Phil's Top Ten Horror Films of 2018 - January 3, 2018

2018 was another banner for the horror genre!! Horror hounds as we were treated  once again with a plethora of outstanding, thought provoking and truly terrifying movies to watch! There was so much great films that I thought I died and gone to Hell! Now this was really a daunting task, due to the fact that there were some truly incredible and remarkable films that I saw in theaters, Blu-Ray, DVD as well as on VOD and streaming services like Shudder and Netflix. So boils and ghouls, here is my Top Ten Horror Films of 2018!

10) THE STRANGERS: PREY AT NIGHT: A family's road trip takes a dangerous turn when they arrive at a secluded mobile home park to stay with relatives and find it mysteriously deserted. Under the cover of darkness, three masked psychopaths pay them a visit to test the family's every limit as they struggle to survive. Right from the beginning, the film has the aesthetic of a 70's horror film, right down to it's logo design. And I was digging it man! While the first installment was extremely unnerving and highly suspenseful, the sequel knows exactly what it is, as that your straight forward slasher flick. And there's nothing wrong with that. Over the duration of the movie, director Johannes Roberts keeps his eye of the prize; providing shocks, scares, suspense, and shenanigans to keep horror fans happy. And that freaking pool scene!! An intense, thrill ride of a slasher movie that's short on plot but makes up in sheer joy and enthusiasm!

9) THE BABYSITTER: Cole (Judah Lewis) loves his babysitter (Samara Weaving) Bee. She's hot, funny, and popular. One night, in a moment of defiance, Cole secretly stays up past his bedtime to discover she's actually a cold-blooded killer who's in league with the Devil. He now must spend his night evading Bee's band of killers who will stop at nothing to prevent Cole from spilling their dark secret. It's up to Cole to survive the night (and blow up a few people along the way). The characters are very relatable and sympathetic. I mean, c'mon, who didn't have a crush on their super hot babysitter when they were kids?!? Now, add in some awesome gore, bloodshed, and hysterical hijinks and you have yourself on hell of a film!! It follows along the lines of recent horror comedies like SHAUN OF THE DEAD, TUCKER AND DALE VS. EVIL, and BETTER WATCH OUT.One of the most outrageous, blood stained, batshit crazy, bonkers as hell, flat out gross out horror comedies of all time!! I freaking loved this movie!

8) NIGHT OF SOMETHING STRANGE: Five teenage friends set out for the beach on their Spring Break vacation. Good times are cut short when one of the group, Carrie, contracts a deadly sexual transmitted disease during a bathroom stop. When they stop for the night at an isolated motel, the real terror begins when the STD virus starts running rampant, turning those infected into the living dead. However, there's more going on at the motel than meets the eye. f there was ever a film that promotes that abstinence as well as the dangers of necrophilia, it's this film! Writer/director Jonathan Straiton, along with co-writers Ron Bonk and Mean Gene, crafted one of the most insane, gory, fast paced, darkly sexual, horror film I have ever seen! One of my favorite independent horror films of 2018!!

7) CULT OF CHUCKY: After accused of murdering her family, Nica (Fiona Dourif) is taken to an asylum and thinks that she's the cause of the deaths of her family. However, when grizzly deaths start to occur, she then realizes that Chucky (Brad Dourif), her illusion might not be make believe. She also finds out that the doll is slowly starting to possess anyone or anything to join a huge cult to kill off Chucky's victims, but things don't go to well in the asylum, including for Chucky's long lost friend Andy Barcley (Alex Vincent) who tries to stop the cult from getting bigger while also trying to get past Chucky's wife, Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly). I am so impressed with Mancini's directing. He clearly has a vision and, despite its very low budget, he is able to capture some outstanding sweeps, compositions, and gore galore. He finds the balance of scares and drama, with a little bit of humor for good measure. You can also see how much confident he gains from each film. I cannot wait to see what he does in his next film!

6) REVENGE: Debut director Coralie Fargeat announces her stunning arrival, painting a crimson canvas of hypnotic beauty and bloody retribution in this razor-sharp feminist subversion of the revenge-thriller. Jen (fearlessly embodied by Matilda Lutz, Rings) is enjoying a romantic getaway with her wealthy boyfriend which is suddenly disrupted when his sleazy friends arrive for an unannounced hunting trip. Tension mounts in the house until the situation abruptly––and viciously––intensifies, culminating in a shocking act that leaves Jen left for dead. Unfortunately for her assailants, Jen survives and reemerges with a relentless, wrathful intent: revenge. An ungodly violent and grotesque entry in the rape/revenge genre, the film grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go until the final credits roll! I had seen the film first on Shudder, but then I bought it on Blu-Ray once it became available. A powerful and raw film!!

5) TERRIFIER: Based on a character from the cult anthology, ALL HALLOW'S EVE, the gory 80's slasher throwback takes place on Halloween night as the demented Art the Clown sets his sights on terrorizing two girls and anyone else that gets in his way. Yeah, this is one fucked up horror movie!! It has that old school, 1970's grindhouse horror film aesthetic that the movie nails you to the back of the theater and doesn't let go till the end credits. It's also super nasty, meaning everything about it makes you feel dirty watching it. Credit goes to actor David Howard Thornton for his performance of Art the Clown, one of the most horrifying clowns I have ever seen in a horror film! He doesn't speak a word and he doesn't have to: his body language, his mannerism, his facial expressions, every little thing he does adds to mystic to his role! One of the most shocking, grotesque and insane horror films of the past decade!! This movie is not for the faint at heart! If you like your horror movies outrageously fucked-up, and covered in blood and guts, this one was made for you!

4) HALLOWEEN: Jamie Lee Curtis returns to her iconic role as Laurie Strode, who comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago. Holy crap I loved the hell outta this movie!! This surpassed beyond my expectations! Jamie Lee Curtis returns to bring a new dimension to her iconic character Laurie Strode. Life has been hard on Laurie, and we learn the sacrifices, consequences, and loss that she has lived through these past 40 years. This is the sequel that we have been waiting for for the last 40 years!! Everything in this movie was phenomenal!! The acting, the directing, the cinematography, the film's score, there wasn't anything wrong with the overall presentation! And the kills were graphic, gory, and gorgeous!!

3) A QUIET PLACE: If they hear you, they hunt you. In this terrifyingly suspenseful thriller, a family must navigate their lives in silence to avoid mysterious creatures that hunt by sound. Knowing that even the slightest whisper or footstep can bring death, Evelyn (Emily Blunt) and Lee (John Krasinski) Abbott are determined to find a way to protect their children at all costs while they desperately search for a way to fight back. Holy shit was this an intense, nail biter of a horror flick!! Emily Blunt is absolutely amazing!! Actor/director John Krasinski crafted one of the finest horror films of the year! And having deaf actress Millicent Simmonds gave the film more credibility, as it brought the world of ASL (American Sign Language) to the forefront. And since my girlfriend is an ASL Interpreter, this brought it closer to the world that she lives in. One of the most frightening horror flicks of 2018!!

2) MANDY: The quiet life of devoted couple Red (Nicolas Cage, Leaving Las Vegas) and Mandy (Andrea Riseborough, Birdman) takes a dark and bizarre turn when a nightmarish cult and their maniacal leader (Linus Roache, “Vikings”) seek to possess Mandy…body and soul. A shocking assault on the innocent pair leads to a spiraling, surreal, bloody rampage of all out, mind-altering vengeance. Holy crap was this one of the most batshit crazy film of the year!! Cage gives a tour de force performance as our protagonist Red Miller. Co-writer/director Panos Cosmatos made a name for himself with his breakthrough debut BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW back in 2010. One of the most talked about films of 2018!!

