Proud to admit that I am a horror junkie.
However, my definition of what falls under the realm of horror entertainment is fairly wide. Horror is an emotion experienced differently by individuals.
These are short reviews of the movies, television series, novels, comics, albums, and any thing else which crosses my path if I feel like falls into the wide world of horror entertainment.
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The Rating System
All opinions are my own. We are all different. What I may think is great, you may this terrible. Don't let my opinios stop you from exploring the vast world of horror in all media.
~Mind Blowing: Search for this movie immediately. It can only be described as pure greatness and possible an instant classic.
~So Good: Highly recommended because for one reason or another it stands out above the usual fair. Put the movie on your radar as it wont disappoint.
~In the Middle: The movie is a nothing special, average affair. It may entertain in the short term but it will be easily forgettable in the long haul.
~Warning: This movie is a cliched driven slop of familiar territory. Only watch if you're really of fan of this type of material.
~Steaming Pile: The movie is absolute garbage, a complete bore, and not worth the time or effort.
Premise:
A paranormal investigator buys a house in Gary, IN that is called a portal to Hell and has had numerous people claiming something is not right in the house.
My Take:
I have never been a fan of Bagans' Ghost Adventures series. However this unique case interested me as it's in the near the area where I currently reside. No doubt some of it is extremely creepy and disturbing, but dont look for any resolution. There is really no deep digging into the past of the house and what may have caused the haunting or the socioeconomic situation of the people in the area. What the viewer is left with is just as many questions as we started with on the subject... and a good scare.
Starring: Doug Bradley, Clare Higgins, Simon Bamford, Imogen Boorman, Oliver Parker, Tony Randel, Andrew Robinson, Barbie Wilde, Nicholas Vince, Oliver Smith
Director: Kevin McDonagh
Premise:
A documentary telling about the making of Clive Barker's Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser II
My Take:
If only Clive Barker and Ashley Laurence would have been interviewed for the movie it would feel complete. It's still a cool look at behind scenes.
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Oz Perkins, Guillermo Del Toro, Aaron Moorehead, Justin Benson, Danny Elfman, Mick Garris, Scott Spiegel, Illeana Douglas, Neil Marshall, Eli Roth, Leigh Whannell, Karyn Kusama, Elijah Wood, Richard Stanley, Bret Easton Ellis, Peter Bogdanovich
Director: Alexandre O. Philippe
Premise:
Directors, actors, and scholars break down Hitchcock's most famous scene and how it affected not only the film making but society.
My Take:
Such a meticulously made scene that broke many movie taboos at the time and paved way for great change in horror cinema (well cinema in general).
Premise:
The story of an area in Pennsylvania known for years to have an extraordinary amount of UFO and Bigfoot sightings.
My Take:
Another solid entry in the Small Town Monsters series. The director manages to tell the stories and draw compassion from the witnesses yet let the viewer decided on their own what to believe.
Starring: Tom Holland, Amanda Bearse, Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Stephen Geoffreys
Director: Chris Griffiths
Premise:
The behind the scenes look at the creation and making of the movie Fright Night.
My Take:
A fun documentary the manages to get all the key pieces from the movie for interviews. There are a lot of behind the scenes tales and much more.
Premise:
The investigation of a Bigfoot like creature sighting in upstate New York in 1976.
My Take:
As with all of the director's documentaries in the Small Town Monster series, this provides a thorough investigation on what may have happened on this famed night and let's the viewer draw their own conclusions.
Premise:
Josh Gates explores if there is a possibilities of other life in the universerve.
My Take:
Like most cases in there series, the teams comes up with some fascinating scenarios and clues to the subject but often leave the conclusion up to viewer as no concrete evidence is found.
Premise:
A documentary focusing on Bigfoot lore and legend in the Southern United States.
My Take:
The documentary focuses mainly on Texas and Florida sightings and the hunters trying to locate evidence of the creatures existence. While it doesn't shed a lot of new light on the subject (at least for some one who is more than a novice), it does remain interesting.
Starring: Gary Sales, Paul Ehlers, Harriet Bass,
Director: Victor Bonacore
Premise:
A look back on the making of the 80's slasher Madman.
My Take:
The movie Madman is often overlooked in the realm of 80's slasher flicks. It has gained a cult following over the years. The documentary has nifty tidbits but unless you are huge fan of the movie there is probably not much here for you. The majority of content comes form four or five people and the audio level inconsistencies get rather annoying.
Starring: Richard Stanley, Robert Shaye, Fairuza Balk, Rob Morrow, Marco Hofschneider, Edward R, Pressman,
Director: David Gregory
Premise:
A behind the scenes story of the infamous Island of Dr Moreau remake told by the original creator Richard Stanely, the producers, and the actors.
My Take:
There are several fascinating points to take away from the documentary. The first is how a studio still makes a movie despite not being 100% behind the making of it, which causes problems from the beginning. The second is how the director/writer's vision gets changed drastically throughout the process due to unforeseen circumstances. And the third is how much influence, egomaniac movies stars actually have on a film production which leads to astronomical amount of money loss. A great watch for anyone interested in behind the scene Hollywood film making.
Premise:
A look at the life of rocker and showman Alice Cooper
My Take:
I've always been a fan of Alice Cooper. This doc takes into when the band first formed in Detroit (in high school) and eventually transformed into the group known for their macabe stage show. The bands breakup leading to a one man show and all troubles behind. Great stuff.
Premise:
A group of people discuss having sleep paralysis and the terror it causes them and try to get answers to why it occurs.
My Take:
I have always been a fascinated with this subject, especially since finding out my wife suffers from it. The movie does goes into the history of sleep paralysis but mostly it's people describing their terrors and reenactments. It's interesting but at the same time it could have been so much better.
Premise:
A best selling author decides to try and find proof of the deceased communicating with the living. He focuses on Forrest J. Ackerman, his estate, and tales surrounding strange occurrences since his death.
My Take:
Though the documentary really fails to deliver on it's opening question it is rather captivating to listen to the interviews from all these people talking about the late Forrest J. Ackeman
