the time to attach a name to it...until now. I found the film to be absolutely fascinating, with only the ending being a bit disappointing. If the writer-director-actor sisters Jen and Sylvia Soska make as big a leap between American Mary and their next feature as they did between Dead Hooker in a Trunk and American Mary, it should be completely amazing. Worth seeking out.

8. Videodrome (1983) (Blu-ray) - While I generally enjoy David Cronenberg's films, Videodrome is an exception. It starts off great, but the longer it goes on, the less sense it makes. By the end of the film, I just don't care WHAT happens to the character of Max Renn. It's not a film that I plan to rewatch anytime soon, but to give credit where credit is due, it features one of my favorite character names of all time: Barry Convex.

10/5/2013

9. The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976) (DVD-R from Turner Classic Movies) - This is another of those films that I'm surprised has taken me this long to get around to watching. I know that I have the VHS in storage somewhere, and I had a vague idea that I had actually watched it before, but I guess that I've only ever just watched the first few minutes, as nothing past the titles seemed familiar at all. The Town That Dreaded Sundown was made by Charles B. Pierce, of The Legend of Boggy Creek fame, and it shows. The dialogue sometimes (well, actually, most of the time) comes off as unnatural, and the whole decoy sequence seemed horribly out of place. I still found it funny, however. Dawn Wells (Mary Ann from Gilligan's Island) shows up long enough to get third billing, and Andrew Prine and Ben Johnson are always watchable. The title is an all-time classic. A remake/sequel is coming out next year from the producers of Sinister and American Horror Story.

10. Black Water (2007) (DVD) - Here's something that I can't explain: I really enjoyed Black Water, yet I was only lukewarm about The Reef. I find this kind of funny, since the same guy who directed The Reef co-directed Black Water, and both films have essentially the same basic plot. If you replace the ocean with an Australian mangrove swamp, and substitute a crocodile for the shark, this IS The Reef. I am a bundle of contradictions. The middle third of Black Water drags terribly, but the last half-hour or so evens it out with some good suspense. Recommended.

10/6/2013

11. The Lords of Salem (2012) (DVD) - An open letter to Rob Zombie: Dear Mr. Zombie, please stop making films. Really, please. Thank you.

10/7/2013

12. The Black Sleep (1956) (Streaming--Netflix) - When television came in to stay in the early 1950s and people started staying at home instead of going out to the movies, Hollywood had to do something to entice people back to the theaters. This "something" took many forms, from widescreen and 3D films to stereophonic sound. Smaller studios such as United Artists didn't have the deep pockets that the big boys had, so they had to make adjustments in smaller, yet just as important ways. The Black Sleep nicely illustrates one of the ways that smaller studios and independent producers used to lure people into theaters--gore. While very few people these days would label The Black Sleep as "gory," at the time that it came out it probably disgusted quite a few people. But if you take out the brain surgery and the melty-looking face of one of the characters, it's very much akin to films such as The Strange Door or The Black Castle. It also features a fine performance by Basil Rathbone, and it was the last film of Bela Lugosi's to be released during his lifetime. In its own way, The Black Sleep was very much a harbinger of things to come. While it may be underproduced and overpadded with unnecessary dialogue, it inched the gore factor up a notch, for better or for worse.

10/8/2013

13. The Flesh and the Fiends (1960) (DVD) - I wasn't expecting much from what I figured would be a fairly dull potboiler, so I was pretty happy to be wrong. The Flesh and the Fiends is another retelling of the Burke and Hare story, yet this one stands out from the pack due to excellent performances all around, especially from Peter Cushing and an unexpectedly slim Donald Pleasance. Recommended

14. The Vampire Lovers (1970) (DVD) - Silly, trashy fun from Hammer and AIP. Ingrid Pitt stars as Carmilla/Mircalla/Marcilla Karnstein, a vampiress with a penchant for the ladies. It's based on Sheridan Le Fanu's novella Carmilla, which was also the source for Roger Vadim's Blood and Roses. The film plays a little fast and loose with basic vampire mythology (Carmilla is able to be out and about during the day, and there's some business involving burial shrouds that was new to me), but this really isn't the type of film that you need to spend lots of time thinking about. Carmilla's portrait reminds me of the paintings of Margaret Keane, which is more unsettling than anything else in the movie. If the movie had matched the American poster, it would probably be my favorite movie of all time.

