Summer of Fear (1978)

I decided to take a break from cryptids today and did into another interesting topic, Witchcraft.  After did quick searching,  I decided on the made for Television Wes Craven entry Summer of Fear. (AKA Stranger in Our House)

Plot: A teenage girl's life is turned upside down after her cousin moves into her house, and as time goes by she begins to suspect that she may be a practitioner of witchcraft.

For this looking for a precursor to Freddy and a Nightmare on Elm Street, this one will likely disappoint. Origins this third horror entry for Wes Craven was a made for television movie,  thus,  it lacks the impact of typical theatrical releases. However,  the cast and performances are actually pretty good.  Yes,  the setting, costuming, and some of the technical aspects feel and appear dated, but for a movie from the late 70s, most of it holds up quite well.  The storyline is interesting (although a bit predictable) and it did keep me interested to see how it was going to end (did they make a sequel?). In the end,  this wasn't a bad time at all.  Yes,  it won't be for everyone,  but if you are looking for a subtle witchcraft bar film give it a shot.  

The Girl in the Photographs (2016)

Sometimes when I walk through Family Video I am drawn to something that it seems I had bypassed multiple times. That was the case last night when I stumbled upon the 2016 slasher The Girl in the Photographs.

Plot/ A bored young woman in a sleepy community called Spearfish starts receiving photographs of brutally murdered young women. Are they real or staged? The culprit is either a serial killer or some creep with a sick sense of humor.

It’s hard to believe that Wes Craven has passed on and this is the last movie he was involved with as Executive Producer. While it is nowhere near the quality of his classics, it does have an intriguing premise and it was actually a lot better than I initially expected with some solid cinematography and a few parts of the storyline that I really enjoyed (especially the end). Yes, some of the performances are uneven; some of he comedic moments fall flat, and it has too many clichéd elements that make it just blend in with all of the other films of the genre. In the end, this movie is just an average entry in the slasher genre and is by no means memorable. Yes, I did love the ending (and final sequences), but there was a lot of potential that was not met.

Deadly Blessing (1981)

After spending much of the weekend locked into a Star Wars marathon (yes, even the miserable prequels), I decided to find something that more resembles my typical viewing for my evening entertainment. After some searching on Netflix and Shudder, I decided on the 1981 psychological thriller, Deadly Blessing as my next review.

Plot/ After her husband dies of mysterious circumstances, a widow becomes increasingly paranoid of the neighboring religious community that may have diabolical plans for her.

Let’s be honest, there is nothing like the early thrillers crafted by Wes Craven, and this one may be one of his most underrated films. Set in the in rural America outside of Amish Country, this is a trip into darkness that helps build an unnerving atmosphere throughout. Most of all, it encompasses almost every horror genre imaginable. The performances from the renowned cast are solid, the soundtrack, and setting work perfectly together, and the storyline/scripting is strong. Yes, it may lack blood, guts, and gore, and it does feature a polarizing ending that people either love or hate, but those elements in no way bring the movie down. In the end, if you love classic atmospheric horror this one is definitely for you. Give it a shot!

Mind Ripper (1995)

After diving into the Matrix, and spending, a good bit of time in Sci-Fi land, I decided to try to find something more horror related inside the genre last night. After some searching, I did just that with the 1995 low budget entry Mind Ripper (AKA The Outpost).

Plot/ A top secret experiment intended to produce a superhuman has gone terribly wrong. Now the creators, trapped in a remote desert outpost, are being pursued ruthlessly by their creation. With the door sealed from within, there is no way out.

This is one that I did not catch when it originally came out, and I am surprised I missed it, as it was a decent schlockfest. From executive producer Wes Craven, this one had a lot more action than I expected, the storyline (albeit clichéd) was interesting, and there was a darker atmosphere woven into the pacing.  Yes, the lower budget is apparent, the performances are uneven, and there is really nothing new crafted inside the cliché moments, but it is still a fun way to spend a few minutes passing time with a low budget creature feature (especially if it is free). In the end, if you love low budget cheese, this one has some entertaining moments, and is probably better than it should be. Sure, there is a dated feel, but one can do a lot worse.

Freddy vs. Jason (2003)

I often go through months without looking at a calendar. However, when a month has a Friday the 13th in it, it is hard not to count down. I love that day, one because I am somewhat superstitious, but because there is always a push made to watch some of the greatest slasher flicks of all time, the Friday the 13th franchise and Jason Voorhees. Those movies were my favorite growing up and continue to be a source of enjoyment. My movie selection to kick off the week is Freddy vs. Jason from 2003.

Plot/ Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees return to terrorize the teenage population. Except this time, they are out to get each other, too.

  

OK, let me start by saying, I remember watching this at the drive-in when this came out, what a blast that was. Movies like this, with their lore entrenched in horror history should be seen in exactly that manner. While there are some flaws, this one is a treat. The were so many moments that took you back into the heyday of each franchise, making it an entertaining slasher that paid homage to some incredible works. This movie did have a strange context, and some head scratching moments in the storyline.  Sure, the acting is hit and miss, but, the visuals are awesome and the open ended ending was perfect for this one. Honestly, it was just an entertaining tribute and mindless battle between two icons of horror cinema. If you have not seen it, check it out!

My Soul To Take (2010)

While searching the television for something to watch, I stumbled on My Soul To Take (2010) on one of my cable channels. With my choices slim, I decided to break down and watch it, even though, the previews I remembered did nothing to excite me.

Plot/ A serial killer returns to his hometown to stalk seven children who share the same birthday as the date he was allegedly put to rest.

In some ways, I was very surprised that this flick was all done by Wes Craven. Yes, the idea and back-story provided within the first 10 minutes was awesome, but things toiled out of control after that and it definitely failed on many levels. The acting was so-so, the characterization just OK, and the combination of dialogue and predictability were laughable (including the ending I saw a mile away). Yes, some of the cinematography featured cool scenery, some of the costuming and effects were good, and some of the bloodshed awesome, but those few elements can do nothing to save the viewer from this overall mess of a movie. For me, unless you are a diehard Craven fan, STAY AWAY!

The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)

Now that I have watched 3 of the 4 Movie Marathon: Cult Horror Collection, I decided to finish the set with Wes Craven’s The Serpent and the Rainbow from 1988.

Plot/ An anthropologist goes to Haiti after hearing rumors about a drug used by black magic practitioners to turn people in zombies.

This is definitely one of Craven’s best works. While more of a psychological thriller than horror flick, this takes the viewer through a maze of darkness that is truly entertaining while paying respects to a genre long gone by, zombies and Voodoo. Yes, the pacing is a bit off, almost slow, it is interesting and has a high production value. The acting is solid and the effects are pretty good, but it is clearly the supernatural occult driven detail of Voodoo that makes it one of the best of the era. A must see!