Category Archives: Film Review

Haunting on Fraternity Row (2018, directed by Brant Sersen)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

The fraternity is throwing their “Winter Luau,” the biggest and wildest party of the year.  It’s a night of drugs, drink, sex, and pranks.  It’s just too bad that the members of fraternity ripped open a hole to another world in their basement and now an evil spirit is offing every last one of them.

Shot on a camcorder to give it that Blair Witch feel, Haunting on Fraternity Row‘s budget is low and the members of the cast are convincingly obnoxious.  One member of the fraternity puts on a bunny suit and I could not wait for him to hurry up and meet the evil in the basement.  It takes forever to get to the supernatural part of the story.  Instead, most of the movie is the fraternity setting up for the party and then throwing the party.  I think the people behind the film just wanted to throw a rager and they came up with all of the supernatural stuff as a way to convince people to give them money.  Good for them.  The party looks fun.  Why didn’t my college ever throw any parties like that?

Don’t watch if you’re expecting sympathetic or even likable characters.  Don’t watch if you want a plot that makes sense.  Don’t watch if you’re expecting to see anything like the picture to the left.  Do watch if you just can’t get enough beer pong.

Horror on the Lens: The Night Strangler (dir by Dan Curtis)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

For today’s horror on the lens, we have 1973’s The Night Strangler.

This is the sequel to The Night Stalker and it features journalist Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin) in Seattle.  (After all the stuff that happened during the previous movie, Kolchak was kicked out of Las Vegas.)  When Kolchak investigates yet another series of murders, he discovers that paranormal murders don’t just occur in Las Vegas and aren’t just committed by vampires.

I actually prefer this movie to The Night Stalker.  The Night Strangler features a truly creepy villain, as well as a trip down to an “underground city.”  It’s full of ominous atmosphere and, as always, Darren McGavin is a lot of fun to watch in the role in Kolchak.

Enjoy!

Horror Scenes That I Love: Irene Miracle Takes A Fateful Swim in Dario Argento’s Inferno

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Inferno (1980, dir by Dario Argento)

For today’s scene that I love, here is the classic scene from 1980’s Inferno, Dario Argento’s follow-up to Suspiria. In this scene, Irene Miracle takes a fateful swim. I’ve seen this film several times and this sequence still creeps me out! Not only does it remind me of my own very strong fear of drowning but I also wish someone had been there to say, “Don’t do that, you’re going to ruin that pretty dress!”

This scene is Argento at his most dream-like and frightening.

Horror on the Lens: The Night Stalker (dir by John Llewelyn Moxey)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

For today’s horror on the lens, we have a real treat!  (We’ll get to the tricks later…)

Long before he achieved holiday immortality by playing the father in A Christmas Story, Darren McGavin played journalist Carl Kolchak in the 1972 made-for-TV movie, The Night Stalker.  Kolchak is investigating a series of murders in Las Vegas, all of which involve victims being drained of their blood.  Kolchak thinks that the murderer might be a vampire.  Everyone else thinks that he’s crazy.

When this movie first aired, it was the highest rated made-for-TV movie of all time.  Eventually, it led to a weekly TV series in which Kolchak investigated various paranormal happenings.  Though the TV series did not last long, it’s still regularly cited as one of the most influential shows ever made.

The Night Stalker is an effective little vampire movie and Darren McGavin gives a great performance as Carl Kolchak.

Enjoy!

Horror Song of the Day: Mater Tenebrarum by Keith Emerson

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Inferno (1980, dir by Dario Argento, DP: Romana Albano)

Today’s horror song of the day comes from Keith Emerson’s soundtrack of Dario Argento’s Inferno.  I have to admit that, when I first saw Inferno, I thought that Emerson’s music was maybe a little bit too overdramatic for the film but, on subsequent viewings, it’s really grown on me.

Emerson did not have an enviable task, having to follow up Goblin’s soundtrack for Suspiria.  But Emerson pulled it off, crafting a score that compliments Goblin’s earlier work while maintaining an identity of its own.

“Okay Google”, Dir. Levi Morgan, Short Film Review by Case Wright

Posted on by casewright

His title card was terrible so I’m using the New York Yankees. Why not? We have a haunted house theme in this story where Google speaker is involved. Alexa’s evil twin. The main character is at his house, which I believe is probably Levi’s residence because his films always take place there. He ask google speaker to help him, but she has turned…..EVIL!!!
The main character asks to google to turn the light back on upstairs and he sees…… a shape. This is kinda scary. Google speaker puts on license free music on for mood; so, evil or not- she is protecting Levi’s shoestring budget. I give him credit for editing in music.

