Reviews

This cliched whodunit is a roller-coaster ride of shocks calculated to keep your stomach in knots from start to finish. The movie starts and ends with a bang giving you barely any time to breathe. Despite the fact that the movie is cliched (what movie isn't), Happy Birthday to Me is a unique horror film for several different reasons. The obvious are its innovative slasher sequences, sure there are some of the usual murders, but the majority of the killings are so bizarre you won't believe what you just saw. Another unique quality is its snappy dialogue with which the actors deliver quite well for an early 80s slasher. And last but not least the (very clever) twist ending; I don't have to say anything about that just watch the movie. Another quality I always look for in any horror film is atmosphere; which in my opinion relies solely on the cinematography and music score. The stylish cinematography kept the film at a roller-coaster pace. The use of crane shots and oblique angles creates a creepy atmosphere throughout the entire film(great bridge scene at the beginning and the middle). The music score; although not famous like some others, is extremely creepy and done mostly by piano. The quietness of the score matched with the scene it's in gives the scene a dark desolate feeling. I'd also like to point out the presence of veteran actors, Ford and Dane give the film stature; however they've both done a lot better. All in all Happy Birthday to Me is unlike any 80s horror. To me it's reminiscent of 90s horror, especially Scream(1 & 2)and Urban Legends because of its stylish direction with veteran J. Lee Thompson(Cape Fear 1962) at the helm. Great fun, great movie; check it out. By the way, the tag-line doesn't lie; these are six of the most bizarre murders you will ever see in a horror film. Rating: *** out of ****

Deep Blue Sea has got to be one of the most fun movies of the summer. It hits all the right points and has you entangled in a web of suspense the entire hour and 45 minutes. The plot mixes the horror and traditional disaster movie together for one fun, fast paced movie.

The movie begins with the normal horror movie beginning. Young girls and guys making out, when some unknown thing attacks them. The movie then shifts to an underwater facility where they are trying to make a cure for alzheimers by using sharks that are genetically engineered to be extra smart. The cast holds an experiment(on the bottom floor of the facility) in which all hell breaks loose. On top of that a hurricane is raging above cutting them off of any possible communication with anyone. The cast is forced to find their way out through flooded hallways, and exploding corridors, while the sharks swim through the flooded facility devouring members of the cast.

The result is a fun fast paced horror/disaster flick the you will definitely want to watch more than once. Check it out.

Rating: *** out of ****

Unlike Scream and other horror movies of the 90s that rely on gore to shock the audience. Urban Legend uses the opposite. It relies on scares rather than gore, and believe me it is very scary and suspenseful. Although I loved Scream, I found this one more entertaining, and more scarier for several reasons. It makes you jump in just about every scene, it is one of those movies that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and it also keeps you guessing on who the killer is. Once you find out you'll be very surprised. So take my advice and next time instead of renting a predictable, gory scary movie, rent one that is actually scary. And remember, always look in the back seat before getting in that car. *** out of ****

When I saw this in the theater I was so embarrassed, I can't believe I spent my money on such crap. It was so bad please, keep your kid away from this movie. Shaq and the Capra's song will definitely scare them off. Please I beg of you don't subject them to this. Zero is too high of a rating for this, I can't rate it.

This remake of the 1930s classic is great. It is entertaining, engrossing, and so classic you have to love it. It is fast paced too, which is something most remakes aren't. The new King Kong is packed with all new twists and turns, it never stops because something is always going on, even if you've seen the original, you never know whats going to happen next. The finale in New York is very well done and very surprising. The Oscar winning special effects are excellent, and then again in some scenes they're not. But hey it is a 70s movie, and for the time they're great in this movie. The acting was another great feature, Grodin and Bridges are excellent as usual, but it was newcomer Lange who really gave her and the picture it's fame. She is gorgeous, and plays the role of Dwan better the Fay Wray did, it also earned her her first Golden Globe for her first movie. Believe me this King Kong is a whole lotta fun from beginning to end. Don't listen to the critics go rent it. *** out of ****

I don't know why everyone hated this movie, it's great. It is fast paced and loaded with original scares and fun. I would rank it up there with Scream, actually I liked it better. It was jam packed with scares instead of gore. The setting and story were perfect for a horror movie, its death scenes were very original, and its ending where they unveil the killer is so shocking. It is one of those you try to guess who the pschyo is, but you'll guess wrong every time. So go see it and believe Me - you'll be checking the back seat every time you get in the car at night. Great performances by the newcomers. You'll have a hell of a good scare. *** out of ****