1) HEREDITARY: When the matriarch of the Graham family passes away, her daughter's family begins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry. Actress Toni Collette gives one of her greatest performances of all time!! Actor Gabriel Byrne is the world's biggest asshole in cinema history!! The film was written and directed by Ari Aster, who before this film several short indie films. This was his feature full length debut and he knocked it out of the mother fucking park!! If there was one film that talked about more than any other film of 2018, it was this film!!

And that, my fellow children of the night, is a wrap! I sincerely hope you enjoyed my Top Ten Horror Films of 2018 and I really hope this encourages you all to check out these incredible fright flicks! Remember, if you get scared from watching these cinematic nightmares, keep repeating yourself: It's only a movie...only a movie...only a movie...only a movie....BOO!!

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the screaming!

Phil's Top 25 Favorite Christmas-Themed Horror Films Of All Time - December 19, 2018

With the holidays almost here, what better way to conclude this wonderful time of year than to watch some really awesome Christmas themed horror movies! During this yuletide time, I thought it would be not only fun but informative to share with you some of my favorite Christmas themed horror films. This is something that I've been doing for a couple of years now, due to the amazing plethora of titles that are available to watch. Some of these are classic horror staples, while some are newer releases that truly deserve your time and attention.

This list contains MY favorite movies that I have enjoyed and only titles that I have seen! Therefore, some recent entries such as ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE, MRS. CLAUSE, SLAY BELLES, CHRISTMAS PRESENCE, and ALL THE CREATURES WERE STIRRING didn't make the list yet. However, they are on my to-watch list so maybe they'll appear on next year's compilation. So my faithful readers, here is my Top 25 Favorite Christmas-Themed Horror Films of All Time!

25) BLACK CHRISTMAS (aka BLACK X-MAS) (2006):

24) SILENT NIGHT (2012): A loose remake of the classic 1984 slasher film SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT, the plot centers on the police force of a remote Midwestern town in search for a killer Santa Claus who is picking off citizens on Christmas Eve. Directed by Steven C. Miller and starring Malcolm McDowell, Jaime King, Donal Logue, Courtney-Jane White, Ellen Wong and Rick Skene, the movie is a slick, sick slasher flick that will appeal to horror fanatics. Miller is no stranger to the horror genre, after helming AUTOMATION TRANSFUSION (2006), SCREAM OF THE BANSHEE (2011) and UNDER THE BED (2012). Also, this was King's third remake of a 80's slasher film, having starred in the 2009 MY BLOODY VALENTINE and 2010 MOTHER'S DAY remakes.

23) ELVES (1989)

22) RED CHRISTMAS (2017)

21) SILENT NIGHT, BLOODY NIGHT (1972)

20) DON'T OPEN TILL CHRISTMAS (1989)

19) ATM (2012)

18) SECRET SANTA (2015)

17) SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT 2 (1987)

16) THE CHILDREN (2008)

15) DEAD END (2003)

14) SANTA'S SLAY (2005)

13) SAINT (aka SINT) (2016)

12) CHRISTMAS EVIL (aka YOU BETTER WATCH OUT) (1980): When he was a boy, Harry idolized Santa Claus. But one Christmas Eve, he witnessed something horrifying that forever shattered his innocent understanding of Santa. Now an adult, Harry wants to embody the pure Santa Claus he grew up loving. He works at a toy factory and keeps records of who’s been naughty and nice, but the spirit of Christmas isn’t what it used to be and he can’t take it. So, garbed in his red suit, Harry decides that the only thing he can do is to become Santa himself and make all of the naughty townspeople pay…in blood! Originally released as You Better Watch Out, the film predates SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT by four years! Troma Entertainment originally released the movie on VHS in 2000 in an unrated director's cut. Then in 2006, Synapse Film's gained the rights to release it on DVD before finally getting a Blu-Ray/DVD combo from Vinegar Syndrome in 2014.

11) JACK FROST (1997): On his way to be executed, the vehicle containing notorious serial killer Jack Frost collides with a hazardous chemical truck, turning Jack into a snow covered mutant and unleashing him on the unsuspecting town of Snomonton, ‘The Snowman Capitol of the Midwest’. Jack immediately takes advantage of his newfound freedom and blizzardy abilities to seek revenge on the bungling Sheriff, played by Christopher Allport (TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A.), that accidentally ended his cross-country killing spree. On his way to the Sheriff, Jack terrorizes the snow-man themed town and murders its residents in a variety of winterized ways. The movie was recently released as a Blu-Ray/DVD combo by Vinegar Syndrome after being out of print for years.

10) KRAMPUS (2015): When his dysfunctional family clashes over the holidays, young Max (Emjay Anthony) is disillusioned and turns his back on Christmas. Little does he know, this lack of festive spirit has unleashed the wrath of Krampus: a demonic force of ancient evil intent on punishing non-believers. All hell breaks loose as beloved holiday icons take on a monstrous life of their own, laying siege to the fractured family's home and forcing them to fight for each other if they hope to survive. Filmmaker Michael Dougherty is well known to horror fans as the writer/director of the beloved anthology TRICK 'r TREAT and his new film GODZILLA: KING OF MONSTERS for Warner Bros. Pictures will be released next summer. At the time of me writing this piece, it was announced that Dougherty will finally be making the long awaited sequel TRICK 'r TREAT 2, which I have been waiting for since the first movie came out!

9) NIGHT OF THE COMET (1984)

8) A CHRISTMAS HORROR STORY (2015): It’s the season of joy, peace, and goodwill… unless you live in Bailey Downs. Last Christmas Eve, two teens came to a grisly end in a school basement. Now, one year later, a new set of horrors has come to town. As three friends explore the site of the massacre, a malevolent spirit is determined to keep them there forever. One of the first cops to the scene of the bloody murders has new complications as his seven-year-old son exhibits terrifying and violent behavior. And when a local family seeks reconciliation with an estranged aunt for the wrong reasons, they suddenly find themselves running in terror from Krampus, the demonic anti-Santa Claus. Not even St. Nick is immune to the terror as he fights back against a horde of zombie elves. This is destined to be a holiday no one will ever forget.

7) BETTER WATCH OUT (2017): 2016): This holiday season, you may be home, but you’re not alone... In this fresh and gleefully twisted spin on home-invasion horror, babysitter Ashley (Olivia DeJonge) must defend her young charges Luke (Levi Miller) and his best friend Garrett (Ed Oxenbould ) when intruders break into the house one snowy night – or so she thinks. Originally titled as SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD, the film made a big splash when it was screened at the Fantastic Fest in 2016. It went on to garner acclaim at other film festivals before being picked up for distribution by Well Go USA Entertainment. This is one of the most original, entertaining and sick Christmas themed horror films I have seen in a very long time! Fun fact: both DeJonge and Oxenbould played siblings in M. Night Shyamalan's 2015 thriller THE VISIT.

6) A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993): Bored with the same old scare-and-scream routine, Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, longs to spread the joy of Christmas. But his merry mission puts Santa in jeopardy and creates a nightmare for good little boys and girls everywhere! I don't care what people think or say, this is a horror film disguised as a children's film. Created by the legendary Tim Burton and directed by Henry Selick, this stop motion musical contains some delightful scares and eerie imagery that horror fans have come accustomed to with Mr. Burton's cinematic world. And the cinematic world has never been the same since. Since its original release, the film has gone on to become a true animation classic, spawning toys, games, clothes and all kinds of merchandise.

5) GREMLINS (1984): A small town is besieged by some furry and not-so-cute little creatures after a young man ignores the warnings of a wise elder regarding their care and feeding. Before anybody says anything, the film takes place during Christmas time, so that is why it's on my list. Written by Chris Columbus, produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Joe Dante, the film stars Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Keye Luke, Corey Feldman, Dick Miller and with Howie Mandel providing the voice of Gizmo. The film was so successful that it became the fourth highest-grossing film of 1984 (GHOSTBUSTERS, BEVERLY HILLS COP and INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM were the other three films), grossing a staggering $148.1 million against its meager $11 million budget! A sequel was eventually made and released in 1990.

