by: KFear
Posted on 03.19.10 in All Horror Films > Supernatural > Thriller/Suspense
Release Date: 2001

Stuart Gordon is a director that deserves an outstanding amount of praise for his contributions to horror in terms of his traditional influences in theatrical styles, character direction, signature color schemes, and metaphysical subject matters.   Simply for the fact that most of Gordon’s films are loosely based on short stories by H.P. Lovecraft, these themes should not come to a surprise in any of his films.  Worlds that are nearly beyond our comprehension are briefly described in many Lovecraft collections, but does such short and poetic miseries translate into a well “crafted” storyline?  Well, not all the time, but when Stuart Gordon has produced such classics as Reanimator and From Beyond, both of which are based off Lovecraft shorts, you’d start to think that he as a knack for such subject matter.  The incredible aspects of these films lie within their writing and Gordon’s direction.  Lovecraft often has left many of his tales incredibly open ended with the intent for the reader to visualize the story as a larger and therefore more horrifying event.  Dagon was that sort of Lovecraft story.  In fact, Dagon was not so much a story as it was a sick mans remembrance of a horrifying world in which humans, evidently, were turning into fish.  These “fish people” had but one ruler, and his name was Dagon.  The written story is just that, and nearly as brief.  In order to show his audience his unique visions of this town turned to cult, Gordon expands the story with amazing characters, dramatic and dreary environments, and most importantly, that simple type of campy, yet dramatic, charm that Gordon himself creates within nearly every frame.

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by: Obaid K
Posted on 03.18.10 in All Horror Films > Sci-Fi > Thriller/Suspense > Zombie
Release Date: 2010

Since the release of George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, I don’t think there’s been a time that zombie movies have been unpopular, and over the last 10 years the genre has seen a resurgence of sorts with some excellent offerings overshadowing the low-budget trash that’s usually churned out. After watching The Crazies, I felt this film fell somewhere in between: it’s not bad but not great either. I should also mention that this isn’t really a “zombie” movie since the infected individuals are still alive and don’t devour their victims, but the themes common to the genre (claustrophobic paranoia, viruses, militarism, fear of the government) are all found here.

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by: AthenaY
Posted on 03.16.10 in All Horror Films > Comedy > Supernatural
Release Date: 2009

This quirky, dark little gem takes a stereotypical romantic plot-line (boy-meets-girl/boy-loses-girl/boy-goes-through-hell-to-win-her-back) to extraordinarily literal extremes.  It’s part occult study, part love story, with a good helping of twisted humor thrown in the mix.

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by: KFear
Posted on 03.15.10 in All Horror Films > Comedy > Slasher
Release Date: 2006

Cabin Fever may have created some kind of sickness in the world of mainstream American horror. Eli Roth seems to exploit various groups and cultures with nearly every film he makes, and for one reason or another, other American filmmakers have clung onto the same types of themes and ideas. Call it marketing, but I say it’s Hollywood trying to sell a genre of film, like horror, to the biggest demographic as possible. You can’t blame them, and as a result, you witness slasher film after slasher film of young and beautiful Americans getting knocked off by backwood hicks with shotguns, pitchforks, overalls, and bad English. Lets not forget about our main characters in these films: the funny guy, blond princess, and the dude with the nice car; they all have to be there…somewhere…

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by: KFear
Posted on 03.15.10 in News

Here’s a trailer for a film that MORE than JUST caught my attention. No, not because the main character reminds me of my ex-girlfriend…because this looks like it could be a great indy flick that unravels with plenty of mystery, elegance, and violence. The film was completed in 28 days. Could be hard to pass up if you are in the mood for a quality, low budget flick!

by: Obaid K
Posted on 03.11.10 in All Horror Films > Slasher > Thriller/Suspense
Release Date: 1994

Despite a great premise, Wes Craven’s New Nightmare suffers from poor execution of an intriguing concept and ultimately disappoints. This is basically a “movie-within-a-movie” the story being that Craven (playing himself) is working on a new Nightmare on Elm Street film and is trying to recruit the original actors for the “return of Freddy”.

This sounds like a gimmick that would have worked beautifully in a movie about a killer who stalks you in your dreams (and it does) but it becomes too repetitive towards the end to elicit any strong feelings in the viewer. It’s a movie that, no doubt, appeals to fans of the series and film critics because the direction, concept, and writing are all very good and there isn’t anything technically “bad” about this film. But I was, frankly, quite bored by the halfway mark and couldn’t help feeling that the potential to make a truly scary Nightmare flick had been wasted.

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by: AthenaY
Posted on 03.09.10 in All Horror Films > Comedy > Slasher > Torture
Release Date: 1985

When I plucked a random movie out from my brother’s gargantuan horror film collection, I thought I knew what I’d be in for.  A Dario Argento giallo, maybe, or a psychedelic 70s sexploitation flick, or possibly a delightful Troma horror.  Something with Clint Howard in it, if I was lucky.  Alas, no.  My random pick wound up being the 1985 cult torture film about psychotic gardeners run amok: They Don’t Cut the Grass Anymore.

Everything about this movie screams “Mystery Science Theater 3000″. The basic plot is a bit kooky, but has potential– two hillbilly gardeners Billy Buck (John Smihula) and Jacob (Adam Beske) move to the New Jersey ‘burbs where their lawn maintenance business is boming.  Soon, however, they grow tired of being treated like dirt by their rich yuppy clients.  This leads to a violent killing rampage as the two sadistically torture pretty, young, shallow suburbanites to death.  What will it take to stop these two deranged landscapers from drenching the entire town in blood and gore?

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by: KFear
Posted on 02.28.10 in News

I think we all share the same opinions on this remake. Here’s the new trailer for A Nightmare On Elm Street. A lot of no-names and another very poor impression of Freddie is all we get. I think this one will slip through the cracks and soon be forgotten. Time will tell…

by: KFear
Posted on 02.26.10 in Horror Short

This was sent to my inbox by surprise. To much more of my surprise, I really enjoyed it. A short film by Andrea Ricca. Enjoy!

by: Obaid K
Posted on 02.25.10 in All Horror Films > Comedy > Supernatural > Thriller/Suspense
Release Date: 2008

For those of you who love Halloween and don’t mind your horror served with a wicked sense of humor, you need to watch Trick ‘r Treat. This film was released “straight-to-video” last October after two years of delays, but I couldn’t tell you why. Did Warner Bros. drop the ball on this one? I think they could have made a ton of money off a proper theatrical release (think of all the fans that have been waiting for this), so I honestly don’t know what they were thinking.

This is a slick-looking horror anthology in the style of Creepshow and Tales from the Crypt but chooses to focus solely on the traditions of Halloween (and what happens to those who don’t heed its customs). The cinematography is excellent and makes this film a treat for the eyes, and the young cast does a fantastic job of adding to the fun and scares that take place on this very special holiday.

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