THE CRATER LAKE MONSTER: DIVING INTO THE DEPTHS OF PREHISTORIC PANIC
A Beast Awakens from the Depths: ‘The Crater Lake Monster’ In the tranquil setting of a small town, something lurks beneath the serene surface of Crater Lake, waiting to unleash terror. Directed by William R. Stromberg, “The Crater Lake Monster,” a 1977 release, may not be a jewel in the crown of horror cinema, but…
RE-ANIMATOR: BREWING THE PERFECT CONCOCTION OF CAMP AND COSMIC HORROR
“Who’s going to believe a talking head? Get a job in a sideshow.” With this unforgettable line, “Re-Animator” cements its place in the pantheon of cult horror classics. Directed by Stuart Gordon and released in 1985, “Re-Animator” is a film adaptation of the H.P. Lovecraft serial novelette “Herbert West–Reanimator.” The story follows medical student Herbert…
CRITTERS: CHOMPING THROUGH THE COMFORTS OF SMALL TOWN TERROR
‘They have weapons. So do we.’ – An Ironic Battle for Earth In the often grotesque and fear-driven landscape of 1980s horror, “Critters,” directed by Stephen Herek and released in 1986, offers a deceptively whimsical turn to the genre. Serving up a blend of comedy and horror, this film diverges from convention with its tale…
ROLLERBALL: CAREENING THROUGH A CORPORATE DYSTOPIA OF SAVAGE SPECTACLE
A Bloody Sport in a Dystopian World: ‘Rollerball’ Unleashed In a fiercely competitive and ruthless future, Norman Jewison’s 1975 film, ‘Rollerball’, offers audiences a brutal spectacle—combining the visceral thrills of sports with the chilling prospects of a corporate-controlled dystopia. It visualizes a world where the ultra-violent sport of Rollerball reigns, monopolies dictate social order, and…
THE LITTLE GIRL WHO LIVES DOWN THE LANE: THE SINISTER SECRETS OF SOLOMONIC SOLITUDE
A Chilling Solitude: “The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane” “I think being alone is very important,” whispers young Rynn Jacobs in the quiet, seaside town setting of “The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane.” Directed by Nicolas Gessner and released in 1976, this film weaves an intricate tapestry of suspense and horror…
PIRANHA 1978: BITING INTO THE WATERY ABYSS OF NATURE GONE WILD
A School of Terror: “They’re eating the guests, sir!” The murky waters of 1978 swirled to reveal a fin-infested horror-comedy that continues to cause waves among genre enthusiasts. Directed by Joe Dante, “Piranha” unleashes a terrifying swarm from the depths of cinematic imagination. Without giving too much away, the film follows a simple yet compelling…
GARDEN OF THE DEAD: CULTIVATING TERROR IN THE SOIL OF THE UNDEAD
Rising from the Earth: An Unearthed Terror “In the soil of our sorrow, horrors are seeded.” This chilling line from the oft-forgotten 1972 B-movie ‘Garden of the Dead’ serves as a fitting encapsulation of the film’s central conceit: the terror that lurks just beneath our feet. Directed by John Hayes, ‘Garden of the Dead’ is…
DAWN OF THE MUMMY: SHROUDED HORRORS RISE IN EGYPTIAN EERINESS
Unearthed Terror from the Sands of Time In the grand pantheon of horror vehicles, “Dawn of the Mummy” emerges from the catacombs to deliver its take on the fear of the ancient undead. Director Frank Agrama’s 1981 foray into the territory of Egyptian cursing places a bet on a tale as old as the pyramids…
MORTUARY: DISSECTING THE HORRORS OF DEATH’S FINAL DOORWAY
“Death is just the beginning…” – The Chilling Echoes of Mortuary (1983) With a haunting line like “Death is just the beginning…”, 1983’s horror offering, Mortuary, invites its viewers into a world of the macabre directed by Howard Avedis. The intrigue begins as we follow Christie Parson, a young woman grieving over her father’s mysterious…
DRACULA 1931: ASCENT OF THE VAMPIRIC LEGEND IN CINEMA’S EERIE DAWN
Whispers in the Shadows: The Unending Chill of Dracula “Listen to them. Children of the night. What music they make.” This haunting line, spoken by Count Dracula himself, encapsulates the eerie allure of the 1931 gothic classic, “Dracula.” Directed by the legendary Tod Browning, this film introduced audiences to the quintessential vampire, memorably portrayed by…