The character unplugs the device and it still talks. It’s a good trope. I don’t hate on that. There is a guy in his house who has a cloak on, which is definitely bad. The shape approaches him. He begs google to turn on the light, but instead she goes rogue and turns off the lights.

I meant to watch a horror comedy, but oops – it’s just horror. I actually might put this in the thriller category because there’s an artificial intelligence working in collusion with the evil shape- is that like a google prime option? I mean I’m not saying that we should pay for google to do evil, but I mean….a little evil? Nothing permanent- mild evil like crappy salsa that never satisfies.

I do admit that I feel bad for Levi Morgan because he hasn’t done anything since 2023 and he’s doing some normal job now. His films are good enough. Levi’s not Hitchcock, but he’s better than Alex Magana and that’s important. I hope he makes it a vibrant hobby. Levi is just not great at writing. His scene angle setups and cinematography is not bad. Levi can make a scene suspenseful and I think he would be a good director of photography. He does need a writer. God doesn’t give with both hands and I would encourage him to pursue a career as a Director of Photography and Directing. I’m not gonna crap on him. He’s has talent and should focus on cinematography.

Horror Scenes I Love: Alex Kintner Goes For A Swim in Jaws

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

The first time I saw Jaws, this scene totally freaked me out.  Every subsequent time that I’ve watched Jaws, this scene continues to freak me out.  Even though I always know it’s coming, the brutality of it always takes me by surprise.  This scene and the way it goes from mild comedy (“That’s a real bad hat, Harry!”) to terrifying horror without missing a beat is a reminder that Steven Spielberg definitely knows something about directing.

Poor Alex Kintner!

 

Horror On The Lens: Horror of Party Beach (dir by Del Tenney)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Everybody’s doing the zombie stomp….

For today’s horror on the lens, take a trip tot eh beach and dance to the sounds of the Del-Aires!  And definitely, be weary of the hot dog monsters!

Enjoy 1964’s The Horror of Party Beach!

Horror on the Lens: The Lodger (dir by Alfred Hitchcock)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

A serial killer known as “The Avenger” is murdering blonde women in London (which, once again, proves that its better to be a redhead).  And while nobody knows the identity of the Avenger, they do know that the enigmatic stranger  (Ivor Novello), who has just recently rented a room at boarding house, happens to fit his description.  They also know that the lodger’s landlord’s daughter happens to be a blonde…

Released in 1927, the silent The Lodger was Alfred Hitchcock’s third film but, according to the director, this was the first true “Hitchcock film.”  Certainly it shows that even at the start of his career, Hitchcock’s famous obsessions were already present — the stranger accused of a crime, the blonde victims, and the link between sex and violence.

Also of note, the credited assistant director — Alma Reville — would become Alma Hitchcock shortly before The Lodger was released.

The Stone Tape (1972, directed by Peter Sasdy)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

Peter Brock (Michael Bryant) is the leader of a team of researchers who work for an electronics company that is trying to come up with a new recording technique to keep up with their Japanese competitors.  Peter and his team move into an old Victorian mansion that is said to be haunted.  After Jill Greeley (Jane Asher) thinks that she’s seen a ghost, Peter theorizes that the stone walls of the mansion have actually recorded everything that has happened at the location over the years, like a security tape.  Some people, like Jill, are sensitive enough to pick up on the images of the past.  Other people, like Peter, are so determined to use what he calls The Stone Tape to his own advantage that it leads to tragedy.

The script for The Stone Tape was written by Nigel Kneale, who was also responsible for creating Quatermass.  As he did with his Quatermass stories, Kneale took an otherwise standard horror story and added an interesting scientific twist.  Peter is a classic villain who makes the mistake of thinking that he can control that which he does not understand.  Ghosts and spirits may just be recordings of past events but that doesn’t mean they can’t hurt you.  There’s a lot of screaming in The Stone Tape but there’s also some very interesting ideas, good acting, and intelligent directing from Peter Sasdy.  First broadcast by the BBC in 1972, The Stone Tape is a classic ghost story, creepy and clever with a killer ending.