Category: Horror

“Suspiria” (1977) directed by Dario Argento; starring Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini and Joan Bennett / Z-View

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Suspiria (1977)

Director: Dario Argento

Screenplay:  Dario Argento, Daria Nicolodi; based on Suspiria de Profundis by Thomas De Quincey

Stars:  Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci, Miguel Bosé, Barbara Magnolfi, Susanna Javicoli, Eva Axén, Alida Valli and Joan Bennett.

Tagline: The Only Thing More Terrifying Than The Last 12 Minutes Of This Film. Are The First 80.

The Plot…

Suzy Bannion, a talented American dancer is excited.  She was accepted to study at the prestigious Tanz dance school in West Germany.  Just prior to Suzy’s arrival a student at the academy was murdered.  That was just the start.  As more students turn up dead, the truth of the school will be revealed.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Dario Argento’s (co-writer & director) original idea was the story would take place at a dance school for children.  The producers and studio rejected the idea.  They felt having children experience the violence in the film would result in a banned film.  Argento revised the screenplay to consist of young adults… BUT he didn’t rewrite the dialogue.  This explains why some of the dialogue seems childlike.

Most folks like Suspiria much more than me.  I thought it was slow, predictable and not very scary.  Of course, your mileage may vary.

Suspiria (1977) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“The Last House” (2026) starring Greta Lee and Wagner Moura / Z-View

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The Last House (2026)

Director: Louis Leterrier

Screenplay:  Matthew Robinson

Stars:  Greta Lee, Wagner Moura.

Tagline: How long can you survive?

The Plot…

Jason, Ann and their two kids, Graham and Ruth are inside when a powerful storm hits.  After the rain, they discover that their doors and windows are sealed shut.  Worse still, the rain did the same to everyone’s house.  When Jason attempts to break windows, knock down the door or bust through walls, he discovers the rain somehow placed an unbreakable barrier around their house.

At first, they are sure help will come.  But it doesn’t.  They have electricity and water but no phone service or internet.  Inventory is taken.  They begin rationing food.  As a family they prepare for longterm survival — an indoor garden, a water reclamation system, and more.

They’ve done all they can.  But will it be enough?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Last House has an interesting concept: trapped in your house and you have to figure a plan for survival.   For me, it was an interesting ride until the end.  I didn’t care for the ending.  It reminded me of the old saying, “It’s not the destination, but the journey that matters.”

The Last House (2026) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Abraham’s Boys” (2025) starring Titus Welliver / Z-View

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Abraham’s Boys (2025)

Director: Natasha Kermani

Screenplay:  Natasha Kermani; based on Abraham’s Boys by Joe Hill.

Stars:  Titus Welliver, Jocelin Donahue, Judah Mackey, Aurora Perrineau and Brady Hepner.

Tagline: A Dracula story.

The Plot…

After the events in Dracula, Dr. Abraham Van Helsing and Mina Harker married.  Now, about twenty years later they live on a remote California farm with their two teenage sons.  Dr. Helsing raised his sons aware that vampires exist.  That is why they moved many times to more and more isolated locations.

Dr. Van Helsing prepared his sons to fight the ultimate evil should it ever find them.

It has.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I thought the idea of Van Helsing raising his sons to take up the fight against vampires was a cool one.  The movie leads us to believe that vampires are coming.  I won’t spoil the ending other than to say I was disappointed.

Abraham’s Boys (2025) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Predators” (2010) starring Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Walton Goggins, Laurence Fishburne, Oleg Taktarov, Mahershala Ali and Danny Trejo / Z-View

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Predators (2010)

Director:  Nimród Antal

Screenplay:  Alex Litvak, Michael Finch; based on characters created by Jim Thomas, John Thomas

Stars:  Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Walton Goggins, Laurence Fishburne, Oleg Taktarov, Mahershala Ali and Danny Trejo.

Tagline: They are the most dangerous killers on the planet… but this is not our planet.

The Plot…

Seven killers awaken in a jungle.   They are…

  • Royce, a mercenary
  • Isabelle, a sniper
  • Stans, a death row inmate
  • Nikoli, a Russian Special Forces soldier
  • Cuchillo, a cartel enforcer
  • Hanzo, a Yakuza enforcer
  • Mombasa, a rebel warrior

With the group is a doctor named Edwin.

Each of them have no memory of how they got there.  In short order they discover they’re on a distant planet.  The animals are dangerous and will kill them.  Worse still, they learn that they’ve been brought to the planet to be hunted by Predators.

There only chance of survival is to band together.

