UFO History: December 2, 1987

With the potential UFO Invasion on the horizon on December 3rd according to a prediction made years ago, I decided to do some searching early tonight for our UFO History entry. 

While searching, I did find it interesting that Ed Walters had one of his Gulf Breeze incidents on this day. On that day in 1987, a blue beam of light then caused him to be lifted three feet (0.91 m) off the ground. The Gulf Breeze reports are interesting, but for some reason, I was drawn down an interesting rabbit hole and decided to go that route. 

The CIA FOIA Archives popped up and I started going through some of those and man, they contradict themselves all over. In one appeal from 2006, they claim that there is no research being done by the agency, that they stopped with the Air Force in the 1960s. This is crazy, considering the amount of data that sits in this archive. 

In that document, the redacted information is intriguing. From 1976, what doctor was researching and what exactly is analytical data on the UFO ______ subject and what information was given. This is roughly the same time of the Grenada UFO incidents and there are a ton of documents centered on that in both the CIA and State Department FOIA archives. 

Included in those is a direct link to a United Nations program. As a member of Generation X, how many of us remember hearing that the government has no involvement in the subject. I know I remember that. 

Take a look at the document in the picture, I know it isn’t from December 2nd, but it definitely tells a story that is part of UFO history. 

StageFright (1987)

It has been a slow few days with only a handful of sales coming through the store.  Skills It does make it easy to get the packages out,  it leads to trots to the post office that rings the flow of my day.  I really haven't made the progress in the shop that I had hooked for this week.  When it finally time to relax,  I decided to kick back with another classic 80s horror flick,  1987s giallo StageFright.

Plot: A group of stage actors lock themselves in the theater for a rehearsal of their upcoming musical production, unaware that an escaped psychopath has sneaked into the theater with them.

I love the giallo subgenre of horror. Since of my favorite films fall under that category and this is one that I hadn't seen.  Of course,  this is one reason I have Shudder because they offer many films that I haven't experienced along with a wide variety of newer horror.  Also known as Aquarius, this movie has to be regarded as one of the best slasher films or the era. Going away from the traditional slasher tropes of the day,  this one succeeds with outstanding and vivid cinematography that mixed with the uneven soundtrack works to create something dark and atmospheric. Yes,  some of the movie seems dated today, if you remember the 80s as well n as I do,  you should find it as refreshing as I did.  Directed by Argento apprentice Michele Soavi, you can see the influence with the combination of colors, thrills, and murders held tight within an interesting script.  This one is definitely a must watch for fans of classic Italian horror and the giallo subgenre. Check it out!

From a Whisper to a Scream (1987)

Yesterday was a day full of appointments and driving in traffic,  so when I was able to relax last night I wanted something interesting for my evening movie. After some thought, I decided to visit the horror icon, Vincent Price in 1987s From a Whisper to a Scream.

Plot: Beneath the small-town exterior of Oldfield, Tenn., lies a history of shocking violence and terrifying phenomena, as recounted by local historian.

Horror anthologies have been a mixed bag through the years ranging from dark to lighthearted comic entries. This one is on the darker side and one that is a lot better than I would have expected.  The four dark macabre stories are interesting and add a creepiness the is lacking from many anthologies of the era. The cast, performances, and look of the film are good for the time of direct to VHS horror. Unfortunately, Price plays a minor part as the narrator, while it was good, his talent could have added even more to the movie with more screen time. This is a good horror film and one that should be enjoyed. 

Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987)

Okay, so I am cheating a little tonight as I am going to review one of my all-time favorites. To be honest, I probably watch this one twice a year, and that date came last night as I was working on a couple project ideas. That movie is the 1987 classic Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn.

Plot/ The lone survivor of an onslaught of flesh-possessing spirits holes up in a cabin with a group of strangers while the demons continue their attack.

The Evil Dead series is one of my all-time favorites and amazingly are just as entertaining today than they were when they came out. That is especially the case with this entry, which in many ways help energize the genre with its cult status. This low budget story is in no way a sequel, it is a different perspective on the classic source material. While it did lack the serious tone of the original, it makes up for that with a perfect blend of comedy, gore, and horror that takes the series to a completely new plane. Yes, it has all of the action, possessions, and of course, Bruce Campbell, but it is the combination of solid performances, outstanding storyline, and crazy characters that truly brings this one to life. In the end, if you are a horror fan and have not watched this one, shame on you. The may be one of the best horror films on the 1980s and is one that will surely continue to stand the test of time. Find it and watch it!

Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II (1987)

With Death Note being a bit of a downer, I decided that I would venture into something completely different. After searching my streaming services, I decided on the 1987 supernatural sequel Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II.

