Reviews

It's been a while since I have been truly amazed by a new horror film. With Hollywood so dependent on PG-13 horror lite and badly conceived remakes, it's not small surprise that the best horror films of the past 5 years or so have been coming from Europe. In the tradition of Haute Tension and The Descent, Inside quickly builds to the terror and never lets its audience go.

Inside gets its power from the fact that its story is so simplistic. The film is an unstoppable force of nature, much like the film's vague villain.

If the film was to have any flaws, it would be that the lead character, Sarah, comes off as a complete, utter bitch in the first few minutes of the film. Also, the cop subplot felt silly and underdeveloped.

At a brisk 75 or so minutes, there's not a lot of time for padding and other useless things. The complete lack of fluff gives Inside a rare quality that very few films have.

Hollywood, take note, this is how you make a real horror movie!!!

Screen Gems' Prom Night, the latest in a long, seemingly endless line of pre-teen geared PG-13 horror films, proves that Hollywood still has a long way to go before they realize how a good horror film works. Prom Night promises a lot, but leaves the viewer feeling stood up and alone by the end of the movie.

A remake of the popular 1980 Jamie Lee Curtis slasher vehicle, Prom Night discards the original's more interesting plot and opts for a more obvious, silly, and TV movie storyline, centering around innocent teenage Donna (Brittany Snow) and the older male teacher who is obsessed with her. Needless to say, the new story could have truly gone somewhere and it's a shame that it ends up feeling more like a typical Lifetime movie event rather than a scary or suspenseful thriller.

The young cast manage to give pretty decent performances, but they have very, very little to work with. Dana Davis as Donna's best friend, Lisa, is especially likable.

The film's condescending PG-13 level shocks and scares are pretty dull and bland, but the film does have a nice pace to keep things rolling smoothly, which is one thing that you can't say for other watered down pre-teen efforts like Boogeyman and When A Stranger Calls.

Fans of the original might want to consider this new film as more of an unofficial sequel in the Prom Night series. Eiher way, no matter how you think of it, remake or sequel, it's a disappointing, scare less affair, with a lots of potential, but little pizazz.

I went into this film not knowing what to expect. I had heard that it was one weird movie, but to my surprise, I ended up enjoying it very much. The plot is simple, besides a truly bizarre prologue and epilogue. The acting and characters are likable, certainly more so than the ones normally found in these types of movies.

I must say that this film has a cruel and disturbing edge to it. A few scenes do provoke a few goosebumps, such as the theatre scene and the locker room scene.

A must see for rare slasher enthusiasts and those who love retro horror movies.

While Disturbia holds a few thrills up it's sleeve, it is truly nothing we haven't seen before. For another entry into the ultra lame PG-13 horror kicks of the last few years, it comes out as one of the better films.

The movie is definitely more intelligent than such films as The Fog, The Covenant, or any other PG-13 kiddie horror as of late. The acting is actually quite good and the story doesn't treat it's audience like absolute idiots like many of the other film do.

It would be hard to recommend this as anything else but a rental, but it's worth checking out, if only to see that there is still some hope for the PG-13 trend.

As mentioned above, the acting is what makes the film stand out from it's brothers and sisters. Strong performances are given by the whole cast, which add a bit of freshness to the tired and tested substance of the plot.

I'd actually call this a a teen Rear Window of sorts. It goes through all of the same plot beats and ends up pretty much the same.

Tere is truly not one redeemable aspect of this film, despite it's distinctive 80's feel. The acting is dull and the script is even duller.

You wait forever for anything to happen and then nothing really does. You can make a better movie at your home with an old VHS-C cam.

It plays out like a grainy, 80's Lifetime drama movie with barely a conflict or one good use of dialog. for a movie that has so much dialog, it would be nice f it was actually decent. The actresses look about 45 and are about as stilted as can be.

The final 20 minutes bring some very small rays of cheesy light to the proceedings, but very little. Even the finale plays out flat as a pancake, and don't forget the awful final voice over from the actress at the end before...oh, well, you'll be able to predict what happens anyway.

Prom Night is thought of by many people as a classic. It's is. A flawed classic at that. It has all the familiar trappings of a typical slasher, but it feels a little off in some aspect. The real action seems to take forever to get going. This could be o.k. if there was something to tide you over, but there really isn't. The only thing that keeps you watching is the unusually talented cast of Jamie Lee Curtis, Leslie Neilsen, Casey Stevens, and Anne Marie Martin.

The plot is a loose retelling of Lois Duncan's I Know What You Did Last Summer, but there's enough here to keep you interested. It's not totally original, but it has an interesting style to it. It feels more like an Italian giallo with it's black gloved killer, cryptic and threatening messages, obscene phone calls and it's strong use of color.

