Mini-review: Twins Of Evil (1971)

Twins Of Evil
Directed by John Hough

A beautiful-looking gothic vampire film from Hammer, and one of my personal favorites of their selection. Very dark and menacing, this movie is one of the most daring efforts from the horror studio, and an odd showcase for the two lead performances by Playboy centerfold twins Mary and Madeleine Collins -- who actually give a surprisingly strong pair of performances. Filled with multi-dimensional characters, awesome costume and set designs, great suspense and build-up, and yet another fantastic performance by Peter Cushing (notice a trend yet?). Incredibly underrated, and one of the best vampire movies out there.

Mini-review: The Curse Of Frankenstein (1957)

The Curse Of Frankenstein
Directed by Terence Fisher

The movie that kickstarted Hammer Films as a horror powerhouse, and from what I've seen, my favorite of the bunch. Peter Cushing gives his best performance as a very evil, menacing Dr. Frankenstein, and while the movie isn't faithful to the novel, it doesn't follow the story of the 1931 James Whale adaptation either. It's its own creation, and though the monster isn't nearly as fleshed out and interesting as others, as for a depiction of the mad scientist himself, this easily my favorite. Cold, creative, and even sometimes creepy, this is one of the best Frankenstein movies I've seen, and a great re-imagining of the source material.

Mini-review: Thankskilling (2009)

Thankskilling
Directed by Jordan Downey

Outrageous, ridiculous, bizarre, trashy, and totally awesome, this "horror" comedy about a killer turkey makes for one of the most entertaining purposely bad movies I've ever seen. Filled with hilarious one-liners, ridiculous moments, and just about anything else you could ask for from a low-budget trashy B-movie. Yet another movie I wouldn't recommend to just anyone -- meaning almost anyone at all, because this is a really tasteless movie with almost no production value or quality of any kind at all. I just really dig it.

Mini-review: Demons (1985)

Demons
Directed by Lamberto Bava

An exceedingly entertaining piece of Italian horror, this Argento-produced bit of schlock is funny, gory, and just about everything you could ask for from a cheesy '80s horror movie. I was fortunate enough to experience this movie for the first time in a crowded room full of horror enthusiasts, and the experience alone was enough to make me enjoy it. Corny, gory, ridiculous, a great movie to watch with a bunch of people, and one of the most entertaining and intriguing Italian horror films I've ever seen.

Mini-review: Cheap Thrills (2014)

Cheap Thrills
Directed by E.L. Katz

Black comedy, drama, horror, thriller; whatever you choose to call it, this movie is an excellent addition to the genre. With great performances from all 4 leads, director Katz gets all he could ask for from his dedicated actors, who go all out in every way to drive the point home. Chock full of laughs, cringes, and many other awkward and dirty feelings, this is a movie that totally lives up to its title and exceeded all my expectations. An awesome experience for some, but definitely not recommended to the overly-sensitive or anyone with an overactive gag reflex.

Mini-review: The Innkeepers (2011)

The Innkeepers
Directed by Ti West

It took until my second viewing to appreciate just how good this movie is, but now I can't stop thinking about it. Featuring two of the most likable leading characters ever in a horror movie and a tension and atmosphere that builds and builds until its conclusion. Even with a less-than-stellar ending filled with far too many "don't go in there!" moments, I still loved every minute of it. Slow, but fun to watch -- and creepy as hell to watch alone.

Mini-review: Dead Of Night (1945)

Dead Of Night
Directed by Cavalcanti, Charles Crichton, Basil Dearden & Robert Hamer

One of the earliest horror anthologies, and from what I've seen, probably the best. Though some of the segments are more than a little silly (meaning one of them is...I just didn't want to single it out), the movie as a whole is solid, and often actually quite unsettling. Everything ties in together here in a way that most anthologies fail to do, making it one of the better executed examples of the method that I've seen. A very creepy, atmospheric predecessor to The Twilight Zone, and more than adequate Halloween viewing.

Mini-review: Dead Snow (2009)

Dead Snow
Directed by Tommy Wirkola

One of the better zombie movies to come from the wave of undead we were all subjected to about 5 years ago, and one of the more unique in concept. No, nazi zombies isn't a new idea, this is one of the more entertaining examples of it. Few other zombie movies have the look and feel to it this movie has, with large portions of it taking place during daylight hours in a snowy landscape. Gory, funny, exciting, and takes a few surprising turns along the way.

Mini-review: The Last House On The Left (1972)

The Last House On The Left
Directed by Wes Craven

At times excruciating to watch, but completely worth struggling through if you have the stomach for it. Brutal, disturbing, and well-acted (David Hess is a particular standout), Wes Craven started off his directorial career with a bang. Though the tone is a bit uneven, the characterization is lacking, and the soundtrack leaves little to be impressed by, there are few other complaints I can make towards this low budget horror classic. Just don't watch it until you're ready for something that's really messed up.

Mini-review: Horror Of Dracula (1958)

Horror Of Dracula
Directed by Terence Fisher

One of the earliest and (from what I've seen) one of the best of the Hammer horror films, this odd take on the Dracula story is filled to the brim with lively performances, beautiful scenery and practically dripping in atmosphere (get it? "Dripping"? Like blood? Because vampires?). Though not as elegant as the 1931 version, this movie takes the story and puts a few twists on it that help keep it from being a simple knock-off, while still being an interesting adaptation of the source material.