Highway to Hell

Director - Bret McCormick (The Abomination, Repligator)

Starring - Benton Jennings (American Horror Story, Dexter), Richard Harrison (Terminal Force, Empire of the Dark), and Blue Thompson (Blood on the Badge, Ozone: The Attack of the Redneck Mutants)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Action/Horror

Tagline - "A one way ticket to terror!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Visual Vengeance has been pivotal in releasing some seriously underrated or long forgotten S.O.V. horror to blu.  One of my favorite releases over the last several years is VV's release of Bret McCormick's The Abomination.  They later released anothr McCormick film Repligator on blu.  I really enjoyed both films and was surprised by just how different these two were.  They showed how versatile McCormick was as a filmmaker.  Recently, VV released another McCormick film that I had never seen before.  The film, Highway to Hell, is an action horror flick that I've wanted to see for several years now but never had the opportunity to check out.  I want to thank Visual Vengeance and MVD for sending this one along for review.

     The film follows a serial killer who has escaped prison and flees into the desert.  He continues his murderous ways while he is hunted by a cop who is seeking revenge for what this sicko did to his daughter (or sister?).  Caught in the middle of the cat an mouse game is a young woman taken hostage by the escaped serial killer.

     I went into Highway to Hell very excited to finally see the film.  This is one I had heard about for years but never had the opportunity to check it out.  While it does share a name with a film from 1991, these two films are very different.  With that being said, the movie just wasn't as fun as I had hoped for.  You can't compare this one to the previous films from McCormick that I had mentioned.  Repligator is a sci-fi horror mash up that completely embraces the campy side of the genres while The Abomination is one of the greatest no budget splatter films that I've seen.  Highway to Hell had an interest premise but it had trouble trying to find it's own identity.  The acting in this one is very stiff and corny.  The cast really hams up the screen but I wouldn't call it bad acting.  We just don't see a lot of conviction with the dialogue delivery and absolutely no emotional range unless you consider screaming to be an emotion.  The story for this one feels like it wanted to be an action flick centered around a serial killer but budget and other constraints prevented it from being what the director had envisioned.  The movie itself has a lot of identity issues.  One scene flows like a horror flick while another scene is set up like a drama with a cat and mouse story.  We don't have a lot of cohesion which makes me really curious as to what the original idea for the film actually was.  Finally, don't expect to see a lot of blood and gore.  This film is character driven with a lot of focus on the relationship between the two leads.  Overall, Highway to Hell is a confused film that had a story that I could have really got behind if they just stuck with it.  An action thriller about an escaped serial killer with a hardened cop hunting him could have been a film you would never forget.  I seriously wanted to like it but it just wasn't for me.  This is still an awesome release from Visual Vengeance especially if you are a collector but the movie this movie isn't going to be for everyone.  

Night of the Living Dead

Director - Tom Savini (Tales from the Darkside, Creepshow)

Starring - Tony Todd (Candyman, The Man from Earth), Patricia Tallman (Dead Air, Army of Darkness), and Tom Towles (House of 1000 Corpses, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "There is a fate worse than death"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Most horror fans that I've met over the years can tell you what triggered their obsession with the genre.  Mine was a product of the time I was raised.  I was born in the mid 80s and raised in the 90s so Goosebumps was my first love.  I was constantly harassing my dad to get me the books when they would hit store shelves.  However, it was watching Tom Savini's remake of Night of the Living Dead sometime during the early 90s that got me hooked on horror movies.  I watched it for the first time with my grandmother while my dad was out of town.  I loved it and asked if we could watch it again and she said no.  Instead, she showed me the original George A. Romero classic and my fate was sealed.  A few weeks ago I was sent the Savini remake on UHD for review which included the director's cut.  I had never seen this version of the film and had to see it.  I want to thank Columbia Pictures for sending this one over!

     The film follows a young woman, Barbara (Tallman), who finds herself fleeing through a cemetery when the dead come back to life.  Seeking refuge in a nearby farmhouse, she finds another group looking for safety.  However, tension comes to a boil when they struggle to agree on what they should do next resulting in altercations eventually resulting in the death of many of them at the hands of each other and the living dead.

     George Romero's Night of the Living Dead is one of the most important films in horror history and a pivotal zombie film that would forever change the sub-genre.  The film spawned several sequels, remakes, and unofficial sequels over the decades since it's original release but it's damn near impossible for me to watch the film without immediately watching Savini's remake or vice versa.  I love both of these films equally and the fact I was sent this film on UHD with the director's cut included is surreal.  I never expected this when I start writing reviews and sitting here banging on my keyboard for this movie is an amazing feeling.  The acting in this one is top notch.  There is no weak links.  We have some of the best zombie actors I've ever seen in a film.  I recently binged the entire Walking Dead universe and while there is some stellar performances among the dead in the show, none hold a candle to the cast playing zombies in this one.  The main cast is amazing as well.  They bring the same intensity as the original while keeping most of the original character's personalities intact.  This is a fantastic cast and their performances are one of the many reasons this film is essential viewing for genre fans.  The story for this one is damn near a shot for shot remake of the original with some minor changes but nothing that I would consider important.  We have most of the essential characters returning with the same personalities, the same locations, social issues, and struggles with the undead the original faced.  The minor changes are fun ones that many will not notice but people that have seen this one dozens of times will see them.  Finally, this one has some great make-up effects along with some unforgettable practical effects.  The make-up effects look great.  The zombies have a unique look with more focus on looking dead over rotting.  The deaths are great as well.  While the people don't really die on screen, the zombie deaths use great gags and look fantastic.  Overall, Night of the Living Dead is a must see for genre fans.  While the original is going to always be my favorite, this film is a strong 2nd.  The director's cut does add some to the film but the movie is damn near perfect as is.  Please check it out.  

