SORORITY HOUSE MASSACRE Years active: 1986 - 1992; plus unreleased sequel in 2003.
About the franchise: Surprised I'm not reviewing THE SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE franchise here instead? Well, I figured I go with this sister-series, produced by the same company (Concorde-New Horizons) and executive (Roger Corman, who kept his name of screen in both series), and which features SPM in both entries as though they were, indeed, sorority film sisters. The original 1986 film was a late in coming slasher, produced after the huge success of the VHS release SPM in 1985. Although SORORITY HOUSE MASSACRE was picked up by Warner Bros. (!), it did not receive the same amount of fan-fare as it step-sibling, though it did receive some critical praise for director Carol Frank's imaginative visuals, setting this otherwise typical format (crazy escapes from the asylum and stalks the girls in his old home) apart from other films of the era. Corman instead went on to pump out SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE II in 1987. (SHM, btw, shows scenes from the original SPM on a television set in several scenes.) SORORITY HOUSE MASSACRE II was actually shot in 1990 by director Jim Wynorski as NIGHTIE NIGHTMARE back-to-back with his equally questionable HARD TO DIE using the same "plot" and much of the cast. However, NIGHTIE went unreleased until 1992 until it was retitled and repackaged as SHM II, following the minor success of SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE III. SHM II, fyi, was filmed on the same set as SPM III. Are you following? As such, a film franchise was born, but the two SORORITY HOUSE MASSACRE films are completely unrelated , and in fact SHM II uses clips from SLUMBER PARTY #1 as "flashback" footage. Are you still following?
While the original SHM seemed to disappear from public awareness (not that there was much to begin with), SHM II unexpectedly gained a solid cult following as a result of its repeated airings on paid cable and made its lead Robyn Harris (a.k.a. Gail Harris) into a minor b-celeb. In 2003 Jim Wynorski directed another unrelated film that at one point was titled SORORITY HOUSE MASSACRE III. The film has never been released. Both SHM films were released to DVD in 2000 through Concorde, but have not been available to the public since.
Other connecting factors: 1. None really. Different storylines, different characters, different crew, different locations. Roger Corman is the only link between the two films.
Famous / Successful Actors from this series: 1. Melissa Moore (SHM II) - Although mostly known for her work in b-movies, Moore scored significant roles in the action film INTO THE SUN, DA VINCI'S WAR and comedy REPOSSESSED. 2. Peter Spellos (SHM II) - Often transitioning between A and B movies, some of Spellos's bigger titles include MEN IN BLACK II, CITY OF ANGELS, FREDDY'S DEAD, and TV shows like NEWS RADIO, TWO GUYS A GIRL & A PIZZA PLACE, and MARRIED WITH CHILDREN.
SORORITY HOUSE MASSACRE (1986) College freshman Beth (Angela O'Neill) has eerie dreams of blood and dismemberment throughout her new sorority house digs. As her friends party the night away, each begins meeting a gruesome end at the hands of a madman recently escaped from the mental institution. It turns out Beth has a direct connection not only to the psycho, but the house itself.
Does it hold up today? I say "yes." It closely follows the standard slasher mold with all the same trappings and expectations, but it finds it's stand-out quality in some truly haunting visuals. The pace is a bit slow at times, particularly the middle section, but the cast is quite likeable, there is some minor suspense and a few jump scares. It won't change your world, and there's nothing here that's really all that different from other films of its ilk, but if you're a slasher fan you should find it "harmless" and entertaining.
SORORITY HOUSE MASSACRE II (1992) A group of lusty busty sorority babes move into an old mansion ready to clean it up and make repairs and instead wind up splattered all over it. Is it the creepy guy across the street, or the ghost of the home's former owner who massacred (hey!) his entire family there years ago? Does it hold up today? Well, if pure cheese is what you have a taste for, then yes. This is tongue-in-cheek horror humor. None of it is taken seriously (evident the moment the girls appear on screen all slutted up and then decide fairly soon into the proceedings to change into their Victoria's Secret lingerie - because that's what all sorority girls wear to bed). The acting ranges from really rough to passable. There are a few jumps. The bloodshed is more of the 'Karo Syrup thrown at the actresses' variety vs. actual make up fx. Lead girl Robyn (Gail) Harris is actually quite good and very into her role, and red-herring Peter Spellos (as "Orville Ketchum") is super icky. The cast plays along, aware that they are in the midst of a camp-fest, so if all you're looking for is mind-numbing antics, then there are worse ways to spend 80 minutes on a Saturday afternoon.
I've decided...out of both boredom this evening and trying to avoid getting any real work done...to begin a new blog. Henceforth, reviews of my all-time favorite film franchises. Most of them will be based in horror, and most will be from the 1970s - 1990s. First up...
PROM NIGHT Years active: 1980 - 1991; plus remake in 2008. About the franchise:
It began as a simple minded slasher flick. Not just a rip-off of HALLOWEEN, it actually managed to snag that film's heroine Jamie Lee Curtis. A hit at the box office, it seems odd that the sequel didn't appear until 7 years later, had nothing to do with the original film, and in fact was shot as an entirely different film - THE HAUNTING OF HAMILTON HIGH - with supernatural elements. However, this film also proved a minor success at the box office and a huge hit on video, therefore spawning another sequel that at least tried to remain connected to its predecessor. However, by the fourth and final installment the producers returned to the slasher formula but little of the previous storylines. The awful 2008 remake had literally no connection to the original series in storyline, characters, or enjoyability.
As such, Part I is a stand alone film. Parts II and III are connected by the villian Mary Lou Maloney. Part IV is a stand alone film.
Other connecting factors:
1. The central high school in all four films is Hamilton High.
2. Actor Brock Simpson appears in all four films, but always as a different character.
3. Composer Paul Zaza did the music for all four films and and inputs a repetitive riff in each film, (sort of a "ba ba ba barump" - a significant beat recognizable to fans just as the "chi chi chi ma ma ma" is familiar to FRIDAY THE 13TH fans).
