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.

Beyond the Gates (2016)

After taking a break from some movies last night, I decided to kick into high gear tonight. Right now, I am in the middle of Phoenix Forgotten (which is interesting). Earlier, I sat back and watched the 2016 throwback Beyond the Gates.

Plot/ Two estranged brothers reunite at their missing father's video store and find a VCR board game dubbed 'Beyond The Gates' that holds a connection to their father's disappearance.

When I sat down t watch this one, I had no idea what to expect, but with this movie being a throwback of sorts to my youth, I was excited. What I found was indeed a low budget homage to early 1980s horror, although it did not inspire me as much as some of those films did back then. While this one is not terrible, it does have its flaws including poorly paced dialog, a slow building story that is overly tedious, uneven performances, and some flat characters. Yes, there were some fun elements; the effects (considering the budget) were interesting and the idea had potential. Unfortunately, those positive moments did not offset the execution problems. In the end, this one could have been much better and even more entertaining. Is it terrible? No, but it will likely be met with a polarizing response and disappoint many hardcore horror fans.

We Are Still Here (2015)

While I have been enjoying my time away from softball over the past couple weeks, it has been nice to get back into the swing of some horror films to help me pass my time. I can only hope that this trend continues. Fortunately, I have Family Video up the street to add to my selections. The next film up from my weekend is the 2015 low budget entry We Are Still Here.

Plot/ After their teenage son is killed in a car crash, Paul and Anne move to the quiet New York countryside to try to start a new life for themselves. But the grieving couple unknowingly becomes the prey of a family of vengeful spirits that reside in their new home, and before long they discover that, the seemingly peaceful town they have moved into is hiding a terrifyingly dark secret. Now they must find a way to overcome their sorrow and fight back against both the living and dead as the malicious ghosts threaten to pull their souls - and the soul of their lost son - into hell with them.

This movie really surprised me. Usually, when a cover catches my eye at Family Video, I am destined to be bored out of my skull and/or subjected to the typical rehashed ilk that has been plaguing the horror genre for some time. In this case, once the movie moved past the initial growing pains, it was a decently clever low budget flick that had just enough of a mixture of comedy and horror to make it interesting. The performances really worked inside of the storyline and script and the performances were solid. One of the best facets of the film was the way it crossed genres being part occult thriller, part supernatural horror, part haunted house, and part slasher; having just enough of each to make it attractive to fans of all genres. Yes, the effects could have been better with a larger budget and there were some uneven moments that felt rushed (including the end sequences), but those flaws are minor in comparison to many movies in the same financial class. In the end, this one was one of the better low budget movies I have seen, and a movie that should be seen.

You're Next (2011)

After spending Thursday night with the remake of Carrie, I decided I wanted to go with something mindless for my Friday evening. With the snow falling outside, it is the perfect night for some mayhem. After some thought, I decided upon the 2011 horror flick, You're Next.

Plot/ When the Davison family comes under attack during their wedding anniversary getaway, the gang of mysterious killers soon learns that one of victims harbors a secret talent for fighting back.

As usual, I stayed away from this one until I could watch it at home and i am glad I did. While this is not a perfect flick, it does have some interesting aspects even with the cliche moments sprinkled in. This movie actually has a decent mix of comedy elements thrown into the various kills, which in some ways make it more fun than you may have expected. The acting is OK, the cinematography solid, and the direction works, having some originality thrown into the mix with some of the kills. Sure, the atmosphere is all over, there are plot holes and the characterization is lacking, but it is far from terrible. In the end, this is a hard flick to categorize, as it boasts multiple murders, but does not fit into the different horror sub-genres. To me, this was an entertaining and comic trip down a bloody path, and one I enjoyed. Not for everyone, but if you like blood, guts, murder and mayhem, give it a shoot. If not, stay away.

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.