Witchboard (1986)

Today was a long day. Between one daughter at taking a walk back in time to the colonial era at FestiFall and another one at softball practice, it felt like I never sat down. When I did finally find time to relax, I decided to venture into the 1980s for my next flick, the 1986 classic Witchboard.

Plot/ At a party, a guest brings out an Ouija board, and they attempt to contact a spirit he knows. The spirit does appear, but it becomes apparent to the one who brought the Ouija board that this is an evil spirit that is impersonating his spirit.

This was one of my favorites back in the 1980s and I have seen it many times and it never fails to entertain. Yes, it does feel a touch dated when I watch it today, but that is only a minor flaw in the film. This one is great for the Halloween season and one that adds to the lore of the Ouija Board. The performances are solid, the soundtrack does a great job promoting the mood, the cinematography is outstanding, and the scripting and overall storyline is both entertaining and interesting. Sure, there are a few parts of the film that feels a little underdeveloped and the ending may feel a touch forced, but those areas do nothing to hurt the movie. In the end, this one is well worth watching and is a great example of what horror could be without the crazy gore that was quite popular during the decade. If you have not seen it, check it out on Shudder, you too should enjoy it.

Chopping Mall (1986)

Last night, I sat back and decided to venture into the world of alien documentaries and that is what I reviewed. Tonight, I am going back to a film I watched early in the week, Chopping Mall from 1986.

Plot/ Eight teenagers are trapped after hours in a high-tech shopping mall and pursued by three murderous security robots out of control.

I remember the disappointment I had when this one came out and I discovered it wasn’t the slasher film that I expected. While I am not saying that this one is terrible, I am just pointing out the disconnect that exists between the cover art, title, and the actual film. That is not to say that this is not a fun and entertaining trip into 1980s low-budget cheese. This horror/sci-fi mixture comes complete with all the elements that made movies of the era what they were. There are some boobs, blood, and a strange storyline that was so ridiculous that the impossibilities made it ripe for mindless schlock. Plus, some of the effects, robots, performances, and direction were not bad considering the subject matter and budget. Yes, some of the kills are a touch absurd, most of it is unrealistic, and there are definitely times where you wonder why you are watching, but that is part of the fun. In the end, this is in no way a perfect flick, but it is one that shows the lasting importance of low budget horror. If you have not seen it, be warned this one is more sci-fi than slasher, but that means little. Find it and check it out.

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Last night, I went for something serious, and although it was entertaining, I decided that I needed something different tonight as the typhoon comes down outside. After some debate, I decided on the 1986 musical comedy Little Shop of Horrors.

Plot/ A nerdy florist finds his chance for success and romance with the help of a giant man-eating plant who demands to be fed.

The world may be a much happier place if it were a musical. There I said it. While I understand the absurdity of that statement, I do also see the power of that platform. Yes, horror movies are hard to get right (although Cannibal the Musical was hilarious), but that genre also has a way (along with sci-fi) of being a solid platform for the comedic side of the genre. This entry, based on a classic Broadway musical, embraces that and creates a tremendously campy, comedy-horror combination that is both entertaining and memorable. This homage to the classic low budget schlockfests of the 50s and 60s features a great cast, perfect pacing, some awesome performances, decent effects, a hilarious storyline, and a musical score that is both catchy and darkly funny. Yes, it is schlock-filled, campy, and totally laughable and absurd, but that only adds to the comedic charm contained within the timeline. In the end, this is a movie that I feel has long been underappreciated and a movie that comedy, horror, and musical fans can enjoy. If you have not seen it, give it a shot. And who knows, maybe it will be a primer for the eclipse that sits upon our horizon in August.

The Manhattan Project (1986)

There is really nothing better than drifting back to the 1980s. Times were so different then, and even the storylines that came about in movies were often more straightforward and unbelievable. My next review comes from that era as well, the 1986 drama/thriller The Manhattan Project.

Plot/ A teen and his girlfriend make an atomic bomb with plutonium stolen from a scientist dating his mother.

