The Thing (1982)

After treating myself to a musical with Sweeney Todd, I decided that I needed something with a little more realism and some horrific splatter scenes and gore. I finally settled on the 1982 John Carpenter classic, The Thing.

Plot/ A research facility in Antarctica comes across an alien force that can become anything it touches with 100% accuracy. The members must now find out who is human and who is not before it is too late.

I remember when this one came out because it was a fascinating watch. Having just seen ET and feeling bored, this one was what I expected in an alien flick. Looking back at it now, I appreciate it even more because of the effects. The practical effects in this movie are some of the best and definitely run laps around the majority of CGI crap that hits the screen today. Even better, everything holds up well even after all these years. The atmosphere is dark, heavy, and toxic, the cast and performances are solid, and the amount of paranoia created within the scripting was amazing. And, did I mention the gore and effects? Honestly, not only are they realistic, but also they fit perfectly with the tension built throughout the film. In the end, this may be one of the best films by John Carpenter and it should be revered in the same manner as Halloween, Prince of Darkness (Okay, one of my favorites) or The Fog. If you have not watched this one yet, you are missing one of the best horror films of the 1980s. Find it and check it out.

Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959)

As I wait for the final two episodes of Twin Peaks: The Return to start tonight, I decided to finish up one of the flicks I watched yesterday. That film is the 1959 low budget/ no budget entry Attack of the Giant Leeches.

Plot/ A backwoods game warden and a local doctor discover that giant leeches are responsible for disappearances and deaths in a local swamp, but the local police don't believe them.

How can you not enjoy anything that Roger Corman is involved with? Honestly, just the name alone should draw you into a low budget schlockfest. That is exactly what this film is, although it actually offers some depth in the scripting department (albeit with some plot holes). This movie offers a solid combination of comedy, drama, and even some horror elements and a decent understanding of the cultures involved. Yes, the production values are limited by the low budget and there are some (okay many) laughable moments with uneven performances and low dollar effects, but that is part of the charm. In the end, this is a decent flick to spend some time on, even if it is a time that you are just searching for a few laughs.

Horrors of Spider Island (1960)

It was such a dreary day outside today. Fortunately, that gave me a chance to kick back and watch so no budget creature features. The first one up is the 1960 entry Horrors of Spider Island (AKA Body in a Web).

Plot/ Survivors of a plane crash on a remote island find spiders cover it. When bitten, the survivors start turning into spiders!

When I decided that I needed a trip into the classic era of low budget cinema tonight, little did I expect to take a trip into the abyss of the no budget misery? This one is bad; maybe the worst flick in either of these creature feature sets. While the cast was intriguing, there was not a lot of depth for them to work with. The movie features terrible editing, a ton of filler, and many of the effects are below low budget. Sure, the spider man make-up is decent for that era, but that in no way is enough to save this one. The unfortunate part is that the movie had potential and would be an interesting flick to see rehashed by the creativity defunct studios in Hollywood. In the end, this one is nowhere near a good movie; unless you are looking for a schlock-filled way to pass some time, stay away.

Moth (2016)

Having just watched the documentary The Mothman of Point Pleasant as well as following the Owl Man sightings in Chicago, I have been motivated to spend some time in the field doing some research. Unfortunately, with this being the middle of travel softball season, this has not worked out the way I had hoped. To help ease some of the disappointment, I decided to kick back and watch the 2016 flick Moth.

Plot/ A teacher and her student travel to the European countryside to investigate 22 recent Mothman sighting reports, but what begins as an attempt to stop a catastrophe becomes a nightmarish fight for survival.

This found footage film does suffer through some of the typical problems that seem to always pop up in this realm; yet, it does add some elements that are not typically seen in the genre. More of a slow burn drama than straight found footage horror flick, this one comes away with a more realistic feel because of the dated look it has. Plus, there is an interesting twist added in that actually works within the storyline. Yes, the performances are uneven (especially with the lead actress); the dialog is laughable at best, and as usual, there are clichéd moments littered throughout. For me, this did not ruin the film, as the subject interests me and the low budget nature does allow for some flaws to be overlooked. In the end, this movie is far from perfect, but it is also far from the worst film in the found footage arena. Is it for everyone, no way, but it is somewhat entertaining and a decent way to pass some mindless time recovering from a long day.

Slugs (1988)

After spending the weekend camping at a softball tournament, it was nice to finally kick back and watch something mindless tonight. After some thought, I decided on the 1988 schlockfest Slugs.