10/9/2013

15. Shakma (1990) (Streaming--Netflix) - Stinkbomb of a film features a really pissed-off monkey stalking and killing medical school students who are playing a live version of a Dungeons and Dragons-esque game with one of their professors. Awful in almost every imaginable way, with particular raspberries going to the incredibly cheap plywood sets--there has never been a hospital with less-sturdy doors. Ever. It's another example of the trailer being head-and-shoulders better than the film itself; watch it instead.

16. Captive Wild Woman (1943) (DVD) - John Carradine plays an endocrinologist who goes off the deep end, transplanting human glands into an ape and turning her into Acquanetta. This movie had the potential to get really freaky, as the ape had feelings for the leading man, but it weaseled out before getting too weird. There's a lot more lion- and tiger-training footage in the film than there is ape monster footage, so I was a bit disappointed in the circus-to-chills ratio. In a cost-saving in-joke, the circus owner often complains of Clyde Beatty not coming to work for him, while it's Clyde Beatty himself who doubles for the leading man in all of the animal-taming footage.

17. Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932) (DVD) - Bela Lugosi's crazy eyebrows star in this fairly fast-moving tale of a madman, his monkey, and the girls they kidnap. It's no great shakes, but it's short and has some fairly innovative editing techniques for the time period. The leading man is as bland as bread dough, however.

10/10/2013

18. Eyes of Fire (1983) (DVD-R from VHS) - Fascinating mess of a movie tells the story of what happens to a group of settlers who, in 1750, move into a valley shunned by the local Indians as being an evil place. It seems that the valley is populated by a mess of elemental spirits, including a cat-eyed demon witch, who don't take kindly to human trespassers. To give any more specifics would be a disservice to first-time viewers, as much of the effectiveness of the film lies in seeing what weirdo idea writer/director Avery Crounse trots out next. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but it's certainly memorable.

19. Dead Birds (2004) (DVD) - In 1863, a group of bank robbers take shelter in an abandoned plantation house in Alabama. Unfortunately for them, something supernatural has remained there, and it doesn't like the intrusion. Okay film has some good atmosphere and performances, but I never really found myself as involved with it as much as I wanted to be. I think the problem lies in the fact that the film simply has too much going on, and the back story about the history of the house is unnecessarily convoluted. Worth a watch, but not essential.

10/11/2013

20. Killer Tongue (1996) (DVD) - I'm going to make a sweeping generalization here (something I've become quite fond of doing as I get older), but I feel that anyone that really likes this movie has something wrong with them. I'm talking DSM-IV wrong. It's easily the worst film I've sat through in the last year, and it's probably the second-worst film I've ever watched for the challenge. For a moment, it made me question whether my least-favorite film of all time should still hold that position. This one is BAAAAD. I would give a short plot synopsis, but I don't want to encourage anyone to seek this out, ever. It's best to avoid this film like you avoid that guy on the corner that smells like pee and talks to himself. You've been warned.

21. Hatchet (2007) (DVD) - I enjoyed Hatchet a bunch. While it doesn't break new ground, Hatchet exemplifies Roger Ebert's quote about what makes a good movie: "It's not what a movie is about, it's how it is about it.” Hatchet goes about it with a great and game cast, some really funny lines, and a handful of terrific jump-scares. Highly recommended.

10/12/2013

22. Severance (2006) (DVD) - One of the more overtly political horror films that I've ever seen, Severance succeeds not because of its politics, but because of its wicked sense of humor. I was a little concerned that the comedy might outweigh the horror, but the filmmakers struck a nice balance between the two. There's one scene involving the refrigerator on the company bus that had me laughing so hard I was crying. I blame it on my sick sense of humor. Like Hatchet, highly recommended.

23. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013) (Blu-ray) - This is a fun film from the director of Dead Snow. If you liked that movie, you'll probably like this one, too. While I enjoyed the film, it does get a bit draggy in the middle, and I grew tired of the hyperkinetic editing very quickly. Will Ferrell and Adam McKay (Step Brothers, Talladega Nights) were two of the producers. My favorite gag: the missing children's pictures on the milk bottles.

24. Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957) (DVD) - This typical early Roger Corman quickie has a slightly better monster than usual, but besides that, it's pretty much par for the course. Don't take that to mean that you shouldn't see it, however. The plot in twenty words or less: Atomic fallout has spawned mutant giant crabs, who absorb the intellect and memories of their victims. Sure it's dumb, but it's hard to dislike any film that features giant crustaceans with human eyes who snore when they sleep. A relatively painless 62 minutes.

25. The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake (1959) (DVD) - Every male in Jonathan Drake's family has died on or around his 60th birthday of heart failure. It's just happened to his brother, and now Jonathan is afraid that it's going to happen to him. For a low-budget shocker from the 1950s, The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake is surprisingly engrossing, with great performances all around. Originally released as the top half of a double-bill that featured Invisible Invaders as its co-feature, The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake warrants an easy recommendation.

26. Vampire Girl Vs. Frankenstein Girl (2009) (DVD) - From the fine folks who brought you Tokyo Gore Police, this film continues the tradition of gonzo splatterfests from Japan. I have to wonder what percentage of the total budget was for fake blood--it had to be at least 10-15%, as nobody just bleeds in this film; they make it rain with arterial spray. Features a cameo from Shiina Eihi, of Audition infamy. It's no classic, but it's worth a watch if your sensibilities aren't too sensible.

10/13/2013

27. Trilogy of Terror (1975) (DVD) - Man, but I do dearly love made-for-TV horror movies from the '70s! This is one of the best...although to be perfectly honest, a third of this is one of the best. The first two stories are no great shakes, but the "Amelia" segment is a classic--so much so that it was released as a standalone videotape way back when, for those who didn't have the patience to hit the fast-forward button for a few minutes. Even though the "Amelia" segment scared the crap out of everyone who saw it in its original airing, it's actually kind of funny today. The sounds that the doll makes are really pretty goofy. What hasn't gotten funny is the final shot of the segment, which is nightmare inducing indeed.

28. Bride of Chucky (1998) (Streaming--Netflix) - Third sequel to Child's Play drops all pretenses of being scary and goes all-out to be as entertaining as possible. Since I've never been a huge fan of the series, I found Bride of Chucky to be a total blast. Jennifer Tilly brings her A game, and the in-jokes scattered throughout the picture are pretty amusing. It's a lot of fun.

10/14/2013

29. ParaNorman (2012) (Streaming--Netflix) - Okay, I'll admit--I wasn't really looking forward to watching ParaNorman. If left to my own devices, I probably would never have watched it...so I'm glad that it was chosen as a subset selection, because I thoroughly enjoyed it. The character design was really unique, the score was wonderful (I'm listening to "Norman's Walk" on Rhapsody as I type this), and it had, at least in the early part of the film, a rather melancholy feel that I don't think that I've ever seen in any other animated film. I'm now going to have to find this on Blu-ray 3D and make it a part of my permanent collection. Best line: "Don't make me throw this hummus--it's spicy!"