4. Parts II, III and IV all begin at/are a result of the same prom night in 1957.
Famous / Successful Actors from this series:
1. Jamie Lee Curtis - Part I: Became the most popular scream queen of the later half of the 20th Century
2. Nicole De Boer - Part IV: Went on to star in a number of popular sci-fi films (CUBE) and TV shows (The Dead Zone, Star Trek: Deep Space 9)
PROM NIGHT (1980)
A group of junior high kids unintentionally murder a classmate during a twisted game of hide and seek. Fearing they'll go to jail, they cover up the death and keep the group's secret. 6 years later, however, it becomes apparent someone was a witness and methodically murders each of the kids at their senior prom.
Does it hold up today?
I think so. It is cut from the slasher cloth... in fact, it very much expanded upon the "10 Little Indians" concept of "who's doing it?" that was then stolen by most other slasher films of the early 1980s. There remains a good deal of suspense, the characters are very enjoyable (you don't want to see them die), the gore FX are still believable, and the reveal of the guilty party is still somewhat of a surprise. The film as a whole maintains a creepy atmosphere throughout, and although the finale isn't nearly as long as it should have been (the final chase is less than 5 minutes long), there are some genuinely suspenseful and even frightening moments. A drawn out disco (SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER) sequence is the only thing which dates the film. The only glaring plot hole is why the witness to the accidental murder didn't just come forward immediately to tell the cops what had happened.
HELLO MARY LOU: PROM NIGHT II (1987)
After she accidentally burned to death on stage just before being crowned prom queen in 1957, super slutty and wicked Mary Lou Maloney (Lisa Schrage) returns 30 years later and possesses prom queen hopeful Vicki Carpenter. As the nice girl becomes nastier and bumps off anyone who stands in the way of her crown, her boyfriend tries to convince everyone of her possession and save her soul.
Does it hold up today?
Eh. It didn't really hold up when it came out. But it's one of those cheesy 80s camp horror combos that seems to hold some certain power over people willing to watch it more than once. (Think SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE II - you know it sucks, but you love regardless.) PROM NIGHT II essentially rips off the two biggest horror films: CARRIE (1976) and A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984), but somehow it does work in a weird sort of way. Lead Vicki (Wendy Lyon) is an enjoyable and yet unusual heroine with waist-long strawberry blonde hair which in 1987 wasn't very hip AND she completely naked (the carpet indeed matches the drapes) which was unheard of for "the final girl" - something which still doesn't happen today too often. The FX are sometimes awesome, sometimes awful and plastic looking. And anything involving electricity is clearly a computer effect. Still, the characters are all unique and mostly likable and the acting serviceable. The cast and script even manage a few moments of genuine drama and feeling, particularly when one of the teens reveals she's pregnant (a much bigger deal in 1987 than today). The only true downfall to PROM NIGHT II is that it's not really a true sequel to PROM NIGHT- or a sequel in any way other than taking place at a high school of the same name. This, of course, will only matter to purists who prefer their franchises are continuing stories with continuing characters. Over all, though, PROM NIGHT II does have a genuine energy and 80s weirdness that was presented seriously in 1987 - but has somehow transformed into fun loving camp 25 years later.
PROM NIGHT III: THE LAST KISS (1990)
A few years after the events of PROM NIGHT II (1987), Mary Lou Maloney (now played by smokin' hot Courtney Taylor) returns to the halls of Hamilton High to claim the love of a loser boy. To gain his affections, helps raise his grade and improve his sportsmanship - bumping off anybody who questions his true abilities or stands in his way. However, her biggest challenge is getting rid of his current girlfriend with whom he's truly in love.
Does it hold up today?
Actually, it seems to play better today than it did in 1990. Director Ron Oliver told me on Facebook that the film was panned by critics and fans viciously upon its release, but now all he receives are love letters from fans. The initial dishonor may have been from fans of the original angry about the comedic supernatural angle the series had taken - this is by far more a dark comedy than any kind of scary. In fact, the film contains only one good scare, and one really juicy murder with a punched out heart. The remaining 98% tries its best to make butt and boob jokes aplenty - which in turn makes it more appealing to today's more sarcastic audiences. Courtney Taylor is certainly goregeous to look at, but her only downfall is that the original Mary Lou was portrayed as a heartless, bitch of a woman who was only interested in satisfying herself. Taylor's version is more Betty Paige sex kitten. It's also mildly annoying that the filmmakers put the character in a dark purple dress when her outfit in PROM NIGHT II was a light pink - that's like changing the colors in Freddy Krueger's sweater to blue and pink. The ghost of a teen wouldn't change her look - especially if you're trying to brand a new horror titan.
PROM NIGHT IV: DELIVER US FROM EVIL (1991)
Four teens skip their senior prom in lieu of a weekend away at one of their parent's swanky "summer getaway" mansion (in the middle of winter). The are completely unaware, however, that a possessed priest has escaped from a nearby church and is intent on returning to the home (guess where it is) where he was molested as a boy and decides to "punish" any horned up teen he can find.
Does it hold up today?
Yes it does - and it's scary to boot. Don't let the synopsis deter you. While the plot is rather redundant, PROM NIGHT IV actually attempts - successfully - to return to its scary slasher film roots while still honoring those who loved the supernatural aspects of PROM NIGHT II and PROM NIGHT III. The only connection to those films is an opening sequence in which 1957 teens are slaughtered just outside the prom just as - presumably - Mary Lou would be burning inside, and then in 1991 at the brief glimpse of Hamilton High (we only see classmates about to enter the high school, but never go into the actual prom). There is also a wink to Jamie Lee Curtis. The four lead kids are plucky, standing out from the average slasher body pile. And the film boasts not just a series of really good scares and some well-drawn suspense, but an element of intelligence among the characters to #1 - call the police when they should, and #2 when they find a gun, they use it. The most glaring plot hole is how the killer priest - responsible for the 1957 murders manages to not age a single day in his nearly 35 years of captivity (he's actually hotter 3 decades later and his body is in perfect condition even though he's been in a coma). Somehow, however, you seem to let it go simply because the scares and the truly creative cinematography keep the action interesting.
Sadly, this would have been perfect as the final chapter, but a lame "final moment" promises a PROM NIGHT V which was never to be... though 1994's THE CLUB was clearly designed as a PROM NIGHT sequel that had a title change, likely after the poor 1992 box office and home video performance of PROM NIGHT IV. Instead we got a dreadful remake.