Very intriguing movie with Stone moving into an apartment where a number a strange deaths have occured and and no one knows whose doing it. Meanwhile she meets two men, Berenger, who seems like the kind of guy who plays around a lot, and Baldwin, who owns the place, and sits in his apt. watching movies of the tenants on surveillance cameras (kind of playing god). When she suspects one of them is the killer weird stuff begins to happen. It's a scary, sexy, and suspenseful thriller that will hold your attention from beginning to end, with an ending that will take you by surprise so much, you'll still be thinking about it once the credits are over, even though it ends abruptly. It was a surprise to see Stone playing the victim instead of the psycho. I highly recommend it. *** out of ****

This movie was very bad AZZ! IT kicked AZZ! Even though Lee died during the making of the Crow, IT was one of his best movies. It was fast paced, had an interesting premise, and excellent special effects. With a great costume design for Lee. The liitle was a treat to watch, as well as the entire cast. I recommend this great thriller. **** out of ****

This great suspense, thriller will have you gripping your seat in every scene. I'm serious. It is one of those that never lets its pace slow down. The realistic plot keeps you thinking, What if that happened to me?, also its not far fetched at all, every scene is acted and directed in a very realistic way, unlike other suspense films which like to stray from reality. The excellent acting, direction and the nail-biting music score keep you tangled up in the suspense filled story, you look past it's minor flaws. It is one of those movies you don't forget. Definitely a must see. Grab onto the arm-rest of your couch before you fall overboard, it's intense. ***1/2 out of ****

This movie has got to be on the top ten list of the best movies ever made. It's perfect. You really can't say anything negative about it because there is nothing wrong with it. It is paced just right, the acting is excellent, and its story is very engrossing. Play Misty for Me begins in California at Eastwood's radio station when he gets a call, with a very sexy voice, saying the film's title. He then has a little rendezvous with this woman, but when he decides to break it up, and go back to his original girl, she just won't leave him alone (the first Fatal Attraction, and the better). By the time the end comes (which is perfectly set in a secluded cliffside home)you are guaranteed to have jumped out of your seat, or you'll find yourself grabbing onto something, or biting your nails. I did. Hang on for a wild ride. Rating: **** out of ****

Breakdown is the perfect suspense movie. It hits all the right points,and once the suspense starts, it never quits. The movie has great performances by Russel and the late Walsh which make it especially good. It is paced just right, has some of the most suspenseful car chases ever filmed, and the finale at the end comes as a complete surprise to anyone. You may want to hold onto something while watching this, and believe me you will. So just lower the safety bar, hold on, and get ready for the best suspense ride of the 90s. ***1/2 out of ****

This has got to be the best horror/suspense movie of all time. Forget the new ones, Scream, IKWYDLS, etc. This is the one to check out next time you go to the video store. The first time you watch it you'll be sitting on the edge of your seat the entire time. It's incredible. You can't describe how much it will scare you, because no matter how hard you try not to get scared you'll still get scared, and literally jump out of your seat every time. This movie was the one that made us scared of that person in the back seat, the man in the house with a mask, and of course the Boogeyman. Yes this one started it all. Although some movies have tried to capture that special something that John Carpenter did with Halloween, for example "He Knows You're Alone" which tried, even mimicing the music, failed. Nothing can compare to this horror gem. It is definitely a classic that will go down in horror movie history, and will stand in line right under "PSCHYO". By the way no other music could be scarier than the Halloween theme. Get it in widscreen. ***1/2 out of ****

This movie tries to make another Halloween, but can't. It copies the music(which was creepy), the appearance of the killer(from behind), the script is not very good or the acting (except for Tom Hanks), and it's not gory just like in Halloween. It does however have some good qualities.It moves very fast, it makes you jump a lot, and at some moments it will make the palms of your hands sweat. For example the big chase scene in the end in the morgue(which is the perfect place for an ending) will make you grab the arm-rest of your couch, try watching it and find out for yourself. It does somewhat succeed in making you scared, and I mean this when I say it don't watch it alone. A thrilling ride(if you haven't seen Halloween). ** out of ****