Revenge of the Radioactive Reporter

Director - Craig Pryce (Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Goosebumps)

Starring - David Scammell (E.N.G., Street Legal), Kathryn Boese, and Derrick Strange

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Great reporters aren't made... they're mutated"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years back, close to ten years ago now, I snagged a few bootleg flicks at a con for dirt cheap. Before you shit all over me, these films were not available on disc at the time and I always make sure I buy a copy of the film when an official release is eventually made.  I only buy these boots when I really want to see the movie and it's my only option to check it out.  Coincidentally, this was the last boot I had bought because so many amazing films were finally finding releases on disc.  A few months back Terror Vision announced the UHD release of the 1990 comedy horror flick Revenge of the Radioactive Reporter which just happened to be one of the boots I bought.  It's a super fun flick that feels like a parody of direct to video sci-fi action flicks of the time.  I quickly snagged this release that came with a press pass, t-shirt, and so on.  This pre-order was a few months in the making but well worth it.  As soon as I could I tossed it in and hit play.  

     The film follows a reporter who is investigating a radiation leak at the local power plant.  The director of the board tells him there is no such leak and takes him for a personal tour of the plant.  However, things do go well for the reporter when the director of the plant throws him into a pool of radioactive material.  The company behind the power plant plays it off as an accident where he died but they were never able to retrieve his body.  That's because he never died.  The chemicals left him disfigured while giving him a touch that burns along with acid spit.  The company behind his hideous transformation set their sights on his girlfriend to tie up loose ends unknowing that he is very much alive.  Using his new found powers, he begins killing the board and their director one by one.

     Revenge of the Radioactive Reporter is a film that most would skip over.  However, fans of Troma and no budget direct to video flicks of the late 80s will truly appreciate this one.  It's far from perfect but it's a lot of fun.  The acting in this one feels reminiscent of the S.O.V. flicks of the early 90s.  Honestly, I really enjoyed the cast and the characters they portrayed.  The characters fit the story very well and the cast brings a lot of energy.  They do show inexperience but it's still enjoyable performance for the most part.  The story for this one reminds me a lot of the classic Troma flick The Toxic Avenger with normal person falling into toxic waste and gaining radioactive powers.  The film continues the radioactive theme with the acid spit and burning touch.  The film does differ in who the person was before being exposed to it and goes with a more traditional action style film.  It is a bit of a missed opportunity not going full Darkman with the story but it's still fun as is.  Finally, the film has a lot of fun effects.  The make-up effects look fantastic.  It's hard to do a character with severe burns in a post-Nightmare on Elm St. world but this one works.  We also get several other fantastic make-up effects gags.  While the deaths are not as gory as I would have liked, I still enjoyed them and how they focused on the theme of the film.  Overall, Revenge of the Radioactive Reporter is one of the many films that I review where the general public will immediately hate it while those that love low budget cinema and unusual flicks will really enjoy this one.  I highly recommend checking out this one from Terror Vision while you still can!

     

Doctor Vampire

Director - Jamie Luk (Ghost in the House, Robotrix)

Starring - Bowie Lam (Hard Boiled, Supercop 2), Ellen Chan (Perfect Match, Exiled), and Sheila Chan (Ghost for Sale, Mortuary Blues)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     The main reason I bought the Golden Harvest Volume 1: Supernatural Shockers was for the 1990s horror comedy Doctor Vampire.  I was looking for this one on Amazon when I found it in a box set recently released by Shout Factory and decided this was perfect.  Not only would I get the film I was looking for but I would get five bonus films that I had never seen before.  I almost started with this film when I started reviewing the set but decided to go in order in which they appear in the box.  After Sex and Zen along with the three Erotic Ghost Story films it was finally time to watch the film I originally wanted to see!

     The film follows a doctor who is traveling abroad when he finds himself in the presence of a female vampire.  She bites him on his nether region and leaves him alone for the day.  He leaves to return home unknowing that he was slowly transforming into a vampire himself.  

     Doctor Vampire is one that has been on my radar for sometime after I received a press release for the UK release from Eureka Entertainment.  In fact, that was the release I was looking for when I ventured to Amazon.  I had no idea Shout had put out this set but I'm glad I found it.  I've enjoyed the hell out of it so far.  Doctor Vampire is no exception.  While it's not the film I was hoping it was, it was still a fun one regardless.  The acting in this one is probably my favorite of the set so far.  The characters are wildly enjoyable and the cast has a lot of energy that they bring to every scene.  While the story was a bit lacking, the performances we are given more than makes up for the story.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting.  I was under the impression it was a film following a doctor who was turned into a vampire but continues to try and practice medicine resulting in funny situations with random interactions with blood.  Instead, it's a doctor turned vampire that is hunted by another vampire because he has a rare blood type.  It's a funny story but I feel like it could have been a lot funnier especially if it took a more slapstick approach.  Finally, the film has some blood and that is about the extent of it.  The blood we get is rather minimal and not enough to really stand out.  Overall, Doctor Vampire is a solid horror comedy with a great cast and some laughs.  It's not a bloody flick, which is a bit disappointing for a vampire flick, but it still works.   Check it out.  