4) RARE IMPORTS: A CHRISTMAS TALE (2010)

3) SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT (1984): The film is the heartwarming story of little Billy Chapman who was traumatized by his parents’ Christmas Eve murder, then brutalized by sadistic orphanage nuns. But when grown-up Billy is to dress as jolly St. Nick, he goes on a yuletide rampage to "punish the naughty! ", Santa Claus is coming to town ... and this time he’s got an axe! Robert Brian Wilson and Scream Queen Linnea Quigley star in this jaw-dropping horror classic that a nation of angry mothers still cannot stop! Community leaders tried to stop the release. The P.T.A. fought to ban it. In 2017, Scream Factory, an imprint of Shout! Factory, released the film on Blu-Ray in a new high-definition and fully restored from the original vaulted film negative. Still considered controversial to this very day, the film spawned four sequels along with the 2012 remake that came in at number ten

2) INSIDE (aka À l'intérieur) (2007): Good lord!! This was one fucked up movie!! Four months before Christmas, Sarah and Matthieu Scarangelo were in a car crash, of which Sarah and her unborn baby were the only survivors. On Christmas Eve, Sarah stays home alone, where she grieves her husband and prepares to go to the hospital the next morning for the delivery. As night falls, a woman knocks on Sarah's door asking to use the phone. When she refuses, the woman reveals that she knows Sarah and tries to force her way in. Sarah calls the police; they inspect the home and determine the woman has left, but promise to keep watch over Sarah through the night. The woman returns and tries to take Sarah's unborn child, but Sarah locks herself in the bathroom. The strange woman torments Sarah through the night and kills all who try help her.

1) BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974): The grandaddy of all Christmas horror films! The college town of Bedford is receiving an unwelcome guest this Christmas. As the residents of sorority house Pi Kappa Sigma prepare for the festive season, a stranger begins to stalk the house. A series of obscene phone calls start to plague the residents of the sorority and it becomes clear that a psychopath is homing in on the sisters with dubious intentions. And though the police try to trace the calls, they discover that nothing is as it seems during this Black Christmas. Over 40 years after its initial theatrical release, the movie still holds up and still inspires screams from audiences today! It predates HALLOWEEN by four years and it's sited as launching the slasher genre. Again, the  remake came out in 2006 and Scream Factory released a two-disc special edition Blu-Ray set in 2017.

And folks, there you have it! My Top 25 Favorite Christmas-Themed Horror Films of All Time! I hope that this list inspires you to watch some of these films, or if you're a die hard horror fanatic, it will make you want to revisit these festive cinematic gems! Since many of these movies are available to watch on Blu-Ray, DVD, VOD or on streaming services like Netflex, Hulu and Shudder, there is a plethroa of ways for you to watch them. So put out those milk and cookies, turn on your Christmas tree lights, pop some popcorn and set back and watch these films with your family today! Just make sure you save a seat for Santa, or he'll leave a lump of coal in your stocking....if your lucky!

Thanks for reading, and Happy Holidays to you all!

Phil's Favorite Thanksgiving-Themed Horror Films - November 22, 2018

Hello everybody and Happy Thanksgiving! While all of you out there are visiting with families and friends, having turkey and wine, spending quality time with loved ones, what better way to celebrate the day than to watch some really awesome Thanksgiving themed horror movies! So I thought it would be not only fun but informative to share with you some of my favorite Thanksgiving themed horror films. This is something that I've been wanting to doing for a couple of years now, but never had the time to do until now. Some of these are classic horror staples, while some are newer releases that truly deserve your time and attention.

This list contains MY favorite movies that I have enjoyed and only titles that I have seen! So that is why you won't see other worthy titles. However, they are on my to-watch list so maybe they'll appear on next year's compilation. So my faithful readers, here is my Favorite Thanksgiving-Themed Horror Films of All Time!

5) THANKSKILLING 3 (2012):  The fowl-mouthed villain Turkie is back and hacking his way to find the last copy of "ThanksKilling 2" which has landed in the hands of a group of disturbingly crude puppets. The death toll rises as Turkie carves through the likes of Flowis the rapping grandma, Rhonda the bisexual space worm, Yomi the puppet in search of her mind, and their equally ridiculous friends who all travel through fantastical settings such as the FeatherWorld and Turkey Hell. With the guidance of Uncle Donny (Dan Usaj), the wig-wearing inventor of the PluckMaster 3000, Jefferson (Joe Hartzler), Head of Security at ThanksgivingLand, and a WiseTurkey, the gatekeeper to the FeatherWorld, our collection of raunchy characters hope to fend off the murderous rampage of Turkie, all while trying to help Yomi find her mind. If you're looking for a weird, batshit crazy Thanksgiving film to watch, this one is for you! Click here to view the film's theatrical trailer.

4) BLOOD FREAK (1972):  Just back from Vietnam, Herschell (Steve Hawkes) is at loose ends until one day he stops to help beautiful Bible-quoting Angel (Heather Hughes) fix her car. She takes him home, where her scapegrace sister, Ann (Dana Cullivan), immediately plies him with drugs in order to seduce him. Instantly addicted, he needs money for his habit and takes a job at a turkey farm, where he's instructed to eat some experimental lab-grown turkeys. He does, and undergoes a hideous transformation. Man, you gotta love the 1970's! In what other decade can you see something like this! This was such a fun-filled, cheesy low-budget gem of a flick that it makes PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE look like THE WIZARD OF OZ. Fun Fact: The turkey-monster head that co-writer/co-director Steve Hawkes wears was made of papier-mache. Yup, they don't make movies like this anymore! Click here to view the film's theatrical trailer.

3) THANKSKILLING (2009): While on their way home for Thanksgiving break, five college kids run "afowl" of a homicidal turkey that wants them dead. As the cursed bird hunts them down one by one, the survivors scramble to find a way to defeat the possessed creature. Will the bloodthirsty turkey make this their last Thanksgiving feast ever? When I first saw this movie, I couldn't believe what I was watching. I think I was asking myself, "What the actual fuck am I watching? It's like a Troma movie but without any of the social commentary!" Filmed in 11 days during the summer break between filmmakers Kevin Stewart and Jordan Downey's junior and senior year of college on a budget of only $3,500, the movie was only to be a standalone. However, they decided to make sequel, and decided to skip making a part 2 and went ahead and make THANKSKILLING 3 in 2012. Click here to view the film's theatrical trailer.

2) POULTRYGEIST: NIGHT OF THE CHICKEN DEAD (2006): When a fast food chicken restaurant is built on the site of an ancient Native American burial ground, the displaced spirits unite with the ghosts of exterminated chickens and transform into Indian chicken zombies seeking revenge! Now, it’s up to a dim-witted counter boy, his lesbian ex-girlfriend, and a burqa-wearing fry cook to put an end to the foul-feathered menace once and for all. If you're looking for the ultimate Troma movie, then look no further! Director Lloyd Kaufman's masterpiece has it all: social commentary on the fast food industry, addressing Native American issues, lesbianism, the idea of selling out to a major corporation, all the while singing and dancing its way into your heart! Click here to view the film's theatrical trailer.