10/15/2013

30. Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971) (DVD) - Back when I was a kid, my town's theater used to publish a small, usually bi-weekly 4-page flyer advertising upcoming films. The theater usually changed films on Mondays and Fridays, with the Monday-Thursday films marketed to adults, and the Friday-Sunday films marketed to kids. Most of the weekend showings were double-features, so each weekend page in the flyer showed two ad mats. When Let's Scare Jessica to Death showed up in the flyer, it got three of the four pages just for it, as it stayed the whole week, which was something rare indeed. One of its three pages was one of those optical illusions where you would stare at what appeared to be some dark squiggly splotches for about 30 seconds, then quickly look to a white wall to see the after-image correctly. That, and the poster reproduction on one of the pages, made me both want to see the film and stay far away from it at the same time. I ended up not going to see it, but I finally caught up with it when it was released on VHS in the early '80s. I loved (and still love) the atmosphere of the film...it feels melancholy and decaying, which is the perfect mood for a horror film. There's a scene in it (and if you've seen it, you know the one I'm talking about) that sends gooseflesh up and down my arms. The movie's not perfect (Zohra Lampert's performance as Jessica is absolutely realistic, but it makes her character incredibly hard to warm up to), but it's got a singular mood about it that makes it, for me anyway, a perfect film to watch once the autumn nights start getting chilly.

10/16/2013

31. Jack Frost (1997) (Streaming--Netflix) - Here's another subset film that I was not looking forward to seeing. After watching it, I have to say that it's not nearly as bad as I thought that it would be. It had good actors (who played it as straight as humanly possible), nice cinematography, and was competently directed. But I have to ask the question: When you've obviously got some talent, both in front of and behind the camera, whey waste it on such drivel? How many people heard the concept and thought, "I can't WAIT to see that!"? My guess is not many indeed, and the movie's direct-to-video status confirms that. So what we get is a fairly well-made movie with an awful premise. This reminds me of what might happen if, say, Sofia Coppola directed a film for Troma. Not my cup of tea--and I find it difficult to believe that this is anybody else's cup of tea, either. Not recommended.

10/17/2013

32. The Caller (2011) (DVD) - Wow, but this was NOT what I was expecting at ALL. The plot in a nutshell: a woman in the midst of a divorce moves into an apartment and starts receiving odd phone calls from a woman named Rose. At first, she thinks that the calls are a prank, then she begins to think that Rose is crazy. The truth is something entirely different. On the one hand, it's a much better film than I thought that it might be, judging from the somewhat misleading DVD cover. On the other hand, it's rather confusing and doesn't really hold up under scrutiny. If you can put logic on hold for an hour and a half, it's pretty good. If you can't, watching it is a rather exasperating experience. I was exasperated. The lead actress, Rachel Lefevre, looks sort of like Chloe Grace Moritz blended with Jessica Hecht, the actress who played Ross's ex-wife Susan's lesbian lover on Friends.

10/18/2013

33. Return of the Living Dead III (1993) (DVD) - The series switches gears and goes deadly serious for the third installment. I love the first film in the franchise, I hate the second film, and I'm ambivalent about this installment. The reason for my ambivalence stems from the fact that I have come to absolutely loathe any film that tries to make the audience feel sympathy for zombies (or vampires, for that matter). This sad state of affairs started in earnest with Romero's Day of the Dead and Bub, the shaving zombie, and has cropped up time and time again in the past twenty-whatever years. ROTLD III cranks it up yet another notch, with the two doomed lovers pulling a Romeo and Juliet-esque double cremation. Add to that the fact that I've never seen a Brian Yuzna-directed film that I've really liked, and I'm surprised that I can still stomach the film at all...yet it somehow remains watchable.

34. King Kong (1933) (DVD) - There's not a whole lot that I can say about this one that hasn't already been said, and said better. Although The Lost World from 1925 pretty much told the story King Kong does, it was this film that really set the template for the "giant monster on a rampage" sub-genre. Essential viewing.

10/19/2013

35. John Dies at the End (2012) (DVD) - Don Coscarelli, director of Phantasm and Bubba Ho-Tep, is back in his gonzo element with this film. It's wildly inventive, funny, and maybe his best film ever. There's really no need for a plot synopsis, as it won't make much sense anyway. Just go in with an open mind and let the weirdness wash over you. I loved it.

36. Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988) (DVD) - I successfully avoided watching this film for 25 years. It looked like a really stupid, sub-Tromaesque, amateurish attempt at a cult movie. However, I bought a copy a few years back in a three-pack with The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai and Spaceballs, as I wanted to give Banzai another chance. I still haven't gotten around to rewatching that, but when today's theme came up, I immediately thought of Killer Klowns. I popped it in, and the first third of the film didn't disappoint me...by that, I mean that it was just as stupid as I had thought that it might be. But as I kept watching, I found myself beginning to enjoy this silly little mean-spirited film, and by the end I was digging it pretty hard. I don't know if I was just in a forgiving frame of mind while watching it or what, but I'm now a fan. The theme song by The Dickies is awesome.

10/20/2013

37. Vampires in Havana (1985) (Streaming--Netflix) - Odd Spanish-language animated film about, you guessed it, vampires in Havana. A descendant of Dracula has invented a formula to make vampires impervious to sunlight, and he wants to give the formula away for free to all vampires. However, vampire leaders from the US and Europe want to steal the formula and sell it to vampires, thus making scads of cash. They all meet in Cuba for a showdown. This film is really short, which for me was a blessing--there's a LOT of action going on and I got confused several times. I counted at least seven times that someone who was male got called a "mother." The music is great. Overall, I found Vampires in Havana to be mildly interesting but nonessential.

38. The Return of the Vampire (1944) (DVD) - Bela Lugosi stars as vampire Armand Tesla, who has a werewolf assistant named Andreas. Interesting wartime horror film from Columbia has a fairly goofy werewolf makeup, bite marks on victims' necks, and a fairly disgusting (for the time), if quickly glimpsed, disintegration scene. An interesting counterpart to the Universal horror films of the time, it lies, in terms of quality, almost exactly midway between them and the horrors being churned out by the studios on poverty row. The last line of the film breaks the fourth wall, to no great effect.

39. The Norliss Tapes (1973) (DVD) - Another excellent TV horror film from Dan Curtis. This one's hook is that David Norliss, a writer who has set out to disprove the existence of the supernatural, comes to believe in it after witnessing strange things. Unfortunately, he disappears before finishing a book on the subject, leading his publisher to go looking for him. The publisher finds a pile of cassette tapes in Norliss's home, and as he listens to the first tape (we know this because it's clearly marked with a "1"), we see the story being narrated by Norliss. Essentially a remake of Curtis's The Night Stalker, The Norliss Tapes was also a pilot for a proposed series, but this one wasn't picked up. It's a shame, really, as the concept is interesting and Roy Thinnes, who plays Norliss, is always worth watching.

10/21/2013

40. Scanners II: The New Order (1991) (Streaming--Amazon Prime) - Needless continuation of David Cronenberg's Scanners offers up nothing new or unusual. In fact, if I didn't already know better, I'd swear that the film was an extended first episode of a TV series from the early '90s that appeared on the USA Network or TBS. It's a relatively painless way to spend almost two hours, but there's no really compelling reason to watch it, either. David Hewlett and several pairs of funky contact lenses star.

10/22/2013

41. The Devil's Carnival (2012) (Streaming--Netflix) - I now know, after watching this film, what I want to do if aliens invade the Earth and give mankind one hour to live--I want to watch this film, because even though it only runs 55 minutes, it feels more like 55 hours. I suppose that there are some things to appreciate on display here (I thought the lighting was particularly effective in parts), but overall, I hated every incredibly long minute of this film. If the songs had been any good, I might have liked it a bit more...but as musicals are my least-favorite genre and the songs in this one were instantly forgettable, I'd rather pass a kidney stone than sit through this swill again. If you like musicals, your mileage may vary.