The hunt is on.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The script described Cuchillo as a guy who looked like Danny Trejo.  Danny Trejo got word and called Robert Rodriguez (one of the producers) and said, “Hey, I heard there’s a guy in the script for ‘Predators‘ who looks just like Danny Trejo, and guess what, I look just like Danny Trejo!”

Adrian Brody was an interesting (and unexpected) choice to play the lead.  He does a great job.

Predators is my second favorite movie of the franchise.  (Predator is first.)

Predators (2010) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Vampire Lestat” Season 1 (2026) starring Sam Reid, Jacob Anderson, Eric Bogosian, Assad Zaman and Delainey Hayles / Z-View

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The Vampire Lestat: Season 1 (2026)

Created by: Rolin Jones; based on THE VAMPIRE CHRONICLES by Ann Rice

Director:

  • Craig Zisk (eps. 1-2)
  • Claudia Llosa (eps. 3-4)
  • Levan Akin (ep. 5)
  • Jane Wu (ep. 6)
  • Alan Taylor (ep. 7)

Teleplay:

  • Rolin Jones & Hannah Moscovitch (ep. 1)
  • Jonathan Ceniceroz & Kevin Hanna (ep. 2)
  • Anusree Roy (ep. 3)
  • Jonathan Ceniceroz (ep. 4)
  • Daniel Hart & Hannah Moscovitch  (ep. 5)
  • Ryan Kattner & Kevin Hanna (ep. 6)
  • Hannah Moscovitch (ep. 7)

Stars:  Sam Reid, Jacob Anderson, Eric Bogosian, Assad Zaman, Delainey Hayles, Joseph Potter, Jennifer Ehle.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Lestat is a vampire.  A. Real. Vampire.  Lestat is also the lead singer for a rock band.  His public persona is a rock singer playing a vampire.  The band has achieved cult status.  His followers don’t believe Lestat is a real vampire, but they enjoy dressing up and coming to his concerts.

Lestat’s growing fame is a concern for other vampires throughout the world.  If it is discovered that Lestat is a real vampire, it would create problems for them.  Deadly problems.

They’re going to have to deal with Lestat.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I loved the first two seasons of Interview with the Vampire.  For the third season the name of the series was changed to The Vampire Lestat.  The fourth season will be titled Anne Rice’s Queen of the Damned.

The Vampire Lestat: Season 1 (2026) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“King Kong” (1933) directed by Merian C. Cooper & Ernest B. Schoedsack, starring Faye Wray, Robert Armstrong & Bruce Cabot / Z-View

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King Kong (1933)

Director: Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack

Screenplay:  James Creelman, Ruth Rose; story by Edgar Wallace, Merian C. Cooper

Stars: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot, Frank Reicher and Noble Johnson.

Tagline: A Monster of Creation’s Dawn Breaks Loose in Our World Today!

The Plot…

Carl Denham, known for his wildlife films, has plans to create his greatest movie yet!  With his small film crew and Ann Darrow, a struggling actress he just discovered, they set sail for a mysterious uncharted island.

On this strange land dangers abound.  There are natives, prehistoric beasts and KONG!  Kong is a giant ape that the natives worship.

Denham gets a brainstorm.  They will capture Kong, bring him to New York City and make a fortune.  People will pay good money to see… KING KONG.

Of course Denham doesn’t consider what would happen should Kong escape in New York City.

He should have.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Kong’s fur appears to move.  This was caused when animators held the figure in order to change its position.

King Kong co-stars Fay Wray and Robert Armstrong also co-starred in The Most Dangerous Game released the previous year. King Kong re-used some of the jungle sets of The Most Dangerous Game.

King Kong is an undisputed classic.

King Kong (1933) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Deep Blue Sea” (1999) directed by Renny Harlin / Z-View

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Deep Blue Sea (1999)

Director: Renny Harlin

Screenplay:  Duncan Kennedy, Donna Powers, Wayne Powers

Stars:  Saffron Burrows, Thomas Jane, LL Cool J, Jacqueline McKenzie, Michael Rapaport, Stellan Skarsgård, Aida Turturro, Samuel L. Jackson and Ronny Cox, Renny Harlin.

Tagline: Bigger. Smarter. Faster. Meaner.

The Plot…

At a remote research facility located on the deep sea, Dr. Susan McAlester leads a small group of scientists working to find a cure to Alzheimer’s disease.   McAlester’s research involves using proteins from the brains of three captured sharks.

When one of the sharks uses an object as a battering ram to bust through an observation window, McAlester admits that she genetically altered the sharks’ brains to make them bigger.  Now the small research team is stranded in a sinking research facilty surrounded by sharks that are…

Bigger. Smarter. Faster. Meaner.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Ronny Cox appears uncredited as an Executive.  Renny Harlin appears uncredited as a worker.