FINAL THOUGHTS: I still love this franchise. Probably because I'm a horror kid of the 1980s. But it is among the more inconsistent franchises of the era, serious and scary, then supernatural and odd, then not scary all all and funny instead, then back to serious and scary. Parts II and III are their own franchise kind of book ended by an unrelated franchise. Still, the movies are never dull and definitely earned their place in the hearts of horror fans.
It's been two years, but today I'll continue my list of favorites by genre. For all you kids at heart...
To reintroduce my reasoning behind the selections - #1 I have to have wanted to watch the film within the past 12 months (even if I didn't have the opportunity), and #2 - it has to have resonated with me on some emotional level that still affects me as an adult. I'm going to try to keep it strictly kid-based, which is why some titles won't appear such as ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING, which I will eventually place under "comedy" because adults love it just as much.
An American Tail (1987) - A young mouse en route from Russia to America becomes separated from his family. On his journey to reunite with them he finds the courage to become himself and all the wonderful things America has to offer.
Babe (1995) - More or less a rip-off of Charlotte's Web, this finds a pigs singing talents saving him from the slaughterhouse.
The Black Stallion (1979) - After surviving a shipwreck, a young boy befriends a horse and the two become unlikely companions on their "deserted" island.
The Brave Little Toaster (1987) - A little toaster and his home appliance friends try to find their owner in the big city after fearing they've been abandoned in the family's cabin.
Beauty and the Beast (1991) - A man turned into a beast by a witch must earn the love of a beautiful woman in order to return to his human self.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (1984) - An every day mom becomes determined to take a grungy group of poverty stricken and neglected kids and change the community's views on them by readying them for the annual Christmas pageant.
Charlotte's Web (1973) - The original cartoon version finds a spider trying to keep Wilbur, her pig of a best friend, from being taken to the slaughter house.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) - Bullied boy tries to learn, then convey to his peers the true meaning of Christmas.
Child of Glass (1978) - Boy befriends the ghost of a little girl who was murdered for her doll which contained a load of diamonds. (*May be frightening at times for little kids.)
The Electric Grandmother (1982) - After their mother passes away, three children are given the opportunity to physically design a robotic grandmother to care for them.
Escape to Witch Mountain (1975) - Two children with supernatural powers try to find their origins and family before they are kidnapped and exploited by the government.
Finding Nemo (2004) - A father and his fishy son try to find each other and learn courage and that you should explore the world on their journey.
Freaky Friday (1976) - Teenage girl and her mother don't see eye-to-eye until their souls are switched into each other's bodies and forced to see what each other endures on a daily basis.
Freaky Friday (2003) - Ditto...and one of the few remakes I genuinely enjoy as much as the original.
Garfield's Halloween (1985) - Sunday comics fat cat and his best friend dog embark on a mission to collect as much candy as possible, only to become lost and mixed up with a group of treasure-seeking ghost pirates. (*Has moments that may be too intense for little ones.)
The Halloween That Almost Wasn't (1979) - When Dracula realizes that his scary counterparts like the Wicked Witch, Frankenstain, the Wolf Man and others have lost their oomph and are no longer scaring children, he give them an ultimatum - regain your wickedness or Halloween will be canceled forever.
It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) - Linus goes in search of the mythic Great Pumpkin - a stand in clone of Santa.
The Land Before Time (1988) - Group of young dinosaurs escape their destroyed land after they're orphaned and must try to find a new home.
The Little Mermaid (1989) - Teenage mermaid gets her wish to explore the world when she makes a pact with an evil sea witch to grow legs and live among humans.
Mary Poppins (1964) - A magical nanny teaches her charges to love and enjoy life.
The Muppet Movie (1979) - Kermit and his co-horts travel across the nation to Hollywood seeking fame and fortune... teaching everyone they meet to always chase their dreams and believe in their own talents.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) - The Muppets comically take on all the characters of the famous Dickens' story "A Christmas Carol."
Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (1975) - After a donkey is booted into the wilderness because he is considered deformed and useless because of his extremely long ears, he is unexpectedly chosen to carry the pregnant Mary to Bethlehem and proves his worth to the world. (At the age of 3, this was the first time I was made aware that your mother could die.)
Pete's Dragon (1977) - A young boy tries to convince a town that his imaginary friend - a dragon - is causing all the havoc in the peaceful community.
Rikki Tiki Tavi (1975) - A mongoose is saved from drowning by a family in the south African jungle. As thanks, he becomes their protector when two deadly cobras try to murder the family.
Toy Story trilogy (1995, 1999, 2010) - A group of toys learn a series of life lessons about love, friendship, respect and loyalty.
T'was the Night Before Christmas (1976) - A family of mice try to figure out why Santa refuses to deliver the goods on Christmas Eve, only to discover it's due to one of their own.
Watership Down (1978) - A warren of rabbits embark on a journey to find a new home for their family when humans destroy their existing home. *May be too intense for younger children as it depicts scenes of gory death and suffering.
The Wizard of Oz (1939) - Simple girl from Kansas lands in colorful land of Oz where she finds her own courage, brain and heart.
Ziggy's Gift (1982) - Sunday comics character comes to life as a quiet soul who wants nothing more than to give to those in need as he unknowingly comes in control of a magical pot as a street corner santa.
Huh. This is going to sound bad, but I completely forgot I had a blog. Terrible, right? I guess it shows my change in attitude towards self promotion. I have, however, been busy promoting three films lately: my documentary SCREAMING IN HIGH HEELS (due August 28th on unrated DVD and currently airing on NBCUninversal's Chiller TV - See TRAILER); my new thriller SAFE INSIDE which should see release in 2013 (see TRAILER); and some PR work on COUGAR CULT, a flick which I only have connection to in reuniting its three leads (Brinke Stevens, Linnea Quigley and Michelle Bauer) with director David DeCoteau after a 25 years in SCREAMING.