It's still a fun movie with a shocking killer revelation and a great chase scene through a locked school building. The disco score is suitably nostalgic as well.

Supernatural/slasher hybrids rarely work, and Killer Party is an example of one of those genre confused movies.

It starts off interestingly with a movie within a music video within a movie. Confusing, huh? Yeah, it is, but it's all in good fun. Then, we meet our leads who engage in the usual college hi-jinks. This time, though, there are not so funny, but I guess they're fun, too.

The gang is planning a sorority party in an old run down frat house, where a man was killed years ago. Before you know it, someone is killing off the co-eds. The murders are obviously heavily edited. Once they start they come right after another. I'd like them to have been a bit more spread out. The last 30 minutes are flooded with nothing more than dry, neutered murders.

Even though the final 10 minutes give some cheap thrills, the movie ultimately fails at anything it's trying to do. It's not scary enough to be a supernatural horror, or bloody enough to be a good slasher, and certainly not funny enough to be a decent college comedy.

Nice ending can't save a relatively dull, incompetent film. The direction, acting, and music is very good. Too bad it enevr adds up to a cohesive whole.

Watch out for that damn theme song too. "These are the best times, of our lives. These are the best times!" God, help me.

Worth a rent.

Wow! What a shock! A movie that functions as both a wonderfully nasty slasher film and a competent, if not totally cohesive thriller. It's good script is aided by a game performance from Melissa Sue Anderson and the very reliable Glenn Ford.

How this film has been lost all these years is a total mystery to me. It's a fine example of the slasher sub-genre's peak. The plot has tons of twists and turns and bizarrely unusual ending. The movie also has a real mean streak. No one is safe from the killer.

The killer's black gloves also gives the film an Italian giallo feel, which helps in distinguishing the film from it's contemporaries.

Give this one a chance. You'll never look at shishkabobs the same way again.

A smart movie that also features a commentary on feminism and bigotry. It's dark and gritty, more along the lines of Maniac than Halloween. It's pretty sleazy, but it's still an entertaining roller coaster. I'd love to see reactions to this in the theater. I have never jumped so much in a slasher film. The scares are about as effective as they get. They are delivered with such ferocity.

Typically, slashers feature a teen cast, but this is another aspect where Visting Hours tries to break the mold. The lead is middle aged Deborah (Lee Grant). Somehow, it never works against it. I found this refreshing and interesting. Michael Ironside's portrayal of the killer is terrifying. Even William Shatner comes in as a thankless role.

The scares are of an amazing frequency and effectiveness. For this reason alone, I'd recommend the film! For fans of thrillers, slashers, or anything scary.

I knew this new remake of the 1974 classic, Black Christmas would hardly be decent. Well, it IS decent, but it's far from the hair raising original.

My hopes got higher when I heard of the cast. I must admit that the cast is spectacular. Glen Morgan has rounded up a cast of the most beautiful and talented youth actresses in the industry. Katie Cassidy, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Crystal Lowe, Lacey Chabert, Michelle Tratchenberg, and veteran funny lady Andrea Martin(who played Phyll in the original)headline the cast.

However hard they try, the competent cast can't overcome the overall silliness of the movie. The narrative lacks the terror of the original. There is no suspense and besides a few jump scares, it's virtually scareless.

The deaths are ridiculously over the top. The opening goes over well, with a nice update of Clair(Leela Savasta)'s death from the original. However, as the film progresses, the deaths get dumber and dumber, climaxing in an awful finale. It really is one of the most pathetic climaxes I've seen in a long time, completely lacking thrills. The only good moment comes from a sly homage to Happy Birthday To Me, in the form of a Christmas tree surrounded by the corpses of the girls.

I know a good film was in here, and apparently, I'm right. The script was re-written many times, not to mention the many re-shoots and test screenings that managed to mess the movie up royally.

I'll give it points for trying and being entertaining. Some of the comedy is good too. Wait for an uncut DVD!

In the wake of Halloween and Friday the 13th, many similar films were released, most of which had little or no distinguishing features. One of the most effective and atmospheric was My Bloody Valentine.

Shot in Canada and very infamous for it's brutal battle with the MPAA, My Bloody Valentine is a surprising success, and a wonderful addition to the slasher genre. The acting is good, which comes as quite a shock for any slasher lover. The deaths, while obviously edited, are very effective and intense, especially the laundry room sequence. The image of the killer, dressed in a full miner's garb, smashing the lights along an already dark mine shaft, while a group of victims try to escape is terrifying.

The setting is quite interesting. Most Canadian films try to disguise the fact that it's Canadian. Well, this movie doesn't, which makes it very neat.

I'd say that it's lush photography, good acting, frightening set pieces and killer, and brutal deaths make this is one of the most impressive slashers of the 80's, maybe of all time.