Erotic Ghost Story

Director - Ngai Choi Lam (The Ghost Snatchers, Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky)

Starring - Amy Yip (Stooges in Hong Kong, Robotrix), Hitomi Kudo (Rape &  Rape Special 1, Kyosei Waisetsu Shimai), and So  Man (Erotic Ghost Story II, Ghost Story of Kam Ping Mui)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I ordered the Golden Harvest Volume 1: Supernatural Shockers, I thought I was getting into some sleazy horror flicks.  So far, that has not been the case and I'm not disappointed at all.  In fact, I've really enjoyed myself up to this point.  Granted, this is just the second film in the set but it was way better than the first film and even though it was nothing like I expected, it was still a lot of fun.  While Sex and Zen was a extremely dull, Erotic Ghost Story was more entertaining.  While the nudity was a given, the humor more than made up for the lack of supernatural elements that I was looking for.

     The film follows three fox spirits that have meditated for centuries to shed their fur and walk as a human.  However, they are tricked into following their carnal desires resulting in the three of them following for the same man.  After taking turns with the man for several days, they start to revert back to their fox forms before realizing they were tricked into sleeping with him,

     Erotic Ghost Story is not what I was expecting.  Hell, the title is so misleading that I had to check the disc after watching it to ensure I didn't toss in the wrong movie.  With that being said, I truly enjoyed it and while the title doesn't really represent the film, it fits this set perfectly.  The acting in this one fits the film very well but the "performances" are not memorable for the acting.  The three sisters are gorgeous in their own way and are not afraid to bare it all for the camera.  While Yip has her famous cut away, the other two are not afraid of the camera.  We also get some unexpected fight scenes that are well choreographed.  The cast does a fine job with those as well but the main focus is the nudity which isn't overdone like so many films before and after it  The story for this one reminds me a lot of the Witches of Eastwick but in a much more sleazier fashion.  While I enjoyed and found myself laughing, it does run it's course fairly early.  The nudity does help carry it a bit further but the movie could easily be cut down drastically.  Also, the title is misleading.  The erotic part fits but the three sisters are not ghosts in the traditional sense and calling them that takes away from a huge chunk of the story.  Finally, the film isn't a bloody one.  We do get some fun zombie props and transitions early on in the film but that is about the extent of it.  The focus on this one is the erotic and not the ghost portion of the title.  Overall, Erotic Ghost Story is a fun watch especially if you are wanting some beautiful women and some laughs.  While it doesn't satiate those looking for some horror, it still delivers on the skin and comedy.  Check it out.  

The Last Island

Director - Marleen Gorris (Broken Mirrors, A Question of Silence)

Starring - Paul Freeman (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark), Shelagh McLeod (Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, Neon Rider), and Patricia Hayes (Willow, The NeverEnding Story)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Drama

Tagline - "The last place for a new future"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I just spent the last week or so watching some extremely violent and brutal fetish horror that left a bad taste in my mouth. These four or five films were full of real body mutilation and other disturbing acts that were not that entertaining to me. Once I finished with them, I needed something a little more down to Earth and not as violent. I took a look at my review list, and one quickly caught my eye. The film was Cult Epics release of the 1990 drama The Last Island. I had never seen this one before but my love for Lord of the Flies made me toss it in. Like always, I want to thank MVD and Cult Epics for sending this one over for review. 

      The film follows a group of survivors who find themselves stranded on an island when their plane crashes. The group consists of an elderly woman, an extremely religious military figure, a young punk, a scientist, two gay men, and a young woman. They expect to be rescued within a short time but when that fails to happen, they start to suspect that they may be the only people alive. This theory is further pushed when a makeshift boat arrives on the island with a corpse aboard. They start to think of ways to survive long term on the island and the topic of breeding is brought up causing a rift in the group. As tensions come to a boil, religion, science, and sexual orientation causes the small group to splinter. 

      The film is from acclaimed Dutch filmmaker Marleen Gorris who is known for her feminist centered films. So far, I've been lucky enough to review her films A Question of Silence and Broken Mirrors, but I look forward to seeing more of her work. While those two films were not ones that I particularly enjoyed I was able to see the historic significance of them in regard to movie history and the feminist movement. They both are must see films for movie fans especially when you consider the impact, they had on cinema going forward. When Cult Epics sent over to The Last Island for review, I was really looking forward to it. I know I didn't necessarily like the other two Gorris films, I was still curious to see how this film would feature that feminist element while retaining the lost on an island drama. The acting in this one is absolutely amazing. We have some fantastic actors like Paul Freeman from Hot Fuzz and the Fantastic Fear of Everything, Shelagh McLeod from The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, Ian Tracey from Bates Motel and Supernatural, Kenneth Colley from Star Wars Episode V and VI, and so many more. There is no weak spot in this cast, but McLeod and Colley made the film for me. They go all in with their characters and carry the film in my opinion. I couldn't imagine this film if anyone else had taken on those roles.

Darkman

Director - Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead, Drag Me to Hell)

Starring - Liam Neeson (Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace, Gangs of New York), Frances McDormand (The Twilight Zone, The Butcher's Wife), and Colin Friels (Seven Deadly Sins, Dark City)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Horror/Action

Tagline - "They destroyed everything he had, everything he was.  Now, crime has a new enemy, and justice has a new face"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

My middle school and high school years were defined by George A. Romero and Sam Raimi. I discovered Romero when I was a kid staying at my grandmother's house and I rediscovered Raimi in middle school when I bought the Evil Dead trilogy on DVD when I was starting my collection. I had realized that Evil Dead II was a film I had watched as a child when my mother was still around. I fucking loved Raimi's approach to film and had never seen a film of his that I didn't like. During my high school years, I was rabid for other films from both filmmakers, and it was here that I was introduced to the Darkman trilogy. I had picked up the DVD release of all three films at Walmart and binged them when I got home. While they do drop in quality as the trilogy progresses, I still found myself enjoying them greatly. Fast forward almost 20 years and here I am reviewing the new UHD release from Scream Factory. I want to thank them for sending this one over and allowing me the opportunity to reminisce for a minute. 