I've also just recently discovered how much damage can be done thru piracy. Yes, SCREAMING IN HIGH HEELS was stolen by use of a "reviewer" who obtained a pre-release screener for the film then through their own selfish acts uploaded the entire film to the internet for others to watch for free. Within hours it had spread to over 100 other torrent sites, forever damaging any opportunity for my investors and myself to see a return on profit. Two years of hard work and stress flushed in the click of a button. So now the damage is done. We move forward trying to promote the title harder - pick up as many pieces as we can. It will forever change how I release advance viewings of any projects. It will forever change my trust in others.
Have I listed this before?? I started a big discussion about it on Facebook, but pertaining to the impossibility of making a Top 10 list of my favorite music...but how easily I can knock out my Top 10 in all-time favorite movies (and you might be surprised at how few horror titles are on the list!!!).
Top 10 MOVIES... 1. Carrie (1976) 2. Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (1988) 3. Moulin Rouge! (2000) 4. Friday the 13th, Part 2 (1981) ...5. The Color Purple (1985) 6. Edward Scissorhands (1990) 7. Finding Nemo (2004) 8. The Electric Grandmother (1983) 9. Little Darlings (1980) 10...... I always leave open because it's still out there.... (though CRASH would easily take that spot, so maybe I'll carry on with 10 more...)
11. Crash (2005) 12. Watership Down (1979) 13. Ice Castles (1978) 14. Steele Magnolias (1989) 15. Ziggy's Gift (1982) 16. Rikki Tikki Tavi (1975) 17. The Muppet Movie (1979) 18. The Ten Commandments (1956) 19. Nestor, The Long Eared Christmas Donkey (1975) 20. Jack Be Nimble (1992)/Precious (2009)
I really am just awful keeping up with this blog. So to the few of you who keep checking in to see if anything new has come about... apologies.
A quick run down of career stuff since I last posted:
Shy of Normal: Tales of New Life Experiences (2011) made its big screen debut on February 19, 2011, followed by a very nice after-party for the cast and crew. I'll be submitting the title to film festivals throughout the summer with a Fall DVD release planned, likely through TempeDVD.
In early February I spent a week in Los Angeles, CA filming SCREAMING IN HIGH HEELS: THE RISE & FALL OF THE SCREAM QUEEN ERA. It's a documentary I've been trying to get off the ground since 2007 and finally found a small group of investors to get it in front of the camera. The doc tells the story of three b movie actresses - Linnea Quigley, Brinke Stevens and Michelle Bauer - whose unexpected rise to cult fame was the result of the video-era boom of the 1980s. Also featured are directors Fred Olen Ray, David DeCoteau, Ted Newsom, plus actors Richard Gabai and Jay Richardson and screenwriter Ken Hall, all discussing their roles in the era and work with the femme fatales. Editing by Derrick Carey - who also edited my 2010 documentary SLEEPLESS NIGHTS: REVISITING THE SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRES - is currently underway with a premiere date set for Chicago's Flashback Weekend of Horror in August. Television airings are anticipated sometime thereafter.
TODAY I am officially beginning to write my children's book I've long spouted off about. It's a self-discovery tale set around Christmas time. Many years and tiny pieces of paper with ideas scribbled all over them have been combined over the last 5 days in my dining room using a classical paradigm chart to get my brain juices flowing. Wish me luck.
Finally, the semester is winding down for me at the University of Wisconsin - Parkside. I've been lecturing "Film Genres: Horror" this semester and had a great time sharing over a century's worth of horror trivia and images with a new generation. I only hope they've taken something away from it. Next Monday is my final lecture of the semester, with an exam and final paper to follow on May 9th. Hard to believe it's already the end of the school year! Happily, I have officially been asked to return in the Fall 2011 to teach "Intro to Film" for the third time.
Planning to spend my summer break pulling all these current projects together and wrapping them up by the time I go back in the Fall.
Thanks for catching up. I'll try to be better at keeping this blog more current... as usual.
Just a heads up for those who didn't catch it on Facebook, the trailer for my new comedy, SHY OF NORMAL: TALES OF NEW LIFE EXPERIENCES is now live on You Tube at.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd4QIsVgShk
Also, the new re-issue of OCTOBER MOON 2: NOVEMBER SON hits stores on February 15th at the new low price of $14.99 with new box art and an all-new 4 page full-color insert about the making of the film. Just click the title to go to the Tempe DVD page. And just in case you haven't already had the trailer shoved down your throat before, take a peek here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHtjQHiOSRM
An all new documentary I've been trying to get made since 2007 is finally in production!!! Filming takes place in Los Angeles next week, so stay tuned to my Facebook and blog pages for the official release info in the next two weeks!!!
I'll be posting about a new film just completed with the trailer ready for debut, followed by info on a new documentary I begin filming in two weeks! Trailer will be up and running in a day or two, so check back!!
Every late November I settle down with a chunk of anti-Christmas movies to get my mind in gear for the onslaught of holiday saccharine about to strike. Below is a list - in no particular order - of the best way to slash away that X-mas glee and get your jollies from blood-soaked stockings hanging on the mantel...
Black Christmas (1974) Stars a slew of ladies and gents who would go on to relatively long and popular careers including Olivia Hussey (IT), Margot Kidder (Superman), Andrea Martin (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), John Saxon (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Art Hindle (Invasion of the Body Snatchers), Keir Dullea (2001), Marian Waldman (A Christmas Story). The first true slasher film. Sorority girls are stalked the night of their x-mas party by an unseen killer. Sounds typical, but remember this was the first of its style and is done very respectably. Some great tension.
Gremlins (1984) Cute little critters turn into nasty little buggers as they wreck havoc on a small town on Christmas eve.
