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” and 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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by: KFear
Posted on 02.21.10 in News

A nice little tidbit from the actress in the upcoming film, Don’t Fall Asleep. Make sure to follow the link to read the whole essay.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This is the kind of moment I live for.

People working together, doing what it takes to make something just that much better, a little more cringe worthy, a deeper peek into the characters twisted essence or victims pain. Being in a situation im hopefully never going to encounter in real life, but still being someone believable and doing them justice in that moment.

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by: Dylan
Posted on 02.21.10 in All Horror Films > Comedy > Monster > Supernatural
Release Date: 1995

The biggest problem with The Mangler, based on the short story by Stephen King about a haunted laundry press, is that it’s based on the short story by Stephen King about a haunted laundry press. Stephen King has written enough books and short stories to fill a small library, many of them arguably the best modern horror-lit has to offer, few as-of-today adapted to film. That the story about an evil laundry machine was adapted over countless other King works, even just some of the other short stories collected in Night Shift, makes very little sense to me. King often treads the line between genius and stupid: The Mangler falls way out on the latter. King’s best works explore – beneath the monstrous superficiality – fears related to real issues: puberty, religious fanaticism, addiction and isolation. As far as I can see, The Mangler is only about a laundry machine, something which rarely even frightens the most yellow-bellied of children.

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by: Obaid K
Posted on 02.19.10 in All Horror Films > Slasher > Thriller/Suspense
Release Date: 2009

If you’re a true horror fan you’ve probably felt the thrill of finding a notorious film that was guaranteed to shock you (no matter what you’d seen before it). For me, the movie was Cannibal Holocaust, which I downloaded off Kazaa in my college dorm room during my sophomore year. I’m sure a few people can relate to the nervous anticipation I felt when I watched that for the first time – it’s something all fans of the genre look for to some degree.

This search for obscure cinema is the story in last year’s low-budget horror film The Hills Run Red, which does a lot right but essentially misses the mark. Don’t get me wrong, this is an above-average slasher that I really enjoyed – it’s self-aware, the story’s intriguing and Babyface is a great concept for a serial killer (intelligent and shrewd). It even touches on concepts like artistic freedom and the consequences of an artist’s obsession with his subject and chosen medium. But it peaks a little too early and tries to stretch out the climax by relying on violence to further the plot towards the end.

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by: JohnSoister
Posted on 02.17.10 in All Horror Films > Werewolf
Release Date: 2010

If the commercial success of 2009’s Paranormal Activity taught us anything, it’s the Power of Suggestion.  Utilizing every penny of his meager $15,000 budget, writer/director Oren Peli effectively hammered home the point that “less is more” when he managed to tantalize viewers’ imaginations and terrify audiences using nothing but practical special effects and a little ingenuity.

Unfortunately for fans of The Wolfman, Universal Pictures misinterpreted the “less is more” concept to mean less substance, less story, less continuity, less suspense, less… well, less everything… except gore.  What director Joe Johnston’s remake of the 1941 Universal classic lacks in coherent plot, character development, and rudimentary editing it makes up for with breakneck pacing and miles of small intestines.

That’s not a winning combination.

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by: AthenaY
Posted on 02.17.10 in All Horror Films > Comedy > Cult/Erotic > Zombie
Release Date: 2004

Zombie Honeymoon has the distinction of being, as far as I can tell, the only zombie flick based on a true story.  No, the shambling undead have not really risen from the sea to leave a gory trail in the sands of the Jersey Shore.  However, the overwhelming emotions of young love cut short by unexpected tragic loss is what drove director Dave Gebroe to tell this story.  The lead characters are based on his sister and his brother-in-law– the latter who drowned in a surfing accident shortly after their wedding.  The strong, very real depiction of a woman forced to cope with her husband’s death (or “undeath” as the case may be) adds a sense of raw emotion that’s very unique to the zombie genre.

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