*** SPOILERS – MAJOR SPOILERS FOLLOW***

In the original cut at the end of the film Saffron Burrows was the hero.  Audiences in test screenings hated it because she was the reason the sharks were changed.  Some of her scenes (that made her more sympathetic) were cut.  Reshot footage had a shark kill her and made LL Cool J’s character the hero.

Suddenly killing off Russell Franklin (Samuel L. Jackson) well before the end of the movie was inspired by Tom Skerritt’s character’s demise in Alien.  Killing the best known actor and lead character put the survivors in more jeopardy.  When I first saw Deep Blue Sea, I was totally shocked when Samuel L. Jackson was killed.  Well played, Renny Harlin.

Deep Blue Sea (1999) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“The Quatermass Xperiment” aka “The Creeping Unknown” (1955) starring Brian Donlevy / Z-View

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“The Quatermass Xperiment” aka “The Creeping Unknown” (1955)

Director: Val Guest

Screenplay:  Richard Landau, Val Guest; based on the 1953 tv series The Quatermass Experiment by Nigel Kneale

Stars:  Brian Donlevy, Richard Wordsworth, Jack Warner, David King-Wood, Margia Dean and Maurice Kaufmann.

Tagline: It’s coming for YOU from Space to wipe all living things from the face of the Earth! CAN IT BE STOPPED?

The Plot…

The first manned rocket ship into space was was a success thanks to Professor Bernard Quatermass.  He was the scientific genius behind the design, manufacture and launch of the ship.  While in space contact with the three man crew was lost.

When the ship returns Quatermass finds that two of the three astronauts are gone.  The only thing left of them is their empty space suits.  The third astronaut is in shock and unable to speak. Quatermass discovers that an alien organism killed the other two astronauts and is now in the third… mutating his body into something deadly.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Jane Asher plays the little girl trying to befriend the astronaut as he is mutating.  Asher would grow up to be one of Paul McCartney’s fiancées.

The film’s title spells Experiment as Xperiment as a way to draw attention to the fact that The British Board of Film Censors gave the film an X rating meaning the film had themes that might be too strong or intense for persons under the age of 16.

The Quatermass Xperiment was released as The Creeping Unknown in the US.

“The Quatermass Xperiment” aka “The Creeping Unknown” (1955) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Fallen” (1998) starring Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland & James Gandolfini / Z-View

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Fallen (1998)

Director: Gregory Hoblit

Screenplay:  Nicholas Kazan

Stars:  Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland, Embeth Davidtz, James Gandolfini, Elias Koteas, Robert Joy.

Tagline: Don’t trust a soul.

The Plot…

Detective John Hobbes is surprised to find serial killer Edgar Reese is so cheerful when he is about to be executed.  Reese shows no remorse as he taunts the witnesses and sings “Time is On My Side” as justice is served.

Following Reese’s execution, a new series of murders occur.  The killer uses the same methods as Reese.  Detective Hobbes and his partner Jonesy believe a copycat is at play.  As they investigate the new murders, friends and strangers begin to say and do strange things around Hobbes.  It is almost as if they are taunting him.  It is especially disconcerting to hear them sing “Time is on my side”.

Then Hobbes discovers an occult connection to Reese.  Could it be possible that a demon took possession of the humans behind the murders?  If true, this demon can transfer from one body to another simply by touch.  Hobbes cannot believe that a supernatural force, a demon, could be involved.

Then the demon makes it’s presence known.

Hobbes is at a loss.  How do you defeat a demon that can possess anyone around you?  One thing is for sure… he can’t trust a soul.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Fallen is better than I thought it would be.  Much of that credit goes to the cast — especially Denzel Washington, John Goodman and James Gandolfini.

Other taglines for the film include:

  • I ALMOST died… – this  is a good one, but only makes real sense after seeing the movie.
  • Detective John Hobbes is searching for a criminal he’s already met… already caught… and already killed – is a bit too spot on and long
  • Time is on my side…. – is perhaps my favorite (along with the one on the poster I used).

Fallen (1998) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man!” by J. Beers!

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When I was a kid Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman was one of our favorite Sammy Terry’s Nightmare Theater movies.  Even though they didn’t fight until the end of the film, having both Frankenstein and the Wolfman in the same film was a treat!

J. Beers created this alt poster.  He used Karloff’s Frankenstein head instead of Lugosi’s.  Beers also made the creative decision to make the piece a battle between cold and warm colors.  How cool is that?

“You think I’m insane. You think I don’t know what I’m talking about. Well you just look in that grave where Lawrence Talbot is supposed to be buried and see if you find a body in it!” – Lawrence Talbot

Source: J. Beers Instagram.