1) BLOOD RAGE (1987): IT’S NOT CRANBERRY SAUCE! What do you get if you combine Thanksgiving, American TV star Louise Lasser (Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman), killer ’80s synths and some truly gruesome special effects courtesy of Ed French (Terminator 2: Judgement Day)? Why, it’s Blood Rage of course! Twins Todd and Terry seem like sweet boys – that is, until one of them takes an axe to the face of a fellow patron at the local drive-in. Todd is blamed for the bloody crime and institutionalized, whilst twin brother Terry goes free. Ten years later and, as the family gathers around the table for a Thanksgiving meal, the news comes in that Todd has escaped. But has the real killer in fact been in their midst all along? Shot in 1983 but not released until 1987, BLOOD RAGE is a gloriously gruesome slice of ’80s slasher heaven. Click here to view the film's theatrical trailer.

And there you have it folks! My Favorite Thanksgiving-Themed Horror Films of All Time! I hope that this list inspires you to watch some of these films, or if you're a die hard horror fanatic, it will make you want to revisit these festive cinematic gems! Since many of these movies are available to watch on Blu-Ray, DVD, VOD or on streaming services like Netflex, Hulu and Shudder, there is a plethroa of ways for you to watch them. So start carving the turkey, get those mashed potatoes and rolls buttered up good, and set back and watch these films with your family today!

Thanks for reading, and Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Phil wishes everyone a Happy Halloween - October 31, 2018

Welcome back horror hounds to Phil's Halloween Horror Watch! So, as some of you may have noticed, I didn't keep up with my blogging this month. Well, I have a very good reason for this. During the last weekend of October, my girlfriend and I moved into our new place! Yes, I was very exited about this! However, what made it so damn frustrating was that AT&T kept on flaking on setting up our Internet service! As a result, there was no way that I could write up my reviews even though I was still watching my movies. Now, to remedy this, I am going to post the rest of the movies that I watched, complete with the film's synopsis. Sit back, relax, and read on!

Day 22: SCALPEL (1976) from Arrow Video. The film's official synopsis: US television staple Robert Lansing (Star Trek, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone) stars as a deranged surgeon in this twisty-turny psychological thriller from Blood Rage director John Grissmer. In the film, Lansing plays Dr. Phillip Reynolds, a man whose daughter Heather (Judith Chapman, As the World Turns, General Hospital) has run away from home a year prior following the suspicious death of her boyfriend. When he happens across a young woman one night, her face beaten beyond recognition, the unhinged Reynolds sees his an opportunity to put his trusty scalpel to use – hatching a plan to “reconstruct” her face in the image of his missing daughter, and so claim her sizeable inheritance.

Day 23: TO HELL AND BACK: THE KANE HODDER STORY (2017) from Dread Central Presents. The film's official synopsis: Featuring interviews and appearances by fellow icons Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger), Cassandra Peterson (Elvira), Bruce Campbell (Ash Vs Evil Dead), Director Adam Green (the Hatchet franchise) and many more, TO HELL AND BACK: THE KANE HODDER STORY is the must-see documentary of the year.

Day 24: HOUSE OF THE DEAD (aka ALIEN ZONE) () from Vinegar Syndrome. The film's official synopsis: Four tales of intrigue and horror await anyone brave enough to enter the HOUSE OF THE DEAD… When a philandering husband accidentally finds himself lost during a rainstorm, he’s taken in by an elderly mortician and is forced to learn the ghastly origins of four freshly arrived corpses: a scornful teacher whose students teach her a fatal lesson, an amateur filmmaker with a deadly muse, two dueling detectives attempting to solve a mysterious murder, and a bitter man whose arrogance costs him everything.

Day 25: THE MUTILATOR (1984) from Arrow Video. The film's official synopsis: When Ed receives a message from his father asking him to go and lock up the family’s beach condo for the winter, it seems like the perfect excuse for an alcohol-fueled few days away with his friends. But no sooner are the teens on the island than they find themselves stalked by a figure with an axe (and a hook, and an outboard motor) to grind.

Day 26: EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL at the San Jose Stage One Theater. The musical's synopsis:

Day 27: THE CHURCH (1981) from Scorpion Releasing. The film's official synopsis: In the middle of a modern city, an ancient evil is about to awaken! An elaborate cathedral that was once the site of a medieval massacre by crusading knights becomes a deadly trap for a group of visitors and staff when a sealed crypt is accidentally reopened. The laws of reality soon collapse as a nightmare takes hold and claims the lives of those within one by one, threatening to unleash a supernatural pestilence upon the world!

Day 28: BEHIND THE MASK: THE RISE OF LESLIE VERNON () from Scream Factory. The film's official synopsis: You know legendary maniacs Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers and Freddy Krueger. Now meet Leslie Vernon, the next great psycho-slasher. Nathan Baesel (Invasion) stars as Vernon, a good-natured killing machine who invites a documentary film crew to follow him as he reminisces with his murder mentor (Scott Wilson, The Walking Dead), evades his psychiatrist/nemesis (Robert Englund, A Nightmare On Elm Street), deconstructs Freudian symbolism, and meticulously plots his upcoming slaughter spree. But when the actual carnage begins, where do you draw the line between voyeuristic thrills, mythic evil, and good old-fashioned slasher movie mayhem?

Day 29: THE SLAYER (2006) from Arrow Video. The film's official synopsis: Two young couples set off to a secluded island for what promises to be a restful retreat. But the peace is short-lived: as a storm batters the island, troubled artist Kay begins to sense that a malevolent presence is here with them, stalking them at every turn. Is she losing her mind, or are her childhood nightmares of a demonic assailant coming to terrifying life?

Day 30: THE WITCHING SEASON (2015) from Scream Team Releasing. The film's official synopsis: Reminiscent of television shows like ‘Tales from the Darkside’ and ‘Tales from the Crypt’, The Witching Season is a five episode spine-tingling anthology of horror and suspense packed into one disc that delivers original tales of terror that capture the spirit of the Halloween season.

Day 31: TALES OF HALLOWEEN (2015) from Epic Pictures. The film's official synopsis: Named "the best horror anthology since Trick 'r Treat" by Fangoria and "among the best Halloween-themed horror movies ever made" by DailyDead, this critically acclaimed film weaves together ten chilling tales from horror's top directors. Ghosts, ghouls, monsters, and the devil delight in terrorizing unsuspecting residents of a suburban neighborhood on Halloween night.

And folks, there you have it! Another Halloween Horror Watch has come to a scary conclusion! I would like to thank all of you out there for reading my blog and I hope you've enjoyed learning about some of these horror films, cult classics, and modern day indie hits!

Thanks for reading, and Happy Halloween!

Phil's Halloween Horror Watch: HELL NIGHT (1981) from Scream Factory - October 19, 2018

HELL NIGHT Blu-Ray

HELL NIGHT
Starring Linda Blair, Vincent Van Patten, Peter Barton, Kevin Brophy, Jenny Neumann, Suki Goodwin, Jimmy Sturtevant
Screenplay by Randy Feldman (as Randolph Feldman)
Cinematography by Mac Ahlberg
Edited by Anthony DiMarco
Produced by Irwin Yablans, Bruce Cohn Curtis
Directed by Tom DeSimone (as Tom De Simone)
Originally released by Compass International Pictures
Released by Scream Factory

Hello again horror hounds and welcome to Day 19! Wow, the month's almost over already? Time does fly when you're having fun watching horror movies every single day! Speaking of horror movies, today's film is an oldie but a goodie. And the star of the film is none other than the legendary Linda Blair. Her resume includes both horror and cult classics like THE EXORCIST, SAVAGE STREETS and CHAINED HEAT. For today, I had the pleasure of watching a movie that's been long out-of-print. Now thanks to Scream Factory, her horror movie HELL NIGHT is now back and better than ever!

The film's official synopsis: As an initiation rite into Alpha Sigma Rho fraternity, four pledges must spend a night in Garth Manor, twelve years to the day after the previous resident murdered his entire family. Two of the pledges, Marti and Jeff ignore the rumors that the now-deserted mansion is haunted by a crazed killer, until one by one, members of their group mysteriously disappear. Could this be a part of a fraternity prank ... or is a demented former tenant seeking revenge? When this seemingly innocent night turns deadly, these college students will do anything to survive Hell Night.