Why did I go into this film expecting to be entertained? Probably because that is the sole purpose of film. To entertain. I can excuse a film's faults if it entertains me.

The original The Fog was ahead of it's time. It was a semi-box office disaster and it got lukewarm reviews. It turned out to be a cult classic, because of it's interesting characters, amazing cast, and terrific visuals.

Since the original movie wasn't flawless, how about we remake it with the help of John Carpenter and Debra Hill? Sounds good to me! How about we explore the backstory of the lepers? Sounds good! How about we cast Selma Blair as d.j. Stevie Wayne? Sounds terrific! How about we add in a backstory about Elizabeth the hitchhiker coming back to Antonio Bay so that the Blake can take her back with him to the other side? UHHHHHH...no! This new remake will go down in books as how not to remake a film. I'm not going to dump even more crap on the film. I will point out only it's good parts.

Rupert Wainwright's direction is beautiful and quite atmospheric. Selma Blair is wonderful(considering the script)as Stevie and seems to be the only one trying. Umm...that's it. The only good things right there.

Rent the original and save your brain cells from this awful PG-13 teenie bopper atrocity.

A young American girl arrives at an exotic land. A horrendous rainstorm welcomes her. Once she arrives at her destination, she is told to go away. The icing on the cake of Suzy Banyon's horrible night is that the girl she just saw flee in terror from the school, who was uttering gibberish is about to be brutally murdered.

A masterpiece in supernatural horror! Dario Argento ditches the Giallo mystery formula and gives us a tense, creepy, and cerebral journey into witchcraft. Suzy Banyon(Jessica Harper)has no idea that her new dance academy is full of dark secrets. Her newfound friend Sara soon decides to help her unlock the door of secrets.

The images are ones that stay with you. There has never been a more violent opening than the first 10 minutes of this film. The whole film is a dreamlike, surreal and odd experience. The score by Goblin is like an assault on your ears, but in a good way.

Never has death and terror looked so beautiful. A true classic!

The best thing this movie has going for it is it's dreary atmosphere. There just seems to be no hope for anyone. There is literally no one around for miles.

The cast is way above average. Rod Steiger and Yyvone DeCarlo are total pros. They give this film the proper classiness, along with Michael J. Pollard.

The movie has a mean streak going for it like no other. The kills are pretty much bloodless, but they are just so mean that you can't help but cringe.

One of the better slashers from this time period.

This movie was ahead of it's time. Way ahead! The comedy is actually funny and it doesn't come off as forced like in most modern movies. The writing is brilliant and the setting is awesome.

Fred Walton is no stranger to horror films and it shows. He creates the most tension he can out of the isolated location. The cast definitely help. They have assembled one of the most talented casts in the history of slasher films, hell, horror films. Each member brings their own unique spirit to their character.

Th twist at the end is something you won't see from miles away. Truly original and...ahead of it's time like the whole movie.

Really? You sure this is the last movie? Well it would have been, but the movie made so much money that they couldn't stop here, now could they? However, the final chapter or not it's still a fun movie. By this time, they have mostly given up on making Jason too scary since it was already fairly cartoony that he kept on coming back after machete hits, stabbings, and an ax in his head(most of which is documented in a nice little prologue).

So, he's back and this time he's targeting a set of two cabins in the woods. Nope, no camps this time! Now, he's going after a single family and a group of horny teenage holiday makers. I guess they were trying to be original.

Anyway, you can guess what happens to these likable teens.

Tom Savini returns to do the special fx and make up, and boy is it a triumphant return. The FX are probably the least cut by the MPAA so they can be seen in most of their original glory on any VHS or DVD edition. And Jason's last scene? Ouch! I got the pleasure of seeing this in a theater with a bunch of screaming teenagers in 2002. I was surprised to see that it still held up so well.

While not the best sequel in the long running series, it still has it's likable qualities. The change of atmosphere was good and gives the film a fresher vibe than most of the other entries. The kills are somewhat more over the top than the first two(mostly because of the 3-D effects). The acting ranges from believable to just plain silly. Dana Kimmell is a good sport through most of the movie, but her acting can get corny at times, but then again the script doesn't give her too much to work with. Her last battle with Jason at the end is pretty good, though.

The character of Shely is definitely one of the most developed characters in Friday history. You really feel for the guy.

All together, not bad. It won't win Oscars, but it entertains.

After the box office success of the original, Paramount wasn't stupid enough to stop, so they made the first sequel in 1981. Although low on plot, Friday the 13th Part 2 has a little bit more than it's given mention of. Most of the characters are actually pretty likable, which in the slasher craze of the 80's was pretty rare.

