The Midnight Horror Collection - Bloody Slashers

After viewing all four movies on this set, I am relieved that it was better than the Backwoods Butchers Collection and definitely worth the $5.00 I spent on it at WalMart. Thinking back, I believe that every one of the flicks on this set at least had a couple moments of clarity and again, I did like the fact that most of the movies featured a similar theme to group the films together. The best films on the Bloody Slashers Collection are:

 

Curtains

Hoboken Hollow

Secrets of the Clown

Hoboken Hollow (2006)

What to watch? Great question, isn’t it? After spending quite a few moments watching entries from the Pure Terror Collection, I decided it was finally time to finish Bloody Slashers from the Midnight Horror Collection. The last flick on my agenda is the (supposed) inspired true story of Hoboken Hollow from 2006.  

Plot/ As Trevor drifts through Texas on collision course with a nightmare he is still haunted by the evils of the war he recently returned from and a promise he failed to keep. When a stranger offers a ride, Trevor finds himself battling the brutal homegrown evil of the Broderick family at Hoboken Hollow, a remote West Texas ranch that many visit but few ever leave.

While this started off as bit of a mess, there is actually something inside this rather cliché flick that is not that bad. Sure, it is not very scary, but what it lacks in chills it makes up in violence and gore. The characterization and storyline (supposedly based on a true story) are solid (especially for a low budget entry) and for once there are actually some rather disturbing imagery (the eyeball on the windshield is classic). Yes, it is not perfect, but for something out of a 5 dollar bargain collection, it is well worth watching.

Room 33 (2009)

After watching the Steelers sneak out a win, I decided to jump back into the Midnight Horror Collection as I prepare for the Walking Dead to come back on. My selection fom the Bloody Slashers Edition is the 2009 entry Room 33.

Plot/ A group of friends on a road trip seek shelter at a mental institution in the woods, only to discover that the building is the home of a mysterious young girl named Roxy whose unsettling presence serves as a foreshadow of doom. Later, as the group attempt to unravel the mystery of Roxy, who seems to have endured years of abuse, a mysterious killer begins to hunt them from the darkness.

There is really nothing special here with the flick from the collection. It is just your run of the mill horror / mystery / thriller with a bunch of half dressed roller derby girls investigating a strange asylum. The acting, for the most part was average, with no true standout performances. In a way, it was a lot like the film as a whole, very even keeled. The downfall was the overall lack of atmosphere, tension, and gore. There were plenty of chances for the flick to add to the solid foundation, but it never materialized in any way. It was almost if the writer/director was torn at what type of movie was being made. In the end, there is absolutely nothing that makes this movie standout or be memorable, it is just extremely average. It is far from terrible, but it is not worth searching for when looking for something to watch either.

Secrets of the Clown (2007)

After a long day of yard work, I decided to sit back and enjoy something that should have a home in the Scarlet Circus. Today’s entry came from the Midnight Horror Collection: Bloody Slashers, it is 2007s demonic clown slasher, Secrets of the Clown. Remember only 24 days until Halloween.

Plot/ After the brutal murder of his best friend Jim, Bobbie is haunted by a presence. His girlfriend Val is distant and appears to have secrets of her own. Then the nightmares begin. Through the nightmares Bobbie uncovers clues regarding the murderer's identity. With the killer still on the loose, bodies piling up, and time running out, Bobbie hires a psychic to contact his deceased friend Jim. But some secrets were never meant to be revealed. The dreams will guide him, the secrets will blind him, the murders haunt him. Only together will they unlock the Secrets of the Clown.

Ahhh, low budget independent horror is one of my favorite endeavors, although, I will admit that I am often torn when reviewing it. These flicks sit at the heart of the genre and need to be seen. Like many, this movie is far from perfect suffering from some poor lighting, uneven acting, some unrefined dialogue and too many off screen deaths. However, there are a lot of positives. The cinematography, sound and story all work (complete with some decent plot twists). This is not to mention the fact that the flick is soaked in blood, buckets and buckets of blood! This film is not for everyone and it is far from being perfect. However, it is an entertaining combination of the demonic clown and slasher genres, and if you are a fan of low budget independent horror like I am, you should check it out!

Curtains (1983)

Being home in Pennsylvania, I decided to grab a couple more low-budget movie collections to help pass time as I continue to build the man cave. Today’s entry came from the Midnight Horror Collection: Bloody Slashers, it is the 1983 often overlooked slasher Curtains.

Plot/ Six young actresses auditioning for a movie role at a remote mansion are targeted by a mysterious masked murderer.

Let me start by saying that this is one entertaining slasher film and one that often goes unnoticed in the grand scheme of the slasher genre. The acting is solid, the story enjoyable and there are some unpredictable moments that truly pull you in. Sure, it has all of the typical elements, like the nudity and a masked killer (which is creepy), but it seems to come together a lot better than some others from the era. Yes, there are definitely some noticeable production and editing flaws, but to me, those were easily overlooked. In the end, this film deserves to be remembered and adds a tremendous amount of value to a low-budget collection like this one.