I loved the opening of the movie. Director Tom DeSimone has a long unedited and uninterrupted shot of a major college party and it pans to the right and captures the spirit of this festive event. I sat there thinking to myself, "Dude, we didn't have college parties like that back in my day! Hey, that looks like a lot of fun! Was this happening back when I was in college? Man, those college girls were hot! Hey, I remember that brand of beer! I wonder if they still make it? Speaking of making, those two college kids are making out big time! Awwww.....I miss college." That's what I was thinking, but I digress.

Original Theatrical Poster (1981)

DeSimone builds up the story slowly, maybe a tad bit to slow for me, but when the scares gets going, the blood starts flowing. The storyline is pretty simple, but the production values look amazing, capturing the Hammer Horror Gothic look. He sets up the scares perfectly, as it builds and builds to one cool and painful looking climax in the third act. Credit also goes to screenwriter Randy Feldman for writing a fun and scary horror movie that looks and sounds authentic, meaning the characters are look and sound like young college students and not what a Hollywood executive thinks what they would look and sound like.

Linda Blair was one of the most beautiful actresses at this time. I had a bog crush on here when I saw her in ROLLER BOOGIE. She's so confident in her acting that you cannot look away from her when she's on the screen. Also appearing in the film is Vincent Van Patten as Seth, who you've seen in ROCK 'N' ROLL HIGH SCHOOL, PAYBACK, and on TV series like Baywatch and The Young and the Restless. Blair's love interest is Jeff is played by Peter Barton, who's titles include FRIDAY THE 13th: THE FINAL CHAPTER and television shows like Burke's Law, Sunset Beach, and The Young and the Restless.

The movie was released to theaters on August 28, 1981 by Compass International Pictures, the same distributor that brought us HALLOWEEN, ROLLER BOOGIE (another Linda Blair Picture), FADE TO BLACK, and BLOOD BEACH (the company would close after this release and return four years later as Trancas International Films, an affiliate of Universal Studios and current copyright holders of the HALLOWEEN franchise). It would gross $2.3 million against its $1.4 million budget, so not too bad but not that great either. It was was released on VHS by Media Home Entertainment in 1982, then later on DVD by Anchor Bay Entertainment in 1999. In January of this year, Scream Factory released the film for the first time on Blu-ray in a Collector's Edition set (with DVD).

The Blu-Ray/DVD Combo comes with these excellent extras: New Interviews With Actors Linda Blair, Peter Barton, Vincent Van Patten, Suki Goodwin, Kevin Brophy, and Jenny Neumann, Audio Commentary With Linda Blair, Tom DeSimone, Irwin Yablans, And Bruce Cohn Curtis, and Original Theatrical Trailer & TV Spots. The following special features are only Blu-ray Disc Exclusive Bonus Features: Interview With Director Tom DeSimone, Interview With Producer Bruce Cohn Curtis, Interview With Writer Randolph Feldman, Anatomy Of The Death Scenes With Tom DeSimone, Randolph Feldman, Make-up Artist Pam Peitzman, Art Director Steven G. Legler, And Special Effects Artist John Eggett, On Location At The Kimberly Crest House With Tom DeSimone, Gothic Design In Hell Night With Steven G. Legler, Original Radio Spot, and Photo Gallery Featuring Rare, Never-before-seen Stills.

HELL NIGHT is a fun and overlooked 80's slasher movie that will please fans of both the genre and Linda Blair! While not quite on par as with the other films of this era, the fact that it's now available in a new 4K scan and completely restored, it means that horror hounds will be able to enjoy the movie all year round! So come out and take trip down to the old Garth Manor, and see if you can survive the night! 4 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

HELL NIGHT is available in a Blu-Ray/DVD Combo from Scream Factory. To purchase a copy, visit their website at www.shoutfactory.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the horror!

Phil's Halloween Horror Watch: TERRIFIER (2017) from Dread Central Presents - October 16, 2018

TERRIFIER Blu-Ray

TERRIFIER
Starring David Howard Thornton, Jenna Kanell, Samantha Scaffidi, Catherine Corcoran, Katie Maguire, Matt McAllister
Screenplay by Damien Leone
Cinematography by George Steuber
Edited by Damien Leone
Produced by Larry Bilello, Phil Falcone, Damien Leone, Joe Patrick Marshall, George Steuber, Adam Weber
Directed by Damien Leone
Released by Dread Central Presents

Hello everybody and welcome to Day 16 of my Halloween Horror Watch! So, there's a lot of people in the world who are deathly afraid of clowns. And to be honest, clowns are pretty damn creepy. Even though they're somewhat funny and are there for the kids, adults have grown to be scared of them, and rightly so. There have been some terrifying clowns in the horror genre, such as Pennywise from IT, the space clowns from KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE, and Captain Spaulding from THE DEVIL'S REJECTS. Now you can add Art the Clown from TERRIFIER from Dread Central Presents to that lengthly list.

The film's official synopsis: Based on a character from the cult anthology, All Hallows Eve, the gory 80's slasher throwback takes place on Halloween night as the demented Art the Clown sets his sights on terrorizing two girls and anyone else that gets in his way.

After watching the film for the first time in the comfort of my home, I was thinking to myself, "What the fuck did I just watch?!?" Yeah, this is one fucked up horror movie!! It has that old school, 1970's grindhouse horror film aesthetic that the movie nails you to the back of the theater and doesn't let go till the end credits. It's also super nasty, meaning everything about it makes you feel dirty watching it. So afterwards, I took a very long shower! Then, I took another shower!

Credit goes to actor David Howard Thornton for his performance of Art the Clown, one of the most horrifying clowns I have ever seen in a horror film! Thorton was a trained mime and brings a lot of this experience to his character. He doesn't speak a word and he doesn't have to: his body language, his mannerism, his facial expressions, every little thing he does adds to mystic to his role as Art the Clown. If he doesn't get some kind award for his acting, then there is no justice in the world! He is that damn phenomenal!!

Original Theatrical Poster (2018)

Also contributing to Art's night of horrors are actresses Jenna Kanell and Catherine Corcoran as Tara and Dawn, respectively. As the first two female victims of the night, they are put through the ringer in terms of being attacked, tied to a chair, and hung upside down naked while being sawed in half while still alive!! Holy shit that was fucking sick looking!! Both Kanell and Corcoran are amazing in the film, as is Samantha Scaffidi, who plays Tara's sister Victoria. Scaffidi had the pleasure of being the only survivor of Art the Clown's reign of terror, but the aftermath has left he severely scared! Congratulations to these fine ladies for being part of the film!!

The movie was written, directed, and edited by Damien Leone, who also made the 2013 film ALL HALLOW'S EVE, which is where Art the Clown originated. Leone bring an intensity to his directing style: it's unflinching, in-your-face, uncompromising, and unrelenting! His camera does not shy away from the violence at all! We are forced to see everything, which will put off some but it's nonetheless effective storytelling. The story is also straight-forward, and doesn't offer much as for Art's motivation and why he does what he does. Truth be told, we don't really need to know this. Do we need to know why Michael Myers wanted to kill Laurie Strode? No we don't, so we don't need to know why he's killing all these people. He's just a fucking psychotic individual who kills people! Period! And I'm totally fine with this!

The film premiered at the Telluride Horror Show Film Festival in 2016, and then went on to play at the Horror Channel FrightFest. it was picked up for distribution by Dread Central Presents, an imprint of Epic Pictures specializing in horror, sci-fi, and fantasy films. They released the movie in a limited theatrical release and also in a Blu-Ray/DVD Combo pack. The film was also just added on Netflix back in September.