      The film follows a scientist working on a synthetic skin in his lab at his apartment when he is left to die by a gang of thugs looking for a document that his girlfriend had obtained. He survives the attack but due to the massive number of burns that his body has received, the doctors are forced to severe his nerve endings, so he is not in a constant state of pain. Using his synthetic skin and no pain tolerance, he sets out to seek revenge on those that tried to kill him. 

      Darkman is one of the better superhero films pre-Blade and one that I can watch over and over again without tiring of it. It's a cleverly written action film with a lot of memorable characters that I always made me want to immediately toss in the Dick Tracy live action film. Many may argue that this one is not horror, and they could easily win that argument, however, its horror influence is very evident from the make-up effects to the death scenes. The acting in this one is fucking amazing. We have Liam Neeson, the late Larry Drake and Danny Hicks, Frances McDormand, Ted Raimi, and a cameo from Bruce Campbell. Fans of the genre and cult cinema will truly appreciate this cast and how amazing they are in these fantastic characters. The supporting cast is just as great, creating what is one phenomenal well-rounded film. The story for this one has a great twist that you really don't see coming, some well-placed action scenes that holds the viewer's attention, and some developed characters. This is clearly not a film that was approved and rushed into production. The way the story is told combines action, crime, noir, and horror elements to create something that is still enjoyable all these years later. Finally, the film has iconic make-up effects along with some seriously impressive action scenes that really pulls the whole film together. We do have a little blood but don't expect a bloodbath or gore in tune to Saimi's previous films. Overall, Darkman is a must-see action/crime film that charades around as a superhero film. Raimi does not disappoint and neither does this UHD release. Check it out.

The Wrong Door

Director(s) - James Groetsch, Shawn Korby, and Bill Weiss

Starring - Matt Felmlee (The Strip, Lovers and Liars), Loreal Steiner, and Jeff Tatum (Drop Dead Gorgeous, The Hymens Parable)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Horror/Crime

Tagline - "Knock, knock Ted... It's the wrong door"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been having a lot of fun with my recent Visual Vengeance marathon. I was able to see a film I had wanted to for almost 20 years during this time along with some films that I instantly fell in love with. I had wanted to see The Abomination for YEARS and was finally able to on blu thanks to Visual Vengeance. I also checked out the awesome Repligator, Vampires and Other Stereotypes, and now The Wrong Door from 1990. This is another release from Visual Vengeance that I didn't know existed until I received the press release. I forgot to reach out for a review copy when it was released but I wanted to see it regardless. I ordered a copy and when it arrived I decided to start this marathon with The Wrong Door closing it out. 

      The film follows a college student who takes a last-minute gig to play a Jester for a birthday party instead of working on his project that is due. However, this quick gig for some extra cash takes a strange turn when he goes to the wrong door. A woman answers and mouths "help me" to him but he reluctantly ignores it when a patron from the party he was ordered for drags him to the correct room. After the party he goes back to check on her and finds her on the floor bleeding. He panics and flees the room but when he returns, he finds her body has disappeared and is greeted with two men looking for her. This is only the beginning of a wild night in store for him. 

      When I ordered this one for my collection, I knew absolutely nothing about it aside from VV was handling the release. The film's artwork made me think the film was about a killer jester or something like that. I was not expecting the dark crime film that was setting before me. I really enjoyed the film but it was not the horror film I was expecting. The acting in this one was actually very well done. I really liked the casting and the energy they brought to the film. While the film could have benefited from a little more development with the characters, the cast did a great job with what they were given. The story for this one can be a little difficult to follow but I liked the overall story and how it unfolded. A dude arriving at the wrong door to find a woman in distress only to find her murdered later is pretty compelling stuff. You toss in the suspected murderers looking for her body and tying up loose ends also creates a fun cat and mouse story. Where this movie starts to struggle is the random locations the dead/dying woman is randomly found at. If this had been a little more linear and used, then the film would have been a lot easier to follow. Finally, we get a little blood but that is the extent of it. This is not a bloody flick and those seeking a body count will truly be disappointed. Overall, The Wrong Door was surprisingly fun and one I was not expecting to like as much as I did. This is another great release from Visual Vengeance. Check it out.

The Hook of Woodland Heights

Director(s) - Michael Savino (Attack of the Killer Refrigerator) and Mark Veau

Starring - Robert W. Allen, Christine McNamara, and Michael Elyanow 

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I first learned about the horror comedy Attack of the Killer Refrigerator it was a vhs release that was making some rounds on different horror message boards I frequented. I can remember it becoming a popular topic on Upcoming Horror Movies where I remember talking with a few of my friends there who had seen it. They all mentioned how it was something up my alley and I often looked at the VHS artwork over and over without noticing the bonus film at the bottom of the artwork. The movie was released with a second film, the 40 minute short The Hook of Woodland Heights. It wasn’t until I ordered the blu release from Terror Vision that realized that it had a second film and when I was looking for artwork for my review that I saw the second title at the very bottom of the release. This bonus film is much longer than the title release and I couldn’t wait to check it out. 

      The film follows a serial killer missing his hand who escapes from an insane asylum and makes his way through the woods to a small community. Using a homemade pronged fork on his missing hand, he begins kills people as they cross his path. 