Home for the Holidays (1972) Based on the classic Agatha Christie story "10 Little Indians," group of sisters gather when their father insists their step-mother is trying to kill him. Problem is they're all getting whacked instead. Stars a young Sally Field. Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) Boy abused by a wicked nun after witnessing his parents murder by a man dressed as Santa grows up to believe Santa "punishes" naughty people with death. In hind-sight not the best of movies, but worth the watch for its notoriety. Plus it features Scream Queen Linnea Quigley in one of her signature roles. Silent Night, Deadly Night 2 (1987) I'm not exaggerating when I say there's only 30 minutes of new footage here (with the younger brother of Part 1 now seeking revenge on the evil nun), as the rest is filled with "flashback" footage. But the new scenes are filled with high camp and outrageous kills. Just flash-forward for a quick viewing night. Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: You Better Watch Out (1989) Very tame compared to the earlier films, this one plays more like Wait Until Dark (1968) as a blind woman is stalked by the second film's killer after she becomes psychically linked to him. Not too scary or campy, but has some decent suspense. Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation (1990) Likely to go down as one of the most bizarre films in history, this one follows a reporter who gets involved with a group of lesbian Lilith (Adam's wife before Eve) worshipers. Their combined powers can create spontaneous combustion and slimy, giant bugs that writhe under their victim's skin. Thoroughly gross but weird enough to hold your attention.
Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker (1991) Reporter from previous film has a friend whose child becomes the target of a toymaker with an "odd" son of his own. Similar to the PUPPET MASTER films, and featuring Mickey Rooney - who ironically protested the original film. Actually the best of the series.
Tales From the Darkside: The Grither (1986) (TV) Creepy 30 minutes as parents tell their spoiled children of a monster that only comes out on Christmas Eve to punish naughty children.
Jack Frost (1997) Not the happy family film, but an earlier film that finds a town terrorized - humorously - by a killer snowman. One of Shannon Elizabeth's (American Pie) first films. Campy and fun.
Tales from the Crypt: "And All Through The House" (1989) (TV) A remake segment from the 1972 feature film. Wife planning her husband's murder is unaware a killer Santa has escaped the looney bin and has his own bloody axe to grind. Scared the crap out of me as a teen!
Deadly Dreams (1989) Low budget but decent psycho shocker about a guy who keeps dreaming back to his parents Christmas Eve murders. The Shining (1980) Technically not a holiday film, but its snow caped landscape and final wintry chase certainly gives good reason to watch on a chilly night. Terror Train (1979) New Year's Eve celebration among college kids becomes a bloody nightmare as - among the costumed guests - lurks a killer out to avenge a prank gone wrong years earlier. One of Jamie Lee Curtis's best and has several scary bits.
A few Holiday Horrors to AVOID...
While She Was Out (2008) Santa Claws (1996)
Black X-Mas (2006) Don't Open 'Til X-mas (1984)
Christmas Evil (1980)
Jack Frost 2 (2000)
By no means is this a complete list. These are only the titles I have actually seen. For a more detailed list of items try going here...
Most folks know I'm not very political. They also know I'm usually pretty opposed to (and annoyed with) sending out political messages So the fact that I'm doing this I hope shows you this is something I desperately need you to know.
Please take into consideration, if you're voting in Wisconsin next week, the dangers Rep. LT. Gov candidate Rebecca Kleefisch poses to people like me and Mike. Verbatim, regarding Domestic Partnership, Kleefisch has just said on air "...at what point are we going to OK marrying inanimate objects? Can I marry this table, or this, you know, clock? Can we marry dogs? This is ridiculous."
I listened to it myself for facts before posting this. Her comments are not taken out of context. She completely dehumanized people like us. Please think of me and Mike when making your voting decisions. We are celebrating 1 year as Domestic Partners Dec 29th, and 6 years as a couple that same day.
- Jason
P.S. I'll return to blogging more entertaining fare soon. ;-)
So, first and foremost, apologies for the long delay in a post... just realized I never finished the last one about my severe addiction to "sequelitis." I promise to go back and complete that at some point. In the meantime, thought I'd answer the question most posed to me: “What are your favorite movies?”
Now, this is a subject which took a lot more thought than I’d originally anticipated. You see, I love A LOT of movies. I have well over 2,000 VHS and DVDs in my “red room,” as it’s so adoringly referred to by friends and family. And, yes, the bulk of them are horror related. In trying to narrow the list down, however, I decided on this main criteria: First, have I felt a need to watch a particular title in the last 12 months? Second, does this film simply entertain me, or does it actually make me feel something while I watch it, either because it connects me to a memory from my past, or there’s simply something about the story which just continues to resonate with me even after I’ve watched over 50 times (Yes, I have some select titles I can recite word for word... I think I’m actually up near 75 + viewings of Carrie).
I’m not giving "reviews" to most of these films – since I obviously enjoy them enough to include them. Only a very brief synopsis of each title will be written. My tastes are fairly broad in these categories: horror, comedy, drama, musical, kids, action. As such, you’ll find serious and not-so-serious. Extreme gore to mild suspense. Cartoons to live action. Sappy tear jerkers to classic high drama and even some camp. Films are gathered by genre, so skip to the ones you think you might want to seek out for yourself. You might be surprised at the titles I didn’t include!!! I'll do this over the course of several posts over the next few weeks. Today is horror - not a shock to most - but you might be surprised which titles make my lists in other categories as well in coming weeks.
Enjoy.
HORROR/SUSPENSE
Alice, Sweet Alice (1976)
10 year old Brooke Shields gets roasted, literally, in her film debut. Her sister Alice, a bit off center, is accused of the crime, but their father will go to any length to prove she’s innocent. Some genuine shocks and suspense and effective knife attacks.
American Gothic (1988)
Young mentally ill woman, riddled with guilt over the death of her infant son, is stranded on an uncharted island with her friends. They discover the island houses a family of adult loonies who all believe they are still children in the 1930s thanks to their equally deranged “parents” Yvonne DeCarlo and Rod Steiger.
Amityville II: The Possession (1982)
Prequel to The Amityville Horror (1979) tells of the true life DeFeo family whose murders by the eldest son are said to be the reason for the home’s demonic nature. Genuinely creepy with some unsettling moments and outrageous special effects. The slaughter of the family sticks with you for a few days after seeing it.
The Bad Seed (1956)
Evil 8 year old Rhoda Penmark is believed to be a little murderess, offing anyone who stands in her way of receiving a penmanship medal from her second grade class. You think you see more than you really do. Overly dramatic at times, but somehow forgivable considering the weight and the eeriness of the events at hand.
The Birds (1963)
Hitchcock classic isn’t as much about the birds attacking a coastal town as it is about the regular Joes inhabiting it. Much in the way of family drama as the township comes to believe Tippi Hendren is the supernatural cause of the attacks, while she simply tries to battle her new beaus possessive mother.
