Category: Horror

“The Lost Boys” (1987) starring Jason Patric & Kiefer Sutherland / Z-View

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The Lost Boys (1987)

Director: Joel Schumacher

Screenplay: Janice Fischer, Jeffrey Boam, James Jeremias from a story by Janice Fischer, James Jeremias

Stars: Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Dianne Wiest, Barnard Hughes, Edward Herrmann, Kiefer Sutherland, Jami Gertz, Corey Feldman, Jamison Newlander and Alex Winter.

Tagline: Sleep all day. Party all night. Never grow old. Never die. It’s fun to be a vampire.

The Plot…

Lucy (Wiest) and her two teenage sons, Michael (Patric) and Sam (Haim) move to the small, beachside town of Santa Clara, California.  At night the boys like to hang out at the amusement park/arcade on the beach.  That’s where Michael meets Star (Gertz).  There’s a definite attraction between the two, which only infuriates David (Sutherland), the leader of a small motorcycle gang.  Meanwhile Sam has met two brothers, Edgar (Feldman) and Alan (Newlander) who are convinced Santa Clara is the home of a vampire coven.

They’re not wrong.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

You’d be hard pressed to find a more 80s movie than The Lost Boys.  From the cast to the way the movie is shot, The Lost Boys screams mid-1980s.  This is my favorite Joel Schumacher film.  For a movie that seems to want to be scary, there’s just a bit too much humor for my taste.

The Lost Boys (1987) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Fiend Without a Face” (1958) / Z-View

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Fiend Without a Face (1958)

Director: Arthur Crabtree

Screenplay: Herbert J. Leder

Stars: Marshall Thompson, Terry Kilburn, Michael Balfour, Kim Parker and Peter Madden.

Tagline: New Horrors! Mad Science Spawns Evil Fiends! …Taking form before your horrified eyes!

The Plot…

When locals begin getting murdered around a new US Airforce base, the locals think the military has some involvement.  This prompts Major Cummings (Thompson) to begin an investigation.  As the bodies pile up, evidence points to an unimaginable horror.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I saw this when I was much younger and didn’t care for it, but on a recent re-watch I enjoyed it much more.

Fiend Without a Face (1958) rates 3 of 5 stars.

The All-Time Best Black & White Monster Movies!

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Jordan Payeur at CBR.com came up with a list of the 10 Best Black and White Monster Movies.  Before you click over to see Payeur’s comments on each, here’s my rankings using just Payeur’s list.  I’ve then included several black and white monster movies that would have made my rankings.  What did I miss?

Payeur

Zablo

10. Village of the Damned (1960)

09. The Man Who Laughs (1928)

08. Haxan (1922)

07. Cat People (1942)

06. The Wolf Man (1941)

05. The Mummy (1932)

04. Dracula (1931)

03. Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

02. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

01. Nosferatu (1922)

10. The Man Who Laughs (1928)

09. Village of the Damned (1960)

08. Haxan (1922)

07. Cat People (1942)

06. Nosferatu (1922)

05. The Mummy (1932)

04. The Wolf Man (1941)

03. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

02. Dracula (1931)

01. Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

  • The Phantom Carriage (1921)
  • Frankenstein (1931)
  • The Invisible Man (1933)
  • Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman (1943)
  • Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
  • The Thing from Another World (1951)
  • Them! (1954)
  • Night of the Living Dead (1968)

“Renfield” (2023) starring Nicholas Hoult, Awkwafina & Nicholas Cage / Z-View

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Renfield (2023)

Director: Chris McKay

Screenplay: Ryan Ridley from a story by Robert Kirkman based on Dracula by Bram Stoker

Stars: Nicholas Hoult, Nicolas Cage, Awkwafina, Brandon Scott Jones and Adrian Martinez.

Tagline: Stop serving. Start living.

The Plot…

Renfield (Hoult), Dracula’s (Cage) servant for the last 90 years, has come to realize he’s in a toxic relationship.  He wants out.  Unfortunately, Dracula is not ready to let him go.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Nicholas Cage would be one of the last actors I would consider to play Dracula, but since Renfield is a comedy, it all works out.

I thought it was cool that Chris McKay took a couple of scenes from the original Dracula film and superimposed Cage’s face for Dracula and Hoult’s for Renfield.

The idea that Renfield realizes he’s in a toxic relationship and attends meetings with others looking to get out of bad relationships creates for some funny business.

Renfield (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Gallery of Horror” (1967) starring Lon Chaney Jr. & John Carradine / Z-View

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Gallery of Horror (1967)

Director: David L. Hewitt

Screenplay: Gary R. Heacock, Russ Jones, David Prentiss

Stars: Lon Chaney Jr., John Carradine.

Tagline: So shocking it will sliver your liver!