42. Hillbillys in a Haunted House (1967) (DVD) - Yes, this movie is stupid...but I saw it as a child and loved it, and I still have a great fondness for it. I see it as a beach party movie with country music and no beach. It's a sequel to Las Vegas Hillbillys, again with Ferlin Husky (an ersatz Frankie Avalon) and Don Bowman (an ersatz Jody McCrea) , but Joi Lansing (as an ersatz Annette Funicello) replaces Mamie Van Doren this go-round as Boots Malone. I'm pretty sure that they wanted to call the character Boobs Malone, but that wouldn't have quite flown yet in the mid '60s. I had a crush on Joi Lansing when I was 7 or 8, but looking at her in some shots in this film, with her husky voice and ample figure, brings to mind Divine in Hairspray. Hillbillys in a Haunted House also wastes the talents of Basil Rathbone, Lon Chaney Jr., and John Carradine. If you're a fan of traditional country music, you'll probably like it better than most people. For me, although I'm not a country music fan, Sonny James and Merle Haggard had the best songs, and Sonny James actually acquitted himself nicely as an actor as well. I don't expect anyone else to like it, and I'm okay with that.

10/23/2013

43. Blood Diner (1987) (DVD) - Sort of an homage of sorts to Blood Feast, Blood Diner tells the story of two brothers who, guided by the exhumed brain of their dead uncle, attempt to reincarnate the spirit of an ancient goddess. To do this, they have to first build a body out of the parts of various women, and then they've got to serve up a "blood buffet" for a bunch of folks. During the blood buffet, they've also got to have a virgin on hand, so that the reincarnated...you know what? This movie is worthless. Just skip it. You're not missing anything.

10/24/2013

44. Scream (1996) (DVD) - Scream was the first DVD I ever owned. It wasn't the first because it was my favorite movie; I'd never seen it before owning it. No, my brother gave it to me as a Christmas present--he had seen it in the theater and had thought it to be one of the scariest movies he'd ever seen, and when the DVD format came out, he thought that giving me a copy of a good horror movie would coerce me into buying a player. He was right. Every time I watch Scream, I like it more. My favorite moment this time around was Wes Craven's cameo, but there're SO many little homages in the film to horror movies from the past thirty-five years that I really can't imagine any true horror fan disliking it. My only real complaint is that Matthew Lillard should have dialed his performance down a LOT.

10/25/2013

45. Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933) (DVD) - This is one of my favorite horror films from the '30s. It's fast-paced, has great dialogue, and features Glenda Farrell. What's not to like? The early Technicolor just adds another dimension of strangeness to it.

46. Isle of the Dead (1945) (DVD) - Of the seven horror films that producer Val Lewton made for RKO in the '40s, this one gets my vote as being the one that's still most shiver-inducing today. While Cat People has plenty of classic moments, they're not really scary to me--they're tense, but not scary. Isle of the Dead, however, actually gets pretty creepy near the end. It's not my favorite Lewton film (Cat People still gets the nod for that), and it tends to drag in the middle, but I still like it a lot.

10/26/2013

47. Psycho III (1986) (DVD) - Anthony Perkins directs (for the first time) and stars, and does an admirable job of both. Even though it's a completely unnecessary sequel, Perkins manages to make it interesting and even wrings a little suspense out of a by-now very familiar character and setting. It's not particularly memorable, but it's certainly worth watching.

48. MST3K--Boggy Creek II: And the Legend Continues (1999/1985) (DVD) - Godawful dreck from Charles B. Pierce is a long way from the original The Legend of Boggy Creek or The Town That Dreaded Sundown; in fact, it's a long way from anything remotely resembling a good movie. Luckily, Mike and the 'bots make it almost tolerable. Almost.

49. The Evil of Frankenstein (1964) (DVD) - Peter Cushing's third outing as Frankenstein for Hammer doesn't get a lot of love from fans, but I found it to be a solid entry in the series. The monster this time out reminds me somewhat of the robot in The Colossus of New York, which is not necessarily a good thing. Hammer seems to be aiming more towards the kiddie matinee crowd with this one, as the monster seems designed for pathos, there's not a lot of blood and/or spare body parts, and there's only one busty actress in sight.

50. Children of the Corn: Revelation (2001) (DVD) - The only thing revealed to me by this entry in the never-ending series is that the producers were completely out of good ideas. If blood-filled corn kernels and stalks sound scary to you, then by all means give this one a spin. Idiotic.