Black Christmas (1974)
The original slasher film. Group of sorority sisters spending the holiday on campus get off’ed in wicked ways by an unseen killer obsessed with making deliciously perverted phone calls just before he strikes. Extremely stylish and much more tasteful thank you’d expect.
The Blob (1958)
Steve McQueen career launcher as he battles a giant scoop of red jello from outerspace trying to devour the entire town. Has a lot of cheesiness these days, but still manages, somehow, to keep its paranoia (“they’re coming to get you”) the center of what holds your attention. Try to not be nervous during the grocery store and diner attacks.
Body Snatchers: The Invasion Continues (1993)
A semi-sequel to the 1978 remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, this finds a military base overrun by pod people consuming the bodies of humans and taking on their soulless identities. A consistent level of suspense and a style that always, visually, seems to make you feel a bit nauseated. Plus some really good moments of genuine gasp and hold-your-breath scares.
Candyman (1992)
Grad student researching urban legends runs afoul of one that just happens to be true. People in Chicago’s Cabrini Green believe in the ghost of a slain black man who returns to enact revenge when his name is said into the mirror 5 times. Think Bloody Mary.
Carrie (1976)
Only my all-time favorite movie. Began the ‘nerdy teen gets ultimate revenge’ genre. Tormented high school geek is tricked into attending a prom meant to humiliate her. What they don’t know is that she’s learning how to use her telekinetic powers. Her revenge is quite possibly the best ever put on film.
Child’s Play (1988)
Child’s doll in the vein of Teddy Ruxpin comes to life when it’s possessed by the soul of a serial killer. Still throws some seriously scary punches.
Bride of Chucky (1998) (a.k.a Child’s Play 4)
Taking its cue from the self-acknowledging trend beget by Scream, Chucky the killer dolls is now an anti-hero, throwing wise cracks in the best Freddy Kruger imitation... but does it quite well. After he’s brought back to life by an old girlfriend, Chucky kills her, puts her soul into a bridal doll, and they begin a new mass murder spree trying to put their souls back into love struck teenage couple Katherine Heigel and Jason Ritter.
Children of the Corn (1984)
Young couple discovers a Nebraska town where the children have slaughtered all the adults and now live by their own bloody vices.
Class of 1984 (1982)
Eerily accurate of how teenagers would run the high schools in America’s future with guns and violence. Small town teacher moves to an inner-city school where a gang of teens keeps their classmates, including Michael J. Fox, in a constant state of fear.
Cloverfield (2007)
Scarier and bigger budgeted monster-themed version of The Blair Witch Project has the events of a night of terror in New York captured on a camcorder. One of the best screen monsters EVER!
The Craft (1996)
Gaggle of teen girls discover the addition of a 4th girl in their witchery group causes them all to have true magical powers. One of them, however, decides to use her powers for gluttony and poisons the other girls with her course towards pure evil.
Deadly Blessing (1981)
City woman is tormented with nightmarish images after her husband – a former Hitite (i.e. Amish) – is mysteriously killed in an “accident.” Lots of really scary moments. Sharon Stone’s first major film role.
Dolls (1986)
A little girl and her abusive family spend the night waiting out a rain storm in an old castle where all the dolls come to life and do their best to rid the world of evil people.
Dolores Clairborne (1995)
Not really horror but some damned good suspense. A woman stands accused of killing her elderly boss years after she was believed – but never tried – of making her abusive husband “disappear.” Excellent adaptation of Stephen King’s novel.
The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2004)
True story of a priest on the trial for the death of a teen girl whom he claimed he was performing an exorcism on. Splendid in how it argues both sides as to whether or not the girl was indeed possessed.
The Exorcist (1973)
12 year old Linda Blair is possessed by Satan, but the real story here is about a priest’s loss of his own faith. Also based on a true story from 1949 that was well documented in national newspapers and supposedly the Catholic church.
Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
Now 17 and smoking hot, Linda Blair again comes up against the demon believed to have possessed her 5 years earlier. Lots of down time with psycho-babble and images of flying through Africa “on the locusts wings,” but the last 20 minutes are some of the most outrageous and destructive put to film, so I forgive it its many faults.
The Exoricst III: Legion (1990)
Loosely based on the original film, the detective who studied Linda Blair’s case now is faced with deciding if a series of gruesome religious-themed murders are connected to the priest presumed dead since Blair tossed him out of her bedroom window in ’73. Again, lots of talking, but its shocks and kills are worth the wait. Features Fabio as an angel... I shit you not!
The Eyes of Laura Mars (1978)
Faye Dunaway does horror good as she portrays a photographer who “sees” through the eyes of a killer every time he strikes. Scariest scene is when Faye suddenly realizes the killer is looking at her from behind!!!
The Fog (1980)
Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh, Hal Holbrook, Adrienne Barbeau and cast members from Halloween ’78 join forces to battle, or rather simply run, from a mysterious fog consuming a coastaltown. Seems some pretty pissed off pirates have returned after 100 years to get revenge on the kin of the men who slaughtered them and stole their gold. Still riddles me with suspense during each viewing.
Friday the 13th (1980)
Group of camp counselors arrive to re-open a long dormant kids camp after it was closed 30 years earlier. Seems the looney who slaughtered sex-starved teens in the 50s has returned determined to keep the place closed forever.
Friday the 13th, Part 2 (1981)
5 years after the original slaughter, teens venture to a counselor training camp ground across the lake ignoring the locals insistence on not returning for fear murders will start up again. Unfortunately for the teens, the locals were right.
Friday the 13th, Part 3 (1982)
Initially intended to carry over the surviving girl of Part 2, this now finds a random teen returning to her family’s cabin where she had been attacked by a mass murderer a year earlier. Guess who pays her and her friends a return visit?
Friday the 13th, Part 4: The Final Chapter (1984)
Local psycho Jason Voorhees returns to life and heads home to hack a series of new nubile teens. Not much different from the earlier films, but possibly the best made of them all with a group of teens you’re actually sad to see get sliced and diced. Stars Corey Feldman as a wee lad with a knack for making scary masks and the balls to take on Voorhees himself.