The Plot…

John Carradine introduces and stars in one of five shorts in this horror/comedy anthology.  The segments, each with a “twist” ending include…

  • The Witches Clock: a couple in Salem Massachusetts buy a spooky old mansion that may have once been owned by a witch.
  • King of the Vampires: Scotland yard detectives are after a serial killer that may be a vampire
  • Monster Raid: a man returns from the dead to take revenge on those who killed him
  • Spark of Life: A doctor tries to follow the experiments of Dr. Frankenstein by bringing a dead man back to life.
  • Count Alucard: (Alucard is Dracula spelled backwards). is in for the surprise of his life…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

John Carradine and Lon Chaney Jr. must have been hurting for cash to appear in this low-low budget movie. Crowd scenes consist of a just a few folks on screen with sounds of a mob.  The sets look like something out of a micro budget production.  The stories are on the same level.  Each features a twist that can be seen coming from a mile away.  I could see Gallery of Horror shown as a double feature with Plan 9 from Outer Space.

Gallery of Horror (1967) rates 2 of 5 stars.

The Price We Pay (2022) starring Emile Hirsch, Stephen Dorff & Gigi Zumbado / Z-View

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The Price We Pay (2022)

Director: Ryuhei Kitamura

Screenplay: Christopher Jolley

Stars: Emile Hirsch, Stephen Dorff, Gigi Zumbado, Vernon Wells, Tyler Sanders and Erika Ervin.

Tagline: Reap what you sow.

The Plot…

A pawn shop robbery goes sideways when Alex (Hirsch) gets gun crazy and kills the owner.  Grace (Zumbado), an innocent bystander, is forced to drive the crooks away in her car.  Although Cody (Dorff) assures Grace she’ll be released unharmed, she isn’t sure Alex feels the same.  Hours later when Grace’s car breaks down on a country road, Grace, Cody and Alex walk to the only house around.  They convince a teenager to allow them to stay in his grandfather’s barn.  Grandpa should be home soon.  What Cody and Alex don’t realize is they are no longer are the ones to be feared…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I’m a fan of the crime/horror genre. The Price We Pay has a nice set-up with an interesting cast.  Stephen Dorff is always good. The more I see of Emile Hirsch, the more I like his crazy characters. Gigi Zumbado is new to me, but I expect we’ll be seeing more feature roles in her future.  Vernon Wells is scary as the crazy Grandpa.  Erika Ervin as Jodi is even more frightening.

With all this praise so far, you may be wondering why did I only give  The Price We Pay a “2” rating.  It’s because the director goes way over the top with gore.  Of that I’m not a fan.  Some gore is okay, but I prefer the worst of it be left to the imagination.  So, if you’re a gore-hound adjust your expectations accordingly!

“Knock at the Cabin” (2023) directed by M. Night Shyamalan starring Dave Bautista / Z-View

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Knock at the Cabin (2023)

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Screenplay: M. Night Shyamalan, Steve Desmond, Michael Sherman based on The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul G. Tremblay

Stars: Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Rupert Grint, Abby Quinn and Kristen Cui.

Tagline:  Save your family or save humanity. Make the choice.

The Plot…

Eric (Groff),  Andrew (Aldridge) and their little daughter Wren (Cui) are vacationing at a remote cabin deep in the woods.  When four people with weapons take them prisoner, Eric and Andrew are told if they don’t willingly kill a member of their family, all humanity will die.  The clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

M. Night Shyamalan has a cameo in a commercial for an air fryer that plays on a tv in the background of a scene.

The four people who show up at the cabin represent the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

I continue to be impressed with the variety of roles that Dave Bautista takes on and excels at.

As you watch Knock at the Cabin, you can’t help, but wonder what you would do in the same situation.

Knock at the Cabin (2023) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Blacula” (1972) / Z-View

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Blacula (1972)

Director: William Crain

Screenplay:  Joan Torres, Raymond Koenig, Richard Glouner

Stars: William Marshall, Vonetta McGee, Denise Nicholas, Thalmus Rasulala, Elisha Cook Jr. and The Hues Corporation.

Tagline: Blacula! – Dracula’s Soul Brother!

The Plot…

In 1780, Dracula turned Prince Mamuwalde (Marshall) into a vampire and mockingly gave him the name Blackula.  Dracula then sealed Prince Mamuwalde in a coffin where he remained a prisoner for nearly 200 years.  When the coffin is opened in 1972, Blackula is released to terrorize modern day LA.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I had avoided watching Blackula for decades because I thought it was going to be all-out comedy.  I was wrong.  Blackula, despite the funny title, is a straight up horror film.  Before William Marshall accepted the title role, he demanded that the character be treated with dignity.  Changes were made to the character’s background and the movie is played straight.  Blackula is the first black vampire to appear on film!

It was cool to see Elisha Cook, Jr. in a small role as well as the singing group, The Hues Corporation, best known for the hit Rock the Boat.

Blackula (1972) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“What We Do In The Shadows” – The Season 5 Trailer is Here!

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Here’s the trailer for What We Do In The Shadows: Season 5.  I’ve watched every season, so let’s go!

It’s an afterlife crisis. Watch the Official Trailer for FX’s What We Do in the Shadows. Returns 7.13 on FX. Stream on Hulu.

What We Do in the Shadows, based on the feature film by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, documents the nightly exploits of vampire roommates Nandor (Kayvan Novak), Laszlo (Matt Berry), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou) and Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) as they navigate the modern world of Staten Island with the help of their human familiar, Guillermo (Harvey Guillén), and their vampire bureaucrat acquaintance, The Guide (Kristen Schaal).