Friday the 13th is an excellent chiller. It's imaginative death scenes, and it's creepy setting are what make it so great. When I first saw the movie I stopped it when Neddy went into that creepy cabin after seeing someone on the porch, of course I was about 11 years old and that little bit scared the p*** out of me. The second time I watched it(at age 14)all the way through, I already knew who the killer was, but there were so many parts I hadn't seen it was like watching it for the first time and it scared the p*** out of me again. I jumped and literally yelled at the end when Jason jumps out of the lake, Kevin Bacon and his girlfriend's death shocked me beyond belief, and the killers voice freaked me out so much I admit, I turned away from the screen. This movie has come to be my favorite horror movie of all time, I still can't watch it without getting scared or at least getting that feeling in your stomach which moves up to your heart and makes it beat so fast that you can feel your heart in your mouth and then you jump and it returns to normal. It's a great feeling, and only this movie does that to me every time I watch it. Watch it you'll feel the same thing. It is very good, very suspenseful, and very scary. Even listening to that unforgettable music(Ch ch ch ah ah ah) can scare you enough. Try watching it without any shudders, it's impossible. ***1/2 out of ****

Basic Instinct is a very good movie. It has a lot of suspense and sex(which could've been toned down a bit), in fact some of the most suspenseful scenes come when Stone and Douglas are together in bed(it actually happens every time she is in the bed). Douglas and Stone are excellent in the lead roles, and Dzunda is fun to watch as Douglas' funny partner. It's suspenseful, funny, and very sexy(Stone). A first-rate thriller, you'll love it. *** out of ****

The Fog is definitely one of Carpenter's best. It is a ghost story that is told at the begining by Mr.Machen(John Houseman who has that creepy gruff voice)draws you in and from the moment he finishes you're hooked, you can't take your eyes off the screen. It is an excellent ghost story about a 100 year old shipwrek and its crew coming back to haunt this quiet little coastal town on the 100 year anniversary. You'll get more drawn in when the conspiracy plot starts to unravel. It's very engrossing, very good, and very very suspenseful. With an ending that will keep glued through the credits. One of Curtis' best, and it's good to see Janet Leigh(Curtis' mom). Carpenter's music is always fun to hear. Lots of scares, lots of fun. *** out of ****

Halloween II is actually a fairly good sequel. Of course it is not as good as the original, but then again what sequel ever matches the first. What makes it good is its creepy empty hospital setting, and its always creative death scenes, for example when Jimmy slips on the dead nurses blood is a real surprise). It is suspenseful and yet it's not. Towards the end the suspense dwindles making it yet another gory sequel. **1/2 out of ****

This has got to be Jamie Lee Curtis' second best along with Halloween. This movie must have spawned I Know What You Did Last Summer, because it is very similar. Four friends accidentilly kill Jamie Lee's sister and agree to not tell anyone. Well they've kept quiet for six years until the anniversery of the girl's death which happens to be on Prom Night. The four friends begin getting phone calls, then glass on their pictures, and then are killed one by one. By someone who witnessed the little girl's death. Is it the weird janitor, the girl's father or mother, or is it the escaped lunatic. Watch and find out. Not really scary, but very suspenseful and very good. You could say it's I Know What You Did Last Summer on Halloween with a little Scream and Satuday Night Fever mixed in. Very good, rent it you'll enjoy it very much. *** out of ****

This is bad the first time you watch it but the second time you watch it it is actually better. It creates no suspense what so ever, and its special effects are just plain out bad. There is one scene however that is good. It is when Viki gets killed. watch it when it comes on tv and you'll agree it's good for laughs. Very Campy, somewhat fun to watch. *1/2 out of ***

Finally a good 60s scary movie that is actually scary(second in line Pschyo is first). This movie was ahead of its time when it came out in 1964. It has all the elements of a 90s horror movie, it's just in black and white. It makes you jump a number of times, it's gory(which is something that you never saw in 60s movies), it has comedy, it has a chase scene in the end(another thing missing from 60s horror), is a who done it movie, killer wears a mask, and is scary and creates a lot of suspense. All of these things listed are in this movie. Not to mention the excellent acting. Guaranteed you'll love it. Definitely one for the library. Howard St.John has an excellent role as the comic relief playing the father of Micheal, the mother of Micheal is a treat to watch as the character you love to hate, and Crawford is excellent as always. ***1/2 out of ****