The direction by Steve Miner is very good. He knows how to film a stalk scene with perfect ease. This is on of the few sequels that managed to create some sort of tension. The final chase between Ginny and Jason is one for the books. You really do not know if she will make it out alive or not.

The film does suffer some blows in the violence department. All the fans know that this was probably the sequel the MPAA chopped up the most and it shows. The scene abruptly cuts before anything too visceral is shown. 1981 did seem to be the year that the MPAA was it's worst.

All the cuts aside, Fridya the 13th Part 2 still raises some goosebumps, has a great atmosphere, pretty good acting, likable characters, inventive murders, and creates some good tension.

I had heard great things about this film, so I decided to give it a chance. The first thing that came to mind while watching it was it's style. It's a very slick movie for a low budget slasher.

I won't go into the plot because if you are reading this, you probably already know the plot. The acting is exceptional from all. Samantha Eggar, John Vernon, Lesleh Donaldson, and Linda Thorson all head line. Ms. Eggar is definitely the best, as she is given the most meat to her role. That brings me to another point, which is that most of the characters are so carelessly developed that you forget their names. The last victim in particular I had a hard time remembering who she was and where she came from.

The stalk scenes are very effective, due in no small part to Paul Zazza(Prom Night series, My Bloody Valentine)'s eerie score. The highlight is a somewhat groundbreaking stalk in the middle of the day, which is surprisingly the scariest part of the movie.

At least worth a rental. If you see it previously viewed at your video store, pick it up. You most likely will not regret it.

This film is very sad.You really feel for May.She goes through a lot.I dident care if she killed the whole town,she would still be the cute and loveable thing that she is.

This film is very slow,but I liked the slow pace.We actually get to meet the characters before they die.Most horror films have zero character development.This one has tons of development.

Angela Bettis is a great actress.She has to be in more things,very soon.She really gets into the character.She is OSCAR worthy in this role.

Anna Farris does a great job as the lesbian receptionist named Polly.She is soooo hilarious.If you thought that she was funny in Scary Movie,then you will be dying out laughing at her in this movie.

All other performances are great.I cant really say all of them.

Everyone said that this film is nasty and has tons of gore.There really isent that much.Ive seen much worse.Friday the 13th is gorier than this.The most blood we see is a pair of scissors in someones head as blood flies out and pours onto the person's face,non-stop.Other than that,there is a trickle of blood that comes out of the other people's wounds.

This film is highly recommended to all.Go buy or rent it today!!!!

Liza-19's comments were absoulutly beautiful.I feel the same way about stupid little cartons,Cannon Movie Tales,and Faerie Tale Theatre's from when I was a child.I did not see this as a child.I swear that I saw something like this on TV when I was a kid though.I dont know what station it was on but I may have only caught the ending.I dont remember where I watched it.How Strange!

This was interesting.It is definatly not the best Cannon Movie Tale.This film can be rather boring at times,but it is good because of great acting,sets,songs etc. I loved the movie!It has good production values.This was the first Cannon Movie Tale.I would call it THE TEST MOVIE TALE.It was the one that tested whether or not they made more of the Movie Tales.They liked this one so they made others.

This one is something that is age appropriate for everyone.There is nothing that is frightening or scary.Youre child would have to be really easily scared to get scared in this one.

This is one great Cannon Movie Tale.I just recently saw it.The music is very professional sounding and doesent sound cheesy like some of the other Cannon Movie Tales do.

The plotline is a little screwed up.It does have an intriging backstory featuring the Lynette(Red Riding Hood) character's uncle(Craig T Nelson).

This film boasts a terrific music score by Stephen Lawrence.It elivates the film so much and makes it seem more like a real film than a children's movie.

The film has a nasty and frightening atmosphere that might scare the little ones.Children 6 and up will not find it scary. This film is a must see or buy.It is worth a blind buy.That's what I did just because I love the Cannon Movie Tales.It is worth it!Get It NOW!!!!

This film has gotten a lot of bad publicity over the years from those stupid parent groups(Just tell them to go away already.There kids are gonna see the movies anyway) and Catholic people(They need to get a life instead of protest agianst everything).Dont belive anything you hear.It is true that some of the sequels were stupid but this is a brilliant little horror/mystery.It has some bad acting here and there.That is understandable.

The film has some good tense and suspensful moments.The gore is very good and disgusting.There is even a cameo by Betsy Palmer.Kevin Bacon plays a lead chracter in the film.

Bottom Line:If you dont want to have to use youre mind that much with a psycholigical film like The Others or The Sixth Sense and you like fun mystery films,watch this little film.

I Loved this show as a child.I would always rent them at my local Blockbuster. They amazed me always.Families should consider buying all of them.I have seen all and they are beautiful and entertaining.My favorites are Cinderella,Snow White,Rapunzel,and Sleeping Beauty.Young and old will love them.