Category Archives: Horror

2006 Films, Amber Heard, Brooke Bloom, Horror, Jonathan Levine, Luke Grimes

All the Boys Love Mandy Lane-2006

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All the Boys Love Mandy Lane-2006

Director Jonathan Levine

Starring Amber Heard

Scott’s Review #38

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Reviewed June 18, 2014

Grade: B-

All the Boys Love Mandy Lane is an interesting, experimental type horror meets art film from 2006.

On the surface, it appears to be a by-the-numbers slasher throwback involving a group of teens spending a boozy weekend on a Texas farm, of course, in the middle of nowhere.

They are systematically offed one by one. This sounds standard, but there are some moody, artistic, beautiful scenes mixed in, hence the horror/art-house label.

There is a certain “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” charm to it as well.

The story, however, makes little sense and the protagonist’s motivations are confusing and never explained, so while adventurous in parts, the film ultimately fails based on the story’s inconsistencies.

The characters are also rather unlikable, perhaps intentionally so, as these are the characters the audience enjoys seeing hacked to bits.

2013 Films, Horror, Jemma Dallender, Lowest Rated Films, Steven R. Monroe

I Spit on Your Grave 2-2013

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I Spit on Your Grave 2-2013

Director Steven R. Monroe

Starring Jemma Dallender

Scott’s Review #30

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Reviewed June 17, 2014

Grade: F

I have seen the original I Spit on Your Grave from 1978 and loved it. The 2010 remake was pretty good, but this “sequel”, which has nothing to do with either of the others, is awful.

As horrific as the original was to watch, it was raw, the perpetrator’s motivations were clear, and the subsequent revenge made sense.

In this one the attacker’s torture and abuse for the sake of it with no rhyme or reason and some thinly brushed over “hating Americans” excuse.

Furthermore, the “revenge” pales to what the victim endures so there is no winning moment.

Unsurprisingly, there are plot holes galore, for example, the attackers can transport the victim to another country with no passport, customs, etc.

Fail!

2013 Films, Damien Leone, Horror, Independent, Independent Horror, Katie Maguire

All Hallows’ Eve-2013

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All Hallows’ Eve-2013

Director Damien Leone

Starring Katie Maguire

Scott’s Review #19

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Reviewed March 25, 2014

Grade: B+

All Hallows’ Eve is an above-average, low-budget, independent horror film from 2013 reminiscent of the wonderful Showtime series Masters of Horror (2005-2007).

The film has the main story, then divided into three tales, and finally, all mesh together, which is very effective.

A babysitter and her two charges find an old VHS tape and, of course, watch it. Three short films are on the tape.

The antagonist is a horrific supernatural clown that reminds me of Pennywise from “It”. The motivations of the clown are not explained, nor is that necessary.

One of the three stories feels out of place, but the other two are excellent.

Anyone looking for some late-night fright should watch this creepy little film called All Hallows’ Eve (2013).

1988 Films, Amanda Donohoe, Christopher Gable, Comedy, Gina McKee, Horror, Horror-Camp, Horror-Comedy, Hugh Grant, Ken Russell

The Lair of the White Worm-1988

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The Lair of the White Worm-1988

Director Ken Russell

Starring Amanda Donohoe, Hugh Grant

Scott’s Review #15

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Reviewed June 17, 2014

Grade: C+

The Lair of the White Worm (1988) is a very strange film.

Set in Scotland, it tells the tale of a giant snake skeleton found in the ground that leads to a series of strange events.

A wealthy Lady, brilliantly played by Amanda Donohue, begins a sinister plot to sacrifice the townspeople.

The film is campy and way over the top, though Donohue is delicious and seems to have fun with the role of a slithering, sexy, bisexual creature.

The gloomy ambiance is fantastic, mixed in with many psychedelic sequences that entertain.

It’s a somewhat fun, late-night B-movie, to be sure, but the plot did not seem to make much sense to me, especially in the final act.

Lair of the White Worm (1988) is a trippy experience to say the very least. I may need to see it again.

1972 Films, Amy Farrell, Frank Kress, Gore, H.G. Lewis, Hedda Lubin, Henny Youngman, Horror, Horror-Camp, Independent, Independent Horror

The Gore, Gore Girls-1972

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The Gore, Gore Girls-1972

Director H.G. Lewis

Starring Frank Kress, Amy Farrell

Scott’s Review #12

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Reviewed May 14, 2014

Grade: B+

The Gore Gore Girls (1972) is a fun, late-night, campy horror film by the “Godfather of Gore”, H.G. Lewis.

An unknown assailant is hacking strippers to bits using very unusual methods. An investigator is hired to find out whodunit.

It’s an entertaining experience, and I love the way the whodunit is mixed with horror. I enjoyed the reveal of the killer.

Influenced by John Waters (even the music seems identical!), it’s a hearty viewing of wildness, merriment, and debauchery.

Comedian Henny Youngman appears, though he later denied being in the film.

The strippers are over-the-top and unique, and the investigator (sort of a Sherlock Holmes type) is wonderful to watch.

Quite a low budget, with the audio tough to hear at times and the video fuzzy, but this only enhances the fun.

Continuity errors for miles, but it hardly matters.

1970 Films, British, British Horror, Freddie Francis, Horror, Horror-Camp, Independent, Independent Horror, Michael Bryant, Pat Heywood, Robert Swann, Slasher, Ursula Howells, Vanessa Howard

Girly-1970

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Girly-1970

Director Freddie Francis

Starring Vanessa Howard, Michael Bryant

Scott’s Review #11

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Reviewed June 14, 2014

Grade: B-

Girly (1970) is an unusual British horror film about an affluent, clearly deranged family who kidnaps victims and forces them to become “members” of the family by participating in game-playing escapades for their delight.

The premise of the film is appealing and intriguing, and it’s unclear how it will play out. The family members (Mumsy, Nanny, Girly, and Sonny) are played with gusto by the cast but are never over the top.

My favorite is “Mumsy”, wickedly played by British actress Ursula Howells.

The film itself has a fairy-tale quality, with the sets of the house they share. The primary victim (a male gigolo) is a miscast (too old, not sexy enough). It begins a cat-and-mouse game of trickery, plotting the family against one another until the inevitable bodies pile up.

The film loses steam midway through, and its ending is unsatisfying.

Why are the victims not able to escape the vast property, which is weak (a 7-foot-tall flimsy fence??)?

“Curious” film that becomes a tad boring towards the conclusion.

1967 Films, Elizabeth Davis, Gore, Gretchen Wells, H.G. Lewis, Horror, Horror-Camp, Horror-Comedy

The Gruesome Twosome-1967

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The Gruesome Twosome-1967

Director H.G. Lewis

Starring Elizabeth Davis, Gretchen Wells

Scott’s Review #8

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Reviewed June 17, 2014

Grade: B+

The Gruesome Twosome (1967) is an offbeat treat, an extraordinary, super-low-budget horror film from influential director H.G. Lewis.

This film is an enjoyable, campy, midnight-movie type of experience. The acting is completely over-the-top and played for laughs, purposely.

It felt like watching a horror version of a John Waters film, and the atmosphere and acting style undoubtedly influenced Waters.

Shots were added to fill the running time to warrant a film release. KFC and Michelob products are featured, and one favorite scene is a sorority-type slumber party where the girls dance while eating KFC.

The seven-minute intro of the talking foam heads is wonderfully strange and not to be missed.

While campy, there is one intensely gruesome scene towards the beginning of The Gruesome Twosome (1967), and it is a must-see for cult horror and/or late-night film fans.