Plot/ Thirty years after her accidental death at her 1957 senior prom, the tortured spirit of prom queen Mary Lou Maloney returns to seek revenge.

I remember seeing this when it came out. As a fan of the original Prom Night with Jamie Lee Curtis, I was somewhat disappointed in the change of direction with the sequel. However, after watching it again, I found it a decent flashback to the classic 1980s cheese that seemed to become more prevalent as the decade wore on. While this one had almost zero connection to the original and was a complete mixture of multiple supernatural classics (The Exorcist, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Carrie for a start), this one was fun and mindless. Most importantly, it was not afraid of pushing the boundaries or limits of the rating system (something it seems like no films will do today). Sure, the looks are dated, the performances were uneven, it lacked the tension from the slasher craze, the storyline was unoriginal, and it was rather predictable, but there was a decent amount of blood and it created an interesting departure from what many would have expected. In the end, this is in no way a great movie and it is quite mindless, but it can serve its purpose as background fodder on a slow afternoon. Give it a shot; you could do worse.

The Believers (1987)

Every once in a while I decide to journey back into my youth a re-watch one of the flicks that helped shape who I am today. Last night, I had one of those moments and found the perfect movie to quench my desire. Of course, it also provided some much-needed relaxation after a day of softball and my first feeble attempts at defeating the skeleton king (Diablo III). That movie was the 1987 entry, The Believers.

Plot/ A New York psychiatrist finds that a voodoo cult, which believes in child sacrifice, has a keen interest in his own son.

I remember seeing this when it came out in the 1980s. This journey into Voodoo/Santeria is a well-made thriller that takes on the religions in a realistic way. While it is not overly scary, there are parts of this flick that capture the imagination and bring the seriousness to life. The acting is solid, the storyline intriguing, and the atmosphere is heavy and dark. Sure, there are some pacing issues, some of the small details that could add some clarity are overlooked, and there are some complexities that may make it hard to follow for some viewers. In the end, this is an entertaining journey into a mysterious religion. Yes, it is not for everyone, but if you enjoy religious horror, you have to give it a shot.

Hellraiser (1987)

Every now and then, I enjoy taking a trip back to my teenage years to re-watch some of the flicks that shaped my interest in horror, both in literature and on the big screen. While I intended to look deeper at the Friday the 13th franchise this week, I could not pass up the fact that the Clive Barker classic Hellraiser debuted in the UK today in 1987. Couple that with the fact that Barker has finally finished the much anticipated Scarlet Gospels and my interest to visit Pinhead was complete.

Plot/ An unfaithful wife encounters the zombie of her dead lover, who's being chased by demons after he escaped from their sado-masochistic Hell.

Growing up, I was a huge fan of Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft and I spent most of my teenage years in the 1980s searching for an author that could take me on a journey into some of the dark depths that those two masters could. That search ended when I saw Hellraiser and discovered Clive Barker. In the era of the slasher, this was a cinematic trip that challenged ones mind. Complete with a tremendous mix of gore, storyline and atmosphere, this was so much more than the typical horror of the decade. Yes, some of the characterizations were off and the acting was so-so, but that was a small flaw in a horror masterpiece. In the end, Hellraiser was a groundbreaking horror flick that influenced a generation and opened my eyes to horror maestro Clive Barker. If you have not see this one, shame on you. It is a must for every horror fan. 

Dark Tower (1987)

I decided to take a night off from the world of horror and movies last night to attend an auction. Now that we have a new booth at Dusty’s, it is time to replenish stock. Unfortunately, we did not find much, although, I did pick up some pieces for some projects. Tonight, I decided to watch Dark Tower from 1987.

Plot/ The construction of a skyscraper in Barcelona is being haunted by a ghost.

                                                                                      

When I saw this on Netflix, I was having a hard time placing it in my mind. As a youth, I watched horror all the time, and still could not place it. After watching it, I understand why I did not remember it. There was nothing to it that would make it stand out, nothing memorable. While the cast was solid and their performances were good, there was no excitement or atmosphere to develop anything with this grouping. This film lacked imagination and felt dry and forced. Honestly, there was nothing there other than beautiful cinematography of Barcelona and slow, arid storyline that drug too long. In the end, this one was a slow and painful watch and one that I would not recommend to anyone.

The Gate (1987)

After spending last night dealing with a formal Air Force Dinner, it was nice to enjoy a blast from my youth today in 1987s teen influenced The Gate.

Plot/ Three young children accidentally release a horde of nasty, pint-sized demons from a hole in a suburban backyard. What follows is a classic battle between good and evil as the three kids struggle to overcome a nightmarish hell that is literally taking over the Earth.