“Beneath the Planet of the Apes” (1970) / Z-View

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Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)

Director: Ted Post

Screenplay: Paul Dehn from a story by Paul Dehn, Mort Abrahams based on characters created by Pierre Boulle

Stars: James Franciscus, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, Linda Harrison, Paul Richards, Victor Buono, James Gregory, Jeff Corey, Natalie Trundy, Thomas Gomez, Gregory Sierra and Charlton Heston.

Tagline: The bizarre world you met in ‘Planet of the Apes’ was only the beginning… What lies beneath may be the end!

The Plot…

A spaceship sent on a rescue mission crashes on an unidentified planet.  Brent (Franciscus), the sole survivor, realizes he has somehow gone forward in time.  As he explores his new surroundings, Brent comes across Nova (Harrison) a beautiful, but mute woman.  Nova is wearing Taylor’s dogtags.  Taylor is one of the astronauts his crew was sent to rescue.

Brent soon sees that the planet is populated by intelligent apes and humans are speechless savages.  Hunted by apes, Brent and Nova hope to escape into the Forbidden Zone where something even more dangerous than apes awaits them.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I loved (and still love) Planet of the Apes.  I had such high hopes for Beneath the Planet of the Apes.  Charlton Heston was set to return.  This time Heston would be joined by James Franciscus (who I liked in Valley of Gwangi and various guest spots on tv).  How could this go wrong?

Let me count the ways… Heston’s role amounts to a glorified cameo.  The ape civilization is made less threatening when we see young apes protesting the war (shades of Viet Nam).  The whole subplot with disfigured humans who worship a nuclear bomb seems like it was cribbed from a bad episode of Star Trek. Other than Highlander to Highlander 2, I’ve never been as disappointed in a sequel.

Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Se7en” (1995) / Z-View

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Se7en (1995)

Director: David Fincher

Writer: Andrew Kevin Walker

Stars: Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey, Gwyneth Paltrow, John Cassini, Peter Crombie, Reg E. Cathey, R. Lee Ermey, George Christy, Hawthorne James, Richard Roundtree, John C. McGinley, Mark Boone Junior, Leland Orser, Richard Schiff, Charles S. Dutton and Andrew Kevin Walker.

Tagline: Seven deadly sins. Seven ways to die.

The Plot…

Just one week from retirement, veteran detective William Somerset (Freeman) is teamed with young rookie detective,  David Mills (Pitt).  Their styles and personalities are at odds from the start.  Somerset is even-keeled, patient and methodical.  Mills is short-tempered, eager and prone to rush in.

Somerset and Mills are assigned a murder investigation where the killer mutilated the victim before slowly murdering him.  When another body turns up, Somerset and Mills realize that they’re dealing with a serial killer who is using the seven deadly sins to determine his victims and method of murder.  The killer is intelligent, but insane… and he knows that Somerset and Mills are on the case.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

What could have been a very generic and exploitive serial killer movie is anything but.  Andrew Kevin Walker created a story that is compelling and clever.  The old cop just a week from retirement teamed with a young hotshot is so played out.. but not in the hands of Walker.  The situation is what it is, and adds to the personalities of Somerset and Mills. The finale is one of the best ever.

David Fincher is an amazing director and Se7en is a masterpiece.  The film stars Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt, but the supporting actors/actresses are just as amazing.  It’s cool seeing familiar faces before they were “known” popping up throughout the film.  Everything from the opening credits to the final shot are perfection.

Se7en (1995) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Sympathy for the Devil” starring Nicholas Cage & Joel Kinnaman – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Sympathy for the Devil looks pretty good.  Deal me in.

In Theaters and On Demand July 28

Starring Nicolas Cage, Joel Kinnaman
Directed by Yuval Adler
Written by Luke Paradise

After being forced to drive a mysterious passenger (Nicolas Cage) at gunpoint, a man (Joel Kinnaman) finds himself in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse where it becomes clear that not everything is as it seems.

BRONZE STAR by Mike Baron & Pat Broderick

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BRONZE STAR by Mike Baron & Pat Broderick is live on Kickstarter now.  Here’s the lowdown…

Bronze Star is a suspenseful, weird western tale that explores redemption and revenge, offering a fresh take on the werewolf mythos while delivering heart-pounding scares, glorious artwork, and unexpected twists that will grab readers by the throat and not let go until the final page.

Created by Eisner winning writer Mike Baron (Nexus, Punisher, Star Wars), and beautifully illustrated by Pat Broderick (Micronauts, Alpha Flight, Legion of Super-Heroes), Bronze Star tells a frightening tale of a civil war vet who kills a powerful landowner’s spoiled son after catching him cheating in a poker game. An angry posse soon forces him to flee to a remote mining town where he discovers the town’s sheriff is afflicted with lycanthropy, but this sheriff isn’t the only supernatural danger lurking in this silver mining town…

Click over for more details.  Western horror by Baron and Broderick?  Deal me in!