      The Hook of Woodland Heights reminds me a lot of the recent S.O.V. releases from Visual Vengeance. It’s cheap, amateur, but so much fucking fun. Hell, I think this film is much more enjoyable than Attack of the Killer Refrigerator but doesn’t have the appealing title. This backyard film pays tribute to the classic ghost story told around campfires for decades along with some classic slasher flair. I like it but it’s far from perfect. The acting in this one is not the worst I’ve seen but it also suffers from inexperience. The characters are very generic but the cast is clearly friends in real life and that chemistry shows in most scenes. They work well together and the awkwardness of inexperienced acting is not as noticeable as it could have been. The story for this one is a straight homage to the classic camp fire tale told for decades about the escaped mental patient with a hook for a hand. However, the film flows like a slasher which I really enjoy and at 40 minutes it doesn’t over stay it’s welcome. It has solid pacing but a little more time could have been spent on character development and the death scenes. Finally, the deaths are amusing and use classic camera tricks and movie magic. We get some blood but that is really the extent of the effects which is a bit of a let down. Overall, The Hook of Woodland Heights is a fun short S.O.V. horror flick that has no reason being as good as it is. I really enjoyed it and think it’s the better of the two films in the set. (I know here is another Christmas themed film in the set)

Attack of the Killer Refrigerator

Director - Michael Savino (The Hook of Woodland Heights)

Starring - Lori Regonini, Christina Murphy (Carlito's Way), and Lori Carson (The Dwelling)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Oh no!! I hate cold cuts!!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

      I''ve always been drawn to the goofy side of cinema. I love horror movies that have a sense of humor and doesn’t try to be the next great slasher, zombie, torture porn flick that we’ve seen thousands of times before. Give me a movie with some clever humor and a ridiculous plot and I’m in. One movie that I’ve known about for years but never had the opportunity to check it out was 1990’s Attack of the Killer Refrigerator. I had seen this one floating around in various horror sites on VHS but I was out of tape collecting at the time so I never tried to score a copy. I did find it on bootleg DVD a few years back but I never pulled the trigger on it. I’m glad I waited because the folks over at Terror Vision released the film on blu. I refused to sleep on this release so I snagged a copy and tossed it in when I could. T

     he film follows a group of teenagers who decide to have a little get together. As time goes on the group separate to fornicate and one by one an old fridge that they randomly abused comes to life to seek revenge. 

      Attack of the Killer Refrigerator is not trying to be anything but a fun movie. It’s cheap, rushed, and messy but it’s funny and holds your attention just long enough to finish it. It’s a movie you can toss on with some friends and have some laughs or binge watch with some beers with movies like Over-sexed Rug Suckers from Mars. The acting in this one has plenty of room for improvement but I wouldn’t say that it was bad. Sure, it’s awkward at times and the cast’s eyes wonder all over the screen but they react naturally with one another. It makes the absurd story work while giving the film some humor. It ma be cringy humor but the cast still delivers some laughs. The story for this one is short and simple. It gets straight to the point and doesn’t overstay it’s welcome. The film is less than 20 minutes which is a brilliant run time for a film like this. Stretching it out any further would have stretched the joke way too thin. Finally, the film has some blood but don’t expect memorable deaths with amazing gore. The deaths are funny and fit the film but they will not stick with you like some of your favorite kills from other genre favorites. Overall, Attack of the Killer Refrigerator is a short shot on video horror comedy about a killer fridge. It’s not a title that will change your life forever but it’s fun especially if you are drunk or high. Check it out on blu now from Terror Vision.

Beyond Darkness

Director - Claudio Fragasso (Troll 2, Night Killer)

Starring - Gene LeBrock (Night of the Beast, Arctic Warriors), David Brandon (Delirium, StageFright), and Barbara Bingham (Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan, Terror at London Bridge)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The evil one has come to take the souls of the young"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      I get quite a bit of movies in to review and most have the typical back story.  They are either indie productions made by genre fans wanting to contribute to the genre they love or they are re-releases of films from several decades ago looking for a new generation of admirers.  However, there is the occasional release that has some interesting story.  A few weeks back Severin Films and MVD sent over the 1990 Italian horror film Beyond Darkness to review.  This is a movie that I had always been interested in but never had the chance to see it.  What makes this film so interesting is how it was marketed upon it's release.  The film was billed as House 5, Ghosthouse 6, and even Evil Dead 5.  It's obvious that the film has nothing to do with the franchises it's trying to capitalize on but it's intriguing nonetheless that the film was released under these titles.  I want to thank Severin and MVD for once again providing Horror Society with a review copy of the film.

     The film follows a priest, his wife, and his two children as they move into an old home.  Strange things begin to happen and soon they discover that the home is possessed by an evil that wants to claim their two children.  A former priest, who is now suffering from a mental breakdown, tries to help the family but the church shuns him thinking he's crazy.  This doesn't stop him as he tries to save the family before it's too late.  