Plot/ People are dying mysteriously and gruesomely, and nobody has a clue what the cause is. Only health worker Mike Brady has a possible solution, but the authorities laugh at his theory of killer slugs.

There is always a place in my movie library for mindless pieces of schlock that do not take themselves seriously, and that is exactly what type of movie we have here. Is a good movie? Technically no, but it is an easy watch and a great example of 1980s creature feature gold. On a positive, I have always loved the clichéd storyline, the excessive low budget gore, and the killer slugs. Unfortunately, the close-minded horror fan that is searching for a Oscar-worthy piece of cinema will probably not agree with me and point out the flat characters, the uneven performances, and the choppy editing. Yes, there are flaws, but this is the type of film that paved its way into the so bad its good garage. In the end, if you are looking for a fun, entertaining, and mindless example of 1980s schlock, give this one a chance. Especially, if like me, you have Shudder and could watch it on a push of a button. Check it out.

The Void (2016)

After taking a week to focus on movies that had a Cryptozoological feel, I decided it was time to dive back into the true horror genre. After searching Family Video, I sat back and decided on the 2016 entry The Void.

Plot/ Shortly after delivering a patient to an understaffed hospital, a police officer experiences strange and violent occurrences seemingly linked to a group of mysterious hooded figures.

It has been awhile since I found a modern horror film take me on a ride similar to the classics that made me a fan of the genre in the 1970s and 1980s. That all changed with The Void. This was one of the best horror films I have watched in some time and honestly, one that I may decide to pick up a copy of. This film has an intriguing storyline that feels like a mixture of classic Clive Barker and H.P. Lovecraft complete with amazing visuals and a dark atmosphere. The effects are solid, the performances decent, the cinematography works, and most importantly, this movie pushed the boundaries of horror filmmaking by creating a film that could crawl under a viewer's skin and create nightmares. Yes, there are some uneven moments with the dialog and scripting, but those moments are forgotten when you focus on the graphic images that grace the screen. In the end, this movie is a must see for a true horror fan, especially those that enjoy the works of Barker and Lovecraft. If that is you, find it, and watch it; you should definitely enjoy it.

Undead (2003)

For some reason, even after finishing After the Static, I still can't get enough of flesh-eating zombies. So, when I sat down tonight, I wanted something mindless and gory. I found something perfect for that craving on Shudder. What I decided on was the 2003 horror/comedy Undead.

Plot/ A quaint Australian fishing village is overcome by meteorites that turn its residents into the ravenous undead, leaving a small group of those unharmed to find a way out.

While Undead will never be confused with a great film, it kept me entertained throughout with over-the-top splatter effects, and always an enjoyable combination of alien DNA and zombies, and enough sprinkled homages to classics that it was just fun! Yes, the scripting, performances, and pacing were a touch uneven and schlock-filed, but those elements just played into the horror comedy. In the end, this may not be the best film out there, but it is a fun gorefest that took me back to some of the great splatter-fests of my youth. Plus, it has a somewhat original ending that sits outside the typical cliché that seems to saturate films in this genre.

Dead Ringers (1988)

After watching something with a mysterious numerology base last night, I wanted to find something a bit different. Since I did not feel like making a trip to the video store, I decided to search Shudder for something interesting. With no surprise, I found exactly what I was looking for, 1988s Dead Ringers.

Plot/ Twin gynecologists take full advantage of the fact that nobody can tell them apart, until their relationship begins to deteriorate over a woman.

Any time you watch a movie from David Cronenberg, you should be ready for something different than the normal. Cronenberg always makes movies that are both technically sound and thought provoking. That is definitely the case with this one, which could be considered one of his best. The storyline is tremendous; in fact, it never veers into the trademark gore but creates something that is extremely dark within the confines of a heavy atmosphere. The cast, cinematography, and script are cold and hard. However, it is the performances (especially Jeremy Irons) that make this film what it is-unsettling and chilling. Yes, it builds slowly and if you were searching for the gratuitous blood and gore of other Cronenberg classics, you would be disappointed, but that does not matter with this one. In the end, this one leaves a lasting impression and is possibly the best movie of its kind. If you have not seen it give it a shot, it has stood the test of time and is still relevant today.

Cell (2016)

While I know this is Friday the 13th and I should be doing a review of one of those films, the one I grabbed (and am watching right now), I have already reviewed. So, to fill that void, I am writing up the movie from last night, 2016s Cell.

Plot/ When a mysterious cell phone signal causes apocalyptic chaos; an artist is determined to reunite with his young son in New England.