Friday the 13th, Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)
Yes, I skipped Part V. It was lame. And it features an actress who’s a raging bitch in reality, so now I definitely don’t like it anymore. Onto Part VI... Black comedy fills in for this new chapter as the summer camp is re-opened (really?!) again. So, of course, Jason Voorhees gets pissed off and begins whacking the counselors in very creative – and deliberately funny – fashions. Very self-aware.
Friday the 13th, Part VII: The New Blood (1988)
Not really a good movie at all, but after watching it numerous times it grew on me. Telekinetic teen tries to take on Voorhees after she unintentionally brings him back to life.
Gremlins (1984)
Wicked little critters overrun suburbia on Christmas Eve. Super hot Phoebe Cates and her boyfriend try to stop them as the scary – and yet funny - monsters destroy the town and kill anyone they can.
The Gift (1999)
Filled with southern gothic as psychic Cate Blanchette tries to lead the locals on a hunt for a missing woman’s body. Visuals make you feels like you’re sweating right along with the rest of the cast. Story makes you feel like you can feel the same noose tightening around Cate’s neck as townsfolk begin to treat her like a witch.
Halloween (1978)
Three teen babysitters are stalked by “The Boogeyman” – before he was known as Michael Meyers. His motive is unknown, but the characters are drawn with such joy you truly don’t want them hurt, especially Jamie Lee Curtis in her film debut.
Halloween II (1981)
Picks up literally seconds after the first film, with Jamie Lee Curtis being taken to the hospital, and Michael Meyers en route to finish what he started. We finally learn why he wants her dead.
Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
Long lambasted for not having anything to do with the previous films, this is more in the vein of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, as an evil warlock plans to overtake the world by possessing all the children through electronic devices in their Halloween masks. Strange but effective once you take make the film stand on its own.
Halloween H20: Twenty YearsLater (1998)
Jamie Lee Curtis returns 20 years later to finish what Michael Meyers started. Curtis is now the Head Mistress of a private school and raising her teen son in Northern California. She quickly realizes Meyers has hunted her down not just to kill her, but is aiming for her son as well on his 17th birthday... just as he had killed their sister on her 17th birthday...and tried to kill her on her own 17th birthday... see the trend?
Halloween II (2009) (remake)
Not much of a fan of Rob Zombie’s 2007 remake, and although this was vilified by audiences, I actually liked it. Michael Meyers returns to kill his little sister. Quite possibly the most violent movie I have EVER seen.
Happy Birthday To Me (1981)
Group of popular teens “disappear” as one of their birthdays draws near. As the ad campaign declared, “Six of the most bizarre murders you have ever seen.” Plus it stars Melissa Sue Anderson from Little House on the Prairie.
The Haunting (1963)
Psychics gather to determine if a house is truly haunted as legend persists. Black and white, very gothic and shocking in that all of its scares and suspense are done simply through the use of shadows and sounds.
Hell Night (1981)
Linda Blair and her college co-eds must spend the night in a “haunted” house in order to pledge their franternities/sororities. Sounds common, but it was both original and scary in its day. Plus some excellent chase sequences.
The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
Based on a true story. After their car breaks down, an all-American white bread family must become savages in order to escape a desert filled with a cannibalistic clan.
The House of the Devil (2009)
College girl desperate for money answers a “Babysitter Wanted” ad – only to discover she’ll be watching over an elderly lady in the attic... whom she never actually needs to check in on. Making it stranger, she’s offered $400 for 4 hours of her time. As expected, she soon discovers there’s more going on in the house than was initially thought.
House of Wax (2004)
Friends on a camping trip discover an abandoned town where the only other beings are wax figures. Creepy enough, until you realize where all the original townspeople went.
The House on Sorority Row (1983)
Sorority girls pulling a prank on their wicked house mother soon find themselves trying to cover up her murder. Worse for them, someone saw what happened and is quickly taking their own bloody revenge on the sisterhood.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
Extremely unsettling remake of the 1950s classic. Humanity is being devoured by an alien species who suck the life out of their hosts, then form perfectly replicated bodies minus emotions. Paranoia runs rampant.
Jack Be Nimble (1992)
Psychic brother and sister, separated as children due to their parents’ lack of caring, find each other 15 years later. Problem is, the brother is hell-bent on revenge for anyone who did either of them wrong in their lives.
Jaws 2 (1978)
Yeah yeah... I like the original Jaws and all, but this one just affected me more and keeps my attention better. Group of teens go against parents wishes (isn’t that how they always get into trouble?) and sail out into the Atlantic, only to be hunted by a giant, very hungry great white shark.
Lady in White (1988)
While locked in his schoolhouse cloakroom on Halloween night, a little boy in the early 1960s watches a ghostly reenactment of a little girl being murdered 10 years earlier. It becomes his mission to discover who killed her and threw her body off a cliff, leading to the suicide of her mother and destruction of her family.
The Last House on the Left (1972)
The first truly violent horror film. Sexual degradation, torture, and murder are how the movie begins before it becomes a wicked exercise in revenge. Two teens killed by a group of escaped prisoners are avenged by their parents.
The Last House on the Left (2009)
Surprisingly potent remake which leaves out the exploitation element of the original, but otherwise sticks fairly close to the original story with a more mainstream polish.
The Little Girls Who Lives Down the Lane (1976)
13 years old Jodie Foster seems to be living on her own all well and good until a bitchy landlord and perverted child molester Martin Sheen begin snooping around to see where her parents might be. Not so much a scary movie, but rather good suspense and an all-around icky feeling.
Maniac Cop 2 (1990)
The 1988 original is a fun film, but this sequel has twice the budget and non-stop action as a police man framed and imprisoned by his fellow dirty cops returns for revenge on anyone he didn’t splatter the first time around.
Mirror Mirror (1990)
River and Joaquin Phoenix’s sister Rainbow stars in this well done take on Carrie. Painfully shy goth girl transfers to a new school only to be tormented daily by the “in” crowd. Quicker than you can say “revenge is better than Christmas,” our anti-heroine finds a supernatural mirror and powers to make the evil kids perish.