The Blu-Ray/DVD Combo come with some cool special features, including an Audio Commentary with writer/director Damien Leone and David H. Thorton (Art the Clown), Behind-The-Scenes Footage, Interview with Jenna Kanell, Deleted Scenes, Art the Clown Time Lapse Make-Up Video, Stills, both the Red-Band & Green-Band Trailers, English and Spanish subtitles and Collectible Reverse Cover Art.

TERRIFIER is one of the most shocking, grotesque and insane horror films of the past decade!! This movie is not for the faint at heart! If you like your horror movies outrageously batshit crazy and covered in blood and guts, this one was made for you! I fucking dare you to watch this movie alone in the dark this Halloween!! Just make sure Art the Clown isn't watching you!! Not since the original TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE has a film felt this visceral and disturbing!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

TERRIFIER is available in a Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack from Dread Central Presents and Epic Picture. To purchase a copy for yourself, visit their website at epic-pictures.com. The film is also streaming to watch on Netflix. To start your subscription, visit their website at www.netflix.com.


Thanks for reading, and enjoy the horror!

Phil's Halloween Horror Watch: THE INITIATION (1984) from Arrow Video - October 15, 2018

THE INITIATION Blu-Ray

THE INITIATION
Starring Daphne Zuniga, Vera Miles, Clu Gulager, James Read, Marilyn Kagan, Robert Dowdell, Frances Peterson, Patti Heider
Screenplay by Charles Pratt Jr.
Cinematography by George Tirl
Edited by Ronald LaVine
Produced by Jock Gaynor, Bruce Lansbury, Scott Winant
Directed by Larry Stewart, Peter Crane (uncredited)
Originally released by New World Pictures
Released by Arrow Video

Welcome to Day 15 horror hounds! Today's film is an often overlooked and forgotten slasher from the mid 1980's. By this time, theaters were bombarded with slasher films. There were so many that it was almost impossible to keep up with them. One of these was released in 1984 and isn't discussed enough. Thanks to the kind folks over at Arrow Video, this terrible wrong has been justly righted and they have unleashed THE INITIATION to be enjoyed by the masses!

The film's official synopsis: HERE'S TO BEING YOUNG... STAYING YOUNG... AND DYING YOUNG. Marking TV star Daphne Zuniga s debut in a leading role, THE INITIATION ranks amongst the finest of the college-based stalk-and-slash flicks now finally restored in glorious High-Definition! Kelly s new sorority has a special initiation ritual in store for her an after-hours break-in of her father s department store. But what begins as a night of harmless college fun turns sour when, once inside the enormous mall, Kelly and her fellow pledges find themselves locked in for the night... with a deadly intruder stalking the corridors. Arriving in 1984, THE INITIATION might have been late to the slasher party, but, alongside the likes of THE HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW and THE MUTILATOR, it remains one of the stronger entries to emerge in the latter days of the slice-and-dice boom.

I've only seen clips of the movie, so watching it for the first time was highly entertaining, especially that twist ending! Boy, I didn't see that coming!! This was such a great horror movie, deserving praise of its blend of traditional slasher troupes and Freudian subplot involving Daphne Zuniga's character Kelly Fairchild. Zuniga was fantastic and she showed that she had the talent to go far in Hollywood, which she did in films like SPACEBALLS, THE SURE THING, GROSS ANATOMY and television shows like Melrose Place, Beautiful People, and One Tree Hill. Clu Gulager does what he does best: being Clu Gulager! Genre fans loved him RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2: FREDDY'S REVENGE, and THE HIDDEN. Vera Miles, who plays Frances Fairchild, is a Hollywood legend. Her resume includes titles like THE SEARCHERS, THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE, PSYCHO and the 1983 sequel PSYCHO II.

Original Theatrical Poster (1984)

Director Peter Crane was on-hand to shoot the film, but after several days of shooting, the schedule had fallen behind and he was fired and replaced by Larry Stewart, who completed the rest of the film on time and on budget. This is the reason why there's two different and distinctive looks to the film. Stewart received credit for directing the movie, while Crane was never acknowledged.

Again, the film was released by New World Pictures on December 7, 1984. Unfortunately for the film, it was competing against Wes Craven's now classic A NIGHTMARE OF ELM STREET and we all know what happened next: Freddy dominated the boxoffice and the film faded from theaters in a matter of months. It was released on VHS by Thorn EMI in the mid-80's and eventually was released on DVD by Anchor Bay Entertainment 2002, then reissued again on DVD in 2011 by Image Entertainment's "Midnight Madness" Series, due to Anchor Bay letting the film's rights run out. In August 2016, Arrow Video announced that they would be restoring and releasing the film on Blu-Ray for the very first time.

The Blu-Ray comes some special features contents: Brand new restoration from original film elements, High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation, Original Uncompressed Mono PCM audio, Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing, Brand new audio commentary by The Hysteria Continues, Brand new interview with actor Christopher Bradley, Brand new interview with actress Joy Jones, Original Theatrical Trailer, Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Justin Osbourn, and a Collector s booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic James Oliver (only for the First Pressings of the Blu-Ray).

THE INITIATION is a totally awesome 80's slasher flick that will make you scream with fright! It's a nasty horror film that's full of outrageous clothes, radical hairstyles, and plenty of bloodshed to satisfy every horror fanatics' wet dreams! It's a movie that should have been spotlighted more over the years, and now fans of the film can now watch it in the comfort of their living room! 4 out of 5 stars! Highly recommended!

THE INITIATION is available on Blu-Ray from Arrow Video. To purchase a copy for yourself, visit the Diabolik DVD website at www.diabolikdvd.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the horror!

Phil's Halloween Horror Watch: THE STRANGERS: PREY AT NIGHT (2018) from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment - October 12, 2018

THE STRANGER: PREY AT NIGHT Blu-Ray

THE STRANGERS: PREY AT NIGHT
Starring Christina Hendricks, Martin Henderson, Bailee Madison, Lewis Pullman, Damian Maffei, Emma Bellomy, Lea Enslin
Written by Bryan Bertino, Ben Ketai (based on characters by Bryan Bertino)
Cinematography by Ryan Samul
Edited by Martin Brinkler
Produced by Jalen Headchop, Wayne Marc Godfrey, Mark Lane, Robert Jones, Ryan Kavanaugh
Directed by Johannes Roberts
Released by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

Hello again folks and welcome to Day 12 of my Halloween Horror Watch! Are we having fun yet? Well, you should be! If not, maybe you should take a mini-vacation or get away for the weekend. However, you should be careful, because you never know who or whom you'll meet along the way. All this brings me to today's film. The follow up sequel to the 2008 classic, THE STRANGERS: PREY AT NIGHT could be seen as a cautionary tale about heading out for a family vacations.

The film's official synopsis: A family's road trip takes a dangerous turn when they arrive at a secluded mobile home park to stay with relatives and find it mysteriously deserted. Under the cover of darkness, three masked psychopaths pay them a visit to test the family's every limit as they struggle to survive.

Right from the beginning, the film has the aesthetic of a 70's horror film, right down to it's logo design. And I was digging it man! Over the duration of the movie, director Johannes Roberts keeps his eye of the prize; providing shocks, scares, suspense, and shenanigans to keep horror fans happy. Is it like the original in anyway? No, not really, While the first installment was extremely unnerving and highly suspenseful, the sequel knows exactly what it is, as that your straight forward slasher flick. And there's nothing wrong with that. His framing and compositions were great, there's plenty of chills and thrills, all the while entertaining we, the audience. If you don't believe me, go back and watch the the epic pool scene! So kudos to Mr. Roberts for doing his job correctly.