Wow, what a blast from the past. I remember seeing this when it came out, but honestly, I like it more today. Yes, this supernatural / horror / thriller is just a PG-13 entry, but there is a lot to like (especially a young Stephen Dorff). The flick featured a great storyline that was centered on an extremely popular topic from back in the 1980s, the relationship of Satan and Metal Music and was backed by some decent special effects. Yes, at times the pacing is a bit slow, the feel is a bit off and there is an extreme lack of gore, sex and violence, but it is a trip of good campy fun with even some Lovecraftian influences. Check it out and enjoy!

Bay Cove (1987)

 I was searching for something to watch last night while researching items for the curiosity cabinet I am building, I stumbled upon the 1987 made for television film Bay Coven (Bay Cove). As a huge fan of Pamela Sue Martin as I was growing up (Nancy Drew was hot!), I could not pass up this flick.

Plot/ A young newlywed couple move into a remote village in middle America only to find a secret coven of witches who want them to join all the fun; or face the consequences.

I was not expecting much from this, but to my surprise, this is not a terrible film at all. In fact, I found it an interesting conglomeration of occult story ideas from movies of the past. The pacing was slow, but that actually added something to the tension, which builds up until the ending. The cinematography, acting and soundtrack are solid and work rather well, as do the special effects when they are used. All in all, this made for TV entry is a decent little mystery / thriller that is entertaining, and definitely brings back memories of Nancy Drew from my childhood.

Opera (1987)

After being almost driven to sleep by The Nun, I decided to move onto something that I was sure to perk up my mood, Horror Maestro Dario Argento’s Opera.

Plot / A young opera singer gets her big chance when the previous star of a production of Verdi's Macbeth is run over by a car. Convinced the opera is bad luck she accepts, and becomes the target of a psychopath - a man she has been dreaming of since childhood.

True to Argento’s work this is again one of the one of the most stylish Horror movies of the genre. While the film comes together as an incoherent combination of slasher and giallo, much of the plot is rather simple (layered but simple) featuring his inventive and often gruesome death scenes. The acting is sound, the visual effects definitely become creepy and the cinematography is tremendous (pins on the eyes and raven’s, who could ask for more?). It appeared that everything was there to make this a truly great movie. However, the strange additions of heavy metal to the soundtrack and the almost pointless ending (which almost seems like a forced appendage) really take something away from the overall appearance of the film. In the end, this remains an underrated effort by Argento, yes, it is not his best work, but it is an entertaining foray into the depths of horror and one that should be seen if you have the chance.

The Lost Boys (1987)

After watching Blood For Dracula, I was in the mood to continue the vampire theme. After spending some time recently in Santa Cruz, what a better vampire flick to enjoy tonight than The Lost Boys. This 1987 vampire classic will not only take me back, but is tame enough to let the daughters enjoy it as well.

Plot / Financial troubles force a recent divorcee and her teenage sons Mike and Sam to settle down with her father in the California town of Santa Carla. At first, Sam laughs off rumours he hears about vampires who inhabit the small town. But after Mike meets a beautiful girl at the local amusement park, he begins to exhibit the classic signs of vampirism. Fearing for his own safety, Sam recruits two young vampire hunters to save his brother by finding and destroying the head vampire.

Watching this today, it is clear that it remains the quintessential 1980s flick. This vampire classic captured every part of the decade in a way that has created quite the time capsule with some great acting, a tremendous soundtrack, a solid story and most of all a true feel. The gore and special effects are great and it definitely shows what can be done without CGI! For me, this remains one of the most influential films of my formidable years, and one that I can still watch many times over. If you have not seen it, you are missing out!

Return to Horror High (1987)

While waiting up tonight, I stumbled onto Return to Horror High. I remember this movie well, and seeing it again was an awesome experience (although seeing it at the drive-in was a blast.) The 1980s are a great era, and I honestly believe they are unfairly ridiculed at times

Plot/ A few years ago, a mysterious serial-killer caused panic on Crippen High School. The killer was never caught. A movie company, Cosmic Pictures, has decided to make a feature movie about these events - on location, at the now abandoned school. Since members of cast and crew disappear without a trace, it seems as if history is repeating itself...

Its funny, I felt as if I were stepping back in time when I saw this on tonight, and I couldn’t wait. It is hard to believe that it has been over 20 years since I saw this the first time, and now I remember where I saw the Scream idea before Scream. Yes, the movie was full of the 80s (typical soundtrack, etc.) but there were some really good parts of the film; the characters were develop, the storyline was solid and the sets were decent. Unfortunately, the directing and editing left a bit to be desired. All in all, this is a great movie to watch and remember 1980s horror, in many ways, it was just fun with some splatter and blood!