     I wasn't expecting an unforgettable film especially when you consider how it was shoehorned into several different franchises.  That immediately let me know that the story was going to be a little messy but that didn't stop me from wanting to watch it.  I knew it was going to be fun.  The acting in this one is a little flat but it wasn't bad.  The characters are very generic and lacked any distinguishable features.  In fact, there was several scenes where the cast blended in with the background while the story took over. The film would have benefited with having a cast with a little more energy and characters with memorable personalities.  The story for this one is a mash up of religious horror and a haunted house tale.  It felt like Poltergeist meets The Exorcist with a little bit of House spread throughout.  I liked the dark presence after the children but the film started to lose me with the Exorcist rip off along with the repetitive scenes of the former priest questioning his sanity.  Some parts of the story are expressed on screen several times which was redundant and slightly boring.  If the film would have focused more on the presence in the house and the horror the family faced it would have been far more enjoyable.  The pacing is off especially for the later scenes but it's still worth watching.  Finally, the film has several fun moments with make-up effects.  I liked the look of the demons in the home and when the son becomes possessed I really liked the look he had.  It's not a bloody or gory film that you would expect from an Italian horror flick but it's still enjoyable.  Overall, Beyond Darkness is a forgettable film but it's still enjoyable.  I would highly recommend checking it out late at night and with some other Italian classics.  It's just as fun as it is flawed and the Severin blu is great.  

Maniac Cop 2

Director - William Lustig (Maniac, Vigilante)

Starring - Robert Davi (The Goonies, Predator 2), Claudia Christian (Babylon 5, Quantum Leap), and Robert Z'Dar (Easter Sunday, Spring Fever)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Action/Horror

Tagline - "You have the right to remain silent... forever"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love a good sequel.  Hell, I even love a half-assed sequel.  Most genre fans are quick to bash a sequel, prequel, remake and reboot without letting the film speak for itself.  If the film sucks we still have the original film to fall back on.  However, if the new one is good we now have an additional film to watch .  The first Maniac Cop is a historic slasher that combines the standard slasher formula with the look and feel of late 80s action flicks.  The fact that it was produced by Larry Cohen and directed by William Lustig should also be noted.  I first saw the film about ten years ago when I found the film on VHS and sometime later snagged the sequel on DVD.  The trilogy was one of my first reviews when I started writing and a series of films that has stuck with me all these years later.  When Blue Underground sent out the press release for the UHD release of Maniac Cop 2 I was all about it.  I quickly reached out to them for a review copy which they were kind enough to hook me up with.  Thanks guys!

     The film picks up with the maniac cop, Matt Cordell (Z'Dar) escaping in the water after the events of the first films.  Officer Jack (Campbell) is released from his involvement but he suspects that Cordell's killing spree is not over.  When a new series of murders breaks out Detective Sean McKinney (Davi) starts investigating and eventually uncovers that Cordell was arrested and convicted after he got too close to a group of dirty cops including their current commissioner revealing that his set up is why he has returned from the dead to kill officers.

     Maniac Cop 2 is one of the sequels that holds up just as well as the original film.  It builds upon the story from the first film while furthering the the story in a way that not only made it entertaining and not predictable.  This is a fantastic sequel that plays perfectly as a back to back double feature with the original.  The acting here is great and actually a little better than the first film.  Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adored Tom Atkins are the detective in the first film but this go around we get more Z'Dar as Cordell with a little more personality and screen time along with Davi delivering a great performance as a different detective.  We also get an outstanding performance from Claudia Christian who never disappoints as well.  I really enjoy seeing her pop up in films that I'm not expecting.  The story for this one takes a deeper look at Cordell and how he became the bloodthirsty cop killer.  It doesn't make him out to be the monster that he is in the first film but it makes the original story make a little more sense.  I liked it a lot and sets itself up for even more possibilities to follow.  With that being said, it does trip over it's feet a few times but it regains it's traction before fumbling.  Finally, the film has some classic deaths with some solid practical effects and good bit of blood.  We also get a better look at Cordell and his make-up effects look great.  He might not be as iconic as Freddy Krueger or Jason Voorehees but I really do love the look of this character and the make-up effects are top notch.  Overall, Maniac Cop 2 is a fantastic sequel and a seriously underrated slasher.  The UHD release from Blue Underground is damn near perfect.  The video and audio is great and the supplemental material is a great addition to this release.  I highly recommend snagging this one especially if you have never seen this follow up to William Lustig's cult classic.  

Child in the Night

Director - Mike Robe (Hollywood Beat, Nightmares and Dreamscapes)

Starring - JoBeth Williams (Poltergeist, The Day After), Tom Skerritt (Calendar Girl Murders, Alien), and Elijah Wood (Cooties, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Drama/Mystery

Tagline - "The secret of a grisly murder, locked in a child's mind"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I saw the news of the Televised Terrors from Vinegar Syndrome I was really interested in Child in the Night the most.  Are You in the House Alone? and Child in the Night was the two that caught my eye but Child of the Night was the movie that sold me on the set.  This 1990 made for television flick starring a young Elijah Wood looked really fun and I was digging the original poster for this.  I saved it for last in my movie marathon and coincidentally it was the weakest in the set.  I enjoyed it but the other two films were better in my opinion.

     The film begins with a wealthy business owner and his son visiting his office near the marina when he is attacked and killed with the son witnessing it all.  However, the son tells the police and a child psychologist that he didn't see anything.  When more murders happen by the same modem it's a race against the clock to get the boy to talk before more innocent people are murdered.  

     Child in the Night had a poster that made me think this was going to be a slasher like film.  I love the artwork and really wish the film would have been more grittier and more inspired by the slashers of the 80s.  It wasn't but it was still a well put together murder mystery.  The acting in this one is great.  Skerritt is once again giving us a hardened detective that has to be stern when the times calls for it but also has a softer side.  He's a fantastic actor and I hate that I'm just now realizing that.  It was also great seeing JoBeth Williams in another genre effort.  Poltergeist was one of my first purchases when I started collecting horror films and I've always found her performances to be extremely underrated.  Wood delivers a solid performance especially for his age but it doesn't stand out like Williams and Skerritt does.  The story for this one is decent for a murder mystery but it's not as much fun if you watch it back to back with CCM like I did.  Child in the Night plays out almost like Calendar Girl Murders but with some changes to scenery and the type of characters.  CCM followed Tom Skerritt as a detective who partners with a model to track down a killer who was snuffing out models and anyone else in their way.  Here Skerritt partners with a child psychologist to find a killer who is snuffing out people who are associated with the business that was owned by a young boy's son.  Similar stories but I personally enjoyed CCM over CitN.  Finally, the film has blood but no practical effects or kills that you can enjoy.  Just like the other two films in this collection this one is focused on story and character development over carnage.  Overall, Child in the Night is the low point of the set but it's still a fantastic watch.  I still recommend this one but I wouldn't watch it back to back with the other two films.  Check it out, It's worth your time.  