I have never read this book by Stephen King, but honestly, that was probably a good thing because it is often difficult to watch adaptations of his work if you are familiar with the source material. From watching this and the disjointed storyline, I definitely imagine that was the case. More of a philosophical thriller than zombie horror flick, there were some elements of the story that were intriguing. In many ways, this is the world that we live in and I could see society suffer with some type of psychological trauma if something similar happened. The scripting was honest; the performances decent, and there were some atmospheric moments that made this somewhat interesting. Unfortunately, the cinematography and effects make this more of a low budget B-movie destined for the SyFy Channel than anything else, a surprising fact when you see that John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson take on the lead roles. In the end, this one is nothing memorable and I imagine that the book was a better time. Is it watchable? Yes, but, have I seen worse? Absolutely!

Morgan (2016)

After watching The Shelter, I was looking to find something more conspiracy related. Unfortunately, the movie I was searching for was out. Instead, I decided on the 2016 entry Morgan.

Plot/ A corporate risk-management consultant must decide whether or not to terminate an artificially created humanoid being.

When I saw this one on the shelf at Family Video, it looked interesting. In some ways, the advertised premise reminded me of the storyline from Embryo that I watched earlier in the week. While what I found was somewhat similar, this one was overall a lot more thought provoking and darker. Besides the interesting storyline, it featured some solid performances, a talented cast, and an intense and somewhat dark atmosphere. Yes, the ending was a bit of a let down and some of the characterizations were flat, but overall those elements did little to bring the movie down. In the end, this one has a nice mixture of horror and science fiction elements and is a fun watch, especially if you are stuck in the middle of a blizzard or deep freeze. Stay warm out there!

Infini (2015)

While I try to keep my excitement tempered as I prepare to check out Star Wars: The Force Awakens tomorrow, I was definitely in a Sci-Fi mood as I worked on some paperwork for school. To help quench my mood, I decided to check out the 2015 entry Infini, a darker flick from that genre.

Plot/ An elite 'search and rescue' team transport onto an off-world mining-facility to rescue Whit Carmichael, the lone survivor of a biological outbreak.

As I sat down to watch this one, I really had no expectations. What I found was something much better than I would have expected featuring a tremendously atmospheric and claustrophobic Sci-Fi flick that I wish I had watched earlier. This one has a lot to like, with outstanding sets, solid production values, enjoyable characters with decent performances, and a nice blend of special effects. Yes, the scripting was a touch wordy in spots and there were a few head scratching moments, but those were minor in comparison to the rest of the movie. In the end, this one is well worth watching and a movie that much better than some of the other Sci-Fi entries that populates the market. If you are a true fan of science fiction, give it a shot; you should enjoy it.

Big Ass Spider! (2013)

Sometimes, one just needs some mindless horror/science fiction action to help pass some time. That is actually, where I have been recently, as I have been trying to clear the children’s writing stuff from my mind. To help me with the mindless horror, I decided to finally break down and watch the 2013 low budget flick Big Ass Spider!

Plot/ A giant alien spider escapes from a military lab and rampage the city of Los Angeles. When a massive military strike fails, it is up to a team of scientists and one clever exterminator to kill the creature before the city is destroyed.

I was actually surprised by this creature feature. Yes, it was a typical unbelievable monster on a rampage flick, there were actually a lot of moments that were better than I could have imagined at the start, with a solid mixture of action and comedy. Sure, the scripting is uneven; the acting/performances about the same, and the effects are so outlandish they are awesome. In the end, if you are looking for a mindless flick that can give you a modern take on the classic 1950s creature features, give this one a shot. It has enough schlock and action to at least make you crack a smile.

Stung (2015)

Needing to pass some time while doing homework and waiting for the kids to get to bed so I can watch the final episode of American Horror Story Coven, I wanted something mindless to help get me through. In searching for something mindless, I decided upon the 2015 horror/comedy Stung.

Plot/ A fancy garden party turns into upper class prey when a colony of killer wasps mutates into seven foot tall predators.

When I saw this one, I figured it would be the perfect mindless creature feature that I could use to bridge the gap until I put on the final episode of American Horror Story Coven. When I got inside that is what I found. Sure, it was not quite as funny as I expected it to be, but it had enough over the top moments, unbelievable action, and goo to add at least a little humor. The performances are uneven bur cult icon, Lance Henriksen, more than fills his role. The effects and cinematography are solid, the storyline ridiculous but funny, and some of the effects are decent. In the end, this may not be the greatest horror comedy or creature feature to come out, but it is a decent flick to watch with just enough bloodshed to help pass time. If you have some time and need to watch something, give it shot.