51. The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942) (DVD) - It's hard for me to believe that I'd never seen this film before...but I hadn't until tonight. The fourth entry in Universal's Frankenstein saga marks a huge dropoff in quality from the previous films, but it still has a good cast and makes the most of its short running time. Lon Jr. plays the monster for the first and last time; he'd play the Wolf Man in this film's direct sequel.

52. Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943) (DVD) - I first saw this film when I was somewhere around 12 years old. I loved it then, but I was lucky to have seen it on a (reasonably) big screen when our public library showed a 16mm print of it. These days, it's one of my least favorite Universal monster films--I find that it drags horribly for most of its running time, and they've shoehorned an awful song into the middle of it. And poor Bela! While it makes a certain amount of sense to have Lugosi playing the monster (as the monster does have Ygor's brain in its head, and Ygor was played by Lugosi), it's sad that his star had fallen so much that he was reduced to playing a part that he had turned down after Dracula.

53. The Mummy's Curse (1944) (DVD) - Fast-moving entry in the series (the last, in fact, if you don't count Abbott and Costello into the equation) is pretty much interchangeable with the other entries in the series. Luckily, The Mummy's Curse features TWO gorgeous brunettes as eye candy. The resurrection of Princess Ananka in this one is probably my favorite sequence out of the entire Universal horror cycle of the '40s (again, excepting Abbott and Costello). On the debit side, another lame song slows things to a crawl for two minutes or so. One of eight(!) films that Lon Jr. made in 1944.

10/27/2013

54. In Their Skin (2012) (DVD) - Decent-enough home invasion flick did everything right, yet my interest still flagged down the stretch. I don't really know what to pin the blame on--the performances were all fine, the cinematography was great, it resolved itself nicely...but it still didn't have the impact that I thought that it would. For me, the standout performance was given by Rachel Miner as Jane. Her character was fascinating. Overall, a pretty good film that just misses the mark.

55. High Tension (2003) (DVD) - Oh, but I loathed this film when I saw in in the theater, but my reaction to it seems to have mellowed a bit in the intervening years. For what it is, it's well-made, with some tremendously graphic mayhem courtesy of Giannetto De Rossi (Fulci's Zombie). The "twist" still bothers me, but on second viewing, when you know what's going to happen and don't have a first-viewing emotional stake in the characters, it's not as off-putting. I'm changing its recommendation from "avoid" to "worthwhile, but with major reservations."

10/28/2013

56. Grave Encounters (2011) (DVD) - Man, but I thought that this one was going to be a keeper! The first half of the film was absolutely wonderful--I was enjoying it more than I've enjoyed any film this challenge. And then it went off the rails. The last 20-25 minutes were bad, with the last 10 minutes particularly awful. If only Grave Encounters had lived up to its initial promise, it could have been something...it could have been a contender. As it is, it's half of a really good movie.

57. The Fog (1980) (DVD) - Too bad that The Fog came out in 1980; if it had come out only a year earlier, it might have had a fighting chance at becoming a classic. As it stands, it had the misfortune of coming out at the dawn of the slasher craze, and it was deemed too old-fashioned to fully compete in the marketplace (also see Ghost Story). I really can't count the number of times that I saw The Fog at my local drive-in, as it tended to play throughout most of 1980 and 1981 first as the main feature of double-features, then as the supporting feature for pretty much all of the Avco Embassy horror releases for those years. I'm pretty sure that I saw it double-featured with Phantasm, Fear No Evil, Prom Night, Scanners, and The Howling at one point or another. And that's okay, because it's my second-favorite John Carpenter film. I love the atmosphere, the score, and the fact that it IS a throwback to an old-fashioned ghostly revenge tale. I really do need to upgrade my DVD to a Blu-ray.

10/29/2013

58. Pontypool (2008) (Streaming--Netflix) - Interesting take on zombie films starts slowly but builds tension as it progresses. Pontypool is unusual for many reasons, including being set almost totally within a radio station and having a very novel way of transmitting the zombie virus. It's so nice to watch a film that shows that its creators have brains. There are also some really good performances on display, especially that from Stephen McHattie. While it's probably too cerebral for many horror fans, those willing to think a bit should find a lot to admire.