Fatal Exam

Director - Jack Snyder (Fatal Call, Ghost Image)

Starring - Mike Coleman (Fatal Examination), Terry Comer (Fatal Examination), and Carol Carlberg-Snyder (Fatal Examination)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     When Vinegar Syndrome announced the release of their new box set Home Grown Horrors I was extremely excited about it.  Their Forgotten Gialli box sets are absolutely fantastic and one of my favorite pieces in my collection so I was extremely excited to check out some not so memorable regional horrors.  I was really excited to finally see Winterbeast and check out an 80s horror film I had never seen before.  I was also pumped for Fatal Exam which I thought was a standard slasher flick.  Holy fucking walrus pussy was I wrong.

     The film follows a group of college students who are on a class trip for the weekend to the home of a man who killed his entire family.  The group intends on doing a paranormal investigation and quickly discover that not only is the spirit of the deranged man still roaming the halls of the house but a cult is using an ancient amulet that he had.

     Fatal Exam may not be my favorite film in the set or the one that I was the most excited to see but it is still a solid entry in the set.   This one was filmed in 1985 but was unable to find the funds to be released until 1990.  I was unaware of this until I was putting my review together but if I would have knew that ahead of time I would have been just as excited for this one as I was for Beyond Dream's Door.  Regardless, its another fun film in the set.  The acting in this one is questionable at times and funny at others.  The film has a lot of unintentionally funny scenes that I was not expecting.  I was laughing more than I was expecting and the humor comes from the cast's reactions to certain terrifying scenarios.  They really do try to get into their roles but their inexperience shows.  The story for this one is fucking wild.  You have a lot going on but the movie is just too long.  I love movies centered around cults so I was very much pulled into this one.  However, at almost two hours long I found the film was overstaying their welcome.  We get a lot of smaller scenes that do very little to the story that could have been cut out to make the film flow better.  I loved the mash up of supernatural and occult and the story goes to great lengths to give us a great back story regardless of how cheesy it is.  Finally, the film is not a bloody one.  We do get a few gags that rely on camera tricks and some practical effects but nothing that really stands out which is a shame.  If this one would have followed the story a little closer and showed a few deaths it would have been a lot more enjoyable.  Overall, Fatal Exam is a long one but it has some cheese and a charmingly 80s story that I really enjoyed.  It is rough around the edges but that's to be expected from a film of this caliber.  It fits nicely into this Home Grown Horrors set from Vinegar Syndrome.  

Deep Blood

Director(s) - Raffaele Donato and Joe D'Amato (Beyond the Darkness, Erotic Night of the Living Dead)

Starring - Frank Baroni (Margaret Bourke-White), Cort McCown (Teen Wolf, Can't Buy Me Love), and Keith Kelsch (Through the Lens)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Back at the end of last year Severin released the sharksploitation film Cruel Jaws from Italian filmmaker Bruno Mattei.  Honestly, I was excited to see a sleazy shark flick from a filmmaker that is usually hit or miss with me.  Sadly, the film was not that good and I found myself begging for it to end.  A few days back MVD and Severin had sent me the 1990 sharksploitation flick Deep Blood to review so I decided to turn it into a Severin shark double feature.  I want to thank MVD and Severin for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to review this new blu.

     The film follows a beach front community who is under attack by a tiger shark.  When several people turn up dead they local authorities go out and hunt the shark down and when they kill a tiger shark they suspect their troubles are behind them but one young man knows different and tries to warn them that the killer is still loose.

     I was pretty let down by Cruel Jaws but I always go into a Bruno Mattei film expecting it to be a huge miss or knocked out of the park.  However, I was really curious about Deep Blood since Joe D'Amato was co-director that was uncredited and some of the scenes from this one could be found in Cruel Jaws.  Sadly, this one came up as very underwhelming but not as messy as Cruel Jaws.  At least this one was able to complete an entire film without cannibalizing other films.  The acting in this one is not bad but the characters are very generic.  The cast does a decent enough job with the characters the way they were written but most of the cast blends into the background unfortunately.  The story for this one is just like every other shark film with a little Native American myth scattered throughout that doesn't really do anything story wise.  If the Native American mythology that was mentioned in passing had a bigger hold on the story it would have been a fun spin but it doesn't.  Instead, we get a movie using the same shark-based storyline following a beach community who continue to go into the water even though a shark is known to be killing people.  Nothing original or entertaining.  Finally, the film has some bloody moments but you can only do so much with sharks.  We get some make-up effects, a fake shark's head, and that's about it unless shark stock footage is your thing.  Overall, Deep Blood was another bit of a disappointment.  The blu from Severin looks fantastic so fans of this one will want to check it out but if you are looking for something new to watch I would recommend another Severin release.  