Original Theatrical Poster (2018)

Bailee Madison is stupendous as our young heroine Kinsey. Genre fan might recognize her as Sally from 2010's DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK. However, she's more well know for her TV work like Wizards of Waverly Place, R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour, Trophy Wife, The Fosters, and Good Witch. Christina Hendricks (who plays the mom Cindy) is still known as Joan Harris from the hit AMC show Mad Men, but has been recently seen on Tin Star (Elizabeth Bradshaw) and Good Girls (Beth Boland). Kinsey's brother Luke is played by Lews Pullman, and yes, he is the son of Hollywood legend Bill Pullman. You can see him currently in the new film BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE along side Jeff Bridges and Chris Hemsworth.

The movie was released to theaters earlier this year, March 9th to be exact. It went on to debut to $10.4 million during its opening weekend and grossed $29.7 million at the boxoffice. Not too bad since it only cost $5 million to make it. It received mixed reviews from fans and critics alike, but I feel like it didn't get the chance to really find its audience because it was only in theaters for maybe two months. This is what's wrong with the Hollywood system nowadays. Movies don't stay in theaters like they used to when I was younger. Movies would play for like a year, maybe two, in theaters before they would come out on home video. Now, it's about that all important opening weekend, and then we move on to the next hyped release.

I picked up the Unrated Blu-Ray edition that includes some cool special features: a digital copy of The Strangers: Prey at Night - Unrated Version (Subject to expiration. Go to NBCUCodes.com for details), Alternate Ending, "Prep for Night" Music Video - Director's Cut, "A Look Inside The Strangers: Prey at Night" feature, "Family Fights Back" feature, and "The Music of The Strangers: Prey at Night" feature.

THE STRANGERS: PREY AT NIGHT is an intense  thrill ride of a slasher movie that's short on plot but makes up in sheer joy and enthusiasm! While not on par with the original, it does the job of checking off the boxes of what horror fans like! So don't really pay attention to all the negative reviews or press and go watch the movie yourself and make your own judgment! I liked it and I wish I saw it on the big screen when it came out earlier this year! Why you ask? Because it's a fun horror movie! That's why! 4 out of 5 stars! Highly recommended!! 

THE STRANGERS: PREY AT NIGHT is available on Blu-Ray and DVD from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. To purchase a copy for yourself, visit your local retailer or on VOD, iTunes, and Digital Download.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the horror!

Phil's Halloween Horror Watch: TRUTH OR DARE (1986) from SRS Cinema - Oct. 11, 2018

TRUTH OR DARE Limited Blu-Ray

TRUTH OR DARE (aka TRUTH OR DARE?: A CRITICAL MADNESS)
Starring John Brace, Mary Fanaro, Bruce Gold , Joel D. Wynkoop, Terence Andreucci, Raymond Carbone, Rick Paige
Written by Tim Ritter
Cinematography by Ned Miller, Christopher M. Burritt
Edited by Jack Behrend
Produced by Yale Wilson
Directed by Tim Ritter
Originally released by Peerless Home Video
Released by SRS Cinema

Welcome horror hounds to Day 11 of Phil's Halloween Horror Watch! For today's viewing, I went back to the year 1986 to watch a notorious, low budget, slasher horror film that's a great example of the DIY movement that was happening within the genre. Regular people were going out making their own movie, and with the video market still booming, it was easier to get your movie on the shelf right next to that Hollywood blockbuster. And you could make some decent money from the sales. But this film is really gory, really violent, psychologically twisted and it's awesome indie filmmaking! May I present to you the horror film TRUTH OR DARE from SRS Cinema!

The film's official synopsis: When an already unbalanced Mike Strauber catches his wife Sharon in bed with his best friend, the result is a rapid descent into insanity. Mike's revenge is masked in the form of the seemingly innocent child's game "Truth or Dare", but playing his demented and twisted version results in a bloodbath the likes that has never been seen before... with a trail of victims leading right back to his wife! This all-time horror classic from 1986 includes a special performance from a young AJ McLean of The Backstreet Boys.

Based on his short "Truth or Dare?" from 1985 anthology film TWISTED ILLUSIONS, filmmaker Tim Ritter was only seventeen when he sold film's script and eighteen when production began! Are you kidding me? When I was eighteen, I was collecting comic books, chasing girls, and watching my B-movies and horror flicks on USA Up All Night! And here's this kid, who's only six years older than me, who's making movies in his community. Ritter shot the film on 16mm for $200,000, and had it released directly to the home video market, courtesy of Peerless Home Video.

Original In-Store Promotional Poster (1986)

The movie is a bit amateurish, but it's really amazing. Ritter opens the film with some intense psychological damage right out of the gate. As the story progresses, the film takes a sharp right turn onto slasher territory, and that's when it starts to get fun! The gore comes fast a plenty, and there are some shocking deaths that are extremely taboo, so taboo that we don't see these in modern horror films. The movie showcases the potential that Ritter had even back then, and it's interesting to see where he started and how he's grown as a filmmaker. Some of the films he would make for the horror genre like DAY OF THE REAPER (his directorial debut), KILLING SPREE, CREEP, and has contributed to anthologies like TWISTED ILLUSIONS 2, HI-8 (HORROR INDEPENDENT 8), and HI-DEATH.

The movie spawned four sequels: 1994's WICKED GAMES, 1998's SCREAMING FOR SANITY: TRUTH OR DARE 3, 2011's DEADLY DARES: TRUTH OR DARE IV, and 2018's I DARES YOU! TRUTH OF DARE 5. Ritter wrote and directed all three films (he co-directed part 5 with Scott Tepperman) for the direct-to-video market. SRS Cinema has remastered and released the original the fourth film on special limited edition Blu-ray, DVD, and VHS.

Of course, I purchased the Special Collector's Edition Blu-ray, cause that's how I roll. The special features include Director's Commentary, "30 Years of the Game" montage, Trailers for all Five Films, and a crap ton of Trailers: HOUSE SHARK, SHE KILLS, KILLING SPREE, NIGHT OF SOMETHING STRANGE, EMPIRE STATE OF THE DEAD, GORGASM, GOROTICA, GORE WHORE, SPACE PSYCHOS, DEAD SILENCE, EASTER BUNNY BLOODBATH, LIGHTS CAMERA BLOOD!, TEENAGE SLUMBER PARTY NIGHTMARE, DEATH REEL, CHANNEL 13, THE HALLUCINATIONS/LETHAL NIGHTMARES DOUBLE FEATURE, DONALD FARMER COLLECTION VOL. 1, MASSAGE PARLOR OF DEATH, and KNIGHTMARE. *whew*

TRUTH OR DARE is an 80's horror slasher sick flick that will gross you out and scare you to death! It's proof that you don't need a major studio, big name stars, or a lot of money! If you have an idea for a horror movie, then go out and make it! Ritter and his film are testimonial of this mindset. With Halloween nearly upon us, why watch this slasher classic with that special someone? Just make sure they're not a deranged psychological killer!! 4 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

TRUTH OF DARE is available in a Special Collector's Edition Blu-ray (BD-R) from SRS Cinema. To purchase a copy for yourself and other titles, please visit their website at srscinemastore.com.

Thanks for watching, and enjoy the horror!

Phil's Halloween Horror Watch: Phil sees the 40th Anniversary Screening of John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN at the Cinemark Century Oakridge 20 - October 10, 2018

Welcome to Day Ten of my Halloween Horror Watch! In 1978, writer/director John Carpenter and co-screenwriter Debra Hill unleashed one of the most terrifying horror films ever to theaters. Their $250,000 film would end up grossing more than $70 million worldwide, making it one of the most profitable indie films of all time. The movie became so popular, it ushered in the Slasher genre of the 1980's, garnered a legion of fans, and spawned a successful film franchise that includes seven sequels, and remake and sequel, with a new installment set to be released in a couple of weeks! And to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the film's release, CineLife Entertainment is teaming up with Carpenter to bring HALLOWEEN back to theaters this October!