I remember watching this one in my teen years and found it extremely similar to War Games, with a different underlying premise, after watching again, those same feeling rose to the top. While I did enjoy the idea, I have to admit that it is hard to suspend my belief on this one. No, not with the ability to build the atomic bomb, or the fact that the government would try to build a research facility within a community without telling the citizens, my disbelief comes with everything else. The story is interesting (unbelievable, yet interesting), the performances were decent, and for the most part, it has held up to time. Unfortunately, it does not fit into any genre, as it is not serious enough to be a drama, there is no tension, and it is rather predictable (even though I have watched it before). In the end, this was an entertaining movie for a quiet afternoon with the daughters. Would I search it out again? No, but I am sure I could find something less entertaining to watch.

Aliens (1986)

The holiday season is always a great time to catch up with friends and family, but also a great time to revisit some of the classic horror/sci-fi flicks of the past decades. Last night, I finished reviews of the Phantasm franchise, now my plan is to continue with the Alien franchise, with the 1986 sequel Aliens.

Plot/ Fifty-seven years after Ripley survived the moon LV-426, all communications with the terraforming colony on the outpost have been lost. The Company enlists Ripley to aid a team of space marines on a rescue mission to the moon to find out if there are aliens or survivors.

It isn’t often when a sequel may be more satisfying than the source material, but that may indeed be the case with the classic franchise. Aliens is both more entertaining and more diverse than the original Alien. While this may not be by a gigantic amount, it is still the case. This one has all of the elements that made the made the original fun with an awesome soundtrack, a claustrophobic atmosphere, a tremendous cast with outstanding performances, and of course the tension that continued to build throughout. Really, every part of this movie was just as good (if not better) than the original including the action and scripting. If there were a downside, it would be the fact that the computer technology presented in both the facility on the ground and in the ship did not really seem to develop as much as it should considering the timeframes that were being used  (57 years in a long time), but that would be nitpicking. In the end, this film is one of the best Sci-Fi movies ever made and one of the most memorable. With another sequel on the horizon, it is a great time to revisit all of these to get primed. Check it out!

Gothic (1986)

Every once in a while, I enjoy venturing back into the 1980s to find a classic film I enjoyed during my teenage years. While many discount that decade, there was some great cinema created, especially in the horror genre. One of my favorites from that decade is my next selection; the 1986 entry Gothic. 

Plot/ This is the story of the night that Mary Shelley gave birth to the horror classic "Frankenstein." Disturbed drug induced games are played and ghost stories are told one rainy night at the mad Lord Byron's country estate. 

Ken Russell’s Gothic is one of my favorite movies from the 1980s. Atmospheric, dark, and intriguing, this interpretation of how the classic Frankenstein came to life is an interesting flick. The acting is solid, the script is entertaining and the storyline comes to life on the screen with its stunning imagery. Yes, it does have some incoherent moments, pacing issues and may be a bit complex in many areas, but those flaws are extremely minor. In the end, if you enjoy surreal horror that provides some food for thought, you must see this film. Not for everyone, this is an entertaining flick that offers a stimulating story as to how a horror icon was created. 

From Beyond (1986)

  

After picking up my shrunken heads last night and then watching Oddities, it was time to settle in for some fun. My selection for the evening was Stuart Gordon's 1986 classic From Beyond.

Plot/ Based on a story by H. P. Lovecraft, scientists create a resonator to stimulate the pineal gland (sixth sense), and open up a door to a parallel (and hostile) universe.

Making a Lovecraft adaptation is always a challenge, yet, Gordon has somehow seemed to have cornered the market at making these adaptations entertaining. This flick is no exception. I really liked the creepy feel to the movie, especially considering the tough of dark humor that was thrown in. The special effects and gore were awesome, creating some of the most memorable images of the era. While you combine the imagery with an outstanding soundtrack and some strong performances by Jeffrey Combs, Ken Foree and Barbara Crampton and it is easy to overlook some of the flaws (uneven script and rushed characterizations). In all, this is one of my favorite Lovecraft adaptations and a very good flick. Yes, it screams 1980s, but it is well worth watching.

Night of the Creeps (1986)

After some debate, I decided to venture back into the 1980s for my vieweing pleasure. As I sit here coughing, I hope that this cold passes and I am not stuck here on my couch for long. Until then, the 1986 horror/comedy Night of the Creeps.