Jungle Trap

Director - James Bryan (Hell Riders, Don't Go in the Woods)

Starring - Renee Harmon (Lady Street Fighter, Frozen Scream), Frank Neuhaus (Night of Terror, Run Coyote Run), and Heidi Ahn (Out All Night, Cousin Skeeter)

Release Date - 1990/2016

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago, before I was into the American Genre Film Archive blu releases, I found the Bleeding Skull website.  I appreciated their love of obscure and odd films and checked out some of thier reviews and write ups.  I also noticed that at one time they released a movie or two.  The one that really caught my eye was Jungle Trap from director James Bryan.  Bryan is a filmmaker that has had several films on my chopping block from Vinegar Syndrome.  Sadly, they were no longer making copies of this release.  Fast forward a few years and AGFA and Bleeding Skull has once again teamed up for a blu release and this time it was a Bryan double feature with Jungle Trap and Run Coyote Run.  I quickly snagged a copy and as soon as I could I tossed in Jungle Trap.  

     The film follows a team of explorers who venture deep in the jungle to a hotel that was once the site of a tribe war between the hotel staff and a local tribe.  Things start out innocently enough but soon turn strange when members of their party go missing and then the hotel staff disappears.  Thats when the survivors learn that the hotel staff were ghosts and the tribe will be attacking them as soon as the sun sets.

     Jungle Trap is the unfinished 1990 film from James Bryan and Renee Harmon.  The film went unfinished for sometime before Bleeding Skull would find it, finish it, and release it.  It's a far out there story and film with an even more entertaining backstory but the overall film is a dud.  I wanted to like this one but I couldn't bring myself to it.  The acting in this one had me laughing my ass off.  This is the kind of acting that you love to see when you are downing cheap beer with cheaper friends at Cinema Wasteland.  The cast overreacts through most of the scenes and their dialogue delivery is absolutely atrocious.  Bryan is capable of creating some fun genre efforts but he was very disconnected with the cast on this one.  The story for this one is a wild idea with a very interesting plot but the execution is rough.  I know it took the film a couple decades to be completed but the production value and lack of direction really makes this one a tough one to finish.  I love a good bad movie but this one lacks the good.  With that being said, a haunted jungle hotel with an angry tribe really is a good premise for a horror flick.  We just need the execution.  Finally,  the film has a cheap decapitation gag that I really enjoyed and a few cheap gags here and there but for the most part it's rather dry.  No blood or chaos that I was expecting considering the story.  Overall, Jungle Trap was not what I was expecting.  I know it took a long time to be completed but it's a tough one to finish.  I've seen some bad movies in my life and this is among them.  Collectors will want to snag it but don't expect something enjoyable.  

Night Killer

Director(s) - Claudio Fragasso (Zombie 3, After Death) and Bruno Mattei (Shocking Death, Cruel Jaws)

Starring - Peter Hooten (Orca, Dr. Stranger), Tara Buckman (Freddy's Nightmares, Terminal Exposure), Richard Foster (Pool Days, Talking to Strangers)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've reviewed movies that were so bad yet so entertaining that I found myself questioning my sanity.  I've reviewed movies that were so bad I questioned the sanity of the company that chose to release it.  I've reviewed movies that were so good that I couldn't stop thinking about them days or even weeks later.  However, my favorite movies to review are movies that are so odd that I can't wrap my head around who would greenlight such a flick.  Back in 2019 Severin released Night Killer on blu.  I didn't receive a copy to review but a friend this past Christmas bought it for me.  I've always been curious about it and now I was able to check out this oddball flick.  Thanks Matt for the X-Mas gift.

     The film follows a beautiful young woman who survived an attack by a serial killer that wears a mask and a glove of sharp razor like claws.  She is badly beaten and saw his face but does not remember a thing about her attack.  The killer is obsessed with her and begins to torment her over the course of time before she uncovers who he really is.

     Night Killer has to be one of the weirdest movies I've seen in a long time.  The killer wears a mask and glove that loosely resembles New Nightmare Freddy Krueger while the story is a typical late 80s or early 90s Italian slasher.  To make this one even more interesting, it was released internationally as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3.  Yep, a movie without a chainsaw was released as one of the TCM sequels.  It's a fun movie that satisfies but holy fuck is it wild.  People that are familiar with Fragasso and Mattei really should know what to expect when the two pair up for this 90s treat.  The acting in this one is pretty good.  Peter Hooten is a criminally underrated actor and he does a fantastic job in his role here.  His character is completely unhinged and he nails it.  Tara Buckman is amazing as well as the abused, stalked, and emotionally disturbed woman.  She put a lot of energy into her role and it shows.  Her performance is genuine and authentic.  The supporting cast is solid enough but the character all lack the screen time and development that these two do.  The story for this one has nothing to do with TCM in case any of you were interested in that aspect.  I haven't researched it yet but I have no idea why this movie is connected with that series in the international markets.  No chainsaws were used.  However, I do dig the masked slasher aspect at such a late time for slashers.  By this point the slasher craze was dying off with typical movie goers burned out on the concept.  It's cool to see one with that golden age feel as the decade starts.  With that being said, it doesn't really bring us something knew.  It replaced the woods with a city setting but everything else is intact.  It's unoriginal but fun.  Finally, the deaths are pretty much a one trick pony.  The killer really loves shoving his claw through the bodies of young women.  The first kill was fun enough but it gets old pretty quickly.  The practical effects are decent enough but not as bloody or gory as I was expecting considering he just shoved his fist through someone's torso.  Overall, Night Killer is not as gory as I would have liked but the odd and absurdity of the entire film makes it a must watch for genre fans.  It's a solid movie believe it or not that I would recommend.  Check it out.