Summer of Fear (1978)

I decided to take a break from cryptids today and did into another interesting topic, Witchcraft.  After did quick searching,  I decided on the made for Television Wes Craven entry Summer of Fear. (AKA Stranger in Our House)

Plot: A teenage girl's life is turned upside down after her cousin moves into her house, and as time goes by she begins to suspect that she may be a practitioner of witchcraft.

For this looking for a precursor to Freddy and a Nightmare on Elm Street, this one will likely disappoint. Origins this third horror entry for Wes Craven was a made for television movie,  thus,  it lacks the impact of typical theatrical releases. However,  the cast and performances are actually pretty good.  Yes,  the setting, costuming, and some of the technical aspects feel and appear dated, but for a movie from the late 70s, most of it holds up quite well.  The storyline is interesting (although a bit predictable) and it did keep me interested to see how it was going to end (did they make a sequel?). In the end,  this wasn't a bad time at all.  Yes,  it won't be for everyone,  but if you are looking for a subtle witchcraft bar film give it a shot.  

Witchery (1988)

When it became evident that the West Virginia game was over, I decided to find something on television to help pass the time before I had to leave for Prestige softball practice. After some searching, I decided on the 1988 entry Witchery (AKA Witchcraft and Evil Encounters).

Plot/ When a storm strands a group on a Massachusetts Island where the only dwelling is an old hotel supposedly haunted by the ghost of a former German actress their worst fears are brought to life.

This is a film that I can honestly say that I do not remember from my youth. That is funny because, between the subject matter and Linda Blair, I almost certainly would have picked this one up. What I found today when watching it was a movie that was clearly part of that 1980s big box horror with some outrageous effects and many head-scratching moments. Of course, this also has the typical flaws with uneven performances, some strange cinematic decisions, laughable moments, and a pace that seems to teeter between slow and fast. That being said, the setting was amazing and the storyline (while somewhat predictable) was entertaining. In the end, this was not a great movie, but it was not the worst either. Feel free to give it a shot if you are searching for something and need something mindless, you could do much worse.

Hell Night (1981)

Last night, I decided to check out what was on Netflix.  After suffering though some very bad choices at the video store, my choices just had to be better. Plus, having spent a few hours at the lake, I needed to just kick back and relax, instead of venturing out to the store. While I found a bunch of cool stuff, one flick stood out. That film, 1981’s Hell Night, was one of my favorites growing up, and one I had not watched in some time.

Plot/ Four college pledges are forced to spend the night in a deserted old mansion where they get killed off one by one by the monstrous surviving members of a family massacre years earlier for trespassing on their living grounds.

Amazingly, I had forgotten that the great Linda Blair starred in this one (she was so hott). So, when I sat down last night to watch it, I was even more excited. Honestly, it has been 25-or-so year since I had watched this one, and I could not wait to take a trip down memory lane. This great little film did a great job a marrying different elements of the horror genre, and creating a slasher with a bit more atmosphere than usual. Sure, there is some cliché, but it really works within the storyline. Overall, the acting was solid, the make-up effects (particularly the deformed psycho) were good (and creepy), and the look created something bloody and stylish (especially for a slasher). In the end, this atmospheric flick was one of the best entries from the start of the 1980s horror boom, and one that should be seen, Check it out!