The film's official synopsis: On a cold Halloween night in 1963, six-year-old Michael Myers brutally murdered his 17-year-old sister, Judith. He was sentenced and locked away for fifteen years. But on October 30, 1978, while being transferred for a court date, a 21-year-old Michael Myers steals a car and escapes Smith’s Grove. He returns to his quiet hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois, where he looks for his next victims.

This is one of my all-time favorite horror films ever. The movie helped establish the "rules" for the slasher genre that would come charging in with the release of FRIDAY THE 13th just two years later. The film launched Jamie Lee Curtis' film career, and Carpenter became a legendary director within the horror genre.

The film has been discussed, written, dissected, reassembled, and worshiped since its release on October 25, 1978. There is nothing I can say about the film that hasn't already been said. The film can be classified as a "perfect" film. With Carpenter's beautiful directing, Curtis' down to earth performance, and thanks to Carpenter's simplistic soundtrack, there isn't one flaw to be found within the movie. If by chance you have never seen the film, you really need to see it! In fact, it is against the law to live your life without seeing this movie!

The movie has been released in various formats over the years. It was originally released on VHS by Media Entertainment, then by Anchor Bay Entertainment in a variety of ways and formats, including special edition VHS boxsets, DVD, and Blu-Ray. Just recently,  Lionsgate Home Entertainment released the movie in a Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray edition for the film's 40th anniversary.

HALLOWEEN is one of the greatest horror films of all time! Period! There is no discussion, no debate, and no questioning about it's place in not only horror film history, but in cinema history! The landscape of the horror genre wouldn't look the same without this film! It is required viewing, no matter what time it is within the calendar year! And with it available to watch on Blu-Ray, DVD, local television stations, VOD and various streaming platforms, there is no reason as to why you haven't watched it yet. This October, make a date with Michael Myers, and don't forget to hide your knives. 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

HALLOWEEN is playing in select theaters nationwide this October, courtesy of CineLife Entertainment. To see if it's playing in a town and theater near you, please visit their website at www.cinelifeentertainment.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the horror!

Phil’s Halloween Horror Watch: POPCORN (1989) from Synapse Films - October 4, 2018

POPCORN Limited Edition Steelbook Blu-Ray

POPCORN
Starring Jill Schoelen, Dee Wallace, Ray Walston, Tony Roberts, Malcolm Danare, Tom Villard, Derek Rydall, Elliott Hurst
Written by Mitchell Smith and Alan Ormsby (as Tod Hackett)
Cinematography by Ronnie Taylor
Edited by Stan Cole
Produced by Howard Baldwin, Karl Hendrickson, Howard Hurst
Directed by Mark Herrier
Originally released by Studio Three Film Corporation
Released by Synapse Film

Hello and welcome back to another installment of Phil's Halloween Horror Watch. The late 1980’s and early 1990's was the beginning of the end for the horror genre, more specifically for the slasher subgenre. HALLOWEEN, FRIDAY THE 13th, CHILD’S PLAY, A NIGHTMARE OF ELM STREET, and THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE had bombarded theaters with numerous sequels that were, quite frankly, showing signs of fatigue, less than inspiring storylines, and diminishing budgets. While there were some shining examples of what the genre had to offer, such as HELLRAISER, NIGHTBREED, and CANDYMAN. In 1991, the film POPCORN was released and disappeared from theaters in a blink of an eye. Thanks to the fine folks over at Synapse Films, horror fans can now finally see this gem completely restored!!

The film's official synopsis: What could be scarier than an all-night “Horrorthon”? A group of film students finds out when they stage just such an event at an abandoned movie palace. In addition to the three features—MOSQUITO, THE ATTACK OF THE AMAZING ELECTRIFIED MAN and THE STENCH—they decide to screen a bizarre short called THE POSSESSOR, whose creator, Lanyard Gates, killed his family and set the theater on fire after its first showing. Maggie (Jill Schoelen, THE STEPFATHER) has been having frightening dreams that seem to be connected to THE POSSESSOR, and as the festival proceeds, the nightmare comes true for her and her friends as they are stalked and slain by a mysterious killer. Has Gates survived to continue THE POSSESSOR’s deadly legacy?

Original Theatrical Poster (1991)

Now I haven't seen the film since it was released on VHS and I rented it at my local mom&pop video store. It looked like nothing I had seen before up to that point. It had amazing locations, awesome make up and special effects, great cast of characters, an interesting antagonist, and an cool soundtrack. It just didn't look like your typical slasher flick. And it was freaking fantastic!

This was the feature film debut of Mark Herrier, who's best known as an actor. He starred in such 80's films like TANK, REAL MEN, and all three movies of the PORKY'S franchise. Joining him in the director's chair was Alan Ormsby, who is uncredited but co-wrote the film with Mitchell Smith under the name of Tod Hackett. All four of these individuals helped create one of the most unsung horror movies of all time, and was way ahead of anybody else in the industry. Like I said earlier, the horror genre was pretty much dead, killed by the neverending avalanche of inferior sequels. And then out of nowhere, POPCORN was released to theaters, but unfortunately by then there wasn't an audience to see it, and seemed to disappear. But that wasn't the end of the film.

The movie found a new lease on life on VHS and was discovered by horror fans. Soon, it gained the popular title "cult classic" and fans bought copies of the movie and rented it at video store in drones. But then, the landscape changed, and it was the dawn of the DVD. Comany Elite Entertainment released a DVD edition of the film in 2001, but then it became out of print for several years after. In 2017, Synapse Films released the movie on DVD again, Blu-Ray, and in a cool Limited Edition Collector's Steelbook 2-Disc Set.

POPCORN Limited Edition Collector's Steelbook.

Since I am a major physical media collector, I had to purchase the Limited Edition Collector's Steelbook 2-Disc Set of the film, which is limited to just 3,000 units (it's more than 60% sold out)! There's also a booklet with liner notes from Michael Gingold. The special features include a Brand-New 2K Scan of a 35mm Interpositive Vault Element, All-New Blu-ray 7.1 Surround Sound Mix Supervised by Synapse Films (Original 2.0 Stereo Mix also Included), 5.1 Surround Mix Included on DVD, Audio Commentary with Director Mark Herrier, Stars Jill Schoelen, Malcolm Danare, and Special Makeup Effects Artist Mat Falls, MIDNIGHT MADNESS: THE MAKING OF "POPCORN" featuring interviews with Director Mark Herrier, Stars Jill Schoelen, Derek Rydall, Dee Wallace, Malcolm Danare, Ivette Soler, and Elliott Hurst, Special Makeup Effects Artist Mat Falls, Composer Paul Zaza, and Distributor Executive Jonathan Wolf (55 mins, HD), Electric Memories – An Interview with Actor Bruce Glover, Original Theatrical Trailer, Television Trailer and TV Spots, Still Gallery, and English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. As you can see, Synapse Films went all out with this edition. There's also a standard Blu-Ray and DVD of the film as well, and both contain the same special features, minus the liner notes and different artwork.

POPCORN is an undiscovered horror gem of a film that begs to be watched over and over again! While overlooked and forgotten over the years, fans of the film can now rejoice and watch it in their own living room!! And thanks again to Synapse Films for rescuing the movie from obscurity and presenting to a whole new audience who never had the opportunity to see it when it was first released all the way back in 1991!! This Halloween season, make sure you pick up the incredible horror title!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

POPCORN is currently available in a Limited Edition Collector's Steelbook, Blu-Ray and DVD from Synapse Films. To order a copy of the movie for yourself, please visit their website synapse-films.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the horror!