59. Let Sleeping Corpses Lie (1974) (DVD) - Another case of my having a DVD for a decade or more and just now getting around to watching it. The Challenge is good about making me catch up on some films. Let Sleeping Corpses Lie is a pretty good Night of the Living Dead ripoff that certainly doesn't skimp on the gore. I found it to have a rather nightmarish logic, with most of the action of the film happening between a few locations and the characters having to sort of rotate between them, always having to go back to a place that's no longer safe. I'd love to see this on the big screen from a well-used 35mm Don't Open the Window print--it might be the ultimate wallow in that creepy '70s Euro-horror vibe.

10/30/2013

60. The Possession (2012) (Blu-ray) - I really wasn't expecting to like this one as much as I did. Here are a few of the things that it had going against it: 1) It's a Ghost House Pictures production and, from my experience, those run either hot or cold, with the majority running cold (at least for me); 2) It's rated PG-13, which means that pretty much anything interesting was pre-eviscerated, thus making it not worth my time; and 3) The previews made it look pretty stupid. Luckily, I was wrong on all counts, and I found The Possession to be an engrossing, well-made, serious horror film. With Sam Raimi's name attached, I was very afraid that his penchant for Stoogeian (or is that Stoogian?) comedy would show up, but everything was played rather low-key for a change. This one's definitely one of the pleasanter surprises of this year's Challenge.

61. The Devil Rides Out (1968) (DVD) - Hammer film about devil worshipers seems to me to be much darker than any of their other films. The cult in this one is SO much more evil than those in such films as Kiss of the Vampire and The Satanic Rites of Dracula, which gives the film an added weight lacking from most of Hammer's 1960s output. Christopher Lee takes what would usually be the Peter Cushing role, while Charles Gray steps into the villain role that Christopher Lee would usually fill. It all works incredibly well, due in large part to the effective screenplay by Richard Matheson.

10/31/2013: Halloween

62. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) (Streaming--Netflix) - Along with The Princess Bride, this is one of the two films that everyone seems to love except me. I haven't been able to put my finger on why I don't like the film, because there are aspects of it that I admire greatly. I guess that it just doesn't gel into a worthwhile experience for me.

63. Ghostwatch (1992) (Bootleg--SH!!!) - A perfect film to watch on Halloween night, Ghostwatch purports to be a live investigation of a haunted house in England. It apparently caused such a panic from viewers thinking that it was real (a la Orson Welle's Mercury Theater broadcast of The War of the Worlds) that the BBC has refused to re-air it in the twenty years since it debuted. It's pretty great, but the "man in the street" interviewer is truly obnoxious. Deliciously scary.

31 Films Subset -- Complete!



Theme Nights -- Complete!



The Checklist -- Complete!



This Year's Stats -- Final Tally


Goal: 75 Total Watched: 63

First Time Viewings: 45 (71%)

Formats Watched:

43 DVD – 68%
11 Streaming (YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime) – 18%
4 Blu-ray - 6%
4 DVD-R (from VHS, Turner Classic Movies, Warner Archive) - 6%
1 Bootleg DVD-R - 2%

Decades:

1930s: 3 (5%)
1940s: 6 (10%)
1950s: 4 (6%)
1960s: 6 (10%)
1970s: 7 (11%)
1980s: 8 (13%)
1990s: 8 (13%)
2000s: 10 (15%)
2010s: 11 (17%)

Longest Film Viewed: Scream (111 minutes)
Shortest Film Viewed: The Devil's Carnival (56 minutes)

New favorites: ParaNorman, Hatchet, The Possession

Would not miss if all copies were to join the Atari E.T. game in a desert pit: Shakma, Killer Tongue, Jack Frost, Scanners II: The New Order, The Devil's Carnival, Blood Diner