My Bloody Valentine (1981)
No, not the modern 3-D version, but the original miner goes on a rampage story. Creepy in its genuinely cold atmosphere and with some especially gruesome deaths and make up FX. Average slasher bumped up a notch by characters you genuinely enjoy and a some good jump-out scares.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Not only is it a great example of how paranoia affects not only the characters but viewers of the film, but it stars Judith O’Dea as the heroine, “Barbara.” Did I mention Ms. O’Dea has starred in 3 of my films...? Here, it’s not the zombies she has to watch out for so much as the other living people in the farmhouse where they all take shelter.
Dawn of the Dead (2004) (remake: Part 2 of new trilogy)
Sure sure, the original 1978 version made zombies gorier, and technically 28 Days Later made them faster, but this version combines both elements and a hyper cast to bring both worlds together in a fast-paced, blood spattered way. AND it takes place in my hometown of Racine, WI!!!!! I’m serious!!!
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Considered a horror classic for a reason. Child molester and murderer Fred Krueger returns to haunt and kill teens in their dreams as revenge on the parents who burned him alive years earlier.
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)
Freddy returns to possess the body of an effeminate teen boy and kill his peers both in their dreams and in the real world.
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
The “last” of the Elm Street children, whose parents torched Freddy, are locked in an asylum because their shared nightmares have driven them to drugs and suicide attempts. Only Nancy, the lone survivor of the original film, understands their dilemma and knows how to save them. Still a cool flick all around.
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
Freddy needs a new generation of teens to slaughter and finds his match in the mind of lonely and awkward Alice, who has been given the ability to pull other people into her dreams by the survivor of the previous film.
Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994) (Part 7)
Parts 5 & 6 really weren’t all that great, so skip ‘em and jump to this entirely original concept, wherein the actors and crew from the original film portray themselves as Freddy manifests himself in a new script by creator Wes Craven and intrudes their “real” world. The first half of the film is based on the true case of original star Heather Langenkamp’s stalking by a Freddy fan. The second half transitions into an Elm Street spectacle. Originated the concept of a film being aware of itself.
Paperhouse (1988)
Promoted as “the thinking man’s Nightmare on Elm Street.” Excellent British chiller follows a little girl who, in a fevered state, falls into dreams and nightmares where she meets her first love and tries to escape the image of her father that terrifies her. Hard to find but worth it.
Phantasm II (1988)
The 1979 is a bit too confusing for my tastes, but I LOVE this sequel. The first film’s hero tries to escape the clutches of a human-like alien who steals our corpses, brings them back to life, and forces them into slavery.
Poltergeist (1982)
Like a carnival fun ride come to life, a suburban family is terrorized by the undead who suck their 5 year old daughter into the netherworld through their TV set.
Prom Night (1980)
Mystery killer slaughters classmates on the anniversary of the death of a little girl... a death they caused.
Prom Night IV (1991)
Group of randy teens skip their school prom to party at a country home, unaware a psychotic priest is hell-bent on slaughtering sinning sex crazed teens. Doesn’t sound overly original, but it’s stylish, atmospheric and offers several genuine scares.
Psycho II (1982)
Yes, I left off the original, because I find it a bit too talky and not enough scary. But that’s not the case with this tight sequel, which offers a great mystery at its heart and some great jump-out-of-your seat moments.
Psycho IV (1990)
Norman Bates recalls his wicked childhood and how the evils of his mother’s dementia drove him to his murderous ways.
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
A young woman slowly realizes she’s pregnant with Satan’s first born.
Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
Looney kid whose family was slaughtered on Christmas Eve10 years earlier snaps when he’s forced to wear a Santa suit. He kills everyone he considers should be on his naughty list for partaking in that evil sex-thing. Not really a good movie, but something about it’s more ridiculous moments has made me love it more with each passing year.
Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers (1988)
Part horror film, mostly intentional comedy sends up the slasher films of the early 80s as the killer from the first film undergoes a sex change and returns to chop up any teen who has sex, does drugs or misbehaves in any way. Sing that “Happy Camper” song.
The Slumber Party Massacre (1982)
Senior girls basketball team celebrate their final game with a sleepover party crashed by a maniac with cinema’s most phallic weapon. Tongue in cheek dark humor mixes with some gruesome moments, decent suspense and feminist rant.
Slumber Party Massacre II (1987)
One the survivors of the first film finds the killer reincarnated in her dreams as an evil rocker out to waste her hot lady friends.
Slumber Party Massacre III (1990)
All new girlie group are attacked by a maniac out to avenge his uncle’s suicide.
Squirm (1976)
An electrical storm drives flesh hungry worms out of southern soil and put the town under siege as they devour everyone in sight. Mildly based on a true story and uses real worms in its effects. Icky.
Terror in the Aisles (1984)
Delightful collection of film clips from over 75 of the most terrifying films ever made. Hosted by Halloween star Donald Pleasence and Carrie actress Nancy Allen.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Based on the true story of Ed Gein, fellow Wisconsin native. Group of folks discover a farm run by a family of cannibals who plan to make a meal out of each of them. Possibly the most terrifying film I personally have ever seen.
Tourist Trap (1979)
Horrified me as a kid. Kinda hokey now, but still gives me chills at times. Stranded college friends discover an old tourist attraction filled with mannequins who come to life.
When A Stranger Calls (1979)
Babysitter is tormented by unrelenting phone calls by a sicko who claims he wants to bathe in her blood. The mid-section is a bit slow, but the first and last 15 minutes are easily among the most nail-biting put to film.
When A Stranger Calls Back (1993)
Woman tormented as a teen by an escaped mental patient now councils a college student being stalked for over 5 years by an unseen psycho who derives pleasure from his victim’s constant state of fear.
The original 1986 film was a late in coming slasher, produced after the huge success of the VHS release SPM in 1985. Although SORORITY HOUSE MASSACRE was picked up by Warner Bros. (!), it did not receive the same amount of fan-fare as it step-sibling, though it did receive some critical praise for director Carol Frank's imaginative visuals, setting this otherwise typical format (crazy escapes from the asylum and stalks the girls in his old home) apart from other films of the era. Corman instead went on to pump out SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE II in 1987. (SHM, btw, shows scenes from the original SPM on a television set in several scenes.)
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