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!

The Frankenstein Syndrome (2010)

After doing some sorting and cleaning, I decided to kick back and see something more modern than flicks on my Pure Terror Collection. My selection for the evening was the 2010 independent entry The Frankenstein Syndrome.

Plot/ A group of researchers conducting illegal stem cell research discover a cell anomaly that has the potential to regenerate dead tissue. Unable to conduct legal human trials, the researchers turn to corpses to test their serum.

This modernized (but loose) adaptation of the Mary Shelley classic is definitely an interesting interpretation (especially with how controversial stem cell research is). Sure, there were some flaws, with some uneven pacing (it did plod along in some parts), little to no gore and varying character development (some were just a bit too rigid). However, there were some good points that took to a level above many direct to DVD entries. The screenplay was solid with pretty good dialogue, the acting decent and there was enough violence to make it make it more exciting than the typical Frankenstein-type flick (although, I did feel more Re-Animator than Frankenstein). In the end, this movie was much better than I expected and was actually decently entertaining. If you are a fan of Frankenstein, check it out. While it strays from the original story, the ideal that sits at the heart of this modern take may be more taboo than the classic philosophical debate.

Prom Night (1980)

As I continue to move through the Midnight Horror Collection (Volume 1), I decided to finally watch the 1980 slasher Prom Night. As a kid growing up, this was one of those films that left an impression on me, and one that I remember to this day.

Plot/ For six long years, Hamilton High School seniors Kelly, Jude, Wendy, and Nick have been hiding the truth of what happened to ten-year-old Robin Hammond the day her broken body was discovered near an old abandoned convent. The foursome kept secret how they taunted Robin - backed her into a corner until, frightened, she stood on a window ledge... and fell to her death. Though an accident, the then-twelve-year-olds feared they'd be held responsible and vowed never to tell. But someone else was there that day... watching. And now, that someone is ready to exact murderous revenge-on prom night.

I remember this from when it came out in 1980; I will never forget watching the head roll down the stage. This is not to mention Jamie Lee Curtis cementing her position as the Scream Queen of the day.  While, this is the typical slasher, full of cliché moments and trappings, this one succeeds where some others fail. It boasts some good characterization, solid acting, and a perfect soundtrack that creates a dark and eerie atmosphere throughout. Plus, the plot actually creates a decent mystery that builds and holds you from start to finish. Yes, there are some flaws such as lighting and uneven effects (not to mention disco, wow, I do remember those days). However, this is a much better film than the modern incarnation and one that can be found on the cheap. A must watch for slasher fans or true fans of 1980s horror.