Plot/ Alien brain parasites, entering humans through the mouth, turn their host into a killing zombie. Some teenagers start to fight against them.

This is definitely one of the better horror/comedies of the 1980s and does a great job at marrying the genres. The storyline is solid and brought together nicely by a great script. A script that accentuates the finer points of suspence and gore. The effects and the acting, while not top-notch, both stand out. True, this is not a masterpiece, but it is a movie that deserves to be watched. It is not for everyone, but for horror fans, it is definitely a flick worth watching!

Invaders From Mars (1986)

As the snow continued to fall today, it was fun to offset Ancient Aliens on the History Channel with the 1986 Martian themed Invaders from Mars.

Plot/ In this remake of the classic 1950s Sci-fi tale, a boy tries to stop an invasion of his town by aliens who take over the the minds of his parents, his least-liked schoolteacher and other townspeople. With the assistance of the school nurse, the boy enlists the aid of the U.S. Marines to help save the world.

While the movie is far from a classic, this modernized version of the original film is actually pretty entertaining. Director Tobe Hooper did a great job at staying true to the original idea while creating what remains a strange tongue-and-cheek alien movie. The cinematography, dialogue and effects are actually pretty good considering the era, and they do a good job at masking some of the uneven acting and pacing throughout. In all, this will not go down as an all-time great, but it a fun movie that is great to catch on snowy afternoons if you remember not to take it too seriously.

Breeders (1986)

Evidently, I was doomed to watch strange and cheaply made monsters this week. Maybe it is because Blobfest is on the horizon and subliminally I am being drawn toward strange alien creatures that want to take over the planet. Who knows, but my latest endeavor was Breeders from 1986, what a blast from the past!

Plot/ The Manhattan General Hospital has admitted a string of young women who have been raped by something otherworldly. The perpetrator only attacks women who are virgins. Dr. Pace and Detective Andriotti work together to try and isolate the strange organic material found on the victims, and to try and locate the fiend. Soon the victims begin arising in a trance and leaving the hospital by an underground passage where their fate awaits them.

After watching this movie, I have come to the conclusion that it was one of the first direct to VHS movies from the 1980s and it definitely had to be before Tipper Gore went crazy won her censorship crusade. Yes, this movie by all accounts is terrible, almost beyond terrible, with horrid acting, lousy special effects and an alien monster that would have made Roger Corman proud. However, with the almost “I want to make porn” feel with the constant variety of naked women and breasts that populate the screen, this movie may deserve some type of cult status. If like me you just read the plot or synopsis, you might think this movie is about aliens. As I soon found out, I was wrong… Yes, there are aliens, and yes, they do attack, but in the end, this movie is about female breasts!

April Fool's Day (1986)

Before I could shuffle into Shutter Island last night, I decided to take a jaunt down memory lane when I saw April Fool’s Day was on Showtime. In many ways it seems like yesterday when I first saw this film and I was amazed at how much better I felt about the film these years later!

Plot/ A group of eight college friends gather together at an island mansion belonging to heiress Muffy St. John to celebrate their final year of school. They soon discover that each has a hidden secret from their past which is revealed, and soon after, they turn up dead. Yet, are they dead? Or is it just part of some very real and cruel April Fool's jokes? The hostess, Muffy, is the only one who apparently knows what's going on. Then again, is it really her doing the killing?

I remember going to see this movie back in the 1980s as a teenager, I was excited by the way it looked in the pages of Fangoria only to be disheartened by how the cinematic adaptation differed from the articles. I soon learned exactly how common this would be within the horror genre. Today, looking back all of these years later, this film is really much more than I initially had thought. Yes, the film lacks gore and nudity, a couple of the staples of 80s slasher flicks. However, this may be one of the most well thought out movies of the era combining an interesting (not yet overdone) storyline with some outstanding acting, creating a very cool and intelligent horror film. What the movie lacks in gore, it more than makes up for it with characterization and mood, with an eerie soundtrack that is a perfect addition. This is